In the late 1800s in America, the term "bulldozing" was used to describe the use of force in pushing over or pushing through some obstacle. By the 1930s the term was used to describe a machine that would be used to push over or through obstacles. Generally speaking, a bulldozer is a tracked vehicle with a large metal plate attached to the front. The plate is known as the blade, and it is used to feel the weight layers of soil or two cut through tree stumps or push other obstacles away.
Perhaps the best-known manufacturer bulldozers is Caterpillar, but over the years as engineers needed equipment to complete large-scale operations in earthmoving, other companies like, Komatsu, Fiat Allis, John Deere, International Harvester, and Case, to name a few, developed and manufactured their versions of the large track type earthmoving machines.
Over the years bulldozers have begun bigger and more powerful and much more sophisticated. Some of the areas of improvement include engines that are more powerful, more dependable drive trains, superior tracks, raised an enclosed cabins and and hydraulic arms that allow for precision in the movement and control of the blade. All of these developments have made bulldozers indispensable in commercial and even military construction.
Fuel efficiency
As with any commercial enterprise all elements of cost need to be considered when choosing which bulldozer is right for you. That means fuel consumption must be of some consideration, especially at times when the cost of fuel is rapidly increasing. A large commercial bulldozer, such as the Fiat Allis 31 will consume around 20 gallons of diesel per hour. The bulldozer's actual speech can be figured it about 2 mph so in the classic manner of figuring fuel mileage, you burn about 10 gallons per mile. The real problem in fuel consumption is that if you operate a bulldozer for eight hours in a day, you will require approximately 160 gallons for the shift. If the fuel tank holds 100 gallons, you can see that you are logistical problem keeping enough fuel to use the machine all day every day.
In selecting a commercial bulldozer you plan to use, you will want to come up with a formula for the amount of earth moved or task accomplished in the eight hour shift to determine the fuel consumption and the cost of operation of the bulldozer. Another consideration is the cost of getting the fuel to the location where the bulldozer will be working, as well as storage on the site.
Bulldozer blades
The blade of a bulldozer, of course, is installed at the front of the tractor. The function of the heavy metal plate is to push objects, manipulate rough obstacles, and that some cases carry sand, dirt, or debris. There are three typical types of bulldozer blades.
A straight blade, which is usually labeled S. blade, is a relatively short metal plate that has a flat surface, with no wings to the side. A typical use for the S. blade is fine grading.
A universal blade is usually designated as a U. Blade. This type of blade is tall in comparison to the S. blade. It has a very curved surface and large wings at each side. This design allows the blade to carry materials that have been dozed.
The third type of blade combines the features of the other two. An SU blade is shorter than the U. Blade, but taller than S. blade. It has some curvature and there are smaller wings at each side down a U. Blade. This type of blade is most often seen on bulldozers that are going to be pushing piles of large earth or rocks, such at a sand pit or quarry.
The choice of blade you want installed on your bulldozer will in large part be determined by the type of commercial enterprise in which you're going to use the bulldozer.
Commercial Bulldozer Attachments
Bulldozer manufacturer's offer of an assortment of attachments for their basic bulldozers in order to adapt the machine to the particular commercial venture the user has for the vehicle.
The most frequently found attachments at the rear of bulldozer would either be a ripper or a winch. Bulldozers used in logging sometimes are provided with grapples at the back.
Ripper sure most frequently found on large bulldozers, such as the type they are used in quarrying or strip mining. The function of the ripper is to break the surface rock into small pieces that will be easier to handle and allow for the grading to take place with the blade at the front of the bulldozer. There are several type of rippers, such as the multi-shank or the single shank. The choice of which type ripper to install will be dictated by the type of enterprise in which the dozer will be involved.
Another accessory to consider for your bulldozer is a canopy. The camp is attached at the top of the dozer and is intended to be a protective structure to help avoid injury in the case of a rollover or perhaps something falling on the bulldozer. To determine whether or not to add a canopy to your bulldozer you would weigh the cost of the canopy to the cost of injury to your bulldozer operator. Canopies and seat belts have saved many lives.
Commercial Bulldozer Manufacturer
Choosing a bulldozer free or commercial enterprise means that you'll need to way various manufacturers of bulldozers to determine which bulldozer company provides us the best quality, most versatility for your vehicle, and of course the best price.
Traditionally the first name that comes to mind when you are thinking of a commercial bulldozer is Caterpillar. They have a long history in a wide line of bulldozers from which to choose. They have a good reputation for durability, power, and quality.
But they are not the only manufacturer of commercial bulldozers. Those machines that have been competitive to Caterpillar and had to provide equipment that perhaps is a little cheaper, or a little more powerful than the comparable Caterpillar model. Among American based manufacturers, Fiat Allis is disappearing from the bulldozer market, but John Deere is another dependable name in heavy equipment. Allis Chalmers has a good reputation and the good history with their bulldozers. Also manufacturing bulldozers in America are Case and International Harvester
A Japanese manufacturer of bulldozers, Komatsu is becoming a very important company in the in the commercial bulldozer market. Komatsu is comparable to Caterpillar and power and quality and very competitive in price. Komatsu has a wide range of bulldozers from which to choose. They manufacture the world's largest bulldozer, which has an engine that produces over 1000 hp. They also make smaller bulldozers with rubber tracks that are just right for landscaping, even in small yards. The rubber tracks allow them to work on paved surfaces without destroying the pavement. The strikes are not as durable, and they do not provide as much traction as the typical and tracks. But they are versatile and the ability to work on paved surfaces make them attractive for some commercial enterprises.
Bulldozer tracks
The tracks on a bulldozer are very practical. They spread the weight of the vehicle out so that the dozer can go places where ordinary wheeled tractors cannot go. The tracks give excellent traction as well as mobility in difficult terrain. Widening the tracks can also help distribute the way the bulldozer over a wider area that is diminishing the pressure on the ground. This allows for less thinking in soft ground. The design of the track is intended to give a both traction and allow the bulldozer to use its own weight in the function of dozing obstacles that are in the ground.
For smaller sized bulldozers it is possible to have rubber tracks instead of the iron ones that are standard on most larger dozers. The rover tracks are made from integrated steel cord and a metal core with rubber components. To keep the rubber tracked from slipping off the undercarriage it is stabilized as the inner iron core attaches to the sprocket. One of the major reasons to consider rubber tracks on smaller commercial bulldozers is that they can work on paved surfaces and cross driveways and sidewalks without destroying the pavement. As is very desirable for those dozers are used in landscaping projects.
A side benefit from these rubber tracks is that when the crawler is an action there are low vibrations and with us a reduced noise level. The benefit of that is that there is less driver fatigue from a day on a dozer, which promotes safety.
