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A bulldozer is a tractor unit with a blade attached to its front. The blade is used to push, shear, cut, and roll material ahead of the tractor. It is an ideal earthmoving machine that performs best at about 5 kph. Each model of bulldozer has an operating range for blade size and adjustment.
Bulldozer's tracks and low center of gravity provide traction and stability on slopes and uneven surfaces. This increases the transfer of power to the ground. There are also a variety of blades and other appendages available for use with a dozer. These attachments enable the dozer to perform various tasks in different work conditions.
Choosing the right machine for the site terrain is extremely important. Therefore, one should ponder over the available options keeping in view the site conditions before opting for the equipment.
Contents:
Types of Bulldozers
Crawler Bulldozer
A crawler bulldozer also called as track bulldozer is apt for jobs that require high tractive effort. This heavyweight is great for moving heavy materials from one area to another.
This bulldozer is ideal for traversing dense and irregular terrain since the tracks give it great traction. Larger crawlers have rippers that help with crushing and clearing dense terrain.
Wheel Bulldozer
This machine is sometimes referred to as a tire bulldozer and is normally larger than a crawler bulldozer. Most wheel dozers are equipped with torque converters and power-shift transmissions, some are direct drive.
A wheel dozer is more maneuverable than a crawler since its tires offer better overall handling. It also has completely articulated hydraulic steering and moves on a smaller axis. This machine is also ideal to use for soft or sensitive ground since the tires are gentler than tracks.
Mini Bulldozer
This smaller bulldozer is also known as a compact bulldozer. A mini dozer is great for projects that require more maneuverability and versatility than larger machinery.
Due to its small size, a compact bulldozer can perform well in different types of projects that require tasks like grading and clearing lots.
Hybrid Bulldozer
Hybrid bulldozers are advanced equipment that makes use of electronic components and are equipped with a combination of blades that can work in waterlogged and very hard conditions simultaneously.
Today, we have bulldozers that can work even in swampy and muddy conditions. We have customized blades too that can be mounted over any type of vehicle like a tractor, all-terrain vehicles, and skid steers.
Applications of Bulldozer
- Land clearing
- Stripping of soils
- Sidehill cuts
- Excavation
- Spreading
- Dozing rocks or frozen ground
- Maintaining haul roads
- Clearing floors of borrow and quarry pits
- Towing other pieces of construction equipment
- Assisting scrapers in loading
Output of Bulldozer
Output of dozer in volume/hrs = loose volume handled / trip x S x 60/t x efficiency
Where,
S = Swell factor
t = Cycle time required per trip in minutes
For U shaped blades, blade height = blade depth
Loose volume handled per trip = blade width x blade height2 x blade factor
Cycle time in minutes = D/F + D/R + G
D = Haul distance in meter
F = Forward speed in m/min
R = Reverse speed in m/min
G = Gear shifting time in minutes
Output of Bulldozer = 25.3 x drawbar in Horse power / Distance in meters
Factors Affecting Output of Bulldozer
- Size and condition of Bulldozer
- Distance travelled by Bulldozer
- Speed of operation
- Soil properties like moisture content, particle size, void et cetera
- Efficiency
Also Read: What is Operating Cost of an Equipment?
Also Read: Construction Equipment – When to Buy, Rent or Lease?
