Definition of Backhoe
A backhoe is a machine that can do the work of a front-end loader, a bulldozer and an excavator. This versatile piece of heavy equipment is used for excavating, landscaping, smaller construction and urban engineering projects. It’s similar to a tractor with a front loader mounted in front and an arm and bucket on the rear. Because it sits on a diesel-powered tractor, it can be driven directly to a job site rather than being loaded onto a trailer and hauled. Does this Spark an idea?
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Development
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An attachment makes the backhoe effective in moving tools and equipment. The backhoe was developed in 1953 by Joseph Bamford in United Kingdom, where it is called a “JCB” after the inventor. He added a front-mounted bucket and a backhoe to a farm tractor, creating an extremely versatile piece of equipment. Backhoes became very popular in the U.S. by 1960.
A Versatile Piece of Equipment
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The backhoe scoop has many uses. Their precise controls and relatively small size make backhoe loaders useful in a variety of construction projects, small demolitions, landscaping, moving building materials, excavations, breaking asphalt and paving roads.
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Front-End Loader Uses
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The backhoe can excavate much faster than a group of men. This machine removes excess dirt from a site or places it into a hole in a process called back-filling. The front-mounted bucket can tamp down loose soil, making a level grade. Some buckets have a retractable bottom called a “clam shell” which empties its load more efficiently and is often used for scraping and grading. The front assembly of the bucket may be removed to attach other tools. A loader can be equipped with a tool coupler that can expand and retract, allowing different tools to be attached to the unit. The tilt-rotator is a device that allows greater articulation of the attachments, making this an adaptable machine for carrying tools.
How a Backhoe Works
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New compact models can be used for small construction projects. A backhoe digs by drawing earth backward, instead of lifting it forward the way a bulldozer works or a person uses a shovel. The operator must be able to handle a backhoe scooper as well as the front-end loader. The backhoe is more complex, requiring skill and experience, because the operator must be able to use a joystick while he’s driving the tractor. There are three separate hydraulic joints that must be operated in coordinated steps. The machine arm is extended to dig, then draw the bucket back and then push it through the soil. This process is repeated until a hole or trench is dug. The hydraulic system can deliver tens of thousands of pounds of pressure, far surpassing men with shovels, and it takes little time to get a job done.
Backhoe Innovations
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The backhoe can be driven to the worksite. Kubota has manufactured small, compact tractors, sold with a backhoe setup, to homeowners for minor excavation projects. The Dynahoe was originally developed in 1959 by Bucyrus-Erie with a gasoline-powered engine. In 1970, a four-wheel-drive system was incorporated into a diesel-powered backhoe loader. It can maneuver in rugged terrain and has been followed by the 590 Turbo designed by Case with a twin turbo setup attached to the engine, increasing power. The Thumb is a newer scoop, with a hinged metal bar, used like a thumb to pick things up.
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References
- Photo Credit Backhoe image by kenmo from Fotolia.com construction equiptment image by sonya etchison from Fotolia.com backhoe bucket image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com construction worker image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com demolish old house image by Kimberly Reinick from Fotolia.com backhoe wheel image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
