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Excavators designed for use in swampy, marshy, and otherwise soft, waterlogged terrains require specialized features that allow them to operate effectively without sinking or causing environmental damage. Such excavators are often called amphibious excavators or flotation excavators and use specialized undercarriage systems to spread their weight and provide buoyancy.
Amphibious Excavator Design
The hallmark of an excavator built for flotation is its pontoon undercarriage—a wide, flat, sealed structure resembling floats attached in place of a standard tracked undercarriage. This design increases the surface area in contact with the ground or water, drastically reducing ground pressure to as low as 0.1 to 0.15 psi compared to conventional excavators which typically exert 4 to 6 psi.
Some designs incorporate extendable and retractable pontoons, allowing the machine to change width for transport or operation. These pontoons are watertight with multiple sealed compartments for safety and durability in aquatic environments.
Popular Models and Specifications
A conservation group in Florida used amphibious excavators to clear invasive plants from sensitive wetlands without damaging the natural substrates. The machines’ floating capability allowed them to reach areas inaccessible to conventional equipment, reducing both project costs and environmental impact substantially.
Summary List
Amphibious Excavator Design
The hallmark of an excavator built for flotation is its pontoon undercarriage—a wide, flat, sealed structure resembling floats attached in place of a standard tracked undercarriage. This design increases the surface area in contact with the ground or water, drastically reducing ground pressure to as low as 0.1 to 0.15 psi compared to conventional excavators which typically exert 4 to 6 psi.
Some designs incorporate extendable and retractable pontoons, allowing the machine to change width for transport or operation. These pontoons are watertight with multiple sealed compartments for safety and durability in aquatic environments.
Popular Models and Specifications
- XE160SL Amphibious Excavator: Operating weight around 21,000 kg, powered by a 3.8L turbo diesel engine producing 86 kW (115 hp). Features include twin piston pumps delivering 125 L/min each, a maximum digging depth near 5.9 meters, and a wide 3-meter machine width enabling stable flotation.
- Wilson CAT 313 Amphibious Excavator: A 44,000 lb machine with a 97 hp diesel engine. It achieves a ground pressure of approximately 1.2 psi and has a maximum digging depth of 16’10” in soft terrain with an operating speed around 1.2 mph.
- HAWK AT-400: A heavy-duty amphibious excavator with nearly 58 tons operating weight, featuring a reinforced steel undercarriage and capable of steep 30-degree grades. The track chain rollers operate on wear plates designed for durability in harsh wet environments.
- Wetland Restoration: Excavators reclaim marshes and soft habitat areas by removing unwanted vegetation and shaping terrain.
- Dredging and Sediment Removal: Excavators equip with dredge pumps to reclaim mining tailings ponds or maintain channels in rivers and lakes.
- Aquaculture Construction: Building and maintaining ponds, access ways, and water control infrastructure.
- Flood Control and Embankment Reinforcement: Stabilizing vulnerable flood zones and repairing damaged levees.
- Environmental Cleanup: Removing contaminated soils from water bodies with minimal ecological disruption.
- Reduced Soil Compaction: Low ground pressure prevents damage to sensitive soils.
- Amphibious Operation: Can travel and work both on land and in shallow water areas.
- Improved Safety and Stability: Pontoon compartments provide buoyancy and prevent sinking.
- Flexibility: Extendable undercarriages allow for easier transport and adaptable working widths.
- Pontoon Undercarriage: Watertight floats that replace standard tracks to enable flotation and low ground pressure.
- Ground Pressure: The pressure exerted on the soil surface; lower values decrease risk of sinking.
- Dredge Pump Attachment: Equipment mounted on excavators used for sediment and slurry removal.
- Extendable Undercarriage: Undercarriage that can widen or narrow as needed for transport or operation.
- Wetland Restoration: The process of rehabilitating degraded aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems.
A conservation group in Florida used amphibious excavators to clear invasive plants from sensitive wetlands without damaging the natural substrates. The machines’ floating capability allowed them to reach areas inaccessible to conventional equipment, reducing both project costs and environmental impact substantially.
Summary List
- Amphibious excavators equip pontoon undercarriages for flotation.
- Ground pressure reduced to as low as 0.1-0.15 psi for soft soils.
- Key models include XE160SL, Wilson CAT 313, and HAWK AT-400.
- Applications: wetland restoration, dredging, aquaculture, flood control.
- Features: extendable/retractable pontoons, reinforced construction.
- Benefits: minimal soil compaction, flexible operation, ecological safety.
