Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/548484
EquipmentWorld.com | August 2015 73 A t a press event in May, Cat showed us not only its newest hybrid machine, the 336F L XE, but its excavator strategy going forward. Cat's strategy is to have two tiers for excavators. Those with the "XE" designation will incorporate the company's top of the line technol- ogy. Cat also is developing a line of "GC" branded excavators that don't have the high-tech bells and whistles, offering a low-cost-per- hour solution for contractors with lower utilization rates. Not all the XE branded machines will have the exact same technol- ogy. Brian Stellbrink, product application specialist, confirmed that "elements of" the new hybrid technology we saw on the 336F L XE would be migrating into two additional excavators this year – the 374F and 390F – and more ma- chines in the years to come. But what "elements of" means is Cat will use a mix of different hybrid com- ponents and other high tech features when and where they make sense for that size of excavator. Unlike other hybrid systems which store and release excess power in electrical form, Caterpil- lar's hybrid systems make more efficient use of hydraulic energy. The elements included on the 336F L XE include: Hydraulic Hybrid Swing system. This device is a large, piston-style nitrogen gas-over-oil accumulator that sits horizontally at the back of the machine. As the swing brake is applied it compresses the gas in the accumulator, absorbing the excess swing energy from the rotating superstructure and then releasing it back to the system when and where needed. Electronic Standardized Program- mable Pump or ESP. This is a smart pump, one controlled by a comput- er interface that is making decisions on input variables from the entire hydraulic system. Adaptive Control System (ACS) main valve. In a traditional hydraulic system, oil is pressurized, sent out to curl the bucket, move the boom or stick, rotate the superstructure, etc. product report | by Tom Jackson | TJackson@randallreilly.com Caterpillar's two-tier excavator strategy has something for everybody