A frequent sight at road construction and repair sites, the road grader is immediately identifiable with its centrally mounted blade sitting between the single front axle and double rear axles. Though it looks simple in design, the precision required for ground leveling and road construction requires several hydraulic systems.
Most industrial graders will actually utilize a staggering number of flat motor hydraulic cylinders—seven in most cases. These include a cylinder to control front steering as well as an articulated steering cylinder for low-speed precision maneuvering. Control of the massive blade is provided by up to five independent systems: a blade extraction cylinder, a cylinder for changing the shovel angle, and three independent systems for lifting, tilting, and changing the angle of the central blade.
The systems are necessary for providing the precision shaping and lifting that are required for large-scale ground-leveling projects such as roadways and landing strips. However, the versatility of the grader does not stop there, as they are also frequently used for projects as diverse as snow removal, bulldozing, and leveling and trenching projects.
If you’re considering adding one of these machines to your fleet or need to chat with pros about your existing machines, Texas Hydrostatics has got you covered. Their experience with hydraulics systems will help you maximize the value of these massive machines. Contact them today and put your road grader to work!