May 2011, Vol. 66 No. 5
Equipment Spotlight
Equipment Spotlight: Rock Construction Equipment & Tools
Rock construction equipment from Vermeer, Melfred Borzall, INROCK, American Augers, Sharewell, Kennametal, Caterpillar, Ditch Witch, Ballantine, Underground Tools Inc., Bor-It Mfg., Doosan, Kenco and Barbco.
Vermeer
The Armor Drilling System from Vermeer is a single HDD tooling system with multiple drilling options designed to provide versatility and performance, and the integrated modular design allows the tooling to be adapted to various ground conditions. For soft to medium rock, shale, hard pan and caliched ground conditions up to 10,000 psi, use the Gauntlet bit. Carbide buttons are strategically placed on the bit for optimum cutting, and carbide hard facing helps to enhance wear and performance characteristics. A replaceable three-tooth design delivers a consistent cutting structure for steering corrections and maximum drilling performance. The Armor Drilling System is also available in 2- and 4-battery sonde lengths and is wire line compatible. 888.837.6337, www.vermeer.com
Melfred Borzall
Melfred Borzall’s Rock-It HDD-Performance Mud Motor is available in sizes from three to six and three-quarter inches, with larger sizes available upon request. Low flow and high torque accommodates rigs with as low as 40-gpm drill fluid flow. Melfred Borzall’s Rock-It rental program features a fixed, known rental price up front—no hidden charges. Rent the Rock-It for as little as one week, with the rental time starting when you receive the tool and ending the date the tool is shipped back. Have a unique rock project that requires a custom Rock-It mud motor? Talk to our rock drilling specialists and Melfred Borzall will build you a motor to fit your specific needs. 800.833.1252, www.melfredborzall.com
INROCK
INROCK’s XTR Reamer platform has interchangeable block segments cutters (MT/TCI). This extreme reamer product line offers the ability to effectively increase reaming pass sizes in soft, medium and hard rock over longer bore holes, thereby increasing drilling performance. Sizes range from 28 to 48 inches; custom sizes are available upon request. 713.690.5600, www.inrock.com
American Augers
The Heavy Duty Rock Head (Christmas Tree Head) is a durable cutting head that is ideal for bores through soft rock formations, harp pan, shale, gravel, small boulders and other intrusive ground conditions up to 6,000 psi. The design benefit is that the “vee” shape of the head provides a self-centering action, which helps to maintain ideal line and grade. The cutting head features Tungsten carbide bullet bits that can be used at aggressive drill angles. Available in diameters from 8 to 66 inches – depending on the size – is designed with a 2 ¼-, 3-, 4- and 5-inch hex. 800.324.4930, www.americanaugers.com
Sharewell
Sharewell offers a 5-cutter version of its Jumbo Lo-Torque Hole Opener product – the LTX24x5. This version dramatically reduces impact loading on the cutters, which increases the product’s working life. The 5-cutter version also reduces the torque cycle while reaming, creating a very smooth running hole opener. The body is bi-directional and can be either pull or push reamed. Ideal for pipeline projects, the Jumbo cutters offer large, sealed bearings for extended runs. It is available in Mill Tooth style, IADC type 5 T.C.I., and IADC type 8 T.C.I. A minimum pilot hole of 26 inches can be made using the LTX24x5, and hole sizes ranges are 36, 38, 40 and 42 inches. 713.983.9818, www.sharewell.com
Kennametal
Kennametal’s new line of cutting tools for directional drilling and drilling back reamers offer excellent cost savings, long tool life, and outstanding impact strength in the most challenging drilling conditions. Buttons and compacts have rock-style heads made of durable carbide and are engineered for the hard daily punishment of drilling rock and concrete. Protect directional drilling back reamers from wear in abrasive conditions with the solid carbide tips and steel bodies on the welded-on teeth extend back reamer tool life.
Caterpillar
The Cat G130B Contractors’ Grapple is a heavy-duty, durably constructed tool designed for structural demolition, material handling and utility application, such as sorting and loading rock, scrap and construction debris. The Cat G130B works ideally with a range of models in the Caterpillar medium-hydraulic-excavator lineup. The Cat G130B uses a two-over-three tine configuration that allows the three tines on the slightly curved lower jaw to sink easily into scrap piles, while a pair of tines on the interlocking upper jaw exerts ample hydraulic power to retain material securely on the large working surfaces of the jaws. Abrasion-resistant AR 400 steel, used for tine tips, wear plates and wrappers assures durability in the harshest environments. The flush design, coupled with the precise curvature of the lower jaw, assures that material slides out with no obstruction when the grapple dumps. www.cat.com
Ditch Witch
The Aggressive Talon Rock Bit is a multi-use bit manufactured for HDD applications in a variety of soil conditions, including sandstone, shale and chunk rock. The bit’s thread-on shank provides even greater reliability and durability in tough digging conditions. The Aggressive Talon Rock Bit features four replaceable carbide-tipped cutting teeth in front of the tool that enable it to operate more smoothly with less drill pipe chatter. The angle of the cutting teeth enables it to more effectively carve into rock. Carbide buttons in the abrasion-resistant, steel-bit body reduce wear when working in tough conditions. 800.654.6481, www.ditchwitch.com
Ballantine
Ballantine offers a wide selection of cutting teeth and manufactures cup teeth with embedded tungsten carbide hard facing for nearly all trenchers. Also available are many styles of carbide rock teeth, such as carbide rotary teeth, carbide Terminator teeth and ground breakers. A wide variety of adapters for carbide teeth are also in stock. 763.427.3959, ballantineinc.com
Underground Tools Inc.
With information regarding the type of rock formation or the PSI of the rock, UTI can build a hole opener specifically designed for that particular job. UTI can cut any type of thread connection and incorporate any type of built-in stabilizer option. Hole openers are available from 8-inch OD to 60-inch OD. All UTI products come with exclusive DirtSmart technical service where questions are answered by the industry’s most knowledgeable technical support team. 866.488-DIRT, www.undergroundtools.com
Bor-It Mfg.
The Flat Face Rock Heads are the perfect solution for those difficult jobs where mixtures of rock, clay and boulders exist. The unique flat design allows the teeth to be self-cleaning. Features include replaceable carbide “bullet” teeth and holders; head diameters from 10 to 72 inches; and 1 5/8- to 5-inch Hex drives available. 800.289.6639, www.bor-it.com
Doosan
The Doosan DXB170H hydraulic breaker features nitrogen gas-assisted operation for improved efficiency in demanding demolition and rock-breaking applications. The 3,572-pound DXB170H delivers up to 600 blows per minute and is designed for use with excavators in the 18- to 28-metric-ton weight range. Rated in the 5,000 foot-pound. impact energy class, the DXB170H requires a hydraulic flow rate of between 26.5 and 39.5 gpm. The DXB170H breaker comes standard with a bracket cap, auxiliary hydraulic hoses, automatic greaser, two moil points, toolbox, a nitrogen gas inflating kit and a checking device. A one-year warranty is standard. In addition to the general purpose moil, tools available for the DXB170H include a blunt tool for use in concrete and block-breaking applications; a chisel to break up larger pieces of concrete; and a pyramidal or “nail” tool to break up reinforced concrete and other hard materials. www.doosanequipment.com
Kenco
Safely lift irregular shaped objects with the Kenco Triple Tine Mechanical Grapple that features three points of contact. The unique design allows for a wide range of size capability. Kenco’s patented actuator allows for hands-free operation in the lifting, moving and placing of irregular shaped objects such as rock. No hydraulics is necessary. The weight of the load provides the gripping power. The Triple Tine is available in several models, with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 20,000 pounds. 800.653.6069, www.kenco.com
Barbco
Barbco Cutting Heads deliver a 100 percent cutting pattern, reducing drag and torque to your boring machine, maximizing control of line and grade. The BBC35 Flat Face Rock Head with a drift reducing ring features: replaceable bullet bits; wipers to remove cuttings; a replaceable shank; a changeable shank size; and a heavy duty base plate. 800.448.8934, www.barbco.com
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