Schoenbeck was requested by a customer to develop and manufacture a new hydraulic spreader bar concept for large-sized excavator applications. The request was unique because the new hydraulic spreader was to be coupled with the heavy family of Hitachi SuperEX 1100 excavators to move concrete-coated pipe in a coating plant located in Kuantan, Malaysia. The characteristics of the concrete coating did not allow for a safe pipe lift when utilising vacuum pipe lifters, regardless of the different vacuum sealing types available.

The solution

As the ELiTE HYD-SB-14 needed to function as a lifting attachment for large-sized excavators, the product has been engineered for flexibility for handling numerous pipe lengths.

Two active and two stationary integrated telescope arms allow the ELiTE HYD-SB-14 to lift pipes from 9–14 m in length. The inner active telescope arms are driven by two hydraulic cylinders, which each have an individual brake force of 6,000 kg. The brake force of 6,000 kg is required to eliminate the possibility of a pipe pushing the hydraulic cylinders/pipe pins open while swinging of pipe during a lift manoeuvre, or during an uneven pipe lift, which can occur when there is an uneven ground level.

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The outer stationary telescope arms are pre-set to lift a particular range of pipe lengths before the lifting application is started. If a 10 m length of pipe is to be lifted, a pre-setting or positioning of 9–10 will be carried out. This is possible by lining up both telescopes to coincide with clearly marked templates visible on the outer sides of the stationary telescope arm. The pre-setting can be carried out in a matter of minutes.

So that pipe lifts are safe and efficient, both hydraulic cylinders operate simultaneously. A specially designed mechanical governor is incorporated to ensure that this safety feature works without failure.

When lifting a pipe with clamps or other methods of internal pipe contact, it is important not to damage the pipe structure, pipe bevelled ends or internal pipe lining. The pins or pipe-carrying arms are equipped with purpose manufactured durable rubber padding situated at both lifting ends of the tool. The top layer is designed to make contact with the pipe's inner internal area and carry the pipe without causing damage to pipe welds or lining. A further rubber protection of the same material has been incorporated and situated at the spear tip ends of the pins to prevent damage to the pipe bevel in the unlikely event that the operator collides during pipe alignment manoeuvres. Finally, red bronze plate padding has been incorporated at possible pipe contact points.

Safety features

Warning signals on the ELiTE HYD-SB-14 are extremely durable, effective, purely mechanical and very visible. When light pressure is applied by the pipe being clamped, the signal indicating to the operators and surrounding environment that the pipe is correctly seated and can be lifted, is automatically produced. This signal is clearly visible at both ends and both sides of the lifter.

To enable the required positioning and handling of the ELiTE HYD-SB-14, Schoenbeck has incorporated an 18,000 kg hydraulic power rotator with a newly modified additional twin oscillation Pendle braking assembly. This new addition now accompanies the standard disc assembly, which has lead to a further reduction of swinging and rocking during lifting by 50 per cent. Zero stress/yield transformation at steel parts is taken into account.

Flexible design and delivery

The HYD-SB-14 can be delivered with a standard dedicated yoke, which will fit one particular excavator size only. Customers also have the option of the ‘multi yoke’ concept, which accommodates 99 per cent of all excavator models and sizes manufactured on the current world market.