AMPHIBIOUS UNDERCARRIAGE

Amphibious Excavator Undercarriage & Its Attachments

Amphibious undercarriage (pontoon undercarriage) redefines versatility in amphibious equipment, enhancing stability and maneuverability for amphibious excavators and marsh buggy units. It experiences unparalleled performance in wetland terrains. RIVER’s amphibious excavators can adapt to various brands and models of upper excavators, ranging from 5 tons to 40 tons. Our amphibious undercarriage excavator and its attachments are designed to elevate your excavation projects with advanced technology and robust performance.

What is an Undercarriage for Amphibious Excavator?

An amphibious undercarriage is a specialized undercarriage system designed to enable excavators and other heavy machinery to operate efficiently in both water and on land. This system is particularly beneficial for work in challenging terrains such as swamps, marshes, wetlands, and shallow water bodies.

Amphibious Undercarriage Attachments

Additional side pontoons of an amphibious excavator, also known as additional pontoons or floating pontoons, are crucial attachments that enhance the stability and buoyancy of the amphibious excavator when operating in water. These pontoons are elongated, floatation devices mounted on the sides of the amphibious excavator’s undercarriage, extending its capability to tackle deeper and more turbulent aquatic environments.

Hydraulic positioning piles are a type of deep foundation system, utilizing hydraulic mechanisms to install piles deep into the earth to support structures by transferring their load to layers of soil or rock that have sufficient bearing capacity. They are crucial in construction and civil engineering projects, offering a robust solution for establishing foundational support where shallow foundations are not feasible due to poor soil conditions or when the structure is subject to heavy loads.

Key Features of Amphibious Undercarriage

Specially designed pontoons provide stability and flotation on water surfaces.

Robust materials resist wear and corrosion for longevity in harsh environments.

Allows seamless transition between land and aquatic settings, improving access to difficult terrains.

Wide track shoes minimize ground pressure, protecting sensitive ecosystems during operations.

HG785D High-Grade Steel ensures exceptional strength-to-weight ratio for structural integrity and durability.

Epoxy zinc-rich paint enhances strength and lifespan, resisting corrosion and abrasion in extreme conditions.

Benifits of Using Amphibious Excavator Undercarriage

  • Versatility in Terrain: The amphibious undercarriage allows excavators to transition seamlessly between land and water. This versatility is crucial for projects involving dredging, waterway maintenance, and construction in swampy areas.
  • Improved Stability: The buoyant pontoons and extended tracks provide increased stability on soft and unstable ground, reducing the risk of the machine tipping over or getting stuck.
  • Increased Accessibility: Excavators equipped with amphibious undercarriages can access and work in areas that are otherwise inaccessible to standard machines, such as marshes, lakes, and coastal regions.
  • Enhanced Safety: By maintaining stability and preventing the excavator from sinking or tipping, the amphibious undercarriage enhances operator safety, especially in hazardous working environments.
  • Efficiency and Productivity: The ability to work in both water and on land without the need for multiple machines or frequent repositioning boosts overall efficiency and productivity on the job site.
  • Environmental Impact: Amphibious undercarriages can minimize environmental disruption by reducing the need for extensive land-based support and infrastructure in sensitive ecosystems like wetlands.

Optional Amphibious Undercarriage – Customized Configurations From China Supplier

1. Hydraulic Extendable Undercarriage: Features advanced hydraulic systems for easy adjustments and improved operational control in diverse conditions. Customers sometimes choose this type of expandable pontoon undercarriage for easier transportation or to enhance operational stability. However, we shouldn’t just follow the trend, but should decide based on our actual needs. Otherwise, we may end up spending more money without necessarily increasing work efficiency.
2. Side pontoon: Additional side pontoons are auxiliary flotation devices attached to the sides of amphibious undercarriages. They serve several key purposes that enhance the performance and functionality of amphibious machinery.
3. Hydraulic Spuds/Positioning Piles: Hydraulic Spuds, also known as Positioning Piles, are a crucial component in stabilizing amphibious equipment, particularly in aquatic or unstable environments.

HOW TO CHOOSE A RIGHT AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR UNDERCARRIAGE FOR YOUR PROJECT?

Advantages of Amphibious Excavator Fabricated by RIVER :

  • Patented technology and ISO9001 quality certificated;

  • Customized pontoon undercarriage, to meet various construction projects;

  • Increased height of the chain plate, reinforced track chain and anti-corrosion;

  • Designed support bar inside the chain plate, more load capacity durability;

  • Modular design facilitates transportation and on-site installation

PONTOON UNDERCARRIAGE MATERIAL

Specialized Track Shoes Material

As the most imperative wear part, the track shoe cleats we produce are of China WISCO’s super high strength welding structure steel HG785D whose yield and tensile strengths are 685MPa and 785MPa respectively. Its impact energy under -20℃ is above 47J, and it enjoys good weldability and formability. The same material is selected for reinforcing the conjunction part of the pontoon’s side plate and top plate which is one of the key parts deciding the framework’s firmness. We choose stronger material than any other competitors around the world to effectively avoid the pontoon structure from deformation and win exceedingly high comments from customers about our track shoe cleats’ wearability and durability.

Track Chain Roller

We choose 40Cr steel (DIN 41Cr4) for our track chain rollers which are one of the most critical wear parts during the excavator’s daily operation. All rollers must be put through heat treatment including quenching and tempering to enhance the hardness to HRC50-56.

Wear Pad for Resistance

To ensure the wear pad would not be easily worn out by the track chains, we chose a special wear-resistant material NM400 for longevity. A high-quality material selection will extend the pontoon’s lifespan by 1-2 years on average.

Screws Adopted for Amphibious Excavator

All screws equipped on our swamp buggy are treated with the Dacromet process and must go through a salt spray test which lasts for 1000 hours. This highly improves the anti-corrosion ability of the screws, and thus allows the excavator to work longer in a more severe working environment. The maintenance and replacement cycle of spare parts are thus extended.

Hydraulic Oil Pipes & Fittings

The hydraulic oil pipe and fittings are imported from well-known brands with good durability, and the external surface of all oil pipes is coated with a protective layer of PVC to enhance their wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant properties. A tidy layout is maintained for all oil pipes in an orderly manner.

Guide&Drive Wheel Heat Treatment

To ensure reliable hardness and strength, both the front idler and drive sprocket of the PONTOON are specially heat-treated.

Why Choose RIVER’s Pontoon Undercarriage For Amphibious Excavators?

  • Heavy duty processing equipment, better processing skills.
  • High-precision equipment, excellence, quality Assurance.
  • Robotic auto welding of pontoon undercarriage.
  • More than 10 years of welding experience, meticulous and precise.
  • The sandblasting process removes rust strongly, each pontoon must go through shot blasting till Sa2.5 grade with surface roughness within 30-70um before getting coated.
  • Special paint for marine ships, the thickness of coating layer must achieve 160~200um and each pontoon must have 2 layers of primer and 2 layers of top coats.
  • Each H-frame is machined as a whole by a gantry type machining center and the circle of bolting holes are milled by the hole milling machine.

Cutting And Bending

Plasma Cutting

Welding

Sandblasting

Spray Painting

Polishing

H-frame Machining

Robot Arm Welding

Fully Automatic Shot-blasting And Painting Line

FIND YOUR RIGHT SOLUTION FROM CHINA MANUFACTURER

Partner with RIVER MACHINERY for top-quality amphibious excavators and pontoon undercarriages. Fill out the form below, and our team will respond promptly to meet your project needs!

Contact Form Demo (#1)

Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs)

The undercarriage is the assembly that supports and propels the excavator. It consists of several components, including:

  • Track Shoes: Plates that provide traction.
  • Track Chains: Interconnected links that hold the track shoes.
  • Rollers: Cylindrical wheels that support the machine’s weight.
  • Idlers: Stationary wheels that guide the track chains.
  • Sprockets: Gears that engage with the track chains to propel the machine.
  • Track Adjusters: Devices that maintain proper tension in the track chains.

Regular inspections are vital for extending the life of your excavator’s undercarriage. It is recommended to perform inspections every 1,000 to 2,000 operating hours. This helps in identifying wear and tear early, allowing for timely repairs or replacements. A thorough checklist can help ensure that no critical components are overlooked during inspections.

Common signs of wear include:

  • Track Shoe Wear: Look for cracks, missing pieces, or uneven wear patterns.
  • Track Chain Tension: Ensure chains are neither too loose nor too tight.
  • Roller and Idler Condition: Check for cracks, dents, or missing parts.
  • Sprocket Wear: Inspect for worn-out teeth or misalignment.
  • Track Adjuster Function: Ensure they are operating correctly to maintain track tension.

To extend the lifespan of your undercarriage, consider the following maintenance tips:

  • Regular Inspections: Conduct frequent checks to catch issues early.
  • Proper Tensioning: Ensure tracks are neither too tight nor too loose.
  • Correct Usage: Always dig toward the idlers and avoid digging back toward the sprockets.
  • Choose the Right Components: Select undercarriage parts based on the specific conditions of your job site.

Several factors can influence the lifespan of an excavator undercarriage, including:

  • Soil Conditions: Abrasive or wet soils can accelerate wear.
  • Operating Practices: Improper digging techniques can lead to increased wear.
  • Quality of Components: Using high-quality, OEM-recommended parts can enhance durability.
  • Frequency of Use: More hours of operation typically lead to faster wear

Unlike standard excavator undercarriages, amphibious undercarriages are designed with flotation and stability in water in mind. They feature pontoons for buoyancy, have a lower ground pressure to prevent sinking in soft terrain, and often include extendable tracks for improved traction. This specialized design allows amphibious excavators to access areas that would be impossible for conventional excavators to reach.

Yes, it is possible to convert an existing excavator to have an amphibious undercarriage. This process, often called retrofitting, involves replacing the standard undercarriage with an amphibious one. The specific process may vary depending on the excavator model and brand. Manufacturers of amphibious undercarriages often have databases of compatible excavator models and can provide customized solutions. However, it’s important to consult with experts to ensure the conversion is suitable for your specific excavator and intended use.

1. Reduced Drift and Movement: Hydraulic spuds anchor the equipment to the riverbed or seabed, limiting movement caused by water currents or wind, which can prevent accidents.
2. Enhanced Operator Control: With hydraulic spuds, operators can carefully control the position and elevation of amphibious equipment, allowing for safe and precise operations.
3. Increased Equipment Stability: By securing the equipment, hydraulic spuds minimize tipping or rolling, which can lead to operator injury or damage to the machinery.
4. Safe Transfer of Loads: When lifting or moving heavy objects, the stability provided by spuds ensures loads are safely handled without destabilizing the platform.
5. Protection Against Environmental Risks: In changing weather conditions or unexpected water level fluctuations, spuds provide stability, protecting both the operators and equipment against environmental hazards.

Hydraulic positioning piles can be driven deep into the ground to provide a stable platform for the excavator. The achievable depth will primarily depend on:

Length of the Piles: The longer the hydraulic piles, the deeper the excavator can be anchored, significantly increasing its working depth. Hydraulic piles can be several meters long, and by connecting multiple sections, their length can be increased to suit project requirements.

Excavator Reach: While the piles can stabilize the excavator platform further below the water surface or in deeper mud, the arm and bucket’s maximum reach and digging depth ultimately determine how deep the excavator can work.

Hydraulic Power: The capacity of the excavator’s hydraulic system to operate efficiently at extended depths. More power might be needed to counter increased resistance from water and to operate the arm and bucket effectively.

In practical terms, a standard amphibious excavator, under optimal conditions, can have a digging depth of around 6 meters (about 20 feet). By integrating hydraulic positioning piles, the stability and operational depth can be extended. However, exact figures can vary widely based on the specific equipment and setup used. For projects requiring depths beyond the typical range, specialized equipment or additional modifications might be necessary.

Side pontoons serve several important purposes:

  • They increase the overall stability of the excavator, reducing the risk of tipping in deep water or strong currents.
  • They provide additional flotation, allowing the machine to work in deeper water than it could with just the main pontoons.
  • They offer extra working space, which can be useful for storing tools or materials during operations.
  • They can help distribute the machine’s weight more evenly, reducing ground pressure in sensitive environments.

Yes, side pontoons are often equipped with hydraulic spuds, also known as retention pillars. These spuds are vertical poles that can be lowered into the water to anchor the excavator in place. The combination of side pontoons and hydraulic spuds greatly enhances the machine’s stability during operations in deep water or areas with strong currents. The spuds can be adjusted hydraulically to maintain the excavator’s position and level, even as water depths change.