Backhoe

A backhoe loader, also called a loader backhoe, a digger, and commonly shortened to backhoe, is a heavy equipment vehicle that consists of a tractor fitted with a shovel/bucket on the front and a small backhoe on the back. Due to its relatively small size and versatility, backhoe loaders are very common in urban engineering and small construction projects (such as building a small house, fixing urban roads, digging small canals, etc).

The History of Backhoe 

The backhoe loader was invented in the UK in 1953 by Joseph Cyril Bamford, founder of  well known J. C. Bamford (JCB), by equipping a farm tractor with both a backhoe and a front-mounted loading bucket. Although based on a tractor, a backhoe loader is almost never called a tractor when both the loader and the backhoe are permanently attached. Backhoe loaders are also not generally used for towing and usually do not have a power take-off (PTO). When the backhoe is permanently attached, the machine usually has a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the hoe controls. Removable backhoe attachments almost always have a separate seat on the attachment itself.

In Britain and Ireland they are commonly referred to simply as JCBs due to the company being the inventor and major supplier. In the United States, they are often referred to as "Backhoes", although the term 'backhoe' only refers to one component.

In 1970, Hy-Dynamic now a division of Bucyrus-Erie, manufacturer of the Dynahoe was the first company to incorporate a four wheel drive system into their backhoe loaders, allowing these models to go over almost any terrain with little difficulty.

The Use of Backhoe

Backhoe loaders are very common and can be used for a wide variety of tasks: construction, small demolitions, light transportation of building materials, powering building equipment, digging holes/excavation, landscaping, breaking asphalt, and paving roads. The backhoe bucket can also be replaced with powered attachments such as a breaker, grapple, auger, or a stump grinder. Enhanced articulation of attachments can be achieved with intermediate attachments such as the tiltrotator. Many backhoes feature quick coupler (quick-attach) mounting systems and auxiliary hydraulic circuits for simplified attachment mounting, increasing the machine's utilization on the job site. Some loader buckets have a retractable bottom or "clamshell", enabling it to empty its load more quickly and efficiently. Retractable-bottom loader buckets are also often used for grading and scraping. The front assembly may be a removable attachment or permanently mounted. Often the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools. The backhoe loader must be equipped with a tool coupler in order to mount different attachments to the loader. A tool coupler consists of two hydraulic cylinders on the end of the loader arm assembly which can expand and retract allowing different tools to be attached to the unit. Advanced couplers like the tiltrotator allow for greater articulation of attachments and makes the backhoe an effective tool carrier.

Because the design is intrinsically top-heavy and the swinging weight of the backhoe could cause the vehicle to tip, most backhoe loaders use hydraulic outriggers only at the back when digging and lower the loader bucket for additional stability. This means that the bucket must be raised and the outriggers retracted when the vehicle needs to change positions, reducing efficiency. For this reason many companies offer miniature tracked excavators, which sacrifice the loader function for increased digging efficiency.

Their relatively small frame and precise control make backhoe-loaders very useful and common in urban engineering projects such as construction and repairs in areas too small for larger equipment. Their versatility and compact size makes them one of the most popular urbanconstruction vehicles. For larger projects, a tracked excavator is generally used.

In recent years, small compact tractors from manufacturers such as Kubota have become very popular with private homeowners. Subcompact tractors, the size between a compact tractor and lawn tractor, are also often sold in backhoe loader setup, sometimes with a belly-mounted mower also included. These tractors offer private homeowners the ability to perform minor excavation projects.

Manufacturers

• Bharat Earth Movers Limited   
• Case Corporation
• Caterpillar Inc.
• Fiat
• Hitachi, Ltd.
• Hydrema
• Hidromek
• J. C. Bamford (JCB)
• John Deere Tractors
• Komatsu LTD
• New Holland Ag
• Terex
• Venieri
• Volvo Construction Equipment
• Russian manufacturers:

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• • Belorussia manufacturers:

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  • • Ukraine manufacturers:

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