A compact or mini excavator is a tracked or wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight from 0.7 to 8.5 tonnes. It generally includes a standard backfill blade and features independent boom swing.
A Bobcat compact excavator
Hydraulic excavators are somewhat different from other construction equipment in that all movement and functions of the machine are accomplished through the transfer of hydraulic fluid. The compact excavator's work group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid acting upon hydraulic cylinders. The excavator's slew (rotation) and travel functions are also activated by hydraulic fluid powering hydraulic motors.
Most compact hydraulic excavators have three distinct assemblies: house, undercarriage and workgroup.
House
The house structure contains the operator's compartment, engine compartment, hydraulic pump and distribution components. The house structure is attached to the top of the undercarriage via a swing bearing. The house, along with the workgroup, is able to rotate or slew upon the undercarriage without limit due to a hydraulic distribution valve which supplies oil to the undercarriage components.
Slew
Slewing refers to rotating the excavator's house assembly. Unlike a conventional backhoe, the operator can slew the entire house and workgroup upon the undercarriage for spoil placement.
A Kubota compact excavator
Undercarriage
The undercarriage consists of rubber or steel tracks, drive sprockets, rollers, idlers and associated components/structures. The undercarriage supports the house structure and the workgroup.
Workgroup
The workgroup of a compact hydraulic excavator consists of the boom, dipper or arm, and attachment (e.g. auger, bucket or breaker). It is connected to the front of the excavator's house structure via a swing frame that allows the workgroup to be hydraulically pivoted left or right to achieve offset digging for trenching parallel with the tracks. Certain manufacturers including Terex and Caterpillar (CAT) offer an extendable boom option, much like the extendable boom of a backhoe loader.
Independent boom swing
The primary purpose of boom swing is for offset digging around obstacles or along foundations, walls or forms. A secondary use is cycling in areas too narrow for cab rotation. Independent boom swing is one of the major advantages of a compact excavator over other excavation equipment.
Backfill blade
The backfill blade is used for grading, leveling, backfilling, trenching, and general dozer work. The blade can be used to increase dump height and digging depth depending on its position in relation to the excavator's workgroup, this makes it very versatile. It is also used to stabilize the machine while digging.
Attachments
A NPK breaker fitted to a Wacker Neuson compact excavator
In recent years, hydraulic excavator capabilities have expanded far beyond excavation tasks. With the advent of hydraulic powered attachments such as a tiltrotator, breaker, a grapple or an auger, the excavator is frequently used in many applications other than excavation and with the tiltrotator attachment, actually serves as an effective tool carrier. Many excavators feature quick coupler (quick-attach) mounting systems for simplified attachment mounting, dramatically increasing the machine's utilization on the jobsite.
Zero-tail swing
A Wacker Neuson excavator with zero-tail. The tail does not extend to the street.
A Bobcat excavator is digging for the laying of a broadband cable in central Ystad.
There are two distinct classes of compact excavators, conventional tail swing - units that have a rear counterweight that will extend beyond the tracks when the house rotates, and zero-tail swing - units with a house whose diameter stays within the width of the tracks through full rotation. Zero-tail swing units allow operators to focus on digging and not looking at where they are swinging and are intended for operation in limited spaces, like next to a wall.
compact, excavator, this, article, does, cite, sources, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2020, learn, when, remov. This article does not cite any sources Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Compact excavator news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message A compact or mini excavator is a tracked or wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight from 0 7 to 8 5 tonnes It generally includes a standard backfill blade and features independent boom swing A Bobcat compact excavator Hydraulic excavators are somewhat different from other construction equipment in that all movement and functions of the machine are accomplished through the transfer of hydraulic fluid The compact excavator s work group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid acting upon hydraulic cylinders The excavator s slew rotation and travel functions are also activated by hydraulic fluid powering hydraulic motors Contents 1 Structure 1 1 House 1 1 1 Slew 1 2 Undercarriage 1 3 Workgroup 1 4 Independent boom swing 1 5 Backfill blade 2 Attachments 3 Zero tail swing 4 Notable manufacturers 5 References 6 External linksStructure Edit A Bobcat mini excavator Note the backfill blade Most compact hydraulic excavators have three distinct assemblies house undercarriage and workgroup House Edit The house structure contains the operator s compartment engine compartment hydraulic pump and distribution components The house structure is attached to the top of the undercarriage via a swing bearing The house along with the workgroup is able to rotate or slew upon the undercarriage without limit due to a hydraulic distribution valve which supplies oil to the undercarriage components Slew Edit Slewing refers to rotating the excavator s house assembly Unlike a conventional backhoe the operator can slew the entire house and workgroup upon the undercarriage for spoil placement A Kubota compact excavator Undercarriage Edit The undercarriage consists of rubber or steel tracks drive sprockets rollers idlers and associated components structures The undercarriage supports the house structure and the workgroup Workgroup Edit The workgroup of a compact hydraulic excavator consists of the boom dipper or arm and attachment e g auger bucket or breaker It is connected to the front of the excavator s house structure via a swing frame that allows the workgroup to be hydraulically pivoted left or right to achieve offset digging for trenching parallel with the tracks Certain manufacturers including Terex and Caterpillar CAT offer an extendable boom option much like the extendable boom of a backhoe loader Independent boom swing Edit The primary purpose of boom swing is for offset digging around obstacles or along foundations walls or forms A secondary use is cycling in areas too narrow for cab rotation Independent boom swing is one of the major advantages of a compact excavator over other excavation equipment Backfill blade Edit The backfill blade is used for grading leveling backfilling trenching and general dozer work The blade can be used to increase dump height and digging depth depending on its position in relation to the excavator s workgroup this makes it very versatile It is also used to stabilize the machine while digging Attachments Edit A NPK breaker fitted to a Wacker Neuson compact excavator In recent years hydraulic excavator capabilities have expanded far beyond excavation tasks With the advent of hydraulic powered attachments such as a tiltrotator breaker a grapple or an auger the excavator is frequently used in many applications other than excavation and with the tiltrotator attachment actually serves as an effective tool carrier Many excavators feature quick coupler quick attach mounting systems for simplified attachment mounting dramatically increasing the machine s utilization on the jobsite Zero tail swing Edit A Wacker Neuson excavator with zero tail The tail does not extend to the street A Bobcat excavator is digging for the laying of a broadband cable in central Ystad There are two distinct classes of compact excavators conventional tail swing units that have a rear counterweight that will extend beyond the tracks when the house rotates and zero tail swing units with a house whose diameter stays within the width of the tracks through full rotation Zero tail swing units allow operators to focus on digging and not looking at where they are swinging and are intended for operation in limited spaces like next to a wall Notable manufacturers EditBobcat Company Caterpillar Inc CASE CE CNH Global Dingo Australia Doosan Infracore formerly Daewoo Heavy Industries amp Machinery including Solar brand Gehl Hitachi Construction Machinery JCB John Deere Kobelco Kobe Steel Group Komatsu Limited Kubota IHI Construction Machinery Takeuchi Manufacturing Volvo Construction Equipment Wacker Neuson YanmarReferences EditExternal links EditCompact Excavator Specifications and Comparisons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w 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