Casing Clamp & Guide
The ARS patented 3 axis, mechanical casing clamp & guide assembly is used primarily for aligning and holding (clamping) reusable sectional casings that are used for drilling subterranean boreholes. As described later, the holding function prevents a string of casings from slipping back into the borehole when casing sections are being removed. The clamp & guide is well suited for construction sites that generally have harsh operating environments where the ground is unstable, uneven, muddy, with standing water or spilt concrete.
ARS 3 axis casing clamp & guide Specification:
ARS 3 axis casing clamp & guides are designed to fit single and double wall casings manufactured by Bauer, Casagrande, Leffer and Liebherr, etc.
620mm, 3 gripping arm.
750mm, 3 gripping arms.
880mm, 3 gripping arms.
1000mm, 3 and 4 gripping arms.
1180mm, 3 and 4 gripping arms.
1200mm, 3 and 4 gripping arms.
1300mm, 4 gripping arms.
1500mm, 4 gripping arms.
1800mm, 4 gripping arms.
2000mm, 5 gripping arms.
2200mm, 5 gripping arms.
2500mm, 6 & 8 gripping arms.
Note: Casing clamp & guides with 3 gripping arms are preferred when working close to obstructions, as the three gripper arms are spaced further apart on the mainframe, allowing them to be opened and closed when the mainframe is touching the obstruction, which in most cases is a building's outer wall.
Highlights of the patented 3 axis clamp & guide assembly:
3 axis gripping arms, eliminating linkage binding associated with 2 axis units
Laser centering to a reference ground point for accurate casing positioning
Automatic casing release when lifting casing
Automatic re-clamp on casing drop
Standard gripping arm pins, bushings, bearings and links on all sizes, with only the outer bar with dies changing for the differing casing outside diameters
Compact, high strength frame design (especially 3 gripping arm units) allowing working close to obstructions
Easy to use and maintain
Legs positioned directly under the mainframe's gripper arm pivot pin location, thereby reducing bending stress on the mainframe and also reducing the clamp & guide's footprint
Ground spikes for the bottom of the leg pads and optional locating pins available
Totally rebuildable using replaceable hardened steel bushings and spherical bearings
All pivot point bushing sealed and greaseable
No hydraulics components used for clamping force
Details on the ARS casing clamp & guide with 3 axis gripper arms can be found under "Patents"
Patented ARS 1000mm 4 gripper arm, 3 axis casing clamp & guide showing the ground locating pins (4 to 8) and 4 spacer plates (all shown in red). The gripper arms are in the open position, and the centralizer with the built in laser and bubble level is shown, located in the center of the casing clamp & guide's mainframe. The centralizer is self centered to the mainframe by three locating pins.
ARS 1500mm 4 gripper arm, 2 axis casing clamp & guide.
ARS 1000mm 4 gripper arm, 2 axis casing clamp & guide with legs removed, using the mainframe's underside cleats to locate the casing clamp & guide. All ARS casing clamp & guides are designed to operate in adverse conditions.
ARS 1000mm 4 gripper arm, 2 axis casing clamp & guide with legs removed, using the underside cleats to locate the casing clamp & guide.
The casing has been removed from the borehole, which is shown being topped up with concrete. On some applications, they like to keep the clamp & guide in position to stop the concrete from getting contaminated with soil and running away from the borehole. The mainframe acts like a dam.
ARS 1180mm 4 gripper arm, 2 axis casing clamp & guide with legs. The casing sections are being removed in this video.
Notice one gripper arm is still in contact with the rotating casing. The front end operators like to do this to scrape the dirt off the outside of the casing. This, however, reduces the life of the gripping dies!
Also notice how the drill's operator pushes down on the casing to set it in the gripping arms before the final conical bolts are removed. This makes absolutely sure that the casing will not slip back into the borehole due to worn gripping dies or dies packed with soil and/or set concrete.
The only maintenance is the daily inspection and cleaning of the gripping arm's replaceable dies. The serrations are checked for packed soil and/or concrete.
The casing's outer surface should show the bite marks of the casing dies. Weekly greasing of all gripper arms is recommended. However, greasing should be done on a daily basis in adverse conditions such as when the legs are removed, concrete is being spilt and working in standing water/mud.
High pressure water washing is also recommended in adverse conditions, especially before greasing the gripper arm's pins and bushings!