Wednesday, 1 May 2013

The Diverse Types Of Construction Equipment

By Victor Kavlotsky


Construction equipment now makes much lighter work of tasks which were once back-breaking and labour intensive. Dedicated machines are available in sizes suited to large-scale operations or backyard improvements. Each will make complex tasks much simpler.

Whether needed by a home handyman or by an earth-moving contractor, there will be a heavy duty machine suited to the task. These machines are often hired, sometimes complete with a driver. Because of the dedicated nature of the implements, it is not usually economical for an individual or firm to purchase their own.

A bulldozer is one machine that is usually hired. These run on crawler tracks and have a front blade. A strong claw or ripper at the back of the machine is used to break up heavily compacted terrain.

Once the material is collected, a front end loader can be employed to scoop the material into its bucket. This is then lifted hydraulically and dumped where it is needed, perhaps onto a conveyor belt or into a dump truck. Much smaller but operating in a similar way is the bobcat or skid-steer loader. This works easily in confined spaces.

An excavator may run on wheels or tracks. The cab sits on a rotating platform. A bucket on the end of an arm operates hydraulically or with winches and steel ropes. An excavator digs up and draws material into the bucket. Mini-excavators are used in confined areas.

Dump trucks carry waste material away from sites and haul in whatever is needed. Once loaded, they are easily emptied by tipping the body up and letting the material slide out under a tailgate. Some trucks tip their loads off to one side of the other and some have a floor which opens up to let material through the bottom.

Flattening and smoothing an area can be done with a grader. Angling the long blade allows varying the gradient. Once levelled, a compactor compresses the area, providing a solid foundation. These are only a few of the options when considering construction equipment.




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