The Cat 336F L XE Hybrid hydraulic excavator captures and reuses energy, delivering an estimated fuel savings of up to 20 percent compared with its standard 336 counterpart.
A new Cat Production Measurement system enables operators to load trucks with just the right weight while allowing managers to remotely monitor the machine’s productivity, the company says. Other "connected" technologies are now standard. Grade technologies provide real-time bucket tip elevation guidance. Another addition is a payload system; it provides real-time weighing as the boom swings for efficient loading and optimum payloads. Operators can view load weights on the in-cab display and know when target payload is achieved. Productivity can be tracked from the cab—with quick access to payload weights, load and cycle counts, and daily totals. Site managers can wirelessly access payload data and machine operating data such as location, hours, idle time, fuel usage and events via Link technologies through the VisionLink web portal.
A 308-horsepower Caterpillar C9.3 engine meets Tier 4-Final emissions regulations. The inherent fuel efficiency of the C9.3 is further enhanced with automatic engine speed control, a programmable engine idle shutdown feature, and an ECO mode that allows operators to tailor machine performance to the application. The engine also runs efficiently on biodiesel blends up to B20.
The 336F XE uses the three building block technologies developed for earlier Cat Hybrid excavators to deliver fuel savings and performance. The Electronic Standardized Programmable (ESP) pump transitions between the hydraulic hybrid power sources, the engine, and the accumulator to conserve fuel. The Adaptive Control System (ACS) valve optimizes performance by intelligently managing restrictions and flows to control machine motion. Instead of wasting kinetic energy during swing braking, the Hydraulic Hybrid Swing System pressurizes the accumulator to stop the machine and then uses that pressure when needed to accelerate the machine later.
The ACS valve is the “brain” of the system, according to Cat, one that independently controls machine functions and directs hydraulic energy where operators need it precisely when they need it. Because the ACS valve is fully integrated with the pump and hybrid system, operators are said to experience the same control, hydraulic power, and lift capacity they get from traditional Cat machines with the added benefit of reduced fuel consumption. The ACS valve is now standard on larger machines like the 374F and 390F.
