3 minutes - magazine 02 | 2024
From lightweight to maximum performance on eight axles
Avoiding costly driving permits, driving over almost any bridge, preventing detours, and setting up the crane on the construction site without an auxiliary crane. This is now even possible with an eight-axle mobile crane!
Liebherr has developed an extremely simple, fast and economical solution for self-assembly of the telescopic boom for the LTM 1650-8.1. Thanks to the newly developed self-assembly device, which is mounted on a standard low-loader, the auxiliary crane that is normally required to assemble the boom can be dispensed with entirely. One of the special aspects of this job is that if the device is not required, the low-loader can be used for other transport tasks.
The hydraulics are connected via quick-release couplings.
The Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 mobile crane is designed to deliver maximum performance. It usually travels on public roads with a total weight of 96 tonnes and an axle load of twelve tonnes. This sometimes requires complex driving permits and because this weight is not permitted on many bridges, long detours often need to be taken. Some countries donʼt even allow such heavy vehicles to be driven on public roads.
A device is attached to the rear of the crane, which raises the boom.
Self-assembly of the telescopic boom
To reduce the weight of large mobile cranes, a proven solution is to remove the telescopic boom and transport it separately on a low loader. The disadvantage of doing so is that an auxiliary crane is required to dismantle and assemble the boom. We therefore wanted to develop a more economical solution for our customers, i.e. by eliminating the auxiliary crane and using a standard low-loader, which can also be used for other applications such as transporting ballast or lattice equipment.
The transport support is extended hydraulically so that the boom can move freely.
The self-assembly device consists of three main components: a lifting device at the rear of the crane, a hydraulically adjustable boom transport support on the low loader and a trolley equipped with a chain drive, which pushes the boom onto the crane during assembly and pulls it away from the crane onto the low loader during disassembly.
The trolley with chain drive pushes the boom towards the crane for assembly.
Fast & easy assembly
To ensure that the crane driver always has everything in view, all functions are operated via the wireless remote control. The assembly process is so simple that the telescopic boom can be assembled and disassembled by just one person if necessary. Incidentally, this solution can easily be retrofitted to any previously delivered LTM 1650-8.1 crane equipped with the “detachable boom” option. The individual assembly steps are:
The boom is bolted together quickly and easily using the remote control.
1. Support the LTM 1650-8.1 on the front jacks and the rear assembly jack
2. Rotate the slewing platform 180 degrees
3. Position the lorry with the telescopic boom behind the crane
4. Connect the hydraulic and electrical quick couplings
5. Raise the boom with the lifting device
6. Hydraulically extend the transport support to create freedom of movement for the boom
7. Push the boom with the trolley towards the crane
8. Pin the boom to the slewing platform, and the luffing cylinder to the boom
9. Detach the trolley from the boom, then luff up the boom
10. Remove the lifting device from the rear of the crane (self-assembly)
11. Attach the sliding beam box at the rear (self-assembly)
After releasing the trolley, the boom can be luffed up.
This article was published in the UpLoad magazine 02 | 2024.
