KOBELCO Large-sized SK3500D Demolition Machine

Koichiro NIWATA, KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.

KOBELCO large-size SK3500D demolition machines,

with a working height of 65.03m, are the largest in the
world. These machines were designed to dismantle tall,
strong buildings. Kobelco has adopted a new machine
structure design which incorporates detachable built-in
hydraulic pins. Such pins improve the disassembly and
transportation of these large machines. This paper
outlines KOBELCO SK3500D and the technologies
used in its design.

Introduction

Recent urban redevelopment and renewal of obsolete

plants, such as iron foundries and power plants, is
encountering structures, to be demolished, which are
becoming taller and stronger, making their
demolition work complex and difficult. To overcome
such difficulty, there is a need for large demolition
machines and large attachments mounted to the
machines. In response to such demands, KOBELCO
CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD. developed
a demolition machine, SK3500D, which has the tallest
working height in the world.
There are two methods to demolish tall buildings Photo 1 The appearance of an SK3500D
and plants. One is to install a machine on a roof and Table 1 Main specifications of SK3500D
demolish the structure from the roof downward. The
other is a demolishing method from the ground, Operating mass t 327.6

involving ultra-long attachments extended from the Rated output kW/min−1 338/1,800

ground. The latter provides advantages in demolishing Maximum working height m 65.03

plants, such as iron foundries and power plants, Maximum working radius m 22.0

having insufficient floor strength to install demolition Swing speed min−1 1.8

machines on the roofs. Demolition work requires not Travel speed km/h 1.1/0.7

only work efficiencies, but various other factors, such

as short demolition periods, including assembly and
disassembly of the machines, and safety for increasing
high-place works. The present article introduces the
outline of a large-sized demolition machine, SK3500D
(Photo 1).

1. The outline of the large-sized demolition

machine, SK3500D

1.1 Main specifications

Table 1 summarizes the main specifications and

Figure 1 shows the general dimensions of SK3500D.
Unit：mm

Fig. 1 General dimensions

43 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 27 NOV. 2007

1.2 Outline of SK3500D Table 2 Combination of nibbler
Working
41m 45m 50m 53m 65m
1) Outline of the SK3500D main frame height
Nibbler type KR1600TPR KR1500PR KR1200PR−2 KR1100PR−2 KR1000LPR−2
An SK3500D has a maximum mass of 327t, including
Mass (t) 12.0 6.7 4.75 4.0 2.87
all the attachments, and reaches a maximum height
Maximum
of 65m, when installed with a nibbler with 2.9t cutting 2,716 2,195 2,029 1,764 1,314
mass. The lower structure of the SK3500D is force (kN)
Maximum
designed based on a crawler crane having 200t opening 1,600 1,500 1,200 1,100 1,000
lifting capacity and satisfies stability and disassembled- width (mm)
state transportability, both of which are required for
large demolition machines. The total crawler width visibility.
of 7,730mm, at work, assures stability for all pivoting
angles of the upper body. Usually, cabs of a demolition 3) Shortening of assembly/disassembly time
machines fit within the total width of the upper body, The machine is transportable on trailers in up to 17
however, the cab of an SK3500D extends beyond he segments, each complying with regulations including
width of the upper body. This is because of the large the road transport law, as shown in Figure 3. The
boom fit-width, to secure enough strength to support assembly time at a work site is shortened by various
attachments, which can be as tall as 65m at the apparatuses.
maximum. The cab is designed to be a swing type The machine has a remote-controllable trans-
(Figure 2), so that it is folded to make the upper body lifter, which is actuated by the four hydraulic
fit within the width of the regulation limit during cylinders of the crawler crane and hydraulically-
transportation. actuated pins, both of which allow safe disassembly
of the crawler frame on both sides of the lower body.
2) Improvement in workability An unique, built-in, hydraulic pin, for the boom
The present machine can change its work height by connection, was developed for the assembly and
combinations of attachments and can have nibblers disassembly of the attachments, which significantly
of different sizes. For example, at the work height of shortens the work time compared to the conventional
65m, the nibbler is limited to one with opening width pins inserted from outside.
of 1,600mm, maximum force of 1,341kN with mass of The counterbalance weight, having a mass of
2.9t. On the other hand, at the work height of 41m, 100ton, is separated into seven segments, so that
the nibbler can be as large as mass of 12t, opening appropriate weights can be chosen according to
width of 1,600mm and maximum force of 2,716kN, working heights.
which is more than two times the capacity at 65m.
Table 2 summarizes the specifications of nibblers 2. Technologies used in SK3500D
which can be used at representative heights of 65m，
53m, 50m, 45m and 41m. The combination of 2.1 Development of a high reach demolition
working heights and nibblers allows demolition of a attachment structure.
wide variety of demolition objects.
The cab has a tilt mechanism, which allows upward Various structural analyses were performed in the
tilting of 30 degree at maximum for improved development of SK3500D to assure self-standing
support of various attachments, which can be as long
as 65m at maximum. Service life and work frequency
Transportation were also taken into consideration in the analyses. In
    position
order to verify the design, simulations were performed
based on the actual data obtained from conventional
machines. Machine tests were carried out under the
same conditions as the simulations until quantitative
data, matching the analysis results, were obtained.

2.2 Built-in hydraulic pins

Work position 1) The purpose and effect of built-in hydraulic pins

An SK3500D is equipped with built-in hydraulic pins
for connecting the upper body to the base of the main
Fig. 2 General dimensions of swing cab frame and, also, for connecting each boom part (20

KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 27 NOV. 2007 44

 ＃9 N2 boom

＃1 Upper frame assembly (※)

＃10 N3 boom

＃2 RH crawler frame

＃11 N4 boom ＋ N5 boom (※)

＃3 LH crawler frame

＃12 N6 boom ＋ N7 boom

＃4 N1 boom and adapter (※)

＃13 N8A boom

＃5 Counter weight

＃14 N9A boom (※)

＃6 Counter weight

＃15 N8B boom

＃7 Counter weight

＃16 N9B boom

＃8 Counter weight

＃17 N9C boom

Fig. 3 Machinery parts for transportation

45 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 27 NOV. 2007

positions for maximum four-fold, 65m attachment). the built-in hydraulic pin in shortened and extended
The application of hydraulic pins shortens the positions respectively. The built-in hydraulic pin is
assembly/disassembly time significantly, while designed to fit in the widths of structures such as the
improving the work efficiency for pin connections, boom. The pin has a cavity inside and, when
and safety. Photo 2 and Photo 3 show an actual pin shortened, the cavity contains the hydraulic cylinder
in a shortened position and in an expanded position, inside, so that the total width is made small. The
respectively. cylinder has dual pipe rods, which are extended by
oil supplied from the rod side. The pin moves along a
2) The structure of the built-in hydraulic pin pin guide and, when extended, the rods push against
Figure 4 and Figure 5 are cross sectional diagrams of each other. When shortened, reactive force is exerted
on the pins.
The cylinder is made independent from other parts,
such as pins, for ease of maintenance.

2.3 Safety features

A fall alert apparatus was installed to ensure work

safety. The apparatus monitors the posture of the
machine, using angle sensors installed at the pin
portions of the attachments. The apparatus calculates
Photo 2 Shortened position of pin the working radius, based on the arm tip position of
the demolition machine, and alerts the operator of
potential fall, when the radius becomes more than a
predetermined value.
The apparatus is important, not only for large
demolition machines, but for all the demolition
machines with high reach demolition attachments.
The machine has several features for hazard
prevention, including a low gravity point and low
ground pressure, characteristics of the lower structure
of a crawler crane, and the safety apparatus.
In addition, two cameras are installed for
Photo 3 Expanded position of pin
monitoring. One is installed at the tip of the
attachment, allowing monitoring of demolition work
Pin guide at that point. The other monitors the rear view of the
machine. Other safety features include a main-body
tilt alert system, which gives a "buzzing" alert when
the main body tilts beyond a limit angle, and fall-
prevention valves, installed on cylinders for boom,
jib and arm, which prevent sudden drops in the
event of hydraulic pipe failures.
Pin
Cylinder
3. Development of attachment nibblers
Fig. 4 Cross section of shortened pin
KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
has a history not only in the design of demolition
machines, but also in development of attachment
nibblers. After introducing technologies from
HYMAC, Inc in UK, we have developed our own
menu items for large machines. Two nibblers, both
having 12t demolishing capacity at work height 41m,
the most common height, were developed for
SK3500D; KR1600TPR for steel reinforced concrete
and KS1300 TPR for structural steel work. Recently,
Fig. 5 Cross section of expanded pin demolition structures are becoming stronger and

KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 27 NOV. 2007 46

 Photo 4 KR1600TPR in operation Photo 5 SK3500D in operation

demolition machines are required with both a large all over Japan (Photo 5). The machine entered the
opening width and high demolition power. Our dual- Guinness Book of Records in Oct., 2005, as the machine
cylinder structure enables the wide opening and a having the tallest working height in the world.
small variation of demolition power for all the work Environment related needs, not only in the
angles, making demolition work more efficient. demolition work, are more and more diversifying
Photo 4 shows a KR1600TPR in operation. and specific requirements are increasing. We will
strive to produce unique products in response to
Conclusions those demands.
Finally we would like to express our sincere
Since the delivery in Oct., 2005, SK3500D has been gratitude to Watanabe Kaitai Kogyo for their
used in demolition of high rise buildings and plants cooperation in the development of the machine.

47 KOBELCO TECHNOLOGY REVIEW NO. 27 NOV. 2007