JCB and Randle Engineering Solutions co-operated extremely closely during the three-year program for the design and development of the JCB High Mobility Engineer Excavator (HMEE) – a high-speed relative of JCB’s Fastrac, 3 & 4CX range of backhoe loaders, specifically developed for the US military as a replacement for their Small Emplacement Excavator.
The vehicle is a high-speed variant of the classic “JCB” with the specific aim of being able to travel at convoy speeds up to 55mph and therefore offering far more options to the military commanders in the field. The HMEE is currently on deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq with the US Army.
The project
Randle Engineering Solutions were contracted onto the JCB project team to assist with the front and rear suspension and steering systems, as well as the structural engineering of much of the modified front end and backhoe loaders, which were designed specifically for this vehicle.
The army’s typical road speed requirement is 55 mph (88 kph). To travel safely on what may be public roads at this speed requires: more powerful engines, truck type transmissions matched to the power units, sophisticated suspension systems for dual on- and offhighway use, and ABS braking and steering systems to comply with highway regulations for safety at speed in all conditions. The JCB HMEE meets all of these requirements and more.
HMEE features height-adjustable gas-hydraulic suspension system for travelling, with the ability to lock the front suspension completely in two different modes of operation for excavation work, and also features triple mode four-wheel steering for optimum manoeuvrability and stability at high speeds.
The result is a backhoe loader capable of 55 mph (88 kph) on the road, but that also offers superb off-highway performance. A 12 ton, 4-wheel drive, 4-wheel steer machine with a 6.7-liter diesel engine, the HMEE can lift more than 4,400 lbs and dig to a depth of almost 13 ft. It is designed to be air transportable inside a C-130 (Hercules) aircraft, and armoured cab versions are also available.
The project, from concept brief to completed running prototype vehicle, took just 12 months, and the final vehicle and its performance on test with the US military at TACOM in 2005 resulted in a “contract worth $230 million and is the largest equipment order in JCB’s history”.
For more information visit JCB's HMEE website : www.jcb.com/hmee/