Guys: I was travelling the southern part of NYS today doing my field engineering work. I went past a old construction firm, sitting next to the road was what appeared to be a Cletrac HG that had some sort of drill apparatus mounted to it.
Anyone know about these, appeared to be an old time rock drill of sorts. Did these travel under their own power or were they dragged into the spot where they were put to work.
It was an interesting old piece of iron.
Any thoughts on who made these units would be appreciated. Sorry I was unable to snap a pic.
Thank-you ...Orangeman
As far as I know, they just used the undercarriage that was the same as Oliver crawlers. The drive was an air motor through a final drive that was very similar to Oliver. Most that I have seen were Chicago Pneumatic, but there may be other makes as well. They used a different track frame (longer), but the same track & sprockets as HG, OC-3 etc. The rollers had longer shafts.
Good Morning Doug:
I could see why the shaft would be longer for the rolls - it would the machine to carry more dead load from the weight of the air track drill.
Do you know what was used as the power source for the air drill?
Good information - Thank-you!
They would have a big gas engine driven compressor hooked up to it. I think I recall a picture where the drill was towing the compressor.
Here's one side of an undercarriage I have. Reminds me of an OC6.
Ingersol Rand made something similar but with not so much likeness to Oliver parts, I think.
Hello Doug and Oliverchris: Excellent information, so when the tracked drill rig was being used it was pulled or tow into position - then a gas or diesel powered air compressor was hooked up to power the air drill.
Wondering if they used Joy, Ingersoll Rand or Jaeger or some other air compressor brand as the prime air power source? When I get a chance I will try to see if I can go back and snap a pic.
Thanks for all the good insights!
Orangeman
Were some of those units self propelled with their own engine and air compressor?
I remember seeing the brochures for these machines years ago while getting parts with my gramps at LaParro's in Cleveland. I forget how to spell LaParro's, but they were an Oliver crawler dealer in Cleveland.
I don't think any of the ones built with the Oliver undercarriage had their own power source. Maybe some of the newer, larger ones did though. I'm going to dig through some of my old catalogs, I think I have some info on these units.