Excavation is most commonly and best known for a
technique within the science of archaeology. The
individual types of excavation are known simply
as digs to those who participate, with this being
an over literal description of the process. An
excavation concerns itself with a specific
archaeological site or connected series of sites,
and may be carried on over a number of years, since
the work is normally seasonal.
Within the industry of excavation, many more
techniques may be utilized, with each dig having
its own particular features that may necessitate
differences of approach. Resources and other
practical issues don't allow archaeologists to carry
out excavations whenever and wherever they choose,
as many known sites have been deliberately left
alone and non excavated.
Initially, excavation involves the removal of any
topsoil that is uncovered by machine. What is
dug up may be examined by a metal detector for stray
finds but unless the excavation site has remained
untouched for a long period of time, there is a
small layer of modern material on the surface that
is of limited archaeological interest.
In rural areas, any type of archaeological features
should be visible beneath the surface. With
urban areas, they may be thick layers of human
deposits and only the uppermost will be visible to
the naked eye. With either case, the first task
is drawing a scaled site plan that will show the
edges of the excavation.
This plan can be composed using tape measures, or
as it is more common these days, an electronic
total station. A grid is normally set up, to
divide the site.
Excavation is also useful for digging out houses
and trenches. When clearing dirt out for roads
or sub divisions, excavation is what takes care of
things. Even though there are a few means, the
term excavation is used anytime that the earth or
dirt is disturbed.
Heavy machinery is also very common with excavation,
such as excavators or backhoes. Excavating crews
run the equipment and dig up soil and rocks for
whatever the purpose may be. Excavators are the
most used machinery, as they can move a lot of dirt
in a little bit of time.
Anytime you are taking part in excavation, you should
always use common sense and be safe. If you plan
to get down into a hole or trench, you should always
use a trench box. Even though the hole may not
be that deep, excavation sites can always cave in
and at that point - things are very dangerous and
possibly even deadly.
For digging up rare artifacts or putting in houses
or roads, excavation is something that has been around
for years and years. There is a lot to learn with
excavation, as you'll need to know how to run
machinery, shoot grade, and how to properly dig
holes and trenches so they won't cave in.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Compact Excavator
The compact hydraulic excavator can be a tracked or
wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight
of 13,300 pounds. Normally, it includes a standard
backfill blade and features an independent boom
swing. The compact hydraulic excavator is also
known as a mini excavator.
A compact hydraulic excavator is different from other
types of heavy machinery in the sense that all
movement and functions of the machine are accomplished
through the transfer of hydraulic fluid. The work
group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid
acting upon hydraulic cylinders. The rotation and
travel functions are also activated by hydraulic
fluid powering hydraulic motors.
Most types of compact hydraulic excavators have
three assemblies - house, undercarriage, and the
work group.
House
The house structure contains the compartment for
the operator, engine compartment, hydraulic pump
and also the distribution components. The house
structure is attached to the top of the undercarriage
via swing bearing. Along with the work group, the
house is able to rotate upon the undercarriage
without limit due to a hydraulic distribution valve
that supplies oil to the undercarriage components.
undercarriage
The undercarriage of compact excavators consists of
rubber or steel tracks, drive sprockets, rollers,
idlers, and associated components and structures.
The undercarriage is also home to the house
structure and the work group.
Work group
The work group consists of the boom, dipper or
arm, and attachment. It is connected to the front
of the house structure via a swinging frame that
allows the work group to be hydraulically pivoted
left or right in order to achieve offset digging
for trenching parallel with the tracks.
Independent boom swing
The purpose of the boom swing is for offset
digging around obstacles or along foundations,
walls, and forms. Another use is for cycling in
areas that are too narrow for cab rotation. Another
major advantage of the compact excavator is the
independent boom swing.
Backfill blade
The backfill blade on compact excavators are used
for grading, leveling, backfilling, trenching,
and general dozer work. The blade can also be
used to increase the dumping height and digging
depth depending on it's position in relation to
the workgroup.
The most common place you'll find compact excavators
is in residential dwellings. When digging phone
lines or other things, these pieces of equipment
are very common for getting between houses. Due
to their small size, they can fit almost anywhere.
Over the years, the capabilities for compact
excavators have expanded far beyond the tasks of
excavation. With hydraulic powered attachments
such as breakers, clamps, compactors and augers,
the compact excavator is used with many other
applications and serves as an effective attachment
tool as well. Serving many purposes, the compact
excavator is a great addition to any job that
requires the use of machinery.
wheeled vehicle with an approximate operating weight
of 13,300 pounds. Normally, it includes a standard
backfill blade and features an independent boom
swing. The compact hydraulic excavator is also
known as a mini excavator.
A compact hydraulic excavator is different from other
types of heavy machinery in the sense that all
movement and functions of the machine are accomplished
through the transfer of hydraulic fluid. The work
group and blade are activated by hydraulic fluid
acting upon hydraulic cylinders. The rotation and
travel functions are also activated by hydraulic
fluid powering hydraulic motors.
Most types of compact hydraulic excavators have
three assemblies - house, undercarriage, and the
work group.
House
The house structure contains the compartment for
the operator, engine compartment, hydraulic pump
and also the distribution components. The house
structure is attached to the top of the undercarriage
via swing bearing. Along with the work group, the
house is able to rotate upon the undercarriage
without limit due to a hydraulic distribution valve
that supplies oil to the undercarriage components.
undercarriage
The undercarriage of compact excavators consists of
rubber or steel tracks, drive sprockets, rollers,
idlers, and associated components and structures.
The undercarriage is also home to the house
structure and the work group.
Work group
The work group consists of the boom, dipper or
arm, and attachment. It is connected to the front
of the house structure via a swinging frame that
allows the work group to be hydraulically pivoted
left or right in order to achieve offset digging
for trenching parallel with the tracks.
Independent boom swing
The purpose of the boom swing is for offset
digging around obstacles or along foundations,
walls, and forms. Another use is for cycling in
areas that are too narrow for cab rotation. Another
major advantage of the compact excavator is the
independent boom swing.
Backfill blade
The backfill blade on compact excavators are used
for grading, leveling, backfilling, trenching,
and general dozer work. The blade can also be
used to increase the dumping height and digging
depth depending on it's position in relation to
the workgroup.
The most common place you'll find compact excavators
is in residential dwellings. When digging phone
lines or other things, these pieces of equipment
are very common for getting between houses. Due
to their small size, they can fit almost anywhere.
Over the years, the capabilities for compact
excavators have expanded far beyond the tasks of
excavation. With hydraulic powered attachments
such as breakers, clamps, compactors and augers,
the compact excavator is used with many other
applications and serves as an effective attachment
tool as well. Serving many purposes, the compact
excavator is a great addition to any job that
requires the use of machinery.
Bulldozer
The bulldozer is a very powerful crawler that is
equipped with a blade. The term bulldozer is often
used to mean any type of heavy machinery, although
the term actually refers to a tractor that is fitted
with a dozer blade.
Often times, bulldozers are large and extremely
powerful tracked vehicles. The tracks give them
amazing ground mobility and hold through very rough
terrain. Wide tracks on the other hand, help to
distribute the weight of the dozer over large areas,
therefore preventing it from sinking into sandy or
muddy ground.
Bulldozers have great ground hold and a torque
divider that's designed to convert the power of the
engine into dragging ability, which allows it to
use its own weight to push heavy objects and even
remove things from the ground. Take the Caterpillar
D9 for example, it can easily tow tanks that weight
more than 70 tons. Due to these attributes,
bulldozers are used to clear obstacles, shrubbery,
and remains of structures and buildings.
The blade
The blade on a bulldozer is the heavy piece of
metal plate that is installed on the front. The
blade pushes things around. Normally, the blade
comes in 3 varieties:
1. A straight blade that is short and has
no lateral curve, no side wings, and can be used
only for fine grading.
2. A universal blade, or U blade, which is
tall and very curved, and features large side wings
to carry more material around.
3. A combination blade that is shorter,
offers less curvature, and smaller side wings.
Modifications
Over time, bulldozers have been modified to evolve
into new machines that are capable of things the
original bulldozers weren't. A good example is
that loader tractors were created by removing the
blade and substituting a large volume bucket
and hydraulic arms which will raise and lower the
bucket, therefore making it useful for scooping
up the earth and loading it into trucks.
Other modifications to the original bulldozer
include making it smaller to where it can operate
in small working areas where movement is very
limited, such as mining caves and tunnels. Very
small bulldozers are known as calfdozers.
History
The first types of bulldozers were adapted from
farm tractors that were used to plough fields. In
order to dig canals, raise earth dams, and partake
in earthmoving jobs, the tractors were equipped
with a thick metal plate in the front. Later
on, this thick metal plate earned the name blade.
The blade of the bulldozer peels layers of soil
and pushes it forward as the tractor advances.
The blade is the heart and soul of the bulldozer,
as it was the first accessory to make full use
for excavation type jobs.
As the years went by, when engineers needed
equipment to complete larger jobs, companies such
as CAT, Komatsu, John Deere, Case, and JCB started
to manufacture large tracked earthmoving equipment.
They were very loud, very large, and very powerful
and therefore earned the nickname "bulldozer".
Over the years, the bulldozers got bigger, more
powerful, and even more sophisticated. The
important improvements include better engines,
more reliable drive trains, better tracks, and
even hydraulic arms that will enable more precise
manipulation of the blade and automated controls.
As an added option, bulldozers can come equipped
with a rear ripping claw to break up pavement or
loosen rocky soil.
The best known manufacturer of bulldozer is CAT,
which has earned a vast reputation for making
tough and durable, yet reliable machines. Even
though the bulldozer started off a modified farm
tractor, it rapidly became one of the most useful
pieces of equipment with excavating and construction.
equipped with a blade. The term bulldozer is often
used to mean any type of heavy machinery, although
the term actually refers to a tractor that is fitted
with a dozer blade.
Often times, bulldozers are large and extremely
powerful tracked vehicles. The tracks give them
amazing ground mobility and hold through very rough
terrain. Wide tracks on the other hand, help to
distribute the weight of the dozer over large areas,
therefore preventing it from sinking into sandy or
muddy ground.
Bulldozers have great ground hold and a torque
divider that's designed to convert the power of the
engine into dragging ability, which allows it to
use its own weight to push heavy objects and even
remove things from the ground. Take the Caterpillar
D9 for example, it can easily tow tanks that weight
more than 70 tons. Due to these attributes,
bulldozers are used to clear obstacles, shrubbery,
and remains of structures and buildings.
The blade
The blade on a bulldozer is the heavy piece of
metal plate that is installed on the front. The
blade pushes things around. Normally, the blade
comes in 3 varieties:
1. A straight blade that is short and has
no lateral curve, no side wings, and can be used
only for fine grading.
2. A universal blade, or U blade, which is
tall and very curved, and features large side wings
to carry more material around.
3. A combination blade that is shorter,
offers less curvature, and smaller side wings.
Modifications
Over time, bulldozers have been modified to evolve
into new machines that are capable of things the
original bulldozers weren't. A good example is
that loader tractors were created by removing the
blade and substituting a large volume bucket
and hydraulic arms which will raise and lower the
bucket, therefore making it useful for scooping
up the earth and loading it into trucks.
Other modifications to the original bulldozer
include making it smaller to where it can operate
in small working areas where movement is very
limited, such as mining caves and tunnels. Very
small bulldozers are known as calfdozers.
History
The first types of bulldozers were adapted from
farm tractors that were used to plough fields. In
order to dig canals, raise earth dams, and partake
in earthmoving jobs, the tractors were equipped
with a thick metal plate in the front. Later
on, this thick metal plate earned the name blade.
The blade of the bulldozer peels layers of soil
and pushes it forward as the tractor advances.
The blade is the heart and soul of the bulldozer,
as it was the first accessory to make full use
for excavation type jobs.
As the years went by, when engineers needed
equipment to complete larger jobs, companies such
as CAT, Komatsu, John Deere, Case, and JCB started
to manufacture large tracked earthmoving equipment.
They were very loud, very large, and very powerful
and therefore earned the nickname "bulldozer".
Over the years, the bulldozers got bigger, more
powerful, and even more sophisticated. The
important improvements include better engines,
more reliable drive trains, better tracks, and
even hydraulic arms that will enable more precise
manipulation of the blade and automated controls.
As an added option, bulldozers can come equipped
with a rear ripping claw to break up pavement or
loosen rocky soil.
The best known manufacturer of bulldozer is CAT,
which has earned a vast reputation for making
tough and durable, yet reliable machines. Even
though the bulldozer started off a modified farm
tractor, it rapidly became one of the most useful
pieces of equipment with excavating and construction.
Backhoe Loader
Also referred to as a loader backhoe, the backhoe
loader is an engineering and excavation vehicle that
consists of a tractor, front shovel and bucket and
a small backhoe in the rear end. Due to the small
size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common
with small construction projects and excavation type
work.
Originally invented in Burlington Iowa back in 1857,
the backhoe loader is the most common variation of
the classic farm tractor. As the name implies, it
has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe
attachment on the back.
Anytime the loader and backhoe are attached it is
never referred to as a tractor, as it is not normally
used for towing and doesn't normally have a PTO.
When the backhoe is permanently attached, the
machine will normally have a seat that can swivel
to the rear to face the backhoe controls. Any type
of removable backhoe attachments will normally have
a seperate seat on the attachment itself.
Backhoe loaders are common and can be used for many
tasks, which include construction, light transportation
of materials, powering building equipment, digging
holes and excavating, breaking asphalt, and even
paving roads.
You can often replace the backhoe bucket with
other tools such as a breaker for breaking and
smashing concrete and rock. There are some loader
buckets that offer a retractable bottom, which
enable it to empty the load more quickly and
efficiently.
The retractable bottom loader buckets are often
times used for grading and scratching off sand.
The front assembly on a backhoe may be either
removable or permanently attached. Often times,
the bucket can be replaced with other tools or
devices. In order to mount different attachments
to the loader, it must be equipped with a tool
coupler. The coupler consists of two hydraulic
cylinders on the end of the arm assembly, which
can expand and retract to allow different tools to
be attached to the unit.
There are several types of backhoe loader brands,
including New Holland, John Deere, and Case. Some
will offer you cabs, while others won't. The
newer types of backhoe loaders even offer you air
conditioning, radios, and other accessories that
make you feel like you are working with luxury.
Common with excavating jobs, the backhoe can serve
many purposes. It can haul equipment and supplies
in the loader bucket. Another great use is to cover
up dirt when filling in trench lines or covering
up pipe that was just put in the ground. The
backhoe attachment at the rear is ideal for digging
water pipes and sewer pipes.
The best thing about the backhoe loader is the
fact that they are easy to operate. You don't
need to be a rocket scientist to fully operate this
nifty piece of equipment.
loader is an engineering and excavation vehicle that
consists of a tractor, front shovel and bucket and
a small backhoe in the rear end. Due to the small
size and versatility, backhoe loaders are common
with small construction projects and excavation type
work.
Originally invented in Burlington Iowa back in 1857,
the backhoe loader is the most common variation of
the classic farm tractor. As the name implies, it
has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe
attachment on the back.
Anytime the loader and backhoe are attached it is
never referred to as a tractor, as it is not normally
used for towing and doesn't normally have a PTO.
When the backhoe is permanently attached, the
machine will normally have a seat that can swivel
to the rear to face the backhoe controls. Any type
of removable backhoe attachments will normally have
a seperate seat on the attachment itself.
Backhoe loaders are common and can be used for many
tasks, which include construction, light transportation
of materials, powering building equipment, digging
holes and excavating, breaking asphalt, and even
paving roads.
You can often replace the backhoe bucket with
other tools such as a breaker for breaking and
smashing concrete and rock. There are some loader
buckets that offer a retractable bottom, which
enable it to empty the load more quickly and
efficiently.
The retractable bottom loader buckets are often
times used for grading and scratching off sand.
The front assembly on a backhoe may be either
removable or permanently attached. Often times,
the bucket can be replaced with other tools or
devices. In order to mount different attachments
to the loader, it must be equipped with a tool
coupler. The coupler consists of two hydraulic
cylinders on the end of the arm assembly, which
can expand and retract to allow different tools to
be attached to the unit.
There are several types of backhoe loader brands,
including New Holland, John Deere, and Case. Some
will offer you cabs, while others won't. The
newer types of backhoe loaders even offer you air
conditioning, radios, and other accessories that
make you feel like you are working with luxury.
Common with excavating jobs, the backhoe can serve
many purposes. It can haul equipment and supplies
in the loader bucket. Another great use is to cover
up dirt when filling in trench lines or covering
up pipe that was just put in the ground. The
backhoe attachment at the rear is ideal for digging
water pipes and sewer pipes.
The best thing about the backhoe loader is the
fact that they are easy to operate. You don't
need to be a rocket scientist to fully operate this
nifty piece of equipment.
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