Self-piercing
For this action the machine should have the End Screw. To perform a Solo-Boring connect the Air hose between air-compressor and Control Station and between Pneumatic mole and Control Station.
Then:
- Position MAX into the starting pit and align precisely to the planned target
- Direction handle in Forward position.
- Valve of the air supply at the Control Station with a quick movement open to the maximum position, to start-up the MAX at full power.
- When the MAX starts to operate, the air supply has to be reduced. This is necessary because the MAX has not been run into the soil. When the air supply valve is fully open at the lubricator (2), the MAX will be unstable and will not be able to move forward and backwards. Slowly opening the valve ensures that the MAX will slowly navigate its way into the soil while remaining stable i.e. not moving from forward to backward.
- Whilst the MAX slowly finds its way into the soil, the MAX will stop a few times while finding its target. The direction should be checked for accuracy, to avoid the MAX going out of line.
- After the MAX has drilled into the soil for 1/2 up to 2/3 of its length (this depends on ground conditions), you can open the supply valve and the MAX can be used at full speed.
- The disappearance of the MAX into the pit wall contents can result in soil being thrown outside abruptly, which may lead to eye damage.
- During drilling, monitor the air hose at all times and the noises emitted from the MAX. If the hose is shaking rapidly, (cycling back and forth in the starting pit) the MAX could be swimming in the bore. Reduce the air supply to the MAX to allow the soil to grip the sides of the casing and allow forward progress to continue.
- At all times, a good flow of Control Station is required.
- When Max enters the End pit, reduce the air flow
Reversing pneumatic mole
Max can easily reverse (move backward) to the starting pit if there is not enough space to lift the MAX out of the End pit.
To reverse MAX:
- Position the handle of the control valve in Reverse (R) on the lubricator. Reversing MAX from Forward to backward is done under pressure (do not close the air supply).
- When reversing, the operator should firmly hold the hose and ensure that the tool does not back-up over it.
Retraction can be done without cutting off the supply air supply. When retracting the mole, keep an eye on the constant tension of the supply-control hose to avoid it getting blocked in the jacking hole and kinking, which can lead to cutting off the supply air supply.
Manual pulling in of plastic pipe
A tool for manual pulling is needed to manually pull in plastic pipes. This method can be used for pipes from 25 to 55 mm in diameter.
To insert the tubes by hand proceed to the following steps:
- After creating the hole with MAX, the piercing tool needs to be disconnected from the Air Hose than disconnect the Air Hose from the Lubricator (The air hose stay in the drilled bore hole)
- Insert nipple to be screwed in the plastic tube screw it well tight.
- Insert nipple will need to be connect to the Air hose
- From the starting Pit carefully pull the air hose your way and the pipe will come after the air hose through the bore hole.
Direct pulling in of pipe
For immediate pulling of pipes with diameters up to 90 mm, the piercing machine must be equipped with a tool for pulling pipes. A chain wrench is also useful, for mounting the pipe to be pulled into the sleeve (tool for pulling pipes).
For the immediate retraction of PE, PVC pipes smaller diameter (up to 90 mm) please proceed as follows:
- Connect the Air hose
- Position MAX into the starting pit and align precisely to the planned target
- Direction handle in Forward position (F).
- Valve of the air supply at the Control Station with a quick movement open to the maximum position, to start-up the MAX at full power.
- When the MAX starts to operate, the air supply has to be reduced. This is necessary because the MAX has not been into the soil. When the air supply valve is fully open at the lubricator, the MAX will be unstable and will be able to move forward and backwards. Slowly opening the valve ensures that the MAX will slowly navigate its way into the soil while remaining stable i.e. not moving from forward to backward.
- Whilst the MAX slowly finds its way into the soil, the MAX will stop a few times while finding its target. The direction should be checked for accuracy, to avoid the MAX going out of line
- MAX Impact Power needs to stop when it is for ¾ of the length into the soil
- Disconnect the air hose from the small connection hose at the MAX
- Air hose to be placed in the pipe insert
- Connect the air hose with the small connection hose at the MAX
- Screwing pipe into the screw nipple using the chain tool
- Start the MAX machine. During operation the consumed air will be discharged through the end part of the pipe. The soil or debris acquired during the process of connecting the pipe to the MAX can suddenly be thrown out of the pipe.
- After the MAX has arrived in the End pit, the air supply needs to be reduced.
- In the End pit, enough space should be available in order to disconnect the pipes and the Air hose.
- Slowly close the air supply and allow the MAX to stop.
- Disconnect all parts, clamps and clamping plate.
For immediate pulling of pipe with diameters of 90 mm and above, the piercing machine must be equipped with a tool for pulling pipes. In addition, a steel rope and a tensioner with adapter are required.
For the immediate pulling in of PE, PVC pipes please proceed as follows:
- Connect the Air hose.
- Position MAX into the starting pit and align precisely to the planned target.
- Direction handle in Forward position (F) .
- Valve of the air supply at the lubricator with a quick movement open to the maximum position, to start-up the MAX at full power.
- When the MAX starts to operate, the air supply has to be reduced. This is necessary because the MAX has not been run into the soil. When the air supply valve is fully open at the Control Station, the MAX will be unstable and will not be able to move forward and backwards. Slowly opening the valve ensures that the MAX will slowly navigate its way into the soil while remaining stable i.e. not moving from forward to backward.
- Whilst the MAX slowly finds its way into the soil, the MAX will stop a few times while finding its target. The direction should be checked for accuracy, to avoid the MAX going out of line.
- MAX needs to stop when it is for ¾ of the length into the soil
- Disconnect the air hose from the small connection hose at the MAX
- Air hose and pulling rope to be placed in the pipe insert
- Then forward the tied hose after pulling the rope, separate from each other again.
- Extensions of the connection cable and the pulling rope have to be link up with the screw.
- The installed pipe in the sleeve can now be squeezed in.
- Into one of the pipe ends the inserted part can be lead with the insertion piece.
- After the pulling rope put the clamps on the tensioner.
- The jaws of the tensioner with the screws need to be pressed down.
- With the handle pull the rope and by prestressing in succession to connect the recovered insertion sleeve-tube on the threaded sleeve (on the machine)
- After reaching a sufficient pressure on the coupled parts we can Start the mole. During operation the consumed air will be discharged through the end part of the pipe. The soil or debris acquired during the process of connecting the pipe to the MAX can suddenly be thrown out of the pipe.
- After the MAX has arrived in the End pit, the air supply needs to be reduced.
- In the End pit, enough space should be available in order to disconnect the pipes and the Air hose.
- Slowly close the air supply and allow the MAX to stop.
- Disconnect all parts, pulling rope, clamps and tensioner.
Ramming open pipe
For ramming the pipe, the piercing machine can be equipped with a screw or tool for pulling pipes. In addition, a cone or cones appropriate to the diameter of the pipe to be rammed in and tie straps are required.
In order to ram the pipe, it is necessary to:
- Prepare the pipe to be rammed by welding weight-relief rings at the beginning of the pipe (the end that enters the ground) from the outside to reduce the effect of the pipe jamming in the ground during ramming and from the inside to compact the spoils so that their subsequent removal will be easier:
At the other end, weld the ears, which will be used to fasten the machine to the pipe with tie straps:
- Place and align the pipe in the place where it will be rammed ( pit, bottom of embankment).
- Place the cone(s) in the hole of the pipe.
- Prepare a level for siting the piercing machine so that the axis of the machine is at the height of the axis of the pipe to be rammed in.
- Insert the piercing machine with its head into the cone (cones) and strap it to the pipe by hooking it to the back of the machine (screw or sleeve for pipe pulling) and the ears welded to the pipe.
- Connect the pneumatic hoses.
- Set the override valve to the forward position.
- Start the piercing machine.
- When the end of the pipe reaches the destination, turn off the machine.
- Remove the tie straps.
- Turn the machine over to reverse operation.
- Start the piercing machine to knock it out of the cone(s).
- Remove the cone(s) from the pipe.
Removal of spoils from the rammed pipe
To remove the spoils from the rammed pipe, you will need a pipe plug with a size that matches the diameter of the pipe to be rammed, locking rods to block the pipe plug, a compressor hose for pipeline pigging with valves for the pipe plug, and a gas cutting kit.
In order to remove the spoil from the pipe, it is necessary:
- Clean the inside of the pipe of spoil to a depth of about 3-4xD (D - diameter of the pipe) from the pipe plug mounting side.
- Burn four holes for the locking rods for the pipe plug.
- To avoid damaging the gasket of the pipe plug, remove the slag formed after burning and wait for the pipe to cool down.
- Insert the foam pipeline pig into the pipe.
- Insert the pipe plug into the pipe and lock it with the locking rods.
- Tighten the gasket of the pipe plug by tightening the nut on the plug.
- Connect the compressor hose for pipeline pigging to the pipe plug fitting with the shorter end on the valve side.
- Connect the other end of the hose to the compressor fitting.
- Make sure the hose's main and side valves are in the closed position; check the security of the fittings' connections.
- Start the compressor.
- Open the valve on the compressor (valves on the hose still closed) and wait until the pressure in the hose equalizes.
- Rapidly open the main valve on the supply hose to bring air into the pipe and remove spoil.
- If the spoil does not start to be removed within 2 min, turn off the compressor.
- Unload the system from pressure by slowly opening the side valve on the hose.
- Close the main valve on the supply hose.
- Through the side valve, pour water into the hose to lubricate and seal the pig.
- Close the side valve.
- Repeat the steps for trying to blow spoil out of the pipe.
- When the spoil is moved, reduce the amount of air supplied to reduce the spoil ejection speed.
Making piercing using an expander (with MAX K130S as an example)
For self-piercing with expanders, you will need a piercing machine equipped with a towing tool, a tip towing and a rope winch or other device that allows you to pull the mole+expander assembly. It should be mentioned here that it is only for belaying in order to ensure the greatest possible accuracy. It is not to forcibly assist the execution of the piercing itself with the expanders.
In order to make a piercing with an expander, you need to:
- Perform a self-piercing with a piercing machine without an expander. Keep in mind the critical depth which cannot be less than 10 x the diameter of the expander.
- After the piercing machine reaches the end pit, place the winch in the end pit in such a position that the axis of the rope coincides with the axis of the made borehole. The winch should then be braced against the wall of the pit.
- Attach the winch rope to the head of the piercing machine using the towing end and the hole in the head. Then withdraw the piercing machine into the starting pit while pulling in the winch rope.
(You can also remove the piercing machine from the end pit and move it to the start pit, and pull the rope into the hole using the air supply/control hose.)
- In the start pit, remove the towing end and attach the PO 160 expander, reattach the towing end. Then insert the piercing machine into the previously made hole and perform piercing with simultaneous towing of the machine using the winch.
- When the end pit is reached, remove the towing tip, knock the piercing machine out of the widener by switching it briefly to the rear and remove the widener from the pit.
- Attach the winch cable to the head of the piercing machine through the towing end and the hole in the head. Next, withdraw the piercing machine into the start pit while pulling in the winch cable.
(You can also remove the piercing machine from the end pit and move it to the start pit, and pull the rope into the hole using the power and control hose).
- Repeat the steps with subsequent wideners until the required piercing diameter is reached.
If the target diameter of the hole is Ø180, use PO 160 and PO 180 expander sequentially. Accordingly, if the target diameter of the hole is Ø195 mm, use PO 160 expander and PO 180 and PO 195 expander sequentially beforehand, depending on the degree of compaction of the soil in which the work is carried out.
Pulling in Ø160 pipe using expanders (with MAX K130S as an example)
In order to pull in Ø160 pipes, you need a PO 160 expander, a PO 180 expander, a tip towing, a rope winch (or other wire rope pulling device), a pipe pulling rope, a piercing machine equipped with a towing tool, a bridle rope unit, and a rope tensioner equipped with a Ø160-180 adapter.
In order to pull in the Ø160 pipe, it is necessary to:
- Perform the steps as in the section Making self-piercing with expanders (from above point).
- Place the piercing machine in the start pit, put the PO 180 expander on it, and put the tip towing together with the winch cable on the head of the jacking machine.
- Insert the piercing machine with the expander into the previously made hole for about 3/4 of the length of the expander and then stop it.
- Disconnect the power and control hose from the piercing machine and thread it through the pipe to be pulled along with the pipe pulling rope. Reconnect the power and control hose to the machine, the transition line to the towing tool, and the pipe pull-in rope to the bridle rope unit. Insert the pipe to be pulled into the expander's plug section until it rests against the expander's retaining ring, and clip it together using the pipe pulling rope and the rope tensioner.
It is very important at this point to maintain tension on the winch rope so that the piercing machine is not pulled out of the expander.
- Perform piercing with simultaneous towing with the cable winch.
- When the end pit is reached, remove the tip towing and expander and take the piercing machine out of the pit, disconnect the pipe being pulled in.