vehicles & equipment library

 

Machines and heavy equipment do the work that people can't. Learn about cranes, earth movers and other heavy equipment.

Featured Article:  How Elevators Work

In action movies, elevators regularly plummet to the basement, landing in a spectacular ball of fire. Is this possible? There are some sophisticated engineering techniques at work behind every elevator ride you take. See more »

What is a punkin chunkin?

What is a punkin chunkin?

Right around the fall months you may have heard the phrase 'punkin chunkin.' Have you ever wondered what exactly that is, or how the machines that launch pumpkins work?

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How do they get the balls in ball bearings so perfectly round and smooth?

Ball bearings can be found in a wide variety of machines and gadgets. If you take a look at one of them you may notice how perfectly smooth they feel and appear. How do they get like that? Find out how ball bearings are created in this article.

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How does a catapult work?

How does the ancient catapult work? It doesn't seem like twisted rope and wooden gears or levers would be able to get up the speed to launch heavy loads a great distance.

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How does a hydraulic ram pump work?

When I was a kid, my Aunt had constantly flowing water from a natural spring down the hill. She said the water was pumped uphill using a hydraulic ram. This device ran constantly and didn't need any electricity! What is a hydraulic ram and how does i

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How does a water cannon work?

Before water cannons, firefighters hauled bucket after bucket of water to squelch flames. So why are law enforcement officials grateful for them?

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How does a water-cooled air conditioner work?

Water-cooled air conditioners work in a different way than standard air conditioners that chill the air with a compressor. If water-cooler air conditioners don't use a compressor, then how do they cool the air? Find out the answer in this article.

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How Hydraulic Cranes Work

Hydraulic cranes perform seemingly impossible tasks, lifting 70-ton objects with absolute ease. See the simple design behind the Herculean results.

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What's the Segway recall about?

Segway Inc. announced on Thursday that it's recalling all of the scooters it has sold since the Segway went on the market in 2002.

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Where should I sit to get the best ride on a roller coaster?

You've waited in line, and now it's time to board the roller coaster for the thrill ride of your life. If you're lucky enough to get to pick your seat, which car should you choose for the best ride experience?

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How are people able to breathe inside a submarine?

How are people able to breathe inside a submarine? What do they do to keep the air breathable?

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