The swing beam is a power source used in oil drilling since the early 1800s. It consists of a metal or wood beam attached to a motor that moves it up and down, collecting oil through a long shaft. It has been adapted to other industries, such as rock and mineral drilling and manufacturing. A walking beam conveyor uses its up and down motion to spin a conveyor wheel, powering the movement of a conveyor belt.
A swing beam is the swing arm most commonly used in oil drilling to create the power needed to bring underground oil to the surface of a derrick. This technological innovation has been used for centuries. Its simplicity and ability to regulate power has allowed the beam to be used in many other industries.
The actual date the moving beam was invented is hard to pin down, but this power source is believed to have first been used in the early 1800s, invented specifically to help oil companies. As technology changed, the movable beam stayed mostly the same, but moved from wood to metal construction in the 1900s. Oil derricks continued to use these beams until the 1950s when more advanced technologies became available. reliable and less expensive.
A moving beam is constructed of metal or wood and, in the case of oil derricks, is usually about 26 feet (7.9 m) long, 12 inches (30.4 cm) wide, and 26 inches (66 cm) thick. The center of the beam is met by a samson pole, a support beam which acts as a fulcrum, allowing the beam to swing back and forth like the arm of a balance. One end is attached to a motor that moves the beam up and down and is known as a moving beam motor. The other end of the beam is above the oil well and serves as the beam pump, a long shaft that extends into the ground and collects the oil.
The beam was designed to aid in oil production and is best known in this capacity, but its utility has been adapted to many other industries. Rock and mineral drilling organizations were also among the first to use it. More recently, manufacturing industries, especially those needing a conveyor belt, have discovered the benefits of beam.
Drilling industries often use moving beams in lieu of building a mine shaft, which can be expensive and dangerous for miners. By using the beam to press a drill bit instead of pressing an oil pump, companies are able to dig very deeply in a short amount of time. Drilling allows for the excavation of minerals with little intrusion.
A walking beam conveyor uses up and down motion to spin a conveyor wheel at a standardized speed. This spinning wheel powers the movement of a conveyor belt. This is a good option for many businesses due to its ease of use and stable propulsion.
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