Introduction to bulldozers
The term ‘bulldozer’ is used to describe a tractor that has caterpillar tracks and a blade. Bulldozers are sturdy, powerful machines used for digging, lifting and pushing materials like soil, rubble, rocks and snow. Bulldozers are used in engineering, construction, agriculture and military operations. Although many people use the word ‘bulldozer’ to describe all heavy engineering vehicles, the official meaning of the word is a caterpillar tracked tractor with a blade.
The bulldozer was invented by James Cummings and J. Earl McLeod in 1923. The earliest model was developed from Holt farm tractors used for ploughing fields. Bulldozers were originally used to move earth, build dams and dig canals. Early models had curved metal blades and didn’t feature the driver cabins found on modern bulldozers. Instead, drivers sat on top of the machine. Attachments such as claws and rakes were controlled using cables.
Modern bulldozers are larger and more powerful than older models. They now have hydraulic arms to control attachments, an enclosed cabin for the driver to sit in and a straight blade.
