10.03.2014

Boom lift drilling attachment

Australian rental company Skyreach has developed a new drilling attachment for use on its boom lifts

The company says that the compact attachment has been “purpose engineered, thoroughly developed and tested to overcome problems experienced with its boom lifts when used for drilling, with side loads and excessive weight on the platform causing excessive damage".
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The Skyreach drill attachment in action

The system incorporates a box truss frame to which the drill and linear bearings attach. This pivots through an arc of zero to 45 degrees to allow the drillers to operate through a range of motion most suited to the work site, and specifically, rock faces. A completely new platform was constructed so as to remain within the standard weight and size of the boom lift’s original platform.

It says that the major challenge in the design centred on the way in which the side loadings of the impact drill could be absorbed. The solution was to have a series of bearings fitted to the 25mm shafts which were also fitted with custom made springs. In this way, the energy generated by the air driven impact drill is not transferred back to the platform and in turn the boom.

Mitch Ely of Skyreach said: “We decided to find a solution for drillers operating at height, the solution was to engineer a purpose built platform with drill carrier which could be attached to our 86ft boom lifts. Instead of drillers having to abseil down a rock face to drill into rock, our system delivers a safer and much more productive alternative.”
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The compact drill attachment point

The concept is now in production and initial trials have generated positive comments. On the first work site, 20 holes were being drilled per day in the first day of operation. This is expected to improve as operators get used the system.

“The entire system is very light," adds Ely. "As weight is our nemesis, by using aluminium, and reducing the size of the platform, we are operating within the design limitations of the boom lift, even after allowing for a maximum load of 800 newtons. We are very pleased with the performance of the new system and we are now looking to apply this technology to a 135ft boom lift.”