The Backacter

A Backacter is world's first dredging excavator and no adapted, classic,

mining excavator.
In the past: a classic excavator (like Liebherr, Komatsu, etc.) was put on
deck, its tracks and mining attachement were removed, a backhoe
attachement was added and than, the client had to accept how much
capacity and penetration / breakout capacity one had left. In fact this
approach (the bucket) was not optimal due to the existing base of the
machine: e.g. a mining uppercarriage and slewing ring.
Today: we define what kind of bucket size / penetration and breakout
force we like to apply on what depth. Based on this definition we designed
what kind of backhoe attachement is optimal and what kind of
uppercarriage is optimal in a marine environment. The end result of such
approach leads to a different kind of excavator... the `Backacter`.
Some features of a "Backacter" are:
- A straight boom (monobloc), we do not have a "banana" shaped boom
like a classic excavator which is ofcourse not optimal, strengthwise.

The Pedestal: all slewing drives, ring and bolts

- A big diameter slewing ring to cope with highest loads (we can make a
choice for this as our Yard is located at sea and not inland).
- Due to this size of the slewing ring, high capacity boom cylinders can be
installed. Due to these high capacity cylinders, the heaviests loads can be
lifted. Moreover, it creates that the dredging forces on the max. depth can
be much higher (about 2.5 times) than those of a classic excavator. The
Backacter 1100 (BA1100) can dredge with a 25 m3 bucket till a depth of
about 19 metres.

Bow sections of 2 x BA 1100 dippers in Flushin

- This creates the highest production rates of an excavator in the industry;

the BA1100 has a production rate in heavy soil of 1000 m3 in 45 minutes !
and this with highest penetration / breakout forces (till max. 205 tons).
The BA1100 is the strongest dredger in the industry.
- All vulnerable technique like hydraulics, electrics, engines, etc. have
been taken out the engine compartment and were put under deck ! Thus
watercooling is applied for the engines, we do not spray air / seawater
over the engines like classic excavators do, which apply air cooling.

The excavator section in Raamsdonksveer, mo

- A Backacter has no counterweight. This is, like the "banana boom",

something which derives from the mining industry. As a Backacter is fixed
on deck and we have a big diameter slewing ring, one does not require a
counterweight. This saves weight and energy to swing the excavator.
- There are many more specific items of a Backacter which are really
special, but lets have a look first at the advantages .....
List of advantages:
1. Diesels in the hull. One can inspect and maintain the diesels while
excavating. There is more available free space around the engines.

Transportation of excavator section towards slipw

Watercooling is applied.
2. Flexible foundation in the hull. The excavator has a deck penetrating
pipe pedestal which is buffered inside the hull. One can easily enter this
compartment and inspect / access the slewing ring, slewing drives and
fixation / pedestal bolts (photo) - sensors are placed on the bolts -.

Launching of section, on its way to Flushing for

3. There is a free choice of

dimensions. There are no
size and weight
restrictions deriving from
the mining industry any
longer.
4. Not a "bolted together" excavator. We have at least 1000 bolts less than
a classic excavator.

Assembly started

5. Improved lifting capacities. Due to the new concept the lifting capacities
are dramatically increased and improve overall hydraulic efficiency, helping
to get a more heavy bucket up. Less hydraulic line resistance is present
compared to a mining excavator.
6. The highest penetration and breakout forces in the dredging industry,
the BA1100 has max. 205 tons of force which makes it the strongest
dredger in the world. Especially on the max. depths a Backacter 1100 is a
number of times stronger compared to the biggest classic excavators.
7. A soundless upper: As the engines and hydraulics are now under deck,
the sound on deck is dramatically reduced. There are no noisy, technical
complicating air cooling fans any longer. The sensible radiator coolers are
replaced by more reliable boxcoolers.
8 Energy effiency; The air cooling fans of a classic excavator consume
quite some energy (a seperate H-pump is mounted for it on the gearbox,
the Backacter's boxcoolers do not ).
Not only the weight of the counterweight is not to be slewed any longer
(due to the capacity of the big slewing ring), but also the weight of the
diesels, hydraulics and many tons of fluids (hydraulic oil and fuel).

A pedestal bolt

8. Efficient energy drive. The new dipperdredger can by means of its

diesel under deck drive efficiently propellors for `assisted power`. Even
sailing with a dipper now becomes possible.

9. Free choice of compenents. E.g. the diesels brand choice is now a free
choice.
The first mould of one of the boom castings, m
10. Much stronger dredging equipment. Since the dimensions and
transport weight are not a problem, the boom can be built much wider
and higher, so tensions due to torsions can better be coped with.
11. Slewing drives are well visible and controllable. The slewing drives are

not at the upper, but installed on the fixed world, under deck.
11a. The capacity of the 5 x slewing drives (in case of the BA1100) is thus
that a side load on the attachement can be coped with, many times more
than that of a classic excavator.
12. No fuel stops any longer ! A classic excavator has a daytank in the
upper, a Backacter doesnot.
13. Redundancy. The big Backacter 1100 is executed with 2 large diesels,
and can run half the speed when one doesnot work; in case one has to
operate 1 engine instead of 2, the excavator cycle only takes about 9
seconds more, as only during the lifting moment of the attachement, full
power is required.
14. Reduced oil spill risk. A classic excavator can have a number of (fuel)
leakages on deck in its relative open compartment. The diesels of a
Backacter are inside the hull.
15. Cold temperature starting. A classic excavator needs special measures
to protect the engine against extreme cold temperatures. By simply
heating the engine compartment of the Backacter these problems are
solved.
16. Fire hazard. Due to the fact that a classic excavator compartment
cannot be closed off and due to the radiator cooling fans the use of CO2 or
other optimal fire extinguishing systems is not efficiently or completely
possible. The engines of the Backacter are in a closed compartment and
does have the opportunity to install the best extinguishing system.
17. Life expectancy. The life expectancy of a Backacter (its structural
elements) is at least double.
18. The hydraulic reservoir of a classic excavator is pressurised with air
(tensioned) to force the oil flow towards the H-pumps. This air pressure is
required as the reservoir and the H-pumps are mounted on the same level
(as a mining excavator must be compact). This air pressure creates that a
number of air bubbles are forced towards the pumps, which decreases the
lifetime of the H-pumps of a classic excavator. Moreover, another
subsystem is created.
The Backacter has a non-pressurised hydraulic system. The reservoir is
mounted on decklevel, thus the H-oil flows via gravity to the pumps (like
all / most industrial H-systems) The life expectancy of the H-pumps is
thus much better.
19. The capacity of the non-pressurised hydraulic oil reservoir of the
BA1100 is 3 times that of the oil flow per minute. A ratio of 3 is an
acceptable design standard for hydraulic industrial systems in order to A)
provide time for the particles to sink at the bottom of the reservoir, B) to
release air bubbles, C) to dissipate heat, etc. However, with a classic
excavator this ratio is mostly less than 0.8. This, because classic excavator
like to remain compact (like all heavy mobile equipment).

The cabin

20. Lower fluid speeds. Lower fluid speeds means less heat and more nett.
available energy, resulting in less diesel wear, seal and H-pump wear.
21. Due to the above the oil temperatures of the Backacter are much
lower than a classic excavator which is better for the lifetime of oil, seals,
pumps, etc. (a 10 degrees difference of e.g. 70 degrees doubles the
lifetime of the oil).
22. Slewing ring. The diameter of the slewing ring is not restricted by land
transport limitations. The life expectancy of the slewing ring is much
better than a classic excavator.
23. Control and measuring. As excavator and pontoon now become one,
one control system is safeguarding the dredge as 1 unit. This provides
freedom of choice and some new options. E.g. the amount of meters
travelled by the excavator cylinder rods is measured, thus e.g. the exact
lifetime of seals are known. The endstrokes of the cylinders are
electronically limited / dampened (no "bangs" anymore), and many
more.
24. Due to the straight boom one obtains a higher dumping height
compared to a classic excavator. E.g. when the BA1100 excavates at a 33
m. depth, it can still discharge at a height of max. 7 m. in the splitbarge.
25. As the diesels are now installed in a closed compartment without
airfans, the most optimal fire-extinguishing system can be chosen.
26. The lifetime of the diesels is dramatically increased due to a number of
reasons. Vulnerable technique is not exposed anymore to weather
elements (open compartment / due to airfans).
27. The whole way of operating / controlling the Backacter compared to a
big classic excavator is much more simple.
28. The list goes on and on.... it may be clear that a new dimension in
dredging is created.

At the moment 5 Backacters are under construction and as well 5 types of

Backacters have been developed to suit the needs of the dredging
industry.
The programme is as follows... (more info upon request).

TYPES OF BACKACTERS

BA 1100
Weight excavator
510 T.
excl. powerpack
kW installed

2x 1730
kW

BA 900

BA 800

BA 700

BA 600

360 T.

240 T.

160 T.

110 T.

1730 +
310 kW

1260 kW

1040 kW

560 kW