Ram luffing knuckle boom cranes – RL-K
The ram luffing knuckle boom crane series (RL-K) from Liebherr was developed especially for the oil and gas industry. Applications include supply and maintenance work as well as pipe handling. The unique design of the knuckle boom optimises the working radius and increases the flexibility of the crane. With a tail swing radius of less than 3 metres the RL-K 2600 is the most compact crane of this series.
Equipped with a deep-sea winch and an active swell compensation system (Heavetronic), the RL-K can be used as a deep sea crane as well. Both are developments from Liebherr and fully integrated in the Litronic control system.
RL-K series
| Specifications | RL-K 2600 | RL-K 4200 | RL-K 7500 |
| Overturning moment | 2,600 tm | 4,200 tm | 7,500 tm |
| Main lift capacity (max.) | 50 t | 100 t | 250 t |
| Applications | Supply & maintenance work Pipe handling | Pipe handling | Deep sea operations |
Equipment
The Liebherr-developed deep sea winch makes it possible to work at sea depths of up to 3,600 metres. It features a special cable reel mechanism that facilitates low-wear winding and unwinding of the cable, which in turn prolongs the service life of the cable.
The special feature of the knuckle boom's design is the mechanical knuckle transmission. It facilitates a minimum working radius of under 10 metres and on the RL-K 4200 permits almost complete extension of the boom to practically 180°.
Pipe handling basic element with pipe internal grabber and pipe external grabber
Liebherr has special equipment such as different pipe grabbers and load manipulators for handling pipes and lines in relation to oil and gas extraction systems.
The base unit of the pipe grabber system can be rotated and swivelled and can be enhanced with a pipe internal grabber or pipe external grabber.
With the pipe external grabber, it is possible to lift pipes with a diameter of up to 500 millimetres, up to six pipes simultaneously and an overall weight of 10 tonnes.
The pipe internal grabber features a telescopic function and enables handling of pipes with a maximum length of 23 metres and a diameter of up to 1,500 millimetres.
- Equipment with camera possible
- Certified explosion-protected version available
- Fast and uncomplicated exchange of equipment
- Complete integration in the Litronic control system
An essential design element of the RL-K 2600 is that the crane has no machinery house. Instead, the components are integrated in the slewing column. The intelligent design ensures the accessibility for maintenance work, for example, at all times.
Due to this space-saving design, the RL-K 2600 has a tail swing radius of less than 3 metres. The crane is therefore suitable for working on platforms and ships where space on deck is limited.
