Under the river and through the woods; Vermeer’s newest HDD targets larger projects – utility equipment
Published in: Diesel Progress North American Edition
Date: 3/1/2004
By: Dawn M. Geske
The Vermeer Manufacturing Co. has introduced a new large horizontal directional drill (HDD) to meet the growing requirements for large diameter pipelines in river-crossing utility installation. The new D300x500 Navigator HDD is the largest machine in the company’s extensive HDD line and was the result of nearly four years of development, the company said.
Before HDDs, contractors used creative methods to install pipelines in areas where rivers were present, creating large amounts of restoration to existing surroundings. Cities are now requesting or even requiring the use of directional drilling equipment to preserve the habitat as well as reduce restoration costs.
“Whenever you do open-cut trenching whether it’s with a backhoe, excavator or trencher, you have a lot of restoration costs” explained Ed Savage, product manager for trenchless and rubber tire products at the Pella, Iowa, manufacturer. “Directional drilling has allowed people to install utilities without disrupting traffic and disturbing environmentally sensitive areas.”
The Navigator D300x500 HDD can directionally drill under a riverbed, using a steerable cutter head to create a pilot bore that can be steered over, under and around obstacles for minimal disruption.
Power for the 300,000 lb. machine is derived from a 14.6 L, turbocharged Caterpillar C-15 diesel engine rated 525 hp at 2100 rpm. The liquid-cooled engine meets Tier 2/Stage 2 emission standards, the company said. The engine drives a hydraulic system that operates the directional drill assembly as well as the track propulsion system.
Two Sauer-Danfoss pumps drive a pair of Poclain motors that provide 300,000 lb.ft. thrust/pullback force. The anxillary system incorporates a triple stack of Eaton gear pumps which drive a Poclain motor to angle the rack, fold the catwalk and run the vise breakout mechanism. The vise breakout mechanism uses the pump’s power to uncouple the drill stem for a breakout force of 90,000 lb.ft. The hydraulic catwalk provides accessibility to make wire connects between the drill stores, which can extend to 408 in. with upset diameters up to 10 in.
The engine also drives a pair of Sauer-Danfoss hydraulic pumps that power Poclain motors on each side of the tracked undercarriage. Each track incorporates 11 Vermeer-built idler/rollers and a Berco track chain and pad.
The machine uses 50,000 lb.ft. of rotary torque to bore 5000 to 6000 ft., depending on hole diameter and soil conditions, as it travels along at 3 mph with spindle and carriage speeds at 88 rpm and 56 fpm, respectively, the company said.
The drill is operated from the two-person operator cab through joystick controls. In normal drill operations, one person controls the drill functions and operates the crane to load the drill stems into the rack carriage. The other operator position in the cab is utilized for the steering system operator, who can use computer outlets that are installed inside the cab. Automated steering function can also be programmed for various drilling surfaces such as rock, clay or dirt.
The design of the Navigator D300x500 drill was the result of nearly four years of development that included participation by contractors, Vermeer said. The contractors helped identify features and enhancements that would make the drill’s operation easier and faster than previous models. Many of those features involved transportability and set-up time, according to Savage.
Through the contributions of the contractors, the Navigator drill was developed as a self contained unit with the operator’s cab, power unit and hydraulics all a part of the drill flame. “We took the same mentality with a larger drill as we did with our smaller drills,” said Savage.
The narrow, one-piece design allows the machine to be folded up and transported on a single truck, rather than a traditional drill that utilizes a separate truck for the power unit and hydraulics, the operator’s cab and the drill rack. Setup time is reduced as the drill folds out without having to plug-in hydraulic mid electrical lines, the company said.
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