Link-Belt unveils 300-ton crawler crane

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 2003) — Link-Belt announces its completely new entry into the 275-300 ton class, the 348 HYLAB 5 lattice boom crawler crane. The 348 HYLAB 5, 300-ton (272 mt), is positioned in the market to outperform and exceed the lift capacities in the 275-280 ton crane class. In many cases its lift chart pushes the lift capacities of bigger 300-ton cranes because of a patent pending Max-Trax gauge widening feature that allows the crane the flexibility to adjust to various job conditions to provide optimum lift capacities.

The 348 H5 features a large, tilting cab, a new SML-10 load moment indicator, slab-type counterweights, big engine horsepower and a remote hydraulic oil cooler.

The Link-Belt HYLAB (HYdraulic LAttice Boom) series of lattice boom cranes with hydraulic controls were first introduced in 1987 and today have more that 2000 units operating worldwide. ″The newest HYLAB 5 cranes enjoy a legacy of customer satisfaction that has earned a reputation for bulletproof reliability, low operating costs and productivity that continues to lead the industry in developing productive, enhanced features that have set the standard for crawler crane performance″ says Pat Collins, senior product manager, lattice boom cranes.

The counterweight removal system on the 348 H5 can lower the entire slab-type upper counterweight in one single package and set it on the ground with no blocking required. Full counterweight is made up of 13 slab sections, each of which is designed to transport with various boom sections to minimize loads. Self-assembly is achieved by using a single hydraulic cylinder that is mounted in the live mast. In situations where transport weight is ultra-sensitive, the counterweight removal system itself can self-detach, getting the main unit transport weight as low as 91,500 lbs (41.5 mt).

An additional 75,000 lbs (34 mt) of carbody counterweights are easily self-removed for transport. This three-piece design of 37,500 lbs (17 mt) is located both on the front and rear.

The 348 H5 has the same narrow gauge – 19′ 2″ (5.8 m) as other 275-ton machines when retracted, but with the patent pending Max-Trax system, the crane can be assembled in the extended wide mode to a track gauge of 22′ (6.7 m) to increase the lifting platform. The length of the crawler tracks is 30′ 8″ (9.3 m).

″The design focus here is to be able to get into tight areas with superior lift chart performance, but then also to give the crane owner the ability to operate in the extended track gauge mode, in more open spaces, to further maximize his capacities and overall crane investment,″ said Collins.

Full contact, 50″ (1.3 m) self-cleaning track shoes are designed for maximum contact area and minimum ground bearing pressure. Sixty-inch (1.5 m) tracks are optional. Standard sealed track rollers, idler and drive planetaries, hydraulic track tension and compact hydrostatic drives provide maintenance free operation. The crane is equipped with hydraulic jacks and hook-and-pin side frames for easy crawler track handling.

Attachment options

The 348 HYLAB 5 has 70′ - 300′ (21.3 - 91.4 m) heavy-duty tubular boom. 85′ - 355′ (25.9 - 108.2 m) long-range boom is also available. The attachment offers heavy-duty and long-range extensions with bar pendants that attach to the boom extension for easy storage. Top sections are available for both heavy-duty and long-range booms.

315′ (96 m) long range boom plus 140′ (96 m) jib provides 455′ (138.7m) of attachment and 459′ (140 m) of tip height. The soon-to-be-announced luffing attachment will further maximize the crane owner′s investment as the heavy-duty boom becomes the luffing boom and the long-range boom becomes the luffing jib. This is the first in Link-Belt′s ongoing modular system to be developed in a whole new class to maximize the lattice boom performance and investment.

Line pull on the matched front and rear hoists is 55,000 lbs. (24 948 kg) and line speed is 565 ft/min (172.2 m/min). 1 1/8″ (28mm) rope and grooved lagging with automatic pawl provide matched drum performance. An optional third drum is available with 32,000 lbs. (14 515 kg) maximum line pull and 274ft/min. (83.5m/min) of maximum line speed. Other options include freefall on front and rear drums and a rear-mounted fourth drum.

A remote-mounted hydraulic oil cooler with a thermostatically controlled, hydraulically driven fan ensures cool running hydraulic components. The hydraulic pilot-operated controls have variable hoist and swing settings working through a six pump main hydraulic package. The machine is powered by a 470 hp (350 kW) (tier 2) Isuzu diesel engine with total horsepower control.

Big, new HYLAB cab

The 348 HYLAB 5 cab features a totally new, wider cab with 20 degree tilt, air-conditioning, a full complement of ″operator-friendly″ gauges and controls, such as backlit gauges, adjustable armrest-mounted single-axis controls, and low-effort hydraulic pedals with minimal pedal range of motion. Standard is an 18,600 BTU cab air-conditioning unit and a 19,000 BTU hot water heater. The ergonomic design offers substantially greater operator room and comfort with a six-way adjustable seat, easier-to-read gauges and an adjustable console with pilot-operated armchair controls. The new ′breakthrough′ cab is set up to be highly functional and very comfortable. The new SML-10 load moment indicator monitors loads in the boom via a hoist suspension load cell. Standard left, right and front catwalks easily store for transport.