Shovel mechanics

[Krewmember]

Yes, the dipper handle is powered in and out on a shovel. Some use a rack and pinion some are cable driven others use chain along the dipper handle to a sprocket. Steam era shovels had a steam engine on the boom to drive the pinion, diesel and gas machines used a chain running down the boom to drive the pinion or sprocket. Check out the youtube channel "SteamCrane" lots of good footage of shovels in action.

It looks like the shovel in that image is a chain driven rack and pinion handle.

I hope this is of some help.


-Shawn-