12-04-2023

Draglines – Introduction
• Draglines are useful where there is
Construction Equipment need of extended reach in
excavating or when material must

Management
be excavated from underwater.
• Draglines primarily consist of drag
bucket, lattice boom crane and
CMT 522 lines or cables.
• The drag bucket is attached to the
Session 16 – Draglines and Clamshells
crane only through the cables
hence the operator has minimal
control of the bucket unlike
hydraulic excavators.
Aritra Halder
| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor | School of Construction

Dragline – Principle Components Dragline Buckets & their sizes

• Boom – Lattice Crane type; used to lift and swing the bucket • Capacity of draglines is measured by the capacity of the
in different elevations & directions. (35˚ inclination) buckets.
• Drag Bucket with dump cable and drag chain – Metal Bucket Dump
Cable • They are generally available in 1-5 cum capacities.
with hinge at the back; Used to excavate material at a lower
level than the machine. Drag chain and dump cable is used to • Buckets can be of following types –
Hoist
move the bucket along the hinge. chain – Light: Suitable for loose, dry soils, sand and gravel
• Boom Hoist Cable – Heavy duty metal cable (multicore)
– Medium: Used for clay and compacted gravel etc.
connected to the top of the boom and operator cabin. Used
to lift the boom in vertical plane. Drag – Heavy: Used for hard materials like broken rocks.
• Bucket Hoist Cable – Heavy duty metal cable connected to Chain • The weight of the bucket should be chosen carefully as
the bucket hoist chain. Used to lift the bucket from the back.
too heavy bucket will necessitate requirement of heavy
• Bucket Drag Cable – Heavy duty metal cable connected to the
duty boom thereby reducing the overall productivity.
face of the bucket. Used to drag the bucket towards the body.
Releasing the tension of drag cable caused the mouth of the • For underwater works, perforated buckets are used.
bucket drop vertically. • The bucket is operated by three mechanisms – drag, hoist
• Fairlead Assembly – Guides the drag cable onto the rolling and dump.
drum when the loaded bucket is drawn.
• The combined load of bucket and material should not be
more than 75% of the tilting force of the whole machine.
| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

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 12-04-2023

Operation of a dragline Dragline Operation for longer reach

Swinging bucket into position, release tension on drag and
hoist line to drop the bucket.

After adequate penetration of teeth, pull the bucket towards

the machine while regulating digging depth through hoist
cable.

When the bucket is filled, hoist cable is pulled and drag cable
is slowly released.

Boom is swung into dumping position and drag cable tension

is completely released resulting in release in tension of both Walking Dragline
dump cable and drag chain.

The front end of the bucket falls vertically allowing material to

slide out. The process repeats.

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

Dragline Operation - Video Factors of dragline productivity

• Type of material being excavated
• Depth of cut
• Angle of swing
• Size and Type of bucket
• Length of boom
• Method of disposal, loading and hauling unit
• Size of hauling unit
• Skill of the operator
• Physical condition of the machine
• Job condition

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

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 12-04-2023

Dragline Production Correction Factors

Fill Factor
• 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦(𝑚 ) × 𝐶 × 𝑓 Sand or fine gravel (damp/wet/dry) 0.8-1.2
• 𝐶 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 = 120 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 Clay 0.88-1.0
• 𝑓 = 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 𝑓1 × 𝑓2 × 𝑓3 × 𝑓4 × 𝑓5 × 𝑓6 × 𝑓7 Dry earth with sand or gravel 0.85-0.88

• 𝑓1 = 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Top Soil (Sandy or Damp clay) 0.8-0.85

Damp Clay with sand or gravel 0.75-0.8
• 𝑓2 = 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Slate (rock), Gravel 0.72-0.75
• 𝑓3 = 𝐻𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Gravel with Clay (Hard) 0.7-0.72
• 𝑓4 = 𝑆𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Damp Clay with large sized gravel 0.68-0.7
• 𝑓5 = 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Digging Factor & Hoist Factor
• 𝑓6 = 𝐽𝑜𝑏 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Boom Length (m) 12 18 24 30
• 𝑓7 = 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Digging Factor 0.86 0.79 0.72 0.65
Hoisting Factor 0.95 0.92 0.90 0.87
| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

Correction Factors Illustrative Example

Swing Factor
Angle of Swing 90 120 180 • A dragline excavator of 2.3 cum capacity having an experienced operator
Swing Factor 0.98 0.95 0.91 is excavating “wet gravel”. The boom length is 18 m and swing angle will
Loading Factor be 120 degrees. Material to be dumped on a truck and actual working is
Method of Dumping Truck Hopper Stockpile
50 mins per hour. Estimate the likely production.
Loading Factor 0.98 0.96 1.0
Job Efficiency Factor
Actual Working Time 60 min/hour 50 min/hour 40 min/hour
Job Efficiency Factor 1.0 0.83 0.67
Operator Factor
Operator Skill Experienced Average Beginner
Operator Factor 1.0 0.95 0.85

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

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Clamshell - Introduction Clamshell uses

• Clamshell is a vertically operated bucket • Clamshell can be used in following cases –
capable of working at, above or below – Digging and dumping in a vertical plane
(below, at or above level) is required.
ground level.
– Material is relatively soft or medium hard.
• The clamshell bucket consists of two – For digging trenches.
scoops hinged together that work like the – For charging bulk material in a bin or a stock
shell of a clam. pile.
– Where accurate dumping is required.
• Clamshell has most of the characteristics
• Earlier models of clamshell used to hang
of dragline and crane in common.
buckets from the tip of the lattice boom
• Apart from regular wire ropes as in cranes.
dragline, two additional lines are added to • Modern clamshells mount buckets from the
clamshells – The closing line & the tag line. stick of hydraulic hoes.
| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

Clamshell - Components Clamshell bucket

• The clamshell bucket is attached to the hoist line and • Clamshell buckets are essentially of
closing line. two types –
• The closing lines help in closing the bucket jaws upon – Light Buckets: Used for handling
stringing back. stockpiles of loose materials like sand,
• The tag line prevents the buckets from twisting while gravel etc. Usually fitted with sharp edge
hoisting and loading. without any teeth.
• The length of the boom determines the height a clamshell
can reach. – Heavy Buckets: These are used for
• The bucket is lowered and gravity helps the sharp edge or
digging purposes and has long and sharp
teeth. Though slow, they are often used
teeth of the bucket to dig into the material being
for rock lifting for their superior grip.
excavated.
• After penetration, holding, closing and hoisting lines help
– Some authors also classify a medium
in pulling the bucket filled with material.
bucket for intermediate works.
• The boom helps in swinging and dumping the material in
target.

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

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Clamshell Bucket Clamshell Operation

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

Clamshell Production Correction Factors

Fill Factor
• 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦(𝑚 ) × 𝐶 × 𝑓 Sand or fine gravel (damp/wet/dry) 0.8-1.2
Clay 0.88-1.0
• 𝐶 = 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 = 120 𝑐𝑦𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
Dry earth with sand or gravel 0.85-0.88
• 𝑓 = 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 = 𝑓1 × 𝑓2 × 𝑓3 × 𝑓4 × 𝑓5 × 𝑓6 × 𝑓7
Top Soil (Sandy or Damp clay) 0.8-0.85
• 𝑓1 = 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Damp Clay with sand or gravel 0.75-0.8

• 𝑓2 = 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Slate (rock), Gravel 0.72-0.75

• 𝑓3 = 𝐻𝑜𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Gravel with Clay (Hard) 0.7-0.72

Damp Clay with large sized gravel 0.68-0.7
• 𝑓4 = 𝑆𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
Digging Factor
• 𝑓5 = 𝐷𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Clamshell Capacity 1 2 3 4 5

• 𝑓6 = 𝐽𝑜𝑏 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Digging Factor 0.98 0.97 0.96 0.96 0.95

• 𝑓7 = 𝑂𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 Hoisting Factor

Digging Depth 5 10 15 20
Hoisting Factor 0.88 0.76 0.64 0.52

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

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Correction Factors Illustrative Example

Swing Factor
Angle of Swing (degree) 60 90 120 180 • An average operator needs to excavate “damp sand” with a clamshell of 2
Swing Factor 1.2 1.0 0.98 0.90 cum capacity. The digging depth is 10 m and swing angle is 120 degrees.
The sand is loaded in truck and actual working time is 50 mins/hour.
Dump Factor
Estimate the production rate.
Method of Dumping Truck Hopper Stockpile

Dump Factor 0.90 0.95 1.0

Job Efficiency Factor

Actual Working Time 60 min/hour 50 min/hour 40 min/hour

Job Efficiency Factor 1.0 0.83 0.67

Operator Factor
Operator Skill Experienced Average Beginner

Operator Factor 1.0 0.95 0.85

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor | Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

Comparison
Issues Dragline Clamshell

Thank You!
Operation in hard soil or rock Poor Good

Operation in wet soil or mud Fair Fair

Distance between footing and

Long Long
digging
Contact Me
Loading efficiency into the vehicles Fair Precise but slow at
ahalder@[Link]
+91-8504017164
Digging level Below footing level At, above or below

Cycle time as compared to dipper

More High
shovel

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor

| Aritra Halder | Assistant Professor