A system and method for automated control of reclaimers includes a boom, a bucket wheel, and a translation system. This system comprises memorizing operating parameters used during a turning movement of the boom, allowing identification of positions where there was an overflow or an unsatisfactory reclaiming flow. With this memorized information, the flow controller makes changes to the boom turning speed (Vg), increasing it in positions where the reclaiming flow was low and decreasing it in positions where there was overflow.

A drive device for a diaphragm wall cutter, having a drive housing and/or gear housing, which encloses an interior for accommodating drive and/or gear elements and comprises two housing parts which are rotatable relative to one another and sealed off from one another by a sealing device, and having a pressure equalization device for pressure equalization between the interior and the surroundings. A diaphragm wall cutter having such a drive device. The pressure equalization device comprises at least one intermediate chamber, which is pressurized and is sealed off from the interior by an inner seal and off from the surroundings by an outer seal. By virtue of such a sealed intermediate chamber that can be considerably smaller in terms of volume than the interior, the pressurization for pressure equalization between interior and surroundings is considerably simpler.

A drive device for a diaphragm wall cutter, having a drive housing and/or gear housing, which encloses an interior for accommodating drive and/or gear elements and comprises two housing parts which are rotatable relative to one another and sealed off from one another by a sealing device, and having a pressure equalization device for pressure equalization between the interior and the surroundings. A diaphragm wall cutter having such a drive device. The pressure equalization device comprises at least one intermediate chamber, which is pressurized and is sealed off from the interior by an inner seal and off from the surroundings by an outer seal. By virtue of such a sealed intermediate chamber that can be considerably smaller in terms of volume than the interior, the pressurization for pressure equalization between interior and surroundings is considerably simpler.

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.

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.

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 method for servicing an attachment for a work vehicle. Activating a service mode that limits a rotation of a rotatable component of the attachment to a service rotation rate that rotates the rotatable component slower than an operational rotation rate when the attachment is raised to a service height. Raising the attachment to the service height. Rotating the rotatable component of the attachment at the service rotation rate to enable a service part wear inspection. Stopping the rotation to replace the service part. Lowering the attachment to an operational height. Deactivating the service mode to enable the rotatable component to rotate at the operational rotation rate.

A method for servicing an attachment for a work vehicle. Activating a service mode that limits a rotation of a rotatable component of the attachment to a service rotation rate that rotates the rotatable component slower than an operational rotation rate when the attachment is raised to a service height. Raising the attachment to the service height. Rotating the rotatable component of the attachment at the service rotation rate to enable a service part wear inspection. Stopping the rotation to replace the service part. Lowering the attachment to an operational height. Deactivating the service mode to enable the rotatable component to rotate at the operational rotation rate.