1. Backhoe Excavator
The backhoe is the most common type we see. It moves backward and downward, forcibly cutting the soil. It can be used for excavation below the working face. Basic operating methods include: trench end excavation, trench side excavation, straight excavation, curved excavation, excavation at a certain angle, ultra-deep trench excavation, and trench slope excavation.
2. Front Shovel Excavator
The front shovel excavator's digging action is "forward and upward, forcibly cutting the soil." Front shovels have a large digging force and can excavate soil above the working face. They are suitable for excavating dry foundation pits with a height greater than 2m, but ramps are required. The bucket of a front shovel is larger than that of a backhoe excavator of the same capacity. It can excavate soil of classes I to III with a moisture content of no more than 27%, and can be used in conjunction with dump trucks to complete the entire excavation and transportation operation. It can also excavate large dry foundation pits and mounds. The excavation methods of front shovel excavators vary depending on the relative position of the excavation route and the transport vehicle. There are two main methods for digging and unloading: forward digging and lateral unloading; and forward digging and reverse unloading.
3. Dragline Excavator
A dragline excavator, also called a cable excavator, is characterized by its backward and downward cutting motion, utilizing its own weight. It is suitable for excavating Class I and II soils below the machine's stopping surface. During operation, it uses inertia to throw the bucket out, digging a relatively long distance with a large digging radius and depth, but it is not as flexible and accurate as a backhoe. It is particularly suitable for excavating large and deep foundation pits or underwater excavation.
4. Clamshell Excavator
A clamshell excavator, also called a grab bucket excavator, is characterized by its vertical cutting motion, utilizing its own weight. It is suitable for excavating Class I and II soils below the machine's stopping surface and is commonly used in soft soil areas for excavating foundation pits and caissons. It is particularly suitable for digging deep and narrow foundation pits, dredging existing channels, and removing silt from water, or for loading loose materials such as gravel and slag. There are two excavation methods: side excavation and positional excavation. If the grab bucket is made into a grid shape, it can also be used in timber yards to load ore blocks, wood chips, and timber.
