Bulldozer Blade Research Articles

Bulldozer blade control

A simple control system for controlling a bulldozing blade was developed and tested. Both controls of the bulldozing load acting on the bulldozer blade and the blade position control were validated through an operational test. It was observed that the application of this control system could not only reduce the frequent up and down actions of adjusting the bulldozer blade considering the conditions of the load applied and the irregularity of terrain surface, but also could allow the operator to concentrate on the steering during the operation of earth moving.

Macroinvertebrate and periphyton response to streambed agitation for release of substrate-trapped hydrocarbons

Following a spill of more than 94.4 m3 of unleaded gasoline into Wolf Lodge Creek in northern Idaho, impacted areas were mechanically agitated to release substrate-trapped hydrocarbons by dragging a bulldozer blade with a tightly wound chainlink fence attached to it backward over the substrate. Portions of two riffles were left unagitated to determine if differential recovery of benthic macroinvertebrates and periphyton in cleaned vs uncleaned areas of the stream would occur. Chlorophyll a concentrations and densities of most macroinvertebrates were significantly lower (P ⩽ 0.05) in raked areas 12 days after stream cleaning. However, macroinvertebrate and periphyton community compositions were very similar 1 month after stream cleaning and for the remainder of the study. In spite of similar recovery times of macroinvertebrates and periphyton in raked and nonraked areas, the cleaning process is viewed as beneficial because it minimized possible chronic effects on the biota without causing substantial additional impact.

Enrichment of Hardwood Regeneration on Contemporary Clearcuts by Transplanting White Ash Saplings

Abstract Enrichment of regeneration on contemporary hardwood clearcuts was achieved by transplanting large (2-3 m) white ash saplings. One- and 7-year-old clearcuts at Acadia Forest Experiment Station, N.B., were treated by spot scarification with a bulldozer blade, planting the ash saplings, and protecting them from deer with plastic netting. After 4 years, the ash was competitive with the red maple stump sprout regeneration on the older clearcut, and dominated the regeneration on the current clearcut. Seed source (family) height and diameter differences of up to 60 cm and 9 mm, respectively, persisted in 1986. North. J. Appl. For. 5:200-203, Sept. 1988.

Effects of Land Clearing and Subsequent Management on Soil Physical Properties

AbstractLarge scale, mechanized land clearing is common in the humid tropics even though little attention has been given to defining and solving soil problems that may be created. The purpose of this study was to evaluate various combinations of land clearing method, burning of vegetation, post clearing tillage, and soil management on soil physical properties of a forested Ultisol in the Amazon basin. Land clearing methods used were (i) slash, (ii) bulldozer clearing with a straight blade, and (iii) bulldozer clearing with a shear blade. Specific effects associated with clearing were mechanization, bulldozer blade type, burning, disking, and chiseling. Post clearing soil management systems isolated effects of bedding, liming, and fertilization. Soil physical properties were measured before clearing and 14, 29, and 98 weeks after clearing. Compaction increased bulk density (ρb) of the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth for all clearing methods, but ρb of the 15‐ to 25‐ depth increased by 0.1 Mg m−3 only for the bulldozer cleared treatments. Soil texture of the 0‐ to 15‐cm depth was not altered by land clearing. Gravimetric water content at soil matric potentials < −2 kPa was greatest for the straight blade cleared soil. The infiltration rate 14 weeks after clearing decreased 37, 96, and 90% for soil cleared by slash, straight blade, and shear blade, respectively, as compared to initial conditions. Chisel plowing and disking the newly cleared land increased the infiltration rate compared with straight blade without chiseling. Detrimental changes in soil physical properties caused by clearing were minimized when post clearing management practices of bedding, fertilization, and liming were adopted.

A NORTHERN IDAHO GASOLINE SPILL AND CLEANUP USING STREAM BED AGITATION1

ABSTRACT On June 4, 1983, a backhoe operator digging in a Northern Idaho creek ruptured the Yellowstone Pipeline. Approximately 24,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline were released into Wolf Lodge Creek as a result of the spill. Due to the quick response by Yellowstone Pipeline Company personnel, most of the spilled gasoline was recovered prior to entering Lake Coeur d'Alene, located about three miles southwest of the spill site. Initial cleanup methods included deployment of a series of containment and sorbent booms downstream of the spill site and recovery of gasoline by pumping the gasoline from the creek into tank trucks. The effects of the spill on Wolf Lodge Creek were devastating. The creek was an important spawning area, wildlife habitat, and drinking water source. Federal and state officials concluded that additional cleanup of the creek was necessary, primarily because some of the spilled gasoline had been trapped in the stream bed underneath gravel and debris. A stream bed agitation technique was developed in an attempt to release the trapped gasoline without further damaging the creek. Following a month of negotiations, Yellowstone Pipeline Company agreed to conduct the stream bed agitation operation. Three inches of stream bed were turned over by dragging a bulldozer blade over the bed. Released gasoline was collected with sorbent material placed throughout the stream. Initial recovery of fish and invertebrate populations in Wolf Lodge Creek has been significant. Studies are currently being conducted to determine if invertebrate recovery in agitated areas of the the stream is greater than in unagitated areas.

Measurement of cutting and carrying force of sandy soil by a bulldozer blade

Measurement of cutting and carrying force of sandy soil by a bulldozer blade

On the Performance of the Bulldozer Blade by Lining UPE and the Abrasion Properties of UPE

On the Performance of the Bulldozer Blade by Lining UPE and the Abrasion Properties of UPE

Automatic Control of Bulldozer Blade : 3rd Report, Inclimination Control System for Blade Operation

ブルドーザによる平面掘削の自動化を目的に,排土板をその先端に装着したフレームの傾斜角を制御することにより排土板刃先の高さを制御する傾斜制御形レベル制御装置を開発した.本装置は,車体外部になんら高さの基準装置を必要とせず,しかも掘削作業が安定である.掘削実験の結果,こう配が0/1000～6/1000で,凹凸が±3cm以内の精度の平たんな掘削が可能であること,傾斜角の検出にジャイロスコープが有効であることを確認した.

Automatic Control of Bulldozer Blade : 2nd Report, Digging Test by Blade Height Control System

Automatic Control of Bulldozer Blade : 2nd Report, Digging Test by Blade Height Control System

Soil Failure Characteristics for Oscillating Tillage Tool and Bulldozer Blade Models

ABSTRACT AFLAT tillage tool and a model bulldozer blade were run in four artificial soils that ranged from brittle to plastic. Horizontal forces and the load in front of the bulldozer blade were compared for static and vibrating conditions. Tool frequencies from 0 to 40 Hz were used with an amplitude of 1.5 mm. High-speed movies showed that force reduction was directly related to the contact ratio.