A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction. A farm is an area of land including various structures devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food ( Produce, Grains, or Livestock Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. Tractive Effort (abbr TE is the pulling force exerted normally by a Locomotive, though the term could also be used for anything else that pulls a load A Trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure Most commonly, the term is used to describe the distinctive farm vehicle: agricultural implements may be towed behind or mounted on the tractor, and the tractor may also provide a source of power if the implement is mechanised. A farm is an area of land including various structures devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food ( Produce, Grains, or Livestock Agricultural machinery is any kind of Machinery used on a Farm to help with Farming. Another common use of the term is for the power unit of a semi-trailer truck. truckcartransporterarp750pixjpg|thumb|right|A tractor with an auto-transport Semi-trailer.

The word tractor was taken from Latin, being the agent noun of trahere "to pull". Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. In Linguistics, a grammatical agent is the Participant of a situation that carries out the action in this situation ^[1],[2]. The first recorded use of the word meaning "an engine or vehicle for pulling wagons or ploughs" occurred in 1901, from the earlier term traction engine (1859). A traction engine is a self-propelled Steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location ^[3]

The first tractors were steam-powered ploughing engines. A traction engine is a self-propelled Steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location They were used in pairs either side of a field to haul a plough back and forth between them using a wire cable.

Contents 1 National variations 2 Farm tractor 2.1 History 2.2 Operation 2.3 Power and transmission 2.4 Safety 2.5 Applications 2.6 Precision agriculture 3 Compact Utility Tractor 4 Backhoe loader 5 Engineering tractors 6 Garden Tractors 7 EPA tractor 8 Other types of tractors 9 Manufacturers 10 See also 11 References 12 External links 12.1 Tractor safety

National variations

In Britain, Ireland, Australia, India, Spain, and Poland the word "tractor" usually means "farm tractor", and the use of the word "tractor" to mean other types of vehicles is familiar to the vehicle trade but unfamiliar to much of the general public. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland In Canada and the US the word is also used to refer to a road tractor. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A tractor unit, traction unit, road tractor or prime mover ( Australian English) is a Heavy-duty Vehicle, usually with

Farm tractor

The most common use of the term is for the vehicles used on farms. Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. A farm is an area of land including various structures devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food ( Produce, Grains, or Livestock The farm tractor is used for pulling or pushing agricultural machinery or trailers, for plowing, tilling, disking, harrowing, planting, and similar tasks. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The plough ( American spelling plow; both plaʊ is a Tool used in Farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed Charles City, Iowa is the birthplace of the farm tractor in the early 1900's by the Hart-Parr Company, Later sold to White Tractor.

History

The first powered farm implements in the early 1800s were portable engines – steam engines on wheels that could be used to drive mechanical farm machinery by way of a flexible belt. A portable engine is a small Steam engine, mounted on wheels or skids which is used for driving machinery using a belt from its Flywheel. Around 1850, the first traction engines were developed from these, and were widely adopted for agricultural use. A traction engine is a self-propelled Steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location Where soil conditions permitted, like the US, steam tractors were used to direct-haul ploughs, but in the UK and elsewhere, ploughing engines were used for cable-hauled ploughing instead. This article refers to the steam-powered agricultural tractor for other types of steam tractor see Traction engine A steam tractor is a vehicle A traction engine is a self-propelled Steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location Steam-powered agricultural engines remained in use well into the 20th century, until reliable internal combustion engines had been developed. A traction engine is a self-propelled Steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location ^[4] (Image of a steam-powered ballast tractor for road haulage work.)

In 1892, John Froelich built the first practical gasoline-powered tractor in Clayton County, Iowa. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year John Froelich ( August 9, 1849 – May 23, 1933) was an American inventor who lived in Clayton County Iowa, and invented the first practical Clayton County is a County located in the US state of Iowa. It was established in 1837 and was named in honor of John M Only two were sold, and it was not until 1911, when the Twin City Traction Engine Company developed the design, that it became successful. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

In Britain, the first recorded tractor sale was the oil-burning Hornsby-Ackroyd Patent Safety Oil Traction engine, in 1897. Herbert Akroyd-Stuart ( January 28 1864, Halifax Yorkshire, England - February 19 1927, Halifax) was A traction engine is a self-propelled Steam engine used to move heavy loads on roads plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common However, the first commercially successful design was Dan Albone's three-wheel Ivel tractor of 1902. Daniel Albone ( 12 September 1860 – 30 October 1906) was an English inventor manufacturer and cyclist In 1908, Saundersons of Bedford introduced a four-wheel design, and went on to become the largest tractor manufacturer outside the USA. Bedford is the County town of Bedfordshire, England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the Bedford borough

While unpopular at first, these gasoline-powered machines began to catch on in the 1910s when they became smaller and more affordable. Henry Ford introduced the Fordson, the first mass-produced tractor in 1917. Henry Ford ( July 30, 1863 &ndash April 7, 1947) was the American founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of The Fordson model F tractor by the Ford Motor Company was the first agricultural Tractor to be mass produced. They were built in the U. S. , Ireland, England and Russia and by 1923, Fordson had 77% of the U. S. market. The Fordson dispensed with a frame, using the strength of the engine block to hold the machine together. By the 1920s, tractors with a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine had become the norm. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the Combustion of Fuel and an Oxidizer (typically air occurs in a confined space called a

The classic farm tractor is a simple open vehicle, with two very large driving wheels on an axle below and slightly behind a single seat (the seat and steering wheel consequently are in the center), and the engine in front of the driver, with two steerable wheels below the engine compartment. Steering is the term applied to the collection of components linkages etc This basic design has remained unchanged for a number of years, but enclosed cabs are fitted on almost all modern models, for reasons of operator safety and comfort.

Originally, plows and other equipment were connected via a draw-bar, or a proprietary connecting system; prior to Harry Ferguson patenting the three-point hitch. The plough ( American spelling plow; both plaʊ is a Tool used in Farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed Henry George (Harry Ferguson ( November 4, 1884 - October 25, 1960) had an important role in the development of the modern Agricultural The three-point hitch ( British English: three-point linkage) most often refers to the way Ploughs and other implements are attached to an Recently, Bobcat's patent on its front loader connection has expired; and compact tractors are now being outfitted with quick-connect attachments for their front-end loaders. Bobcat Company is a Manufacturer of farm and construction equipment with headquarters in West Fargo North A loader is a type of construction equipment (engineering vehicle machinery that is primarily used to "load" material (asphalt demolition debris

There are also lawn tractors. A lawn mower or lawnmower is a machine that has one or more revolving blades to cut a Lawn at an even length Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and Toro are some of the better-known brands. Cub Cadet is a premium line of outdoor power equipment established in 1961 as part of International Harvester During the 1960s IH initiated an entirely new line of Husqvarna AB ( is a Swedish company that is the world's largest manufacturer of Chainsaws, lawn and garden equipment and cutting equipment for the stone and construction industries Deere & Company (usually known by its brand name John Deere) ( is an American Corporation based in Moline Illinois, and the leading manufacturer Massey Ferguson Limited was a major Agricultural equipment manufacturer based in England Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, The Toro Company ( is an American manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment ( lawnmowers) and water-saving

Operation

Modern farm tractors usually have five foot-pedals for the operator on the floor of the tractor. The pedal on the left is the clutch. A clutch is a mechanism for transmitting rotation which can be engaged and disengaged The operator presses on this pedal to disengage the transmission for either shifting gears or stopping the tractor. Two of the pedals on the right are the brakes. A brake is a device for slowing or stopping the motion of a Machine or Vehicle, or alternatively a device to restrain it from starting to move again The left brake pedal stops the left rear wheel and the right brake pedal does the same with the right side. This independent left and right wheel braking augments the steering of the tractor when only the two rear wheels are driven. This is usually done when it is necessary to make a tight turn. The split brake pedal is also used in mud or soft dirt to control a tire that spins due to loss of traction. The operator presses both pedals together to stop the tractor. For tractors with additional front-wheel drive, this operation often engages the 4-wheel locking differential to help stop the tractor when travelling at road speeds. A locking differential or locker is a variation on the standard automotive differential.

A fifth pedal just in front of the seat operates the rear differential lock (diff lock) which prevents wheelslip. The differential allows the outside wheel to travel faster than the inside one during a turn. However, in traction conditions on a soft surface the same mechanism could allow one wheel to slip, thus preventing traction to the other wheel. The diff lock overrides this, causing both wheels to supply equal traction. Care must be taken to unlock the differential, usually by hitting the pedal a second time, before turning, since the tractor cannot perform a turn with the diff lock engaged.

The pedal furthest to the right is the foot throttle. A throttle is the mechanism by which the flow of a fluid is managed by constriction or obstruction Unlike in automobiles, it can also be controlled from a hand-operated lever ("hand throttle"). This helps provide a constant speed in field work. It also helps provide continuous power for stationary tractors that are operating an implement by shaft or belt. The foot throttle gives the operator more automobile-like control over the speed of the tractor for road work. This is a feature of more recent tractors; older tractors often did not have this feature. In the UK it is mandatory to use the foot pedal to control engine speed while travelling on the road. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Some tractors, especially those designed for row-crop work, have a 'de-accelerator' pedal, which operates in the reverse fashion to an automobile throttle, in that the pedal is pushed down to slow the engine. This is to allow fine control over the speed of the tractor when maneuvering at the end of crop rows in fields- the operating speed of the engine is set using the hand throttle, and if the operator wishes to slow the tractor to turn, he simply has to press the pedal, turn and release it once the turn is completed, rather than having to alter the setting of the hand throttle twice during the maneuver.

Power and transmission

Modern farm tractors employ large diesel engines, which range in power output from 18 to 575 horsepower (15 to 480 kW). A diesel engine is an Internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle (named after Dr Tractors can be generally classified as two-wheel drive, two-wheel drive with front wheel assist, four-wheel drive (often with articulated steering), or track tractors (with either two or four powered rubber tracks). Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4x4 ("four by four" is a four-wheeled Vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four Wheels to Variations of the classic style include the diminutive lawn tractors and their more capable and ruggedly constructed cousins, garden tractors, that range from about 10 to 25 horsepower (7. 5-18. 6 kW) and are used for smaller farm tasks and mowing grass and landscaping. A lawn mower or lawnmower is a machine that has one or more revolving blades to cut a Lawn at an even length Their size—especially with modern tractors—and the slower speeds are reasons motorists are urged to use caution when encountering a tractor on the roads.

Most tractors have a means to transfer power to another machine such as a baler, slasher or mower. This article describes the farm machinery For the municipality in Aurora, Philippines, see Baler Aurora. A mower is a machine for cutting crops or plants that grow on the ground Early tractors used belts wrapped around a flywheel to power stationary equipment. A Belt is a looped strip of flexible material used to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts A flywheel is a mechanical device with significant Moment of inertia used as a storage device for Rotational energy. Modern tractors use a power take-off (PTO) shaft to provide rotary power to machinery that may be stationary or pulled. A power take-off ( PTO) is a splined Driveshaft, usually on a Tractor or that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine Almost all modern tractors can also provide external hydraulic fluid and electrical power. Hydraulic fluids are a large group of fluids used as the motive medium in Hydraulic machinery.

Most farm tractors use a manual transmission. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in They have several sets of gear ratios divided into speeds. In order to change the ratio, it is usually necessary to stop the tractor. Between them they provide a range of speeds from less than one mile per hour suitable for working the land, up to about 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) for road use. Furthermore it is usually not necessary to change gear in order to reverse, one simply selects a lever. Older tractors usually require that the operator depress the clutch in order to shift between gears (a limitation of straight-cut gears in the gearbox), but many modern tractors have eliminated this requirement with the introduction of technologies such as power shifting in the 1960s and more modern continuously variable transmissions. A continuously variable transmission ( CVT) is a transmission which can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum This allows the operator more and easier control over working speed than the throttle alone could provide.

Slow, controllable speeds are necessary for most operations that are performed with a tractor. They help give the farmer a larger degree of control in certain situations, such as field work. However, when travelling on public roads, the slow operating speeds can cause problems, such as long queues or tailbacks, which can delay or aggravate other road users. To alleviate conditions, some countries (for example the Netherlands) employ a road sign on some roads that means "no farm tractors". The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Most countries post signage known as traffic signs or road signs, at the side of Roads to Some modern tractors, such as the JCB Fastrac, are now capable of much more tolerable road speeds of around 50 mph (80 km/h). JCB, or J C Bamford (Excavators Ltd as it is more properly known is a family business named after its founder J

Safety

Agriculture in the United States is one of the most hazardous industries, only surpassed by mining and construction. No other farm machine is so identified with the hazards of production agriculture as the tractor. A hazard is a situation which poses a level of threat to Life, Health, Property or environment. ^[5] Tractor related injuries account for approximately 32% of the fatalities and 6% of the non-fatal injuries in agriculture. Over 50% is attributed to tractor overturns. ^[6]

The roll over protection structure(ROPS) and seat belt, when worn, are the two most important safety devices to protect operators from death during tractor overturns. Roll Over Protection Structure (ROPS refers to operator compartment structures (usually cabs or frames intended to protect equipment operators from injuries caused by vehicle overturns ^[7]

Modern tractors have rollover protection systems (ROPS) to prevent an operator from being crushed if the tractor overturns. Rollover is a type of vehicle accident, where a vehicle turns over on its side or roof It is important to remember that the ROPS does not prevent tractor overturns. Rather, it prevents the operator from being crushed during an overturn. This is especially important in open-air tractors, where the ROPS is a steel beam that extends above the operator's seat. For tractors with operator cabs, the ROPS is part of the frame of the cab. A ROPS with enclosed cab further reduces the likelihood of serious injury because the operator is protected by the sides and windows of the cab.

ROPS were first required by legislation in Sweden in 1959. Before ROPS were required, some farmers died when their tractors rolled on top of them. Row-crop tractors, before ROPS, were particularly dangerous because of their 'tricycle' design with the two front wheels spaced close together and angled inward toward the ground. Some farmers were killed by rollovers while operating tractors along steep slopes. A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials The grade (or gradient or pitch or slope) of any physical feature such as a Hill, Stream, Roof, railroad, or Others have been killed while attempting to tow or pull an excessive load from above axle height, or when cold weather caused the tires to freeze down, in both cases causing the tractor to pivot around the rear axle.

For the ROPS to work as designed, the operator must stay within the protective frame of the ROPS. This means the operator must wear the seat belt. Not wearing the seat belt may defeat the primary purpose of the ROPS.

Applications

Farm implements can be attached to the rear of the tractor by either a drawbar or a three-point hitch. Agricultural machinery is any kind of Machinery used on a Farm to help with Farming. A tow hitch (or tow bar) is a device attached to the Chassis of a vehicle for Towing or a towbar to an Aircraft nose gear or paired main gears The three-point hitch ( British English: three-point linkage) most often refers to the way Ploughs and other implements are attached to an The three-point hitch was invented by Harry Ferguson and has been standard since the 1960s. Henry George (Harry Ferguson ( November 4, 1884 - October 25, 1960) had an important role in the development of the modern Agricultural The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Equipment attached to the three-point hitch can be raised or lowered hydraulically with a control lever. For the mechanical technology see Hydraulic machinery and Hydraulic cylinder Hydraulics is a topic of science and Engineering The equipment attached to the three-point hitch is usually completely supported by the tractor. Another way to attach an implement is via a Quick Hitch, which is attached to the three-point hitch. This enables a single person to attach an implement quicker and put the person in less danger when attaching the implement.

Some farm-type tractors are found elsewhere than on farms: with large universities' gardening departments, in public parks, or for highway workman use with blowtorch cylinders strapped to its sides and a pneumatic drill air compressor permanently fastened over its power take-off. The meaning of " blowtorch " varies between Britain and the USA A pneumatic drill or jackhammer is a portable percussive Drill powered by Compressed air. A gas compressor is a mechanical device that increases the Pressure of a Gas by reducing its Volume. A power take-off ( PTO) is a splined Driveshaft, usually on a Tractor or that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine These are often fitted with grass (turf) tyres which are less damaging to soft surfaces than agricultural tires.

Supposedly, I4 ^[8] (industrial bar tires) are less damaging to lawns and soft surfaces than agricultural tires, but provide similar traction, and have the benefit of being self-cleaning. This article is about tires used on road Vehicles including pneumatic tires and solid tires. Often, these can be seen on road construction backhoes. A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm

Precision agriculture

Space technology has found its way down to agriculture in the form of GPS devices, and robust on-board computers installed as optional features on farm tractors. Space technology is Technology that is related to entering space, maintaining and using systems during Spaceflight and returning people and things Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Basic concept of GPS operation A GPS receiver calculates its position by carefully timing the signals sent by the constellation of GPS Satellites high above the Earth A computer is a Machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. These technologies are used in modern, precision farming techniques. Precision farming or precision agriculture is an agricultural concept relying on the existence of in-field variability. The spin-offs from the space race have actually facilitated automation in plowing and the use of autosteer systems drone on tractors that are manned but only steered at the end of a row, the idea being to neither overlap and use more fuel nor leave streaks when performing jobs such as cultivating. A spin-off (or spinoff) is a new Organization or Entity formed by a split from a larger one such as a Television series based on a pre-existing The Space Race was a competition of space exploration between the Soviet Union and the United States, which lasted roughly from 1957 to 1975 Automation ( Ancient Greek: = self dictated) roboticization or industrial automation or Numerical control is the use of Control systems Unmanned ground vehicles ( UGV) are Robotic platforms that are used as an extension of Human capability Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture

Compact Utility Tractor

A Compact Utility Tractor, also called a CUT is a smaller version of an agricultural tractor but designed primarily for landscaping and estate management type tasks rather than for planting and harvesting on a commercial scale. Typical CUTs range in from 20 to 50 horsepower (15-37 kW) with available power take off (PTO) horsepower ranging from 15 to 45 hp (11-34 kW). A power take-off ( PTO) is a splined Driveshaft, usually on a Tractor or that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine CUTs are often equipped with both a mid-mounted PTO and a standard rear PTO, especially those below 40 horsepower (30 kW). The mid-mount PTO shaft typically rotates at/near 2000 rpms and is typically used to power such implements as mid-mount finish mower, a front mounted snow blower or front mounted rotary broom. The rear PTO is standardized at 540 rpms for the North American markets, but in some parts of the world a dual 540/1000 rpm PTO is standard and implements are available for either standard in those markets.

One of the most common attachment for a Compact Utility Tractor is the front end loader or FEL. A loader is a type of construction equipment (engineering vehicle machinery that is primarily used to "load" material (asphalt demolition debris Like the larger agricultural tractors, a CUT will have an adjustable three-point hitch that is hydraulically controlled. The three-point hitch ( British English: three-point linkage) most often refers to the way Ploughs and other implements are attached to an Typically a CUT will have four wheel drive, or more correctly 4 wheel assist. Modern Compact Utility Tractors often feature a Hydrostatic transmission, but many variants of gear drive transmissions are also offered from low priced simple gear transmissions to synchronized transmissions to advanced glide-shift transmissions. All modern CUTs feature a government mandated roll over protection structure (ROPS) just like agricultural tractors. The most well known brands in North America include Kubota, John Deere Tractor, New Holland Ag, Case-Farmall and Massey-Ferguson. () is a tractor and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Osaka, Japan Deere & Company the firm founded by John Deere began to expand it range of equipment to include the Tractor business in 1912 New Holland is a part of Dutch company CNH Global, a part of the Fiat Group Although less common, compact backhoes are often attached to compact utility tractors.

Compact Utility Tractors require special smaller implements than full size agricultural tractors. Very common implements include the box blade, the grader blade, the landscape rake, the post hole digger (or post hole auger), the rotary cutter (also called a slasher or a brush hog), a mid or rear mount finish mower, broadcast seeder, subsoiler and the rototiller (also rotary tiller). A grader, also commonly referred to as a road grader, a blade, a maintainer or a motor grader, is an Engineering vehicle with a large An auger is a device for moving material or liquid (see Archimedes' screw) by means of a rotating Helical flighting A broadcast seeder, alternately called a broadcast spreader, is a tractor implement commonly used for spreading seed lime fertilizer 1subsoil-combo1jpg|thumb|right|Modular subsoiler unit unmounted with accessories]]A subsoiler or mole plow is a tractor mounted implement used to loosen and break up soil at A rotary tiller, also known as a rototiller, rotavator, rotary hoe, power tiller, or rotary plough (in US plow is a motorised In northern climates, a rear mounted snow blower is very common, on smaller CUTs some models are available with front mounted snow blowers that are powered by a mid-PTO shaft. There are many more implement brands than there are tractor brands offering CUT owners a wide selection of choice.

For small scale farming or large scale gardening, there are some planting and harvesting implements sized for CUTs. One and two row planting units are commonly available as are cultivators, sprayers and different types of seeders (slit, rotary and drop).

Backhoe loader

Main article: Backhoe loader

The most common variation of the classic farm tractor is the hoe, also called a hoe-loader. As the name implies, it has a loader assembly on the front and a backhoe on the back. A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm Backhoes attach to a 3 point hitch on farm or industrial tractors. Industrial tractors are often heavier in construction particularly with regards to the use of steel grill for protection from rocks and the use of construction tires. When the backhoe is permanently attached, the machine usually has a seat that can swivel to the rear to face the hoe controls. Hoes are Bladed Tools used to agitate the surface of the Soil around Plants to remove weeds pile soil around the base Removable backhoe attachments almost always have a separate seat on the attachment. A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm

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,loading trucks, breaking asphalt and paving roads. Asphalt ( is a sticky black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude Petroleums and in some natural deposits sometimes termed asphaltum Some buckets have a retractable bottom, enabling them to empty their load more quickly and efficiently. Buckets with retractable bottoms are also often used for grading and scratching off sand. The front assembly may be a removable attachment or permanently mounted. Often the bucket can be replaced with other devices or tools.

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. Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built Maintenance repair and operations or maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO is fixing any sort of mechanical or Electrical device should it Their versatility and compact size makes them one of the most popular urban construction vehicles. Engineering vehicles, known by the other terms construction Equipment, earth movers heavy equipment or just plain equipment are machines specifically designed to execute

In the UK, the word "JCB" is sometimes used colloquially as a genericized trademark for any such type of engineering vehicle, JCB now appears in the Oxford English Dictionary, although it is still treated as a trademark. JCB, or J C Bamford (Excavators Ltd as it is more properly known is a family business named after its founder J A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech, writing or Paralinguistics. A genericized trademark (also known as a generic trademark or proprietary eponym) is a Trademark or Brand name that has become the colloquial The Oxford English Dictionary ( OED) published by the Oxford University Press (OUP is a comprehensive Dictionary of the English A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual

Engineering tractors

The durability and engine power of tractors made them very suitable for engineering tasks. Tractors can be fitted with engineering tools such as dozer blade, bucket, hoe, ripper, and so on. ----A bulldozer is a crawler ( Caterpillar tracked Tractor) equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities A loader is a type of construction equipment (engineering vehicle machinery that is primarily used to "load" material (asphalt demolition debris A backhoe, also called a rear actor or back actor, is a piece of excavating equipment consisting of a digging bucket on the end of a two-part articulated arm The most common attachments for the front of a tractor are dozer blade or a bucket. ----A bulldozer is a crawler ( Caterpillar tracked Tractor) equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities A bucket, also called a pail, is a watertight vertical Cylinder or truncated cone, with an open top and a flat bottom usually attached When attached with engineering tools the tractor is called an engineering vehicle. Engineering vehicles, known by the other terms construction Equipment, earth movers heavy equipment or just plain equipment are machines specifically designed to execute

A bulldozer is a track-type tractor attached with blade in the front and a rope-winch behind. ----A bulldozer is a crawler ( Caterpillar tracked Tractor) equipped with a substantial metal plate (known as a blade) used to push large quantities A tracked vehicle (also called track-type tractor tractor crawler or track-laying vehicle is a vehicle that runs on tracks instead of Wheels Typically used Bulldozers are very powerful tractors and have excellent ground-hold, as their main tasks are to push or drag things.

Bulldozers have been further modified over time to evolve into new machines which are capable of working in ways that the original bulldozer can not. One example is that loader tractors were created by removing the blade and substituting a large volume bucket and hydraulic arms which can raise and lower the bucket, thus making it useful for scooping up earth, rock and similar loose material to load it into trucks. A loader is a type of construction equipment (engineering vehicle machinery that is primarily used to "load" material (asphalt demolition debris

A front-loader or loader is a tractor with an engineering tool which consists of two hydraulic powered arms on either side of the front engine compartment and a tilting implement. A loader is a type of construction equipment (engineering vehicle machinery that is primarily used to "load" material (asphalt demolition debris A loader is a type of construction equipment (engineering vehicle machinery that is primarily used to "load" material (asphalt demolition debris This is usually a wide open box called a bucket but other common attachments are a pallet fork and a bale grappler. The pallet fork or pallet lever is an integral component of the Lever escapement of a typical Mechanical watch.

Other modifications to the original bulldozer include making the machine smaller to let it operate in small work areas where movement is limited. There are also tiny wheeled loaders, officially called Skid-steer loaders but nicknamed "Bobcat" after the original manufacturer, which are particularly suited for small excavation projects in confined areas. A skid loader or skid steer loader is a rigid frame engine-powered machine with lift arms used to attach a wide variety of labor-saving tools or attachments Bobcat Company is a Manufacturer of farm and construction equipment with headquarters in West Fargo North

Garden Tractors

Garden Tractors (also called Mini Tractors) are small, light and simple tractors designed for use in domestic gardens. A garden is a planned space usually outdoors set aside for the display cultivation and enjoyment of Plants and other forms of Nature. Garden Tractors are usually designed primarily for cutting grass, being fitted with horizontal rotary cutting decks. Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include The distinction between a garden tractor and a ride-on lawnmower is often hard to make- generally Garden Tractors are more sturdily built, with stronger frames, axles and transmissions. A lawn mower or lawnmower is a machine that has one or more revolving blades to cut a Lawn at an even length Garden Tractors are generally capable of mounting other implements such as harrows, cultivators/rotavators, sweepers, rollers and dozer-blades. Like ride-on mowers, Garden Tractors generally have a horizontally-mounted engine with a belt-drive to a transaxle-type transmission (usually of 4- or 5-speeds, although some my also have two-speed reduction gearboxes or hydraulic gearboxes). A Belt is a looped strip of flexible material used to mechanically link two or more rotating shafts A transaxle, in the Automotive field is a component that combines the functionality of the '''trans'''mission, the differential and the drive However, Wheel Horse (now part of Toro) garden tractors have vertically-mounted engines with belt-drive, whilst Allen/Gutbrod tractors had an automotive-type clutch and gearbox. Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, The Toro Company ( is an American manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment ( lawnmowers) and water-saving Gutbrod was a German car Manufacturer. The firm was founded by Wilhelm Gutbrod in 1926 The engines are generally 1- or 2-cylinder petrol (gasoline) engine, although diesel engine models are also available, especially in Europe. Diesel or Diesel fuel (ˈdiːzəl in general is any Fuel used in Diesel engines The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum

In the U. S. , the term riding lawn mower today refers to mid or rear engined machines. Front-engined tractor layout machines designed primarily for cutting grass and light towing are called lawn tractors, and heavy duty lawn tractors, often shaft driven, are garden tractors. The primary difference between a lawn tractor and a garden tractor are the frame weight, the rear wheels (garden tractors almost always have multiple mounting bolts, while most lawn tractors have a single bolt or clip on the hub. ), and the ability to use ground engaging equipment such as plows or disk-harrows. The plough ( American spelling plow; both plaʊ is a Tool used in Farming for initial cultivation of soil in preparation for sowing seed Craftsman, MTD, Snapper and other major mowing equipment manufacturers use these terms.

As well as dedicated manufacturers, many makers of agricultural tractors have made (or continue to make) ranges of garden tractors, such as Case, Massey-Ferguson, International Harvester and John Deere. Case Corporation (formerly JI Case Company was a Manufacturer of construction and Agricultural equipment. Massey Ferguson Limited was a major Agricultural equipment manufacturer based in England International Harvester Company ( IHC or IH; now Navistar International Corporation) was an agricultural machinery construction equipment John Deere ( February 7, 1804 &ndash May 17, 1886) was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company &mdash

EPA tractor

During World War II there was a shortage of tractors in Sweden and this led to the invention of a new type of tractor called the EPA tractor (EPA was a chain of discount stores and it was often used to signify something lacking in quality). World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. An EPA tractor was simply an automobile, truck or lorry, with the passenger space cut off behind the front seats, equipped with two gearboxes in a row. When done to an older car with a ladder frame, the result was not dissimilar to a tractor and could be used as one. Body-on-frame is an Automobile construction technology Mounting a separate body to a rigid frame which supports the Drivetrain was the original method of building

After the war it remained popular, now not as a farm vehicle, but as a way for young people without a driver's license to own something similar to a car. A driver's license, driver license, driver licence, or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a Since it was legally seen as a tractor it could be driven from 16 years of age and only required a tractor license. Eventually the legal loophole was closed and no new EPA tractors were allowed to be made, but the remaining were still legal, something that led to inflated prices and many protests from people that preferred EPA tractors to ordinary cars.

In March 31, 1975 a similar type of vehicle was introduced, the A tractor [from arbetstraktor (work tractor)]. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The main difference is that an A tractor has a top speed of 30 km/h. This is usually done by fitting two gearboxes in a row and not using one of them. Volvo Duett was for a long time the primary choice for conversion to an EPA or A tractor, but, since supplies have dried up, other cars have been used, in most cases a Volvo. Ladder frame design The design is based on the Volvo PV sedan and shares its engine and front suspension with that model Volvo Cars, or Volvo Personvagnar AB, is a Swedish premium Automobile maker founded in 1927 in the city of Gothenburg in Sweden

Other types of tractors

The term tractor (US & Canada) or tractor unit (UK) is also applied to:

• Road tractors, tractor units or traction heads, familiar as the front end of an articulated lorry / semi-trailer truck. A tractor unit, traction unit, road tractor or prime mover ( Australian English) is a Heavy-duty Vehicle, usually with truckcartransporterarp750pixjpg|thumb|right|A tractor with an auto-transport Semi-trailer. truckcartransporterarp750pixjpg|thumb|right|A tractor with an auto-transport Semi-trailer. They are heavy-duty vehicles with large engines and several axles. Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. An engine is a mechanical device that produces some form of output from a given input An axle is a central shaft for a rotating Wheel or Gear. In some cases the axle may be fixed in position with a bearing or Bushing
  • The majority of these tractors are designed to pull long semi-trailers, most often to transport freight of some kind over a significant distance, and is connected to the trailer with a fifth wheel coupling. In American English a semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle The fifth wheel coupling provides the link between a Semi-trailer and the towing Truck, Tractor unit, leading trailer or dolly. In England this type of "tractor" is often called an "artic cab".
  • A minority is the ballast tractor, whose load is hauled from a drawbar. A ballast tractor is a heavy haulage Road vehicle designed to pull or push heavy or exceptional loads A drawbar is a solid Coupling between a hauling vehicle and its hauled load
• Locomotive tractors (engines) or Rail car movers
  • The amalgamation of machines, electrical generators, controls and devices that comprise the traction component of railway vehicles
• Artillery tractors
  • Vehicles used to tow artillery pieces of varying weights. A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. An engine is a mechanical device that produces some form of output from a given input A rail car mover is a vehicle capable of travelling on both roads and Rail tracks and fitted with couplers for moving small numbers of Railroad cars around A machine is any device that uses Energy to perform some activity In Electricity generation, an electrical generator is a device that converts Mechanical energy to Electrical energy, generally using Electromagnetic A traction component in a vehicular sense is a type of Transducer. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. Artillery tractor is a kind of Tractor, also referred to as a gun tractor, a Vehicle used to tow Artillery pieces of varying weights Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine
• NASA and other space agencies use very large tractors to ferry launch vehicles such as booster rockets and space shuttles from their hangars to (and, in rare cases, from) the launchpad. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program Space is the extent within which Matter is physically extended and objects and Events have positions relative to one another A rocket or rocket vehicle is a Missile, Aircraft or other Vehicle which obtains Thrust by the reaction of the NASA 's Space Shuttle, officially called the Space Transportation System ( STS) is the Spacecraft currently used by the United States A launch pad is the area and facilities where rockets or spacecrafts liftoff

Road tractor pulling a flatbed trailer

Diesel locomotive at work

Komsomolets Soviet artillery tractor

A Trackmobile 4150

Manufacturers

See List of tractor manufacturers

See List of former tractor manufacturers

See also

• American Society of Agricultural Engineers
• Drawbar leverage
• Farm equipment
• Force sensor
• NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
• Power take-off
• Roll over protection structure (ROPS)
• Tractor unit

References

1. ^ Houghton Mifflin (2000). A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. T-20 armored tractor Komsomolets ( Bronirovannyy gusenichnyy tyagach Komsomolets T-20, armored Caterpillar-track tractor List of former tractor manufacturers page Also companies that simply paste their name on This is a list of companies that formerly manufactured or sold Tractors Some have discontinued manufacturing were bought out or merged with other companies or their names may have changed The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE was founded in 1907 and is based in St Agricultural machinery is any kind of Machinery used on a Farm to help with Farming. A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (or NIOSH) is the United States federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations A power take-off ( PTO) is a splined Driveshaft, usually on a Tractor or that can be used to provide power to an attachment or separate machine Roll Over Protection Structure (ROPS refers to operator compartment structures (usually cabs or frames intended to protect equipment operators from injuries caused by vehicle overturns A tractor unit, traction unit, road tractor or prime mover ( Australian English) is a Heavy-duty Vehicle, usually with Houghton Mifflin Company is a leading educational Publisher in the United States. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed, Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, page 1829. ISBN 978-0-395-82517-4.  
2. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged (MWU). (Online subscription-based reference service of Merriam-Webster, based on Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, which was originally the G & C Merriam Company of Springfield Massachusetts, is an American company that publishes reference books Merriam-Webster, 2002. ) Headword tractor. Accessed 2007-09-22.
3. ^ "Tractor". (etymology). Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved on 2008-06-02. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks
4. ^ http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/machines_04.html Tractors in the 1930's
5. ^ NASD: Tractor Overturn Hazards
6. ^ Donham, K. , D. Osterberg,, M. L/ Meyers, and C. Lehtola. 1999. Final report tractor risk abatement and control: the policy conference, September 10-12, 1997. The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
7. ^ General Tractor Safety
8. ^ Here, the first letter is uppercase "eye".

External links

• Database covering all makes and models of farm tractors
• UK tractor & Construction Plant Wikia for collectors & information
• Purdue University Tractor Safety Article re: ROPS, PTO, etc
• Agricultural Tractors and Machinery at the Open Directory Project
• Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory
• Historical Tractor Test Reports and Manufacturers' Literature Reports on 400+ models 1903-2006)
• A History of Tractors at the Canada Agriculture Museum
• Many videos with various tractor models on the webpage traktor-power

Tractor safety

• EU Working Group on Agricultural Tractors - Work Safety. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory The Canada Agriculture Museum ( French: Musée de l'agriculture du Canada) in Ottawa Ontario, Canada, houses a modern working farm
• EU Directives on tractor design: (Mapped Index), or (Numerical Index).
• Tractor Safety (NASD)
• Tractor Safety (NSC).
• Adaptive Tractor Overturn Prediction System.
• Tractor Overturn Protection and Prevention
• Case Report: 04NY077 Farm Owner Dies during Tractor Overturn.
• ACC: Farm safety: Vehicles, machinery and equipment.

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