Wheel tractor-scraper

When full, the pan is raised, the apron is closed, and the scraper transports its load to the fill area.

With the pan set close to the ground, a higher speed will spread the material more thinly over a larger area.

R.G LeTourneau conceived the idea of the self-propelled motor scraper while recovering from a near-fatal auto accident.

The rear part has a vertically moveable hopper (also known as the bowl) with a sharp horizontal front edge.

When the hopper is full (8 to 34 m3 or 10 to 44 cu yd heaped, depending on type) it is raised, and closed with a vertical blade (known as the apron).

The pioneer developer of the elevating scraper was Hancock Manufacturing Company of Lubbock, Texas USA.