Building a Better Boom Truck – Patent-pending features set the Elliott 32117 apart – Part Two
Published in: Lift & Access
Date: 12/7/2005
By: Guy Ramsey, Tracy Bennett, Katie Parrish
Elliott Equipment Co., Omaha, Neb., is working hard to push the envelope when it comes to boom truck design. A few examples are found on the 32117, a 32-ton boom truck brought to market in March 2005. The crane, which is available as either a rear- or front-mounted unit, features a 117-ft, five-section boom with a tip height of 129 ft.
Last issue, we reviewed key design decisions, including a design-build concept for the crane bed, a new superstructure, and an improved boom geometry. For more information on the design and the unique standing/rotating operator console, see Part One. Central to making a good crane design great, however, is how quick and safe it is to set up.
Set up and ready to work
Outrigger controls located on both sides of the bed are standard. Three outrigger positions are allowed with manual locks for mid-position operation. Sauber-supplied aluminum outrigger pads are stored and carried on the outrigger beams. Any operator will appreciate how easy the pads are to position.
Affording easy access to the bed and operators station is a fold-down ladder with integral hand grabs. Its stake pocket design allows it to be positioned at multiple points along the bed. To prevent slips and falls, the entire deck is spray coated with an abrasive finish.
A simple yet effective pin keeper has been designed for the jib. It is easy to secure the pin with flange because the opening for it is oversized, making it possible to secure the jib even when things are not perfectly aligned. Think of it as an oversized eye of a needle.
Additionally, the jib rides on rollers to ease manual positioning. Located at the operator console are the all-important load charts. In this case, the charts are decals affixed to a pair of aluminum plates. These nearly indestructible pages cant be misplaced and will serve their purpose for as long as the decals hold up. A Greer model 586 provides load management and anti-two block protection. A few perks on the console include a cup holder and 12-volt charger.
When equipped with a 600-pound capacity, 40″x60″ personnel platform, the Apitech flow control valves directly interface with a radio remote control supplied by NBB Controls. Use of the Apitech valve also makes field-installation easier if the platform and radio remote control is added later.
With an eye toward maintenance
With attention to a few minor details, Elliott Equipment has made maintaining this crane a little easier. Numbering and/or color-coding electrical wire is a common practice on most pieces of equipment, but Elliott Equipment recognized another opportunity to use the identification concept. Hydraulic hoses are color coded prior to assembly to limit the possibility of getting lines crossed and to speed the process of attaching hoses. In the field, the color-coded hoses will aid troubleshooting and replacement. In addition, the electrical wire bulk head is located within easy reach on the deck on the drivers side.
With damage control in mind, the cable to the LMI runs along a channel inside the boom. The image also shows how easy it is to remove the winch if for some reason the boom or extension cylinder needed service. By removing the top bolts and loosening the bottom ones, the entire assembly swings down and out of the way.
Other notable features include: The hydraulic system is equipped with both 5-micron high pressure and 10-micron low pressure filtering systems, and for extended life, steel sheaves are utilized for both the boom extension cables and the hoist cables.
“About the only maintenance concern I noted was the way the hydraulic hoses and control cables coming from the chassis to the superstructure were stuffed through the slewing ring,” Ramsey noted. On the unit we reviewed, paint was already starting to rub away where one hose chafed against the metal. This could lead to premature hose wear.
As the market calls for larger boom trucks, technology must keep up with these demands. In turn, new equipment spawns opportunities for new applications. If at the same time the equipment is easier to use and safer to operate, then the crane becomes all the more productive. These are all points well taken by Elliott Equipment in the design of the 32117. To find out for yourself just how well it did its job, it will cost you about $150,000 MSRP for the crane and another $78,000 for the chassis.
Likes
Rotating operator console is a productivity improvement for behind-the-cab mounted cranes.
Adjustable backside support is an additional comfort feature for operators who are used to standing.
Thumb-controlled engine throttle allows the operator to keep feet firmly on the floor.
Apitech control system exhibited super smooth performance.
Dislikes
Crowded hoses and cables running through the slewing ring could lead to problems with premature wear.
Flat floor of standing operator console offsets the advantage of the backside support.
Verdict
Thinking outside the box or in this case eliminating the (mounting) box enabled a superstructure redesign with productivity in mind. A number of unique features set this boom truck apart.