What is a steam shovel?

The steam shovel was a digging machine powered by steam and regularly helps to move and lift heavy materials such as soil and rock. These machines were among the first driven seams that have ever been created. Although they were once widely used, with the advent of cheaper, more easily usable diesel shovels, they have dropped a favor and many have been discarded since then.

can be several variations, depending on the brand and model; However, many steam shovels were designed the same. They all carried the boiler, a water reservoir and a coal bunker, as well as a bucket, steam engines, operators' controls and a house that sat on a platform to protect the internal operation of the machine. Some steam shoes had regular wheels, while others were equipped with rail wheels or caterpillars. The way the shovel was mounted was another design variation. The first shovels were mounted on flat pegs that did not allow the shovel to swing more than a semicircular movement, while later the models were built on turntables.

William Otis invented and patented a steam shovel in 1839. Some of the first models with a partial playground consisted of motion engines and boilers mounted on the top of the railway chassis and equipped with flange wheels. Using early steam shoes required temporary tracks to be laid to move the machine where it was necessary to work. As the demand for this device increased, Caterpillar traces were installed, making it easier to move this machine from place to place.

Although Steam shovel has become a common and necessary piece of machines, while the railway network was built, it began to fall out of kindness under the age of 30. This was mainly due to the fact that the die -powered shovel was available and offered a cheaper and simpler alternative. In the fifties of the 20th century, some of the most famous developers of the steam shovel interrupted their production of these machines and many of the nIchs exist models have been discarded since then.

Despite the fact that the steam shovel is no longer used, some feel that these machines serve as an important part of history. Some models have been preserved and located in industrial museums and private collections. Ruston Proctor Steam Navvy No. 306 is a good example of protection effort. This machine was rescued from a water pit in England, renewed and placed in front of the well -known museum.