Excavators are fitted with a number of attachments like the Excavator Grapples that are suitable for performing various operations. Excavator Grapples make up the group of such important tools and attachments performing a number of tasks ranging from construction works, agriculture to forestry.
Their different categories make it possible for this attachment to perform tasks in the different application areas.
Definition Of Excavator Grapple
This is an attachment fitted at the end of the arm of an excavator through a hanger and a rotator and is designed to grab, lift, move, and sort materials in different application areas.
Correct selection of the attachment improves productivity, gives a desirable outcome, and enables the completion of a number of tasks.
Most common categories are designed with upper and lower jaws built onto the frame of the main body of the equipment and are connected together using a steel bar that allows them to move smoothly.
Mainly, the upper jaw moves about the hinge while the lower jaw remains stationary. These are powered by one or two hydraulic cylinders.
They are equipped with a hydraulic rotator in case of heavy applications or a tilt rotator when the application involves light loading.
They have kits that contribute to the fast completion of work. For example, some extend power rotation and this increases the lifting capability of the attachment and allows it to lift heavy materials.
What Are The Types Of Excavator Grapples?
They are mainly divided into two depending on the system that drives them.
They can either be mechanical or hydraulic.
Mechanical Excavator Grapples
They are driven by the bucket cylinder fixed on the stick or the arm and do not require additional hydraulic speed.
When the bucket cylinder opens, the jaws of the grapple open up, and vice versa.
Mainly one jaw is stationary giving this type limited motion.
This type is mainly used on jobs that do not require accuracy and precision.
They are cheaper and require less care and maintenance.
Hydraulic Excavator Grapples
The hydraulic system of the machine powers this type. Both jaws, including the thumb, are easily manipulated giving the attachment motion of up to 180 degrees.
This type is relatively more expensive and requires more care and maintenance. However, it is the best option as it does work best and faster.
It is also used in jobs that require accuracy and precision.
They also give the operator easier means of operation from the cab.
These can be equipped with various tools to perform different jobs.
However, they don’t require welding onto the machine nor would modifications as such weaken the attachment.
Their installation is simple and straightforward.
You only need to hitch on the equipment, connect the hydraulic lines, and loch the pins in place.
What Are The Various Categories Of Excavator Grapples?
To maximize the productivity of the machine appropriate selection of the attachment is key.
These attachments are available in different sizes and strengths depending on the specified tasks.
Various grapples are available for performing diverse tasks such as digging, demolition, clearing of construction sites, moving logs, lifting heavy stones, concrete blocks, waste, and scrap.
The heaviest and bulkiest ones are mainly used in construction works for clearance, demolition works, and digging while the lighter ones are mainly used for moving materials and lifting.
There are several categories namely: excavator log, orange peel, demolition, narrow tine, excavator rock grab, and mini excavator.
Excavator log grapples
This category is equipped with a rotating system that enables them to grab and move heavy wood logs from the forest to dumping areas and also load the wood logs on transportation tracks.
Their rotating nature makes their operation smooth and easily controllable by the operator.
They are directly powered by the machine’s hydraulic system.
Bunching grapples
They are used in forestry designed for loading and unloading short logs and have bypassing jaws and a large gripping area.
Bunching Grapples work best when used with hydraulic rotators for 360-degree continuous rotation and are shaped in a way that bundles of logs can easily and quickly roll into the jaws.
They can also handle timber in cleanup operations or loading and unloading timber on roadsides.
Pipes and poles are also some of the goods that this type can handle.
Orange peel grapples
This category has a 360-degree rotation that enables them, to man, over in narrow sites, they are used for handling scrap or waste in recycling plants and demolition sites.
Orange peel grapples have sharp tines to enable them to penetrate through debris and facilitate deep digging, also used to load and offload materials.
They have 4 to 5 tines to facilitate farm gripping.
Heavy-duty cylinders are put in this category to help in cycle times and a better penetration maximum stability on the ground is contributed by the lower profile design and short overall height.
Demolition grapples
As its name states, it is used in taking down buildings, sorting and handling heavy materials on site like concrete blocks, and also picking up recyclables.
It has high torque mortar with reinforced jaws and steel with the ability to resist impact allowing it to carry out the tasks involving heavy materials.
They offer easy loading and unloading since they have edge-to-edge contact.
They have wide-opening jaws that help in handling large concrete blocks.
Excavator rock grab
This category is suited for heavy rocks and stones because they have firm and fewer tine configurations for a firm grip.
They have interlocking tines that allow it to hold heavier stones and rocks without losing ground stability.
Its lower jaw is curved and contributes to the penetration of tines into a heap of rocks and enhances the speed of the overall task.
They have flash tips that enables them to handle scrap, stones, and rocks because they allow easy sliding out of the dust and debris on the tips hence, they do not accumulate on the tips.
They also have a modular pin hub that allows easy replacement of grapple jaws and easy attachment and detachment.
Railroad grapple
This category is engineered for heavier jobs and has a design that makes it ideal for handling sleepers and rails.
It is strong and has a design that makes it lighter and detachable.
Its cylinders are equipped with load-holding valves for increased safety in case the hydraulic system loses pressure.
Narrow-tine grapples
This type is fitted with skinny tines and is ideal for digging into scrap.
It does this easier than the orange peel type.
It may also pick up soft scrap.
Excavator Grapple Tine Styles
When we talk about tines the idea of blades is what should come to our minds.
Tine styles are important because they tell which type of material to be handle.
These styles are:
Narrow blade, semi blade, 1/3 lower enclosed, ½ lower enclosed, fully enclosed, material upgrade, box tines and solid tines.
Box tine
This is the most common style in the market mainly used for primary demolitions and rock handling.
They are heavily constructed to meet the required specifications so as to meet rigidity requirements.
They are designed to allow reinforcement
Solid tine
They are ideal for secondary demolition, sorting, scrap work, and handling waste.
They are less expensive compared to the box time as they are not as heavily constructed as the box-tined style.
Material upgrade
This is meant to strengthen the blades and increase their wear life hence reducing the rate of replacement.
The ones made from astral pins and manganese bushings have their wear life increase by 65% longer than the standard material because they survive in harsh conditions.
Semi blade
Their design is for general scrap.
They are able to grab a large range of scrap sizes and penetrate properly through the scrap giving it a good mix.
1/3 lower enclosed
This style is best when they are handling smaller particles of materials as they maintain a lower weight of the attachment and a huge capacity of small-sized materials.
Lower ½ enclosed
Tines made in this style have liners that are enclosed half along the line.
This increases their weight compared to the 1/3 lower enclosed.
Fully enclosed
This style is best for handling small-sized materials as it is fully enclosed and hence can be used as a bucket.
This increases the weight of the attachment.
Narrow blade
This style is for large pieces of materials and scrap because they can penetrate through a huge heap of materials.
Butt tines
These are designed for both small and single materials and large bulky items.
Their tine tips come completely together allowing them to handle small and single materials.
How Much Do Excavators Grapples Weigh?
Their weight depends on their finger types.
The design of their fingers decides the amount and type of material to be carried. Their weight varies depending on their length, width, and height.
Different models have different weights.
Heavy and bulky materials can be lifted by an attachment of 22,000 lbs.
In order to know the weight of this attachment you deduct the weight given from the maximum amount of weight you will lift when it is attached.
The maximum capacity carried is when the jaws are closed.
Click to learn more about excavator Operating weight
