Protecting the hydraulic hoses that transport the hydraulic oil from the power pack to the hammer from damage is a major concern on a construction site. The hoses are coated in a protective rubber material that although very hardy is easily damaged if it is pulled over hard edges such as sheet piles. When the protective rubber layer is damaged the pressurized hoses are more susceptible to leakage and or dangerous total failure.
 
Piling companies that leave the hydraulic hoses on the ground drag the hoses around the jobsite every time the hammer is lifted. In order to avoid damage to the hoses these companies typically employ up to 3 construction workers to mind the heavy hoses. These workers main job is to ensure the hoses don’t snag behind a sharp ridge.
 
We recommend our clients to use the crawler crane’s second lifting hoist to maneuver the hydraulic hoses; or when possible to place the power pack on the cranes counter weight and fasten the hoses to the cranes boom. This keeps the hoses completely suspended in the air and out of harm’s way. Both recommended methods avoid contact between hoses and piles and therefore eliminates wear and tear damage. Tying the hoses out of the way also reduces the man power needed on site. When using this hose handling method the client can chose to lift the piles with a chain attached to the vibratory hammer thereby increasing the piling efficiency even further.