Floating Excavators & Long Reach Excavators

Looking much larger than its 15t weight, this would partly be due to the height of the machine from the ground level to the underside of the upper platform. Ground clearance to this point is a massive 1.5m and with the circular arc structure pontoon track frame standing at 1.4m high and each pontoon 1.3m wide, there is no wonder that one can be misled in thinking this is a much larger machine.

 

The upper structure of the excavator varies little from the conventional excavator, however the undercarriage has been removed and replaced from the turntable turret with a set of pontoons. The pontoons house, the hydraulic drive motors and are designed to provide the necessary buoyancy and stability, ultra-low ground pressure (0.13kg/cm2) and unparalleled mobility to not only work on soft terrain and swampy areas, but to float on water.

 

The track chains form the base of attachment for the track plates, which differ markedly from the conventional. The track/grouser plates are made from steel box section and form an intergral part of the floatation devices and propulsion when travelling in deep water, similar to that of the old paddle wheelers. The pontoons are 1.3m wide and sit 1.4m high, which allows the excavator to work very efficiently in water to a depth of 1.5m.

 

The pontoons are fully adjustable from a closed position measuring 3.49m wide to almost 4.6m fully extended. The grousers/paddle plates, powered by the two hydraulic track drive motors, provide the propulsion for the Floating Excavator and are extremely effective once in water.

 

Once in the water the machine develops a totally different character. It is in its element with excellent vision from the cabin equipped with all the "mod cons" needed to fulfil a full day on the water. The hydraulics are very responsive and the Floating Excavator has developed great stability in up to 1.5m of water depth. The machine has no trouble in floating and traveling longer distances and much deeper water is never an issue.

 

The Heking Floating Excavator has good reach at 8.8m and digging depth vertical at 4.8m and is equipped with a silt bucket .25m3) and a weed cleaning bucket. Both are extremely practical and with the factory standard Quick Hitch works very efficiently.