The First Hydraulic Excavator

摘要

The realization first came to equipment builders in the 1880s: Applied hydraulic force made for more efficient digging power in an excavating machine than did cables or chains. The first excavator to use hydraulic technology was built in 1882 by Sir W.G. Armstrong & Co. in England. A water-powered cylinder combined with a set of cables reeved through multiplying sheaves to power the bucket, so it was not a true hydraulic machine. The idea was not successful, neither on this machine nor on a machine of similar design built in 1914 by the Frank F. Armstrong Co. (unrelated) for Penn Iron Mining Co. The first all-hydraulic model was the Direct Acting excavator built by the Kilgore Machine Co. in 1897. Four steam cylinders powered the boom and bucket-no cables or chains required. Kilgore touted several advantages of the design, compared with conventional cable- or chain-operated shovels. All motions, including both ends of each cylinder's stroke, were cushioned, eliminating shock or damage when working at full stroke at high speed.