FACTORS IN EFFICIENT USE OF POWER SHOVELS

SELECTION OF THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO SUIT THE JOB CONDITIONS IS THE CONTRACTOR'S RESPONSIBILITY. EXTENSIVE STUDIES IN HANDLING VARIOUS TYPES OF MATERIALS WITH VARIOUS TYPES AND SIZES OF EQUIPMENT WILL AID THE CONTRACTOR TO SELECT THE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO PERFORM THE WORK IN THE MOST ECONOMICAL MANNER. MORE DETAILED INVESTIGATION OF THE EXCAVATION TO BE ENCOUNTERED WILL ALSO AID THE BIDDER TO DETERMINE THE MOST SUITABLE EQUIPMENT TO HANDLE THE MATERIAL. THIS WILL AVOID COSTLY CHANGES IN EQUIPMENT AND UNNECESSARY DELAYS DURING THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK. POWER SHOVELS AND DRAGLINES ARE NECESSARY TO EXCAVATE CERTAIN MATERIALS. POWER SHOVELS ARE NEEDED WHERE ROCK OR HEAVY BOULDERS ARE ENCOUNTERED; DRAGLINES ARE A NECESSITY WHERE MATERIAL MUST BE EXCAVATED FROM WATER OR VERY SOFT GROUND WHERE OTHER TYPES OF EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE OPERATED. IT IS DESIRABLE FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO SELECT A MACHINE AS LARGE AS CAN BE JUSTIFIED, DEPENDENT UPON THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT AND THE NATURE OF THE MATERIAL TO BE HANDLED, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE LOWEST HANDLING COST. THIS DECISION, HOWEVER, MUST BE INFLUENCED ALSO BY TRANSPORTATION RESTRICTIONS. DESIGN ENGINEERS HAVE PARTIALLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM BY MAKING MACHINES WHICH CAN BE DISMANTLED AND REASSEMBLED WITH LESS WORK, SUCH AS REMOVABLE CRAWLER FRAMES, REMOVABLE COUNTERWEIGHT, AND MEANS TO UTILIZE THE POWER OF THE MACHINE TO AID IN REMOVNG AND REINSTALLING ATTACHMENTS, AS WELL AS IN LOADING AND UNLOADING. IT IS NECESSARY, THEREFORE, TO REVIEW THE LOAD LIMITATIONS IMPOSED ON TRANSPORTING MACHINES TO AND FROM THE JOB IF THE CONTRACTOR IS TO BE PERMITTED TO USE EQUIPMENT WHICH WILL PERFORM THE WORK MOST ECONOMICALLY. THE OUTPUT OF POWER SHOVELS AND DRAGLINES IS AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS IN ADDITION TO THOSE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. DEPTH OF CUT, DEGREE OF SWING FOR LOADING, NUMBER AND SIZE OF HAULING UNITS, AND OPERATOR EFFICIENCY ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT. SOME OF THESE ARE CLASSED AS MANAGEMENT FACTORS AND REQUIRE CAREFUL STUDY TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. STUDIES HAVE BEEN MADE WHICH POINT OUT CONSIDERABLE LOST TIME DUE TO THESE FACTORS. FURTHER STUDIES OF THIS NATURE WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO CONTRACTORS AND MANUFACTURERS. /AUTHOR/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 26, No 7, PP 31-33
  • Authors:
    • Jones, R P
  • Publication Date: 1956-7

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00215490
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: May 29 1972 12:00AM