J.C. Bamford Excavators

Disclosed is an excavator comprising: a ground engaging structure comprising a pair of track assemblies for propelling and steering the excavator; a rotatable superstructure mounted to the ground engaging structure; a working arm mounted to the rotatable superstructure, the working arm comprising one or more hydraulic actuators arranged to operate the working arm; a hydraulic pump in hydraulic flow communication with the one or more tracks and/or the one or more hydraulic actuators; a hydraulic tank connected to the hydraulic pump; at least one electric motor configured to drive the hydraulic pump to provide a flow of hydraulic fluid to propel the one or more track assemblies and/or operate the hydraulic actuators; at least one battery for providing electrical power to the hydraulic pump; and, at least one electrically operated fan configured to provide a flow of cooling air onto the hydraulic tank to cool the hydraulic fluid therein.

A start-stop system 100 for a working vehicle is provided. The start-stop system comprises a body 102; a push button 104 configured for linear movement relative to the body between a first button position and a second button position; and a rotatable sleeve 108 positioned radially outboard of the push button and configured to rotate between a first sleeve position and a second sleeve position. The start-stop system is configured to transition to an enabled state when the rotatable sleeve is moved from the first sleeve position to the second sleeve position. The start-stop system is configured to activate a prime mover of the vehicle when the start-stop system is in the enabled state and the push button is moved from the first button position to the second button position. The rotatable sleeve is biased to automatically return from the second sleeve position to the first sleeve position.

A control system for a working machine is provided, wherein the control system is configured to: obtain or determine a guidance path, wherein the guidance path defines a path to be tracked by the machine; obtain or determine an acquisition path, wherein the acquisition path defines a path for the machine to follow in order to position the machine to track the guidance path; and direct the machine to follow the acquisition path, in order to position the machine to track the guidance path.

The present invention relates to a control system (18) for a working machine (10), wherein the working machine is configured to be fitted with a front implement (24) and/or a rear implement (26). The control system is configured to: obtain or determine a guidance path (28), wherein the guidance path defines a path to be tracked by the machine (10). Based on implement information, the control system is configured to obtain or determine an acquisition path (30) that is derived an implement acquisition path (29a, 29b). The vehicle is controlled to move along said acquisition path in accordance with the implement information, in order to position the machine to track the guidance path.

A stabiliser assembly may comprise a housing comprising first and second stabiliser leg mounts arranged at or near opposing ends of the housing, and a mounting body connected to the housing, said mounting body comprising first and second mounting plates each comprising first and second actuator mounts, said first and second mounting plates being arranged to oppose each other such that the first actuator mounts are substantially aligned and the second actuator mounts are substantially aligned.

Disclosed is a reduced tail swing excavator (100b) comprising: an undercarriage (118b) comprising left (102b) and right (104b) ground engaging structures; a superstructure (106b) rotatably mounted to the undercarriage; a working arm (108b) pivotally connected to the superstructure and comprising a plurality of actuators (62b, 64b, 66b) to enable manipulation of the working arm by an operator; an operator cab (107b) mounted on the superstructure comprising a seat and operator controls for controlling the undercarriage, the working arm actuators and the rotation of the superstructure relative to the undercarriage; an engine (109b) mounted aft of the operator cab on a plurality of engine mounts (14); and, a counterweight (111b) mounted aft of the engine, the counterweight comprising left and right mounts (24), wherein the superstructure comprises a transverse structural member (18) which extends laterally across the excavator, the transverse structural member comprising counterweight seat (16) on which the counterweight mounts are located and at least one of the engine mounting point proximate to one of the counterweight seat; and, wherein the transverse structural member comprises a shim access aperture (34) located between the engine mounting point and the counterweight seat to allow shimming of the counterweight without removal of the counterweight from the superstructure.

Disclosed herein is a working machine comprising: a ground engaging structure for providing propulsion over a ground surface; a chassis mounted to the ground engaging structure; an operator cab mounted to the chassis; a gas engine for providing propulsive power to the ground engaging structure; at least one storage tank for storing gaseous fuel for the gas engine; and, a purge valve for removing gaseous fuel from the at least one storage tank.

A working machine, comprising: a ground-engaging propulsion arrangement; a body mounted to the ground-engaging propulsion arrangement, the body comprising an operator station; a plurality of assignable controllable elements; a configurable foot pedal in the operator station for controlling a selected one of the assignable controllable elements; an input device arrangement; and a controller in communication with the configurable foot pedal and the input device arrangement. The controller is configured to: receive a selection input from the input device arrangement; assign any one of the assignable controllable elements for control by the configurable foot pedal based on the selection input received from the input device arrangement; receive a control input from the configurable foot pedal; and control the assigned controllable element based on the control input received from the configurable foot pedal.

Disclosed is a method for controlling the braking effort of a tractor unit relative to the braking effort of a trailer being towed by the tractor unit, the method comprising: activating an enhanced braking mode in the tractor unit; receiving a braking command from an operator input device whilst in the enhanced braking mode; increasing a tractor unit speed demand on the tractor unit whilst receiving the braking command; applying the brakes to the trailer and tractor unit, wherein the braking effort applied to the tractor unit is reduced relative to the trailer due to the increased speed demand.

A load dampening system 60 for a working vehicle is provided. The load dampening system comprises a load handling hydraulic actuator 28 configured to support a load carried by the working vehicle and an accumulator apparatus 100 for storing pressurised hydraulic fluid. The accumulator apparatus is selectively connectable to the load handling hydraulic actuator to act as a compliant element which dampens pressure fluctuations in the load handing hydraulic actuator. The load dampening system also comprises a control system 70 configured to adjust a compliance of the accumulator apparatus to adjust the extent to which the accumulator apparatus dampens pressure fluctuations in the load handling hydraulic actuator.