Link-Belt unveils new attachments for 300 ton
crawler crane

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March, 2005) — Link-Belt announces a new 60 ton (54.4 mt) fixed jib attachment for its highly successful 348 HYLAB 5 300 ton (272 t) lattice boom crawler crane. This new 140 ft (42.7 m) fixed jib attachment further expands the offering and flexibility of the 348 HYLAB 5, which has recently outperformed market expectations. In many cases, the 348’s lift chart pushes the lift capacities of larger cranes because of a patented Max-Trax gauge widening feature that allows the crane the flexibility to adjust to various job conditions to provide optimum lift capacities.

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 2500 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, if necessary, getting the main unit transport weight to as low as 91,500 lbs (41 504 kg).

An additional 75,000 lbs (34 020 kg) of carbody counterweights are easily self-removed for transport. It is a three-piece design with 37,500 lbs (17 010 kg) each on the front and rear.

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

“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 Pat Collins, senior product manager, lattice boom cranes.

Full contact, 50 in (1.3 m) self-cleaning track shoes are designed for maximum contact area and minimum ground bearing pressure. 60 in (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. The standard left, right, and front catwalks easily store for transport.

Attachment Options

The 348 HYLAB 5 has a 70-300 ft (21.3 - 91.4 m) heavy-duty tubular boom. An 85-355 ft (25.9 - 108.2 m) long-range boom is also available. The conventional boom offers “heavy-duty” and “long-range” extensions with bar pendants that attach to the boom extension for easy storage. Two top sections are available for both heavy-duty and long-range applications.

A 295 ft (89.9 m) long-range attachment plus a 140 ft (42.7 m) jib provides 435 ft (132.5 m) of attachment and 436 ft (132.9 m) of tip height. The soon to be announced luffing attachment will 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 front and rear hoists is 55,000 lbs (24 948 kg) and line speed is 565 ft/min (172.2 m/min). 28 mm 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 274 ft/min (83.5 m/min) of maximum line speed. Other options include freefall on front and rear drums.

A remote mounted hydraulic oil cooler with 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 optional low-effort hydraulic pedals. 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 but very comfortable. The new SML-10 load moment indicator monitors loads in the boom via a hoist suspension load cell.