Hammer attachment cuts trenching by one third

Called the Clover Hammer Head it is a hitch head plate which allows an excavator to pick it up on 3 different sides: standard pick up, left and right. The essential advantage of this is the ability for the hammer chisel tip to be used at 90 to the normal across trench orientation.
It also allows the hammer to be slant 10 or so from the vertical, so that the chisel tip nearly always engages the rock face. This increases productivity and overcomes the problem of the chisel suddenly chipping away from the rock face. That in turn can cause the full weight of the hammer to release in free-fall and put greatly increased stress on boom and hydraulic rams
As Zaf explained it when Earthmover visited him on a stormwater trenching site in Tarneit, a new north western Melbourne suburb, proper chisel orientation allows stone to be cut accurately along its grain. This avoids large rock blowouts which may mean the trench ends up 40 or 50% bigger than it need be.
Blowouts
Zaf said normal trenching was a little like a brickie attempting to halve a brick by hammering a bolster spanning the length of the brick the equivalent of the chisel tip being used at right angles to the direction of the trench. This often causes rock to fracture unnecessarily into blow outs towards the sides of the trench.
The prototype called for a 7 offset which Zaf was evaluating on his 23,000 hour Cat 330B excavator at Tarneit. But in doing so he has discovered that increasing the offset to 10 with shims produced better results. Production units will come at this angle. However shims will be available for further slanting if required, he said.
One instance where even more angle might be useful, would be in demolition where vertical columns or piers needed to be demolished. Because reo runs vertically in columns, it would be advantageous to have the chisel tip oriented vertically, with a bit more angle for better engagement.
Zaf said the Tarneit job required 3.5m deep trenches with an extra 300mm each side for crushed rock. On top that the trench must be 100mm wider on each side to take trench shields. But thanks to the Clover, there have been no major blowouts despite maybe 25 to 30% basalt component in the trenches. So little extra crushed rock will be needed to fill unnecessary voids.
Virtually indestructible
He is using a 2.25t DNB D110 hammer under the Clover. Spreading and absorbing much of its impact on the 500kg Clover and the excavator above it, is a 50mm thick steel plate at its base. As a result Zaf sees Clover Hammer Heads as being virtually indestructible.
Earthmover wondered if rotary tilt quick hitches might be a viable alternative to the Clover. But Zaf said a computer simulation he had commissioned, showed if one of the best the US had to offer, a $23,000 unit was coupled to a hammer, its relatively sensitive hydraulics would last just 11 hours before a major overhaul became necessary.
One man who can hardly wait to begin using multiple units across his fleet of excavators is Noel Powers of Powers Excavations.
One of the first contractors in Victoria to reap Clover benefits he said, “After seeing the prototype in action, I have never been more enthusiastic about implementing a tool which promises such a vast potential for cost savings, through such a simple concept.
“I look forward to a productive capacity which not only pleases my customers, but gives me a market edge in securing larger projects and contract works,” he said.
Website costing
Cost savings from using Clover are estimated to save a minimum of 30% on job costs for contracted excavation works. To support this estimate, the website www.cloverhammerhead.com has a dedicated cost estimating link, which allows potential buyers to begin assessing the viability of using the attachment. This was established by one of Victoria’s leading civil construction quantity surveyors and cost estimators.
Made in Melbourne
The Clover is being made by Henry Wolfkamp of MFT or Metal Forming Technology in Dandenong.
Zaf engaged him very successfully a few years ago, to develop and make another of his inventions, the successful Fuelguard anti siphon device for stopping thefts from fuel tanks.
“Henry is absolutely brilliant. This first Clover prototype works perfectly. Although it is over engineered, it will never break.”
For a 30t excavator, production line Clover Hammer Heads will weigh about 450kg and will be widely available around Australia soon through Indeco.
Earlier this month a distributorship was set up in San Francisco as well. It will be instrumental in having the device displayed on top of Indeco’s biggest hammer at Conexpo in Las Vegas next March.

h orientation. It also allows the hammer to be slant 10 or so from the vertical, so that the chisel tip nearly always engages the rock face. This increases productivity and overcomes the problem of the chisel suddenly chipping away from the rock face. That in turn can cause the full weight of the hammer to release in free-fall and put greatly increased stress on boom and hydraulic rams As Zaf explained it when Earthmover visited him on a stormwater trenching site in Tarneit, a new north western Melbourne suburb, proper chisel orientation allows stone to be cut accurately along its grain. This avoids large rock blowouts which may mean the trench ends up 40 or 50% bigger than it need be. Blowouts Zaf said normal trenching was a little like a brickie attempting to halve a brick by hammering a bolster spanning the length of the brick the equivalent of the chisel tip being used at right angles to the direction of the trench. This often causes rock to fracture unnecessarily into blow outs towards the sides of the trench. The prototype called for a 7 offset which Zaf was evaluating on his 23,000 hour Cat 330B excavator at Tarneit. But in doing so he has discovered that increasing the offset to 10 with shims produced better results. Production units will come at this angle. However shims will be available for further slanting if required, he said. One instance where even more angle might be useful, would be in demolition where vertical columns or piers needed to be demolished. Because reo runs vertically in columns, it would be advantageous to have the chisel tip oriented vertically, with a bit more angle for better engagement. Zaf said the Tarneit job required 3.5m deep trenches with an extra 300mm each side for crushed rock. On top that the trench must be 100mm wider on each side to take trench shields. But thanks to the Clover, there have been no major blowouts despite maybe 25 to 30% basalt component in the trenches. So little extra crushed rock will be needed to fill unnecessary voids. Virtually indestructible He is using a 2.25t DNB D110 hammer under the Clover. Spreading and absorbing much of its impact on the 500kg Clover and the excavator above it, is a 50mm thick steel plate at its base. As a result Zaf sees Clover Hammer Heads as being virtually indestructible. Earthmover wondered if rotary tilt quick hitches might be a viable alternative to the Clover. But Zaf said a computer simulation he had commissioned, showed if one of the best the US had to offer, a $23,000 unit was coupled to a hammer, its relatively sensitive hydraulics would last just 11 hours before a major overhaul became necessary. One man who can hardly wait to begin using multiple units across his fleet of excavators is Noel Powers of Powers Excavations. One of the first contractors in Victoria to reap Clover benefits he said, “After seeing the prototype in action, I have never been more enthusiastic about implementing a tool which promises such a vast potential for cost savings, through such a simple concept. “I look forward to a productive capacity which not only pleases my customers, but gives me a market edge in securing larger projects and contract works,” he said. Website costing Cost savings from using Clover are estimated to save a minimum of 30% on job costs for contracted excavation works. To support this estimate, the website www.cloverhammerhead.com has a dedicated cost estimating link, which allows potential buyers to begin assessing the viability of using the attachment. This was established by one of Victoria’s leading civil construction quantity surveyors and cost estimators. Made in Melbourne The Clover is being made by Henry Wolfkamp of MFT or Metal Forming Technology in Dandenong. Zaf engaged him very successfully a few years ago, to develop and make another of his inventions, the successful Fuelguard anti siphon device for stopping thefts from fuel tanks. “Henry is absolutely brilliant. This first Clover prototype works perfectly. Although it is over engineered, it will never break.” For a 30t excavator, production line Clover Hammer Heads will weigh about 450kg and will be widely available around Australia soon through Indeco. Earlier this month a distributorship was set up in San Francisco as well. It will be instrumental in having the device displayed on top of Indeco’s biggest hammer at Conexpo in Las Vegas next March.