Dig In: A Basic Look At Excavator History And Operation
Digging large holes and pulling stumps out of the ground was changed forever with the invention of excavators. Before the excavator arrived, people had to use their own power to move earth. Digging home foundations and clearing the land took ages when performed by hand. Your small construction crew can use rental excavators to clear and shape the land. Today’s full size and mini excavators come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but that wasn’t always the case.
Excavator History Observations
In 1888, heavy equipment manufacturers Menck and Hambrock used their factory to create the first excavator. This crude device featured a bucket shovel attached to a winch.
Over the next two years, Menck and Hambrock continued to hone their early excavator by placing it on tracks. Pleased with their work, they put the excavator up for sale to the general public at that time.
In the early 1900s, heavy equipment manufacturers realized the vast potential of this new machinery type and began creating their own units. In 1965, Terex Fuchs created the first hydraulic excavator. Today, CAT, Volvo, John Deere, and a host of other equipment manufacturers produce excavators that help your crew quickly mold the land to spec.
Utilizing Complex Components
Although the first excavators only included a bucket and winch system, modern ones feature a cab, counterweight, arm, boom, bucket and tracks.
Modern excavators have a cab and counterweight perched above the tracks. Your excavator operator can utilize the 300 horsepower diesel engine to move the tracks at a rate of 3 mph.
Attached to the cab is a long boom and arm actuated using hydraulic pumps. The arm has one or two bends that allows the operator to reach long distances and precisely deposit each load.
Safely Moving Earth
Highly advanced excavators feature a monitor that allows the operator to see in front and behind the equipment for better accuracy and safety. Your worker will use joystick controls to maneuver the bucket into position before grabbing up each load.
The tines on the bucket push deep into the dirt to pull up dirt, plant matter and rocks. There are several different buckets available for a variety of jobs, like ditch surfacing, granite removal and rock quarry cleanup.
Upgrades and Utilization
Excavator manufactures will continue to upgrade this machinery to meet the needs of the construction industry. You can borrow excavators and attachments from equipment rental agencies for a fee.
Since your crew doesn’t utilize excavators on a regular basis, it is not economically sound to own one outright. By renting excavators, your workers can benefit from upgrades released each year. You can do this through companies such as All Star Equipment Rental And Sales Inc.
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