3.2. Blade to Blade Dozing

At the bottom of the blade, you can see a plate border. I mean this is the blade at the bottom what you have is the cutting edge; a steel plate is bolted to the bottom portion of the blade that is called as a cutting edge. So, generally this cutting edge gets worn out faster depending upon the usage, you may not replace the blade frequently, you need to replace only the cutting edge frequently. So, this is easily bolted on to the bottom of the blade. So, we were discussing about the cutting ratio. So, cutting ratio is nothing but horsepower per meter of the cutting edge of the blade. So, that means, it depends upon the concentration of the power in the cutting edge, if the blades are smaller in dimension, then you can see the more horsepower concentration will be there in the smaller blade portion. So, those blades will be very aggressive, so that can easily cut the earth and move the earth so that can easily cut the earth. So, cutting ratio measures the blades ability to penetrate the hard soil and obtain the load. If I say the blade has high cutting ratio, it means it can easily cut the soil and obtain the load. So, even it can handle a very hard soil conditions it can easily handle if it has high cutting ratio, so higher ratio indicates more aggressive blade.

The cutting edge is a crucial component of the blade where the actual cutting happens. It’s made of a steel plate that is bolted onto the blade for easy replacement when worn out. The efficiency of this cutting edge is measured by the cutting ratio, which is the horsepower of the dozer divided by the length of the cutting edge in meters. A higher cutting ratio means that the blade can penetrate harder soils more effectively. This is particularly true for smaller blades, as they tend to concentrate power better, making them more aggressive in cutting through materials.

Think of the cutting edge like a chef's knife. A smaller knife, much like a smaller blade, can be very sharp and precise, allowing you to cut through tougher ingredients more easily, compared to a large blunt knife which might struggle with the same task.

Generally, blades which are smaller in dimension have high cutting ratio. Because obviously there will be more concentration of power in that the proportion of the blade, because the blade dimension is smaller. So, those blades will be more aggressive and they will have high cutting ratio. So, the next is about the load ratio, load ratio indicates the pushing ability of the material. So, it is nothing but the horsepower per loose meter cube of material retain in front of the blade. So, you have to clearly note here the volume of the material is indicated as loose meter cube, that means the material is in loosen state. After the material is cut, we are going to it is already in the loosened state we have excavated the material, we have cut the material, so the material is now loosen state and you are going to push the loosen material.

The load ratio is critical because it reflects how well the blade can push nominal material, such as soil, after it has been cut. It's calculated as horsepower per loose meter cube of material, meaning the volume of dirt in a state that’s already been disturbed and is easy to move. This pushing ability varies significantly based on the type of material; densest soil is harder to push compared to looser, less dense soil.

Imagine pushing a pile of snow versus pushing a sack of flour. The snow (when loose) can be moved more easily since it’s fluffy and light, akin to loose dirt. On the other hand, if it were compacted or packed snow (like dense soil), it would be much harder to push through.

Now let us look into what are all the different types of the blade. These are the common blades which are used for the earthmoving operation, straight blade, angle blade, universal U blade, semi U blade and cushion blade. So, these are the standard notations used S refers to straight blade, A for angled blade, U for universal, SU for semi U and C for cushion blade.

Different blade types are designed for specific tasks in earthmoving operations, and each has unique characteristics. The straight blade (S) leads to high cutting ratios for hard terrain, while the angle blade (A) can adjust its angle for versatility in placement and maneuvering. The universal U blade offers a larger capacity suited for average soil conditions, and the semi U (SU) blade serves as a middle ground between the straight and U blades. Lastly, the cushion blade (C) is specialized for supporting other machines, rather than for direct earthmoving.

Think of it like having different tools in a toolbox. A flathead screwdriver (straight blade) is perfect for prying open boxes, while a Phillips screwdriver (angle blade) is better for tighter spaces that require more precision. Similarly, each type of bulldozer blade is an essential tool tailored for specific jobs.

So, this is how we assess the performance of the blade. To enhance the productivity of the bulldozer, I need to reduce the end spillage of the material which is happening at both ends of the blades. How to reducing the end spillage? What are all the dozing methods which can help me to reduce the end spillage? One such method is your slot dozing method, slot dozing.

To improve the bulldozer's efficiency, techniques like slot dozing can be employed. This involves creating multiple parallel cuts in the terrain where the bulldozer operates. By first working in some of these cuts and subsequently moving through the gaps left, the bulldozer makes use of end spillage as a means to prevent it from spilling again, effectively boosting productivity.

Consider a chef chopping vegetables on a cutting board; if they leave some diced onions in one spot and move to chop elsewhere, they can come back to gather the overflow without dropping additional pieces on the floor. In this similar manner, slot dozing allows bulldozers to minimize wasted soil and improve efficiency.

Now let us see another method of productive dozing method to reduce the in spillage. So, here what we are doing is we have to employ 2 bulldozers together and maneuver it in such a way that the blades are coming closer to each other almost touching the blades are brought closer to each other.

Blade to blade dozing, or side by side dozing, involves two bulldozers operating closely, almost touching blades. This method significantly reduces spillage between them, enhancing overall efficiency, but requires skilled maneuvering and isn't ideal for very short loads due to the necessary movement time.

Think of two friends pushing a heavy couch through a narrow door together. If they stand side by side, they can guide it more smoothly through the opening without losing any of it or scraping it on the door frame, just like the dozers function better together in a coordinated effort.

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