A bucket chain excavator (BCE) operates by using a series of buckets attached to a revolving chain to efficiently remove large volumes of material.
Core Mechanism
The fundamental principle involves a continuous loop of heavy-duty buckets mounted on a robust chain. This chain rotates around a structure, allowing the buckets to consecutively dig into and scoop up material.
- Buckets: Multiple buckets are fixed along the length of the chain.
- Chain: The chain acts as the conveyor, carrying the buckets through the material and lifting them once filled.
- Drive System: A powerful motor or engine rotates the chain, driving the digging process.
As the chain revolves, the empty buckets are lowered to the excavation face. They fill with material as they pass through it and are then lifted as the chain continues its rotation.
Material Handling
BCEs are designed for handling large quantities of material, such as soil, gravel, sand, or even softer rock. Once the filled buckets reach the top of the excavation frame, they typically discharge their contents onto a conveyor belt system integrated within the excavator. This belt then transports the material away from the digging point, often depositing it into trucks, trains, or spoil piles.
Unique Excavation Direction
A key characteristic of bucket chain excavators, as highlighted in the reference, is their ability to remove material from below their plane of movement. Unlike many excavators that primarily dig forward or slightly downward from their standing level, BCEs can excavate downwards beneath where the machine is positioned.
Benefits of Below-Plane Excavation
This distinctive digging method offers significant advantages in specific scenarios:
- Unstable Pit Floors: By digging below the machine's level, the excavator does not need to rest directly on potentially unstable ground at the bottom of a pit.
- Underwater Excavation: The capability to excavate material submerged underwater makes BCEs suitable for dredging rivers, canals, or working in watery mining environments.
Similar Equipment
Bucket chain excavators share functional similarities with other continuous excavation machines:
- Bucket-Wheel Excavators (BWEs): While BCEs use a chain of buckets, BWEs use a large rotating wheel equipped with buckets. Both are used for high-volume continuous excavation, particularly in mining.
- Trenchers: Some trenchers, especially chain-type trenchers, use a digging chain with cutters or buckets, similar to a BCE, but are typically used for excavating narrow trenches for pipelines or cables rather than wide-area pits.
In summary, a bucket chain excavator works by continuously digging and lifting material using a revolving chain fitted with multiple buckets, uniquely capable of excavating downwards from its operational level, which is particularly useful in challenging environments like unstable or submerged ground.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Mechanism | Buckets mounted on a revolving chain |
| Material Removed | Large quantities of bulk materials (soil, sand, etc.) |
| Excavation Direction | Below the machine's plane of movement |
| Key Advantage | Useful for unstable ground or underwater excavation |
| Similar Machines | Bucket-wheel excavators, trenchers |
