Chapter 9

Excavators

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SHOVELS
 SHOVELS
William S. Otis, of the firm of
Carmichael, Fairbanks and Otis,
when living in Canton, Massachusetts
in 1834 and 1835, while his firm was
performing grading work for the
Boston & Providence Railroad built
the first steam excavator – a steam
shovel.
OTIS SHOVEL
AN EARLY
SHOVEL
 SHOVELS
Front shovels are used predominately
for hard digging above track level
and for loading haul units.
Loading of shot
rock would be a
typical
application.
STEP 1: BUCKET SIZE
Shovels can usually be equipped
with different size buckets. Bottom
dump buckets are also available.
STEP 1: BUCKET SIZE
Buckets are rated in both heaped and
struck capacities.
Both PCSA and SAE use a 1:1 angle
of repose for evaluating heaped
bucket capacity. CECE specifies a 2:1
angle of repose.
Heaped Capacity is the rating of
interest for Production Estimating.
STEP 2: FILL FACTOR
The Fill Factor adjusts Heaped
Capacity in lcy based on the type
of material being handled.
Table 9.1, page 258
STEP 2: FILL FACTOR

HEAPED BUCKET CAPACITY

× FILL FACTOR
= VOLUME (lcy)
STEP 3: CYCLE TIME
There are four elements in the
production cycle of a shovel:
1. Load bucket
2. Swing with load
3. Dump load
4. Return swing
See page 260
STEP 3: CYCLE TIME
Height of cut affects shovel
production. Optimum height of cut
ranges from 30 to 50% of
maximum digging height, with the
lower percentage being
representative of easy-to-load
materials, such as loam, sand, or
gravel. Table 9.2
STEP 3: CYCLE TIME
Angle of swing affects shovel
production. If the angle of swing
is increased, the time for a cycle
will be increased, whereas if the
angle of swing is decreased, the
time for a cycle will be decreased.
Table 9.2
 STEP 3: CYCLE TIME
Ideal production of a shovel is
based on operating at a 90°
swing and optimum height of
cut. The effect of the angle of
swing on the production of a
shovel is illustrated in Table 9.2.
 STEP 4: EFFICIENCY
FACTOR
When selecting a minutes per hour
efficiency factor visualize the work
site and consider:
• Materials being handled, bank or
broken
• Size of the shovels’s dumping target,
(large or small)
 STEP 5: CLASS of
MATERIAL
Production will
be in lcy, will
need swell
factor to adjust
to bcy.
TABLE 4.3
STEP 6: PRODUCTION
Working mins / hr
Total cycle time (min)
X Heaped Capacity (lcy)
X Fill Factor
X height/swing factor
= Production (lcy/hr)
 OTIS
STEAM
SHOVEL