The History of Caterpillar Engines Essay Example
The History of Caterpillar Engines
The start of Caterpillar engines actually begins before Caterpillar was even a company. The history began back in the late1800’s when Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt were experimenting with various forms of steam tractors used for farming. The two competed with each other to gain the lead in the farm equipment industry. Throughout the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Holt and Best continued to build both steam and gas tractors. In 1908 Best sold his company to Holt.
In 1925 Holt Manufacturing and C. L. Best Gas Tractor, a company owned by Best’s son C. L. Best, merged to form Caterpillar Tractor Company. Three years later C. L. Best met with Carl George Arthur Rosen to discuss putting diesel engines in the Caterpillar 60 Tractor. Rosen looked over other diesel engine designs for about a year. The real engineering didn’t start until 1929 and went through 1930. The company’s first diesel was on its way.
In October of 1931, Caterpillar introduced the D9900. It produced about 89 hp at 700 rpm and weighed in at 5,175 lbs. The engine was first designed with a precombustion chamber due to the various types of fuels used in testing. Also, the fuel system was designed to be non-adjustable so no one could try to “improve” it themselves. The D9900 was also the first diesel engine with an air filter. This engine would revolutionize the industry.
After quite a few years the need for advancements became very apparent. One of the advances taken by Caterpillar was turbocharging. Turbocharging allowed more air to be put into the engine. With more air, you got more horsepower. It was an amazing advancement.
A turbocharger is designed to use the engine’s wasted energy to create more power. As exhaust gases come out of the exhaust manifold, they pass through the turbine housing side of the turbo. As the extremely hot gas pass by the heat causes the turbine wheel to spin. This wheel is connected to a shaft which is connected to a
The start of Caterpillar engines actually begins before Caterpillar was even a company. The history began back in the late1800’s when Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt were experimenting with various forms of steam tractors used for farming. The two competed with each other to gain the lead in the farm equipment industry. Throughout the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Holt and Best continued to build both steam and gas tractors. In 1908 Best sold his company to Holt.
In 1925 Holt Manufacturing and C. L. Best Gas Tractor, a company owned by Best’s son C. L. Best, merged to form Caterpillar Tractor Company. Three years later C. L. Best met with Carl George Arthur Rosen to discuss putting diesel engines in the Caterpillar 60 Tractor. Rosen looked over other diesel engine designs for about a year. The real engineering didn’t start until 1929 and went through 1930. The company’s first diesel was on its way.
In October of 1931, Caterpillar introduced the D9900. It produced about 89 hp at 700 rpm and weighed in at 5,175 lbs. The engine was first designed with a precombustion chamber due to the various types of fuels used in testing. Also, the fuel system was designed to be non-adjustable so no one could try to “improve” it themselves. The D9900 was also the first diesel engine with an air filter. This engine would revolutionize the industry.
After quite a few years the need for advancements became very apparent. One of the advances taken by Caterpillar was turbocharging. Turbocharging allowed more air to be put into the engine. With more air, you got more horsepower. It was an amazing advancement.
A turbocharger is designed to use the engine’s wasted energy to create more power. As exhaust gases come out of the exhaust manifold, they pass through the turbine housing side of the turbo. As the extremely hot gas pass by the heat causes the turbine wheel to spin. This wheel is connected to a shaft which is connected to a