Compact excavator
A compact or mini excavator is a tracked or wheeled vehicle with an estimated operating weight of 0.7 to 8.5 tons. It typically includes a standard backfill blade and independent boom swing.
Hydraulic excavators differ somewhat from other construction equipment in that all movements and functions of the machine are carried out by the transmission of hydraulic fluid. The compact excavator’s working body and blade are powered by hydraulic fluid acting on hydraulic cylinders. The slewing (rotation) and movement functions of the excavator are also activated by hydraulic motors with hydraulic fluid.
House
The structure of the house includes the operator’s compartment, engine compartment, hydraulic pump and distribution components. The structure of the house is attached to the top of the undercarriage through a swivel bearing. The house, together with the working group, can rotate or turn on the undercarriage without restrictions thanks to the hydraulic control valve that supplies oil to the components of the undercarriage.
Cool
Rotation refers to the rotation of the excavator body assembly. Unlike a conventional backhoe loader, the operator can deploy the entire house and work group on the undercarriage to place the soil.
Chassis
The undercarriage consists of rubber or steel tracks, drive sprockets, rollers, idlers and associated components/structures. The undercarriage supports the construction of the house and the working group.
Working group
The working group of a compact hydraulic excavator consists of a boom, stick or stick and attachments (such as an auger, bucket or hydraulic hammer). It is connected to the front of the body structure of the excavator through a swing frame that allows the work group to be hydraulically rotated left or right for offset digging to dig trenches parallel to the tracks. Several manufacturers, including Terex and Caterpillar (CAT), offer an extendable boom that is very similar to a backhoe loader’s extendable boom.
Independent boom swing
The main purpose of boom swing is to dig with offset around obstacles or along foundations, walls or formwork. A secondary use is cycling through sections too narrow for the cab to turn. Independent boom swing is one of the main advantages of a compact excavator over other earthmoving equipment.
Backfill Blade
The backfill blade is used for grading, leveling, backfilling, trenching and general bulldozer work. The blade can be used to increase the blade height and dig depth depending on its position in relation to the working group of the excavator, making it very versatile. It is also used to stabilize the machine while digging.
Attachments
NPK hammer mounted on a Wacker Neuson compact excavator
In recent years, the capabilities of hydraulic excavators have expanded far beyond earthworks. With the advent of hydraulic powered attachments such as the tilt-and-turn, hydraulic hammer, grapple, or auger, the excavator is often used in many other areas besides excavation, and with the tilt and tilt attachment actually serves as an effective tool-carrying tool. Many excavators are equipped with quick-release (quick-release) attachment systems to simplify the installation of attachments, which significantly increases the utilization of the machine on the job site.
Zero tail swing
There are two distinct classes of compact excavators: conventional wing-tail excavators — units with a rear counterweight that extends beyond the tracks as the body rotates, and zero-tail units — units with a body whose diameter stays within the width of the tracks through full rotation. Zero-tail rotators allow operators to focus on digging without looking at where they are turning and are designed to work in tight spaces such as against a wall.
