A 3D volume rate control method and apparatus (10) for a slewing bucket-wheel stockpile reclaimer 16 is described. The apparatus (10) comprises four 3D image sensors (12) mounted adjacent a bucket-wheel (14) of the (reclaimer 16), which are adapted to provide 3D images of a stockpile bench face. The apparatus includes a data processor (20) for: (i) processing the 3D images produced by the 3D image sensors (12) to generate a 3D stockpile bench face profile, (ii) calculating a reclaim cut volume rate at which material is being cut from the stockpile face based on a measured change in volume of the 3D stockpile bench face profile in the area abutting the excavation tool, (iii) calculating a reclaim cut volume of material that will be cut from the stockpile face based on the shape of the excavation tool and the 3D stockpile bench face profile to determine a feed forward reclaim cut volume rate profile, and (iv) calculating an operating parameter for the reclaimer based on a desired reclaim cut volume rate compared to the measured reclaim cut volume rate and the feed forward reclaim cut volume rate profile. The method and apparatus provide accurate reclaim volume measurement so that the reclaim volume rate becomes independent of the product characteristics, stockpile bench face shape and bucket-wheel cutting parameters.

An excavator machine that includes components such as: a suspended casing having a top end and a bottom end; at least one cable that extends above the casing, where the cable is under tension and has a bottom end that is fastened to the top end of the casing; and a cutter device that is arranged at the bottom end of the casing. The excavator machine further includes: a carriage that is mounted to slide along the cable; a device for moving the carriage along the cable; and a locator device for determining the three-dimensional position of the carriage.

A compaction wheel assembly includes a shaft, a plurality of compaction wheels along the shaft, and at least one bushing assembly. The bushing assembly includes first and second split bushings axially spaced-apart to form a space therebetween, the upper and lower bushing housings removably secured together with the first and second split bushings therebetween to clamp the first and second split bushings about the shaft, and at least one first shim located between the bushing housings at a front side of the shaft and at least one second shim located between the bushing housings at a rear side of the shaft to space the upper and lower bushing housings and upper and lower halves of the first and second split bushings. At least one of the first and second shims includes a slot configured for feeding grease to the space between the first and second split bushings.

The present invention relates in general to slurry wall cutters for cutting slurry walls in specialist foundation engineering. The invention relates in particular to the cutting wheel assembly for such a slurry wall cutter (1), comprising a rotationally drivable cutter hub (8) and a cutting wheel (3) which can be detachably fastened to the cutter hub for conjoint rotation. According to the invention, the cutting wheel and the cutter hub are clamped against one another at the end faces thereof and are interlockingly secured to one another in order to transmit the high operating forces non-frictionally or at least not only frictionally. According to the invention, the end faces of the cutting wheel and the cutter hub that can be placed against one another are provided with lateral teeth (16, 17) which mesh with one another for conjoint rotation. The meshing pair of lateral teeth allows the cutter hub and the cutting wheel to be interlockingly held relative to one another for conjoint rotation. At the same time, the end faces lying against one another can also transmit axial forces such that the cutting wheel is untiltably held in place.

A power rake for attachment with a vehicle. The power rake includes a main frame. The power rake also includes an adjustment assembly operably engaged with the main frame, and the adjustment assembly is independently moveable relative to the main frame. The power rake also includes a rotor assembly operably engaged with the adjustment assembly, and the rotor assembly is independently moveable relative to the main frame by the adjustment assembly. The rotor assembly is adapted to be pivoted via the adjustment assembly relative to a vertical axis of the main frame. The adjustment assembly and the rotor assembly are selectively vertically adjustable relative to a vertical axis of the main frame. The rotor assembly is selectively rotatably adjustable relative to a vertical axis of the main frame.

A bucket wheel chute assembly comprising a frame and a bucket wheel chute. The bucket wheel chute comprising a plurality of wear plates. The bucket wheel chute comprising a first chute section and a second chute section and is detachably attached to the frame. At least one of the first chute section and second chute section is detachably attached to the frame by a first movable attachment means.

A power rake for attachment with a vehicle. The power rake includes a main frame, an adjustment assembly that operably engages with the main frame and is independently moveable relative to the main frame, a rotor assembly that operably engages with the adjustment assembly and is independently moveable relative to the main frame by the adjustment assembly, and a depth measurement assembly mounted to the main frame and the adjustment assembly. The depth measurement assembly is configured to measure a height and a depth of a rotor of the rotor assembly relative to a bottom of the main frame. The depth measurement assembly may include a depth indicator plate mounted to a main frame of the power rake, and a selecting arm mounted to an adjustment assembly of the power rake and positioned adjacent to the depth indicator plate.