Heavy equipment
Engineering vehicles are heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing civil engineering (construction) tasks, most frequently, ones involving earth moving. They are also known as construction equipment, earth movers, heavy equipment or just plain equipment. They usually comprise five equipment systems: implement, traction, structure, power train, control and information.[1] Through the mechanical advantage of a simple machine, the ratio between input force applied and force exerted is multiplied.[2] Currently most equipment use hydraulics as a primary source of transferring power. The use of heavy equipment has a long history. The ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius (1st century BCE) gave detailed descriptions of heavy equipment and cranes in ancient Rome in his treatise De architectura.[citation needed]
Types
Images
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Wheel loader -
Grader (plowing snow here) -
Military scraper -
Landfill compactor (tamping tip) -
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A wheeled front loader at work. This wheeled tractor is equipped with a large bucket, which can be raised or lowered by hydraulic arms. -
Reconditioned Caterpillar 825G Soil Compactor
Implements and Hydromechanical Work Tools
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Traction: Off-the-road tires[3] and Tracks
Heavy equipment requires specialized tires for various construction applications. While many types of equipment have continuous tracks applicable to more severe service requirements, tires are used where greater speed or mobility is required. An understanding of what equipment will be used for during the life of the tires is required for proper selection. Tire selection can have a significant impact on production and unit cost. There are three types of off-the-road tires, transport for earthmoving machines, work for slow moving earth moving machines, and load and carry for transporting as well as digging. Off-highway tires have six categories of service C compactor, E earthmover, G grader, L loader, LS log-skidder and ML mining and logging. Within these service categories are various tread types designed for use on hard-packed surface, soft surface and rock. Tires are a large expense on any construction project, careful consideration should be given to prevent excessive wear or damage.
Structure
- "This system connects components, transmits loads, provides attachment points for implements, and allows the machine to travel over uneven ground. The machine’s frame, articulation, and steering for wheeled equipment are the major parts of this system."[4]
Power train
Control and Information
- "The control and information systems. These systems enable the operator to direct and control all the other systems and provide information to guide operations or to monitor the performance and health of the equipment."[5]
Equipment operators
* see Heavy equipment operator
operator training
The International Union of Operating Engineers has equipment schools where apprentice operators are trained.
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers provides effective safety training materials for operators of rough terrain forklifts and operators of industrial and agricultural mowers.
The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools provides American national certification for heavy equipment operator
Interior Heavy Equipment School (www.iheschool.com) provides Canadian certification for heavy equipment operators
Currently there is not an international association of heavy equipment schools.
Equipment Cost[6]
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Depreciation can be calculated several ways, the simplest is the straight-line method. The annual depreciation is constant, reducing the equipment value annually. The following are simple equations paraphrased from the Peurifoy & Schexnayder text:
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m = some year in the future N = equipment useful life (years) and Dn = Annual depreciation amount
Book value (BV) in year m
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example: N = 5 purchase price = $350,000 m = 3 years from now
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Operating Cost
For an expense to be classified as an operating cost it must be incurred through use of the equipment. These costs are as follows[7]:
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The biggest distinction from a cost standpoint is if a repair is classified as a major repair or a minor repair. A major repair can change the depreciable equipment value due to an extension in service life while a minor repair is normal maintenance. Major repairs are charged to the equipment and minor repairs are charged to the job. It is advantageous for projects to classify all repairs as major while the equipment department will desire to classify all repairs as "minor" and charge the work to a job.
Models
Die-cast metal promotional scale models of heavy equipment are often produced for each vehicle to give to prospective customers. These are typically in 1:50 scale. The popular manufacturers of these models are Conrad and NZG in Germany, even for US vehicles.
Manufacturers
The leading global manufacturers of construction equipment (in order):[citation needed]
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Komatsu
- Terex
- CNH Global (CASE, New Holland, Kobelco)
- Volvo Construction Equipment [citation needed]
- Deere & Company
- Doosan Group (Bobcat Company)
- Hitachi Construction Machinery
(a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd.; inc: Euclid Trucks) - Bell Equipment
- Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
Other manufacturers:
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References
- ^ C. B. Tatum et al., J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt. 132, 987 (2006) [1]
- ^ "Machine." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 May 2008, 20:01 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 25 May 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Machine&oldid=214260935>.
- ^ Caterpillar Performance Handbook. Peoria, Illinois: Caterpillar Tractor Company. Serial Publication.
- ^ C. B. Tatum et al., J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt. 132, 987 (2006) [2]
- ^ C. B. Tatum et al., J. Constr. Engrg. and Mgmt. 132, 987 (2006) [3]
- ^ Peurifoy & Schexnayder "Construction Planning Equipment, and Methods" McGraw Hill 6th edition ISBN 0-07-232176-8, 2002.
- ^ Bartholomew, S.H. “Estimating and Bidding for Heavy Construction” CSU Chico, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-598327-4, 2000