Prime Mover
wheel at a time. Having the capability to operate in this
manner, one rear wheel can raise or lower, while the
The prime mover is a rubber-tired tractor,
other remains on the same level with the front wheels
power-driven by a four- or six-cylinder diesel engine
thereby holding the grader on a level terrain (fig. 10-2).
mounted at the rear. The prime mover has four-rear
This is a very important feature. If the rest of the grader
mounted single tires driven in tandem drive through
does not rise and fall when working uneven terrain, the
gears and chains and a single-steering axle.
grader blade does not vary its elevation, as the grader
TANDEM DRIVE.— The tandem drive of the
passes over its work.
grader allows climbing over rocks, logs, or humps, and
ARTICULATED FRAME STEERING.— Some
permits passing through depressions or ditches one
graders have frames that are hinged just forward of the
Figure 10-2.—Tandem drive.
Figure 10-3.—Articulated grader.
10-2
