A McElroy Advantage InDitch Fusion
McElroy engineers love to visit jobsites. Since January, McElroy engineers have spent over 400 hours in the field observing setup, fusion techniques and operations. We do this as part of our research for improving our current products as well as developing new products to help end users. One distinct McElroy advantage that many end users are unaware of is the InDitch features of our machines.
McElroy fusion machines are not strictly straight line machines but have the ability to be removed from their chassis and used in the ditch.
Most machines are “Pit Bull® configurable” meaning they can be moved off of a rolling or TracStar chassis to essentially become a Pit Bull unit (right). The carriage is then powered from the vehicle through an inditch extension kit or from a separate generator. That Pit Bull unit is then perfect for inditch fusion operations, as seen with this TracStar 28 below. If the space is extremely tight, or a special fitting is being fused, the fourth jaw can be removed. TracStar® 28 InDitch Operation
Another line of products that can go inditch are the DynaMc® line of machines. These machines do not have a vehicle and can be used above or below the surface. A unique design feature of the DynaMcs is the jaw configuration, which can be especially useful in tight situations. The 4jaw DynaMcs have 2fixed jaws and 2moveable jaws that can be modified depending on the situation. They can be used in this 2fixed +2moveable configuration or a 3fixed + 1 moveable. The 3+1 configuration allows for more flexibility when fusing fittings and adapters to the end of the pipe.
The DynaMcs, because they are already a small sturdy carriage on a lifting cradle, may carry a misconception that they can’t get smaller and more compact. They can. The lifting cradle on 2 and 4jaw DynaMcs can be removed to make the unit even smaller for cramped spaces ( below). All of the necessary information for using a machine in the ditch can be found in the Operator’s Manual in the “Special Operations” section that highlights how to perform inditch fusions with McElroy machines.
We have also created a video to highlight McElroy's inditch capabilities. Click here to view the video.
TracStar® 500 Series 3
McElroy’s TracStar® 500 Series 3 will butt fuse pipe sizes from 6” IPS to 20” OD (180mm – 500mm). The fusion machine features a facer and heater that are indexermounted and powered by the TracStar 500. One of the major additions on the Series 3 is an economy throttle setting that saves fuel by throttling down when idle.
McElroy also modified the heater to cover the entire range of pipe sizes for the machine. The power for the heater is supplied by an onboard generator, while a hydraulicpump system driven by the engine provides the power for the facer, dualspeed track system and more. Dual hydraulic pipe lifts help to load and unload the pipe into the carriage. An Automatic version of the TracStar 500 Series 3 is also available.
OVERVIEW
Heater and facer mounted on and powered by the TracStar 500 Series 3 High, low and auto throttle settings Hydraulic Clamping comes standard Thicker heater body and butt plates for better temperature distribution 11+ hours operational fuel tank capacity ISOcompliant industrial Tefloncoated plates DataLogger® compatible Dual speed tracks
To learn more about the TracStar 500 Series 3, visit this webpage.
To see the complete specifications of the TracStar 500 Series 3, click here.
To see an animation describing the benefits of all TracStar machines, click here.
Look For McElroy at these Upcoming Events
ICUEE, October 13 Louisville, Kentucky Booth: K140
IGSHPA, October 919 Las Vegas, Nevada Booth: 11
K Show, October 1623 Dusseldorf, Germany Booth: 11H74 (Hall 11)
Our pictures this month come from Andrew Seidel of Underground Solutions, Inc. If you have photos from a jobsite, we'd love to see them! Your's may be chosen for the next issue of McElroy Connections. Simply email your photos to [email protected].
Want to know more about the TracStar® 630 or 900? This video, from McElroy University, is a complete overview of these versatile fusion machines. http://youtu.be/jUoqOh0smjU Aug 19th This MegaMc® 1600 is about to head out for a weekend on the open road. Happy fusing! Aug 16th
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