A shovel includes a first pump 14L; a second pump 14R; a hydraulic swing motor 21; a pump/motor 14A configured to generate an engine-assist torque in response to hydraulic oil from the hydraulic swing motor 21 during swing deceleration; an accumulator 80 configured to accumulate the hydraulic oil flowing out of the hydraulic swing motor 21 during swing deceleration; a regeneration valve 22G configured to switch open/close of transfer from a discharge port 21L to the pump/motor 14A and the accumulator 80; and a controller configured to control the regeneration valve 22G. During swing deceleration, the controller adjusts an open area of the regeneration valve 22G in such a way that a swing flowing-out pressure becomes a swing braking target pressure, and causes the hydraulic oil flowing out of the hydraulic swing motor 21 to flow into the pump/motor 14A and the accumulator 80 at the same pressure.

The hydraulic apparatus is set so that the ratio of the pressure-receiving area of the respective bottom oil chambers of the boom cylinder, the arm cylinder and the bucket cylinder to the pressure-receiving area of the respective rod oil chambers matches the ratio of the extruded volume drawn into or discharged from the bottom oil chambers per single rotation by the respective extrusion members of the first hydraulic pump motor, the second hydraulic pump motor and the third hydraulic pump motor to the volume discharged from or drawn into the rod oil chambers.

A method of operating a digging machine, including operationally connecting a sensor to a bucket, operationally connecting an electronic controller to the sensor and to each respective hydraulic cylinder, operationally connecting a valve system to the hydraulic cylinder and to the electronic controller, inputting a desired post excavation landscape contour into the electronic controller, inputting locations of underground objects into the electronic controller, automatically actuating a bucket hydraulic cylinder operationally connected to the bucket, and automatically controlling the bucket hydraulic cylinder to dig within predetermined parameters.

A method of operating a digging machine, including damping the response of a boom hydraulic cylinder operationally connected to a boom arm and actuating a bucket hydraulic cylinder operationally connected to a bucket.

A multi-mode material moving attachment for a vehicle includes a box frame enclosing a first material collection space laterally and from behind, and a working panel pivotably mounted to the box frame. The box frame includes a rear wall having a rear face directed toward the vehicle and extending laterally between opposed side plates, the side plates projecting forward from, and fixed to, the rear wall. The working panel is pivotable about a lateral pivot axis between a bucket bottom position in which the working panel encloses the first material collection space from below, and a blade position for operating the attachment in a pusher mode for pushing material along the ground surface. The attachment optionally includes a back-drag assembly fixed to the box frame and including a back-drag blade for enclosing a second material collection space when operating the attachment in a back-drag mode.

A bucket lip includes an elongate one-piece casting and each of a first lip wing projecting upward at a location adjacent to a first lateral edge and a second lip wing projecting upward at a location adjacent to a second lateral edge of the casting. The first lip wing and the second lip wing each include a base section that is laterally asymmetric, and a bucket wing attachment section. Embodied in a bucket lip assembly, wing shroud bosses may be attached to outboard sides of the first lip wing and the second lip wing.

A bucket for a loader includes a main body and a pair of swing plates pivotably coupled to the main body for defining an exterior collection space for gathering material from the ground surface when operating the bucket in a back-dragging mode. Each swing plate is pivotable relative to the main body between a first position and a second position. When in the first position, the swing plate lower edge is raised above an outer surface of the bottom wall. When in the second position, the swing plate protrudes past the outer surface of the bottom wall, with inwardly directed faces of the swing plates cooperating with an outer surface of a bottom wall of the main body to partially enclose an exterior collection space when back-dragging.

An excavating, ripping and loading apparatus and method. The excavating, ripping and loading apparatus includes a platform, structured over an elevating conveyor, a suspended boom supporting a pivoting arm with attached dozer u-blade below, pulled down on an arc to a receiving/gathering area, feeding the elevating conveyor, center loading a large mining truck. A ripper assembly is attached to the rear of the bulldozer u-blade. The ripper assembly has double-edged shanks which can be actuated to rip and loosen material in both directions. The pivoting arm with bulldozer u-blade is pulled back up to the top of the pile and back down to the receiving area by winches/winch drums through a series of pullies and sheaves creating compound mechanical advantaged pull. The excavating, ripping and loading apparatus will be structured over crawlers or wheels for mobility.