Spring Assisted Swivel Lift Caps Improve Drilling Safety

Predominantly performing geotechnical drilling projects, crews at 60-year-old Braun Intertec Corporation were accustomed to using slip rings. Hoist plugs were available, but weren't commonly used, so they stocked the cheapest options.  

As Braun Intertec began strengthening safety protocols and preparing to switch from slip rings to hoist plugs, they desired a better product. With 1,000 employees and 38 drill rigs from assorted manufacturers — spread along the Mississippi River corridor from North Dakota to Texas — they sought to provide their crews with a simple, easy transition. The solution — Geoprobe^® spring assisted swivel lift caps.

“We’ve had good response from the drill crews,” Greg Scallon, operations manager, said. “They appreciate the ease of putting them on and taking them off, and the little more play the spring assisted swivel lift cap provides regarding tension kept on the winch line.”

Features of the spring assisted swivel lift caps which have made the transition easier for their crews include:

• Abrasive tape around the body of the lift cap making them easier to grip.
• Spring assistance increasing range of acceptable winch cable tension.
• Minimized effort and maximized speed to make and break joints.
• Better quality bearings for smoother operation.

“The tooling is a well engineered and well thought out product that they’re always working on to improve,” Scallon said. “Geoprobe^® isn’t satisfied with the status quo.”