The present invention relates to a handheld excavator. The handheld excavator is used for excavating small areas and spaces that are unreachable with a standard excavator. The handheld excavator does not have an operator's seat and can have a four-legged stand, a wheeled stand, or a wall-mounted attachment. The excavator has a 180 degree rotational platform positioned on the stand, a boom extending from the platform, an arm attached to a first end of the boom, and a bucket. The linear and rotational movements of the excavator are controlled by a detachable control panel for remotely operating the handheld excavator. The handheld excavator is powered through built-in batteries and has a hydraulic mechanism for driving the movements.

A work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an attachment comprising a cutting edge. The attachment is configured to move from an operating position to a dump position. An operator input device is configured to receive a grade command. A grade control system is communicatively coupled to an operator input device and configured to receive the grade command and define a cutting plane. A controller is configured to receive a boom position signal, an attachment position signal, and the grade command. The controller is configured to maintain the cutting edge on the cutting plane in both the operating position and the dump position.

A system for uncovering a desired and pre-planned trench. A trenching machine is equipped with sensors, including visual imaging sensors. The sensors detect the inclination of the ground and movement of the trenching machine, as well as the angle of a trenching boom. Using this information, and a pre-determined preferred trench grade, a processor commands the trenching boom to adjust its angle to maintain the preferred trench grade. Surface irregularities may therefore be accounted for along the length of the trench to maintain a constant grade at the trench bottom.

A method and apparatus for installing a monitoring cable or other utility near an existing pipeline. An electromagnetic signal may be induced on the pipeline, either directly, or by transmitting a signal from a vehicle carrying a sensor array. The sensors disposed on the vehicle communicate with a processor to determine a distance and orientation of the vehicle relative to the pipeline. The signal may be electromagnetic, acoustic, capacitive, or the like. A plow or other digging tool may be on the vehicle or a secondary vehicle. Such a digging tool opens a trench and installs the cable along a path disposed next to the pipeline within an acceptable distance range from the pipeline. The vehicle may be remotely or automatically operated.

A system for controlling operation of a winch assembly having an electric motor, a drum, and a cable. A controller is configured to access a winch load threshold, with the winch load threshold defining a hold zone and a reel zone, and one of the hold zone and the reel zone including loads greater than the winch load threshold and another of the hold zone and the reel zone including loads less than the winch load threshold. The controller is further configured to determine whether the drum is rotating, determine whether the winch assembly is operating within the hold zone or the reel zone, generate a hold current while the winch assembly is operating within the hold zone preventing rotation of the electric motor, and generate a reel current while the drum is operating within the reel zone permitting rotation of the electric motor.

A system for controlling operation of a winch assembly having an electric motor, a drum, and a cable. A controller is configured to access a winch load threshold, with the winch load threshold defining a hold zone and a reel zone, and one of the hold zone and the reel zone including loads greater than the winch load threshold and another of the hold zone and the reel zone including loads less than the winch load threshold. The controller is further configured to determine whether the drum is rotating, determine whether the winch assembly is operating within the hold zone or the reel zone, generate a hold current while the winch assembly is operating within the hold zone preventing rotation of the electric motor, and generate a reel current while the drum is operating within the reel zone permitting rotation of the electric motor.

A work vehicle is disclosed. The work vehicle comprises an attachment comprising a cutting edge. The attachment is configured to move from an operating position to a dump position. An operator input device is configured to receive a grade command. A grade control system is communicatively coupled to an operator input device and configured to receive the grade command and define a cutting plane. A controller is configured to receive a boom position signal, an attachment position signal, and the grade command. The controller is configured to maintain the cutting edge on the cutting plane in both the operating position and the dump position.

A system includes a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a crown portion having a crown, an outer wall coupled to the crown, a first inner wall disposed inside of the outer wall, a first fluid chamber disposed radially between the outer wall and the first inner wall, and an angled wall insert. An opening extends into the first fluid chamber in an axially inward direction. The outer wall, the first inner wall, the first fluid chamber, the opening, and the angled wall insert extend circumferentially about a central axis of the piston assembly. The angled wall insert is disposed in the opening, and the first fluid chamber is disposed axially between the crown and the angled wall insert.

A work vehicle and a method of controlling propulsion of a work vehicle includes an auxiliary work tool. The method includes receiving a propulsion input for propelling the work vehicle at a propulsion speed, determining a prime mover speed for a prime mover configured to propel the work vehicle, propelling the work vehicle with a prime mover output based on the propulsion input, operating the auxiliary work tool while propelling the work vehicle, determining an auxiliary work tool load from operation of the auxiliary work tool, determining whether the auxiliary work tool load of the auxiliary work tool exceeds an auxiliary work tool load threshold, and reducing the propulsion speed of the work vehicle if the auxiliary work tool load of the auxiliary work tool exceeds the auxiliary work tool load threshold.

A work vehicle and a method of controlling propulsion of a work vehicle includes an auxiliary work tool. The method includes receiving a propulsion input for propelling the work vehicle at a propulsion speed, determining a prime mover speed for a prime mover configured to propel the work vehicle, propelling the work vehicle with a prime mover output based on the propulsion input, operating the auxiliary work tool while propelling the work vehicle, determining an auxiliary work tool load from operation of the auxiliary work tool, determining whether the auxiliary work tool load of the auxiliary work tool exceeds an auxiliary work tool load threshold, and reducing the propulsion speed of the work vehicle if the auxiliary work tool load of the auxiliary work tool exceeds the auxiliary work tool load threshold.