Why Do Excavator Buckets Have Two Holes?

The "two holes" on an excavator bucket primarily support structural reinforcement and operational efficiency optimization: the side tooth holes are for installing side teeth to enhance breaking capability, while the bottom holes are for draining water or inspecting material conditions. Together, they improve the bucket’s durability and adaptability to construction tasks.

Detailed Explanation

1. Side Tooth Holes (Side Edge Holes): Enhance Breaking and Digging Performance

• Location: Symmetrically distributed on the edge of both sides of the bucket.

• Function:

• Install side teeth: Side teeth are detachable components made of tungsten carbide or high-strength steel, fixed to the bucket’s sides via the side tooth holes. Acting like "lateral cutting tools," they concentrate pressure to assist the main teeth (bucket teeth) in breaking materials—such as hard soil, rocks, or frozen ground—thus reducing wear on the main teeth.

• Improve digging efficiency: Side teeth expand the bucket’s cutting range. This is particularly effective when digging narrow or deep materials (e.g., trenches, foundation pits), as they allow the bucket to penetrate materials more efficiently and reduce the number of repeated digging cycles.

• Design Principle: The area around the side tooth holes is reinforced with ribs or high-strength steel to withstand the impact force transmitted by the side teeth, preventing cracking after long-term use.

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2. Bottom Drain/Inspection Holes: Optimize Material Handling and Safety

• Location: Centered at the bottom of the bucket or near the rear wall.

• Function:

• Drain water: When excavating water-containing materials (e.g., slurry, wet sand), the bottom holes quickly drain excess water. This prevents materials from adhering to the bucket’s inner wall, reduces residue during unloading, and improves operational efficiency.

• Inspect materials: Some buckets use transparent or translucent materials (e.g., polycarbonate) for the bottom holes. This allows operators to check the material inside the bucket (e.g., size of rocks, presence of foreign objects) and avoid equipment malfunctions caused by material jamming.

• Reduce weight: The bottom holes moderately reduce the bucket’s weight, lowering the load on the hydraulic system. For large buckets, this weight optimization improves fuel economy.

• Design Principle: The size of the bottom holes balances drainage efficiency and structural strength. They are usually round or oval to avoid stress concentration.

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3. Other Possible "Hole" Designs (Supplementary Note)

• Lifting holes: Some buckets have lifting holes on the top for moving or replacing the bucket via steel cables or lifting tools. However, these holes are typically larger and located on non-operational surfaces, so they have little relevance to the "two holes" you described.

• Reinforcing rib holes: The back of the bucket may have round or long strip-shaped holes. These reduce weight while maintaining structural strength but are more of an auxiliary design rather than core functional components.

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Conclusion