GardenGap.com » Gardening » Tractors And Their Use In Recent History

Tractors And Their Use In Recent History

Tractors used for hauling machines or trailers used in the construction industry or agriculture are specifically designed vehicles that are made to deliver high torque or tractive effort at low speeds. Commonly, this term describes the distinctive farm vehicle. This is because they are used to tow agricultural implements and also may be used to supply power to mechanized implements.

This word "tractor" is an agent noun of a Latin word trahere which literally means "to pull". It was 1901 that the use of term "tractor" as used and it replaced the term that was used until then: traction engine (1859).

The tractor can be used to tow or mount agricultural implements and additionally it may also be a source of power for a mechanized implement - perhaps a plough for example.

Portable engines in the early 19th century were the first farm implements that were powered. Steam engines were placed onto wheels that could then be used for driving mechanical farm machines using flexible belts. About 1850, these engines became the basis of first traction engine that were quite widely adopted for agricultural use.

The first recognized tractors were ploughing engines powered by steam. They were used in pairs for hauling a plough back and forth across fields using wire cabling. Depending upon the soil conditions, like in the US for example, the use of steam tractors was made for ploughing using the direct-haul technique. This was not the case with other places like the United Kingdom, where cable-haul ploughing techniques were used.

Untill the 20th century, agricultural engines powered by steam were used, however, later on more reliable engines with internal combustion support were developed which replaced the earlier engines.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

About the Author

Now its time to have a look at the great range of used farm tractors for sale which also includes a range of farmall tractors for sale.