Bulldozer - History of Bulldozer
The first bulldozer, as we now think of it, was invented by James Cummings and J. Earl McLeod in Morrowville, Kansas in 1923. They created a large, dirt-pushing blade that could attach to the front of a tractor. The tractor they used was designed for plowing fields, and had endless chain treads. Their patent for this "Attachment for Tractors" was approved in 1925.
The key features of a bulldozer are a large, front blade, and a powerful engine to make it possible to push large amounts of material. Large rubber wheels have become common, but many modern bulldozers still use the continuous chain treads. The chain treads spread out the weight of the bulldozer, which makes it easier for them to move over rough ground. Bulldozers are used all over the world to push large amounts of dirt, stones, rubble, or any other material. They are vital to work at mines, quarries, farms, and construction sites.
- The large, shoveling blade of a bulldozer existed before motorized vehicles. They were originally pulled by mules or horses, and were commonly used on farms to move dirt.
- Tractors with endless chain treads were invented by Benjamin Holt in 1904. These "crawler" tractors were less likely to sink in loose soil or sand.
- Benjamin Holt founded the Holt Manufacturing Company to produce tractors with treads for farming and agriculture. These vehicles were eventually nicknamed "caterpillars", and he renamed his company the Holt Caterpillar Company in 1910.
- The term "to bull-dose" meant applying a lot of medicine or punishment. The use of the term gradually changed to mean using force or intimidation to get your way, or using a lot of force to push through obstacles. In the late 1800s, large-caliber pistols were nicknamed "bulldozers" because they could be used to threaten people.
|
Related Links: |