The construction industry is a tough industry, where doing the job right counts, and doing the job wrong costs. We’re talking about millions of dollars worth of machinery used on every job site, not to mention materials, hiring professionals, and making sure each aspect works together seamlessly. Here at SITECH, our Colorado construction technology, including everything from machine control systems to fleet and asset management, helps construction personnel work efficiently, while minimizing mistakes that might cost the company or decrease safety. We’ve been in the industry for a long time, and have learned a lot. If you’re interested in its history, here is a quick overview of the history of one of the industry’s more recognizable piece of equipment: the bulldozer.
Early Versions
The first bulldozers weren’t actually bulldozers, but adapted farm tractors made by Holt. Tractors were so versatile in different terrains that the technology actually contributed to the development on the armored tank in WWI. In 1923, two young men created the first designs that would one day become the modern-day bulldozer. One was James Cummings, a young farmer, and the other was J. Earl McLeod, a draftsman. They filed a patent for their design on December 18, 1923, which was issued on January 6, 1925 under the title “Attachment for Tractors”. A replica of the first bulldozer that they ever built is still on display in Morrowville, Kansas, where the actual first bulldozer was built.
Tracked vehicles were common by the 1920s, and so were these tractor attachments once they caught on. There were, and are, three different types of bulldozer blades. U-blades are the ones we conventionally associate with bulldozers, and are used for pushing and carrying dirt, even over great distances. Straight blades are used to knock dirt and rubble down and out of the way. Finally, brush rakes are used to remove rocks and brush from the ground. All three of these attachments were available for tractors as early as 1929. In the earliest versions of these bulldozers, drivers sat atop the whole machine to maneuver it, as there was no cabin to sit in.
Modern Bulldozers
Eventually, advances in technology and increasing need for stronger machinery led to the rise of the powerful bulldozer that we know today. Hydraulic cylinders provided extra down force, as opposed to just using the weight of the blade itself. It was about this time that the whole machine was dubbed a bulldozer, rather than just a tractor with attachments. Nowadays, we have trusted industry leaders like Caterpillar leading the way to innovation. Other major players in bulldozer construction include Komatsu, Case, Euclid, John Deere, and more.
Hopefully this little overview of the history of the bulldozer proved interesting. Here at SITECH, we provide construction technology solutions all across Colorado. We offer everything from machine control systems to fleet and asset management to not only save your company from unnecessary costs, but also improve productivity and worker safety as well. If you have any questions about our construction management software, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our professional representatives will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.