RAKE BLADE- A dozer blade or attachment made of spaced tines.

RAKE, ROCK- A heavy-duty rake blade.

RANGE POLE- A pole marked in alternate red and white bonds, 1 foot high.

RED TOPS- Grade stakes with red tops to indicate finish subgrade level, usually a 2-inch by 2-inch by 6-inch hub stake.

REFUSAL- The depth beyond which a pile cannot be driven.

RIPRAP- Heavy stones placed at the edge of the water to protect the soil from waves or current.

RIPPER- A towed machine, equipped with teeth, used primarily for loosening hard soil and soft rock.

ROAD OIL- A heavy petroleum oil, usually one of the slow-curing (sc) grades.

ROCK- The hard, firm, and stable parts of earth's crust.

ROTARY TILLER- A machine that loosens and mixes soil and vegetation by means of a high-speed rotor equipped with tines.

RPM or rpm- Revolutions per minute.

RUBBLE DRAINS- French drains.

RULE OF THUMB- A statement or formula that is not exactly correct but is accurate enough for use in rough figuring.

SAND- A loose soil, composed of particles between 1/16 mm and 2 mm in diameter.

SCRAPER (Carrying scraper) (Pan)- A digging, hauling, and grading machine, having a cutting edge, a carrying bowl, a movable front wall (apron), and a dumping or ejecting mechanism.

SCREEN- (1) A mesh or bar surface, used for separating pieces or particles of different sizes. (2) A filter.

SEIZE- To bind wire rope with soft wire to prevent it from raveling when it is cut.

SEMITRAILER- A towed vehicle whose front rests on the towing unit.

SHEEPSFOOT- A tamping roller with feet expanded at their outer tips.

SHOE- (1) A ground plate, forming a link of a track or bolted to a track link. (2) A support for a bulldozer blade or other digging edge to prevent cutting down. (3) A clean-up device following the buckets of a ditching machine.

SIDECASTING- Piling spoil alongside the excavation from which it is taken.

SNATCH BLOCK- A pulley in a case that can be easily fastened to lines or objects by means of a hook, ring, or shackle.

SPILLWAY- An overflow channel for a pond or a terrace channel.

SPROCKET- A gear that meshes with a chain or a crawler track.

STOCKPILE- Material dug and piled for future use.

STONE- Rock.

SUPERCHARGER- A blower that increases the intake pressure of an engine.

SURGE BIN- A compartment for temporary storage.

SWELL (Growth)- Increase of bulk in soil or rock when it is dug or blasted.

SWING LOCK- A swing lock is a mechanical engagement device, not dependent on friction, to hold the upper structure in one or more fixed positions with respect to the undercarriage. When provided, it must be constructed to prevent unintentional engagement or disengagement.

SWING BRAKE (Dynamic)- A dynamic swing brake is a device to stop, hold, or retard the rotating motion of the upper structure with respect to the undercarriage.

SWITCHBACK- A hair-pin curve.

TAG LINE- A line from a crane boom to a clamshell bucket that holds the bucket from spinning out of position.

TAMP- Pound or press soil to compact it.

TERRACE- A ridge, a ridge and hollow, or a flat bench built along a ground contour.

TERRAIN- Ground surface.

TOE- The projection of the bottom of a face beyond the top.

TOOTH ADAPTER- Main part of bucket or dipper to which a removable tooth is fastened.

TOPOGRAPHIC MAP- A map, indicating surface elevation and slope.

TOPSOIL- The topmost layer of soil, usually refers to soil containing humus that is capable of supporting good plant growth.

TORQUE- The twisting force exerted by or on a shaft (without reference to the speed of the shaft).

TRACK- A crawler track.

TRACK CARRIER ROLLERS- Rolling elements in/on a track frame that support and guide the upper track shoes or chain.

TRACK SHOES- The members of the track assembly that distribute the load to the supporting surface.

TRACTION- The total amount of driving push of a vehicle on a given surface.

TRENCH- A ditch.

TRUNNION (Walking beam or bar)- (1) An oscillating bar that allows changes in angle between a unit fastened to its center and another attached to both ends. (2) A heavy horizontal hinge.

UNDERCARRIAGE- The undercarriage is an assembly that supports the upper structure of the crane. It consists of an undercarriage frame, a swing bearing, or hook and load rollers, travel mechanism, and steering mechanism. The undercarriage may be either a crawler or wheeled type.

VISCOSITY- The resistance of a fluid to flow. A liquid with a high viscosity rating will resist flow more readily than will a liquid with a low viscosity. The Society of Automotive Engineers (S.A.E.) has developed a series of viscosity numbers for indicating viscosities of lubricating oils.

VOIDS- Empty spaces in a compacted mix, surrounded by asphalt-coated particles.

VOLTS- The electromotive force that will cause a current of 1 ampere to flow through a resistance of 1 ohm.

WATERLOGGED- Saturated with water. If conditions are too wet, you will be unable to work construction equipment.

WATERSHED- Area that drains into or pasta point.

WATER TABLE- The surface of underground, gravity-controlled water.

WHEEL AND AXLE ARRANGEMENT- The wheeled undercarriages.

WINCH- A drum that can be rotated so as to exert a strong pull while winding in a line.

WINDROW- A ridge of loose dirt.

WING WALL- A wall that guides a stream into a bridge opening or culvert barrel.

WORKING CYCLE- A complete set of operations. In an excavator, it usually includes loading, moving, dumping, and returning to the loading point.