| Equipment |
Uses/Description |
|
| Auger |
An auger is a drilling device or drill bit used for boring holes or
removing drilled out material. At the Strachan Avenue Overpass, augers
are attached to the drill rigs to drill the piles that form the
retaining walls of the lowered corridor. |
 |
| Backhoe |
Also known as a back actor, a backhoe has an excavator arm placed at
the front and a front-end loader at the rear. Because of their
adaptability, backhoes are one of the most common equipment found on a
work site. The machine is used for transporting dirt into excavation
sites. Little vibration is created when the machine is in use. The
backhoe beeps when it reverses. |
 |
| Boom Truck |
A boom truck has an extendable boom mounted to the roof or bed of
the machine, and has a bucket that is used to lift workers.
Did you know? This machine – also known as a cherry
picker – can lift between 350-1500 pounds. |
 |
| Concrete Pump |
A concrete pump is used to fill interlocking pipe piles with a
concrete mix to reinforce and form the watertight retaining walls of the
lowered corridor. An example of this can be seen at the West Toronto
Diamond. The pump can be crane mounted to fill the piles from the bottom
up, instead of just pouring directly into the mouth of the pile. This
process ensures uniformity and proper settlement of the concrete mix.
Did you know? The concrete pump uses remote-controlled
articulating robotic arms and is capable of pumping at very high volumes
with pinpoint accuracy. |
 |
| Concrete Truck |
A concrete truck is used to combine cement, aggregate (sand) and
water to form concrete. It uses a revolving drum to mix its contents.
The contents are kept in a liquid state through the turning of the drum.
Did you know? Concrete trucks normally don't travel for
more than 90 minutes to prevent the concrete from becoming dry inside
the drum. |
 |
| Crane |
Cranes are used to lift objects vertically or to move them
horizontally. This lifting is usually performed by a wire rope or chain.
Cranes can be truck and track mounted or can be fixed in place on a
tower.
Did you know? In the 19th century, cranes first
depended on human and animal power. They were invented by the ancient
Greeks and have vastly developed since then. |
 |
| Drill Rig |
A drill rig is a machine that creates holes in the ground. Some
drill rigs are small and portable and can be mounted on a truck. There
are many types and designs of drilling rigs, with many capable of
switching or combining different drilling technologies as needed. The
drill rigs used at the West Toronto Diamond are of the larger variety
such as the Bauer drill rig and the crane mounted drill rig. Crane
mounted drill rigs consist of an auger or drill bit mounted to a crane.
Various models of crane attachments provide flexibility of use depending
on site specific height, size and power needs.
Did you know? Bauer drill rigs are used to install
casings without the use of vibratory methods. The Bauer is used on-site
when drilling next to sensitive areas such as an existing structure or
in areas of loose soil. |
 |
| Excavator |
Also known as diggers, excavators are heavy construction equipment
that can have multiple attachments added to the arm, depending on the
work that needs to be completed. These attachments can include a bucket,
hingers, hooks etc. Excavators are used for demolition, material
handling, digging and heavy lifting. |
 |
| Front-end Loader |
A front-end loader has a bucket attached to the front, which allows
it to easily transport soil from one location to another. Little
vibration is created by the machine, and the only noise heard is from
the backing of the vehicle. It is used to transport dirt to excavation
sites. |
 |
| Giken Press-in Technology |
The Giken press-in, or "silent piling" method can install piles
without the use of vibration or impact methods. Pioneered in Japan, the
Giken method works by gripping previously installed piles to provide
reaction force for pressing in the next one. GO Transit used the Giken
along the corridor at the West Toronto Diamond in areas that did not
allow vibration or impact piling techniques because of nearby existing
structures. More importantly, we used this machine to help mitigate some
of the noise and vibrations caused by conventional methods. |
 |
| Grader |
A grader is a long blade that is used to create a flat, level
surface on an uneven ground. The height and angle of the blade can be
controlled by the operator. Often, the machine will pass over a surface
several times to refine and level the ground.
Did you know? Graders are also used for snow removal or
to create dirt roads on farmlands. |
 |
| Hydro Vacuum |
A hydro vacuum or hydrovac is a large bucket attached to a truck
with a suction arm. The hydro vacuum is able to suck up dirt through its
extendable arm and store it in its bucket. When needed, the dirt can be
sprayed out, emptying the bucket. It is used to fill in small
excavations. |
 |
| Impact Driver |
A shrouded impact driver, or "diesel hammer", is one method used to
install sheet piles and interlocking pipe piles at the West Toronto
Diamond. The impact driver closes around the top of the pile and hammers
the pile into the ground.
Did you know? GO Transit commissioned the unique design
and use of a "shroud", a large curtain of noise reduction materials
draped around the impact driver, to mitigate some of the noise in this
area. |
 |
| Jack Hammers |
Jack hammers are attached to the excavator. They are usually
hydraulically powered and have an internal hammer that is first driven
down and then back up in a repeated cycle. They are used on construction
sites to break up rock, pavement and concrete. |
 |
| Roller |
This vehicle is used to compact soil, gravel, or concrete for roads
and/or foundations. The effectiveness of the machine depends largely on
its weight. The roller can simultaneously vibrate which helps to compact
the ground. Low vibrations can be felt when in use. It produces little
noise and beeps when it reverses.
Did you know? The first rollers were horse-drawn, and
were probably just borrowed farm implements. |
 |
| Skid Steers |
Also known as a skid loader, these machines can be equipped with a
variety of attachments to perform several construction related tasks.
Their small size and maneuverability allows them to operate in tight
spaces. They are usually four-wheel drive vehicles with the wheels on
each side independent of the other. This means that the wheel speed and
direction of rotation of the wheels determines the direction the loader
will turn. Skid steers can also be used to excavate an area where the
overhead clearance does not allow for the boom of a large excavator. |
 |
| Tamper |
A tamper is used to flatten soil, sand or other granular material.
Tamping is used to compact gravel in preparation of pouring concrete, or
for making track ballast more durable. This machine flattens materials
so tightly that the material reaches maximum density and will not settle
or compress any further. |
 |
| Tie-back Drills |
Tie-back drills are used to install rock anchors and tie-backs. They
are often fairly small in size to ensure that they can work in tight
areas. |
 |
| Tri-axle Dump Trucks |
Tri-axle dump trucks are used to haul loose material – such as
excess sand, gravel or dirt – from construction work sites to designated
drop areas. The trucks are equipped with a hydraulically powered
open-box bed that is hinged at the rear. The front of this bed lifts up
so that its contents can be deposited. |
 |
| Tunnel Boring Machine |
A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is used to excavate tunnels with a
circular cross section through anything from hard rock to sand. This
method has the advantage of limiting the disturbance to the surrounding
ground and produces a smooth tunnel wall. A TBM is being used at
Strachan Avenue to build a 540 meter tunnel 25 meter below ground for a
new sewer tunnel. |
 |
| Vibratory Driver |
A vibratory driver (vibratory hammer) is one method used to install,
and extract, sheet piles or interlocking pipe piles at the West Toronto
Diamond. The vibratory driver clamps onto the pile and forces vertical
vibrations to loosen the soil and allow the pile to be pushed into the
ground using its own weight and the weight of the driver. It can also
extract piles by using the force of the crane it's mounted to.
Did you know? The PTC Vibratory Hammer uses a patented
HFV system (high frequency, variable eccentric) capable of cross
critical frequencies without transmitting vibrations to the
surroundings. This is an innovative piece of machinery that was brought
from France for use at the West Toronto Diamond. |
 |
| Water Truck |
A water truck has multiple hoses attached at various parts of the
truck. It has a large bucket that contains water that is sprayed to help
reduce dust. |
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