27/02/2008

SA COUNCIL TRIALS BROONS HANDY HITCH GRADER-MOUNTED RUBBER TYRE ROLLER

The Mid Murray Council in South Australia, whose area follows the picturesque Murray River from Morgan in the north to Mannum in the south, and whose roads are a diverse mix of limestone-based gravel in the Mallee to the flint-hard roads of the Adelaide Hills, are currently trialling the Broons Handy Hitch Grader-Mounted Rubber Tyre Roller as part of their patrol grading operations.

The Handy Hitch PP2285 is the most advanced grader-mounted rubber tyre roller available on the Australian market and is a truly unique piece of equipment that complements the existing range of specialist crushing and compaction equipment developed by Broons.

The Mid-Murray Council has attached the Handy Hitch directly to the back of its Caterpillar 12H grader and it is currently being used on maintenance grading across the council district over the coming weeks. The operators work a 10 hour day, 4 on / 4 off roster, 7 days a week.

Grader Operator, Darryl Eckert, was pleased to get the opportunity to try the Handy Hitch and quickly commented that it was an ideal piece of equipment for their application.

“I haven’t used this sort of equipment before.  I've only towed a combination roller”, Darryl said.

“Alternative grader mounted rollers don’t apply the pressure over the surface like the Handy Hitch and consequently the grader loses traction but they also don’t cover the road like the Handy Hitch."

“I like the side shift mechanism and I am looking forward to using it over the next month or so when hopefully we get some much needed rain.  I think it will be excellent,” Darryl concluded.

It is the unique independent walking beam system on the Handy Hitch that allows the compactor tyres to follow the exact contour of the road. This system maintains constant pressure by the tyres on the road and leaves a smooth, uniform surface without reducing the traction of the grader.  The advanced concept is not found on any similar machine.

The amount of pressure applied by the 12 smooth tread compactor tyres on the pavement is adjustable and the machine’s design ensures 100% coverage with a single pass around 2.3m wide.

The Broons Handy Hitch PP2285 can be used in both forward and reverse direction and is easily raised or lowered on the run.

The Handy Hitch is the only roller that can be offset, and the side shift operation to the left or right is extremely simple to engage. This function means the Handy Hitch can roll to the edge of the road pavement without exposing the grader to potential hazards in the surface while at the same time keeping it clear of overhanging trees.  Best of all, maintenance on the Handy Hitch PP2285 is kept to an absolute minimum.

There are two choices for attaching the Handy Hitch - fitted directly to the back of a grader, or to the ripper attachment. Mid-Murray Council has fitted it directly to the back of the grader and turning on narrow Adelaide Hills roads is easy.