In the Swiss village Attiswil, Canton Bern the spring water line runs mostly underneath a forest. It had to be renewed. This renewal had to be done trenchless, to avoid damages to the nature. This interesting renewal job swage was realized by the bursting and spage lining specialist Rudolf Frutig from Mühlethurnen.
The old line consisted of HDPE pipes OD 110 mm (4") in sections of 6 m (20 ft) with joints. Rudolf Frutig decided to use his cable burster TERRA-EXTRACTOR X 400 together with a PE roller cutter. This is a chopper disc knife, especially designed for PE and PVC pipes.
The ground was so soft that it became necessary two drive wooden posts vertically in front of the cable burster, to stabilize the machine.
40 tonnes Cable Burster
The TERRA-EXTRACTOR X 400 is an inovative cable burster which replaces old pipes from 1 1/2“ (ID 40 mm) up to 10“ (ID 250 mm). Lengths up to 150 m are possible. Old pipe from cast iron, steel, clayware or PE/PVC can be replaced. New HDPE pipes with outer diameters of 63 – 250 mm are pulled in. The TERRA-EXTRACTOR X 400 is operated via an electric remote control. No operator has to be in the pit or in the manhole during operation. An integrated electric control box changes the direction of the hydraulic cylinder.
The TERRA-EXTRACTOR X 400 may be used in pits or “manhole-to-manhole”. If space is very limited, the TERRA-EXTRACTOR X 400 may be equipped with an optional special button frame. Then it can be used in pits which are only 1 m long and 1 m wide.
Pic 1: HDPE Pipe Renewal with a chopper disc knife.
Pic 2: The PE roller cutter (chopper disc knife) is entering the old pipe.
Pic 3: The new HDPE pipe OD 110 mm (4") is pulled in. The pipe was butt fusion welded.
Pic 4: The cable coupling and the bursting tool reach the machine pit.
