See this machine at Field Events in 2009!

Model 7822DT Design Team

After seeing the new 7822DT machine for the first time (the day prior to the machine’s unveiling at the Salina Open House on April 16th, 2009), Victor Rotonda, Master Driller and Manager of the Geoprobe® Mid-Atlantic Region, summed up his impressions in three words, “I love it!  Just by looking at it you can tell it’s more robust.  It’s something else!” he said.

And Victor’s sentiments were echoed by Geoprobe® customers who attended the Open House event.  Some thought the hammer improvements were the best feature.  Others liked the redesigned operator-friendly control panel with auxiliary hydraulics thumb-dial controls.  Still others liked the faster operating speed of the winch, while others liked the machine’s oscillation feature.  And then there were those who thought the Geoprobe® Drop Rack System was a plus for their machine operators, a feature that was previously available only with the 8040DT machine.

“Many of the new offerings on the 7822DT have added significant geotechnical capabilities to this machine, and have greatly improved its direct push capabilities,” Victor added. “I know the customers in the Mid-Atlantic region are going to be excited about this machine.”

So what makes this machine so ‘robust’, as Victor said, and so improved?

As expected, the critical aspects of the 7822DT were given much thought and care during the design process.  The heart of all Geoprobe® direct push machines is the percussion hammer, and the Model 7822DT is no different.  Geoprobe® engineers designed, manufactured, and assembled an all new Geoprobe® GH64 percussion hammer specifically for this new machine.  The hammer has two new significant features: a Modular Percussion Power Cell (more on this later) and integrated two-speed, bi-directional rotation.  The two-speed, bi-directional feature is another industry first, and allows users to perform numerous rotational applications, including surface pavement coring and in some conditions subsurface rock coring, with a rotation speed of up to 550 rpm.

For customers that want more torque for rotary work, like hollow stem augering, an all new GA4000 augerhead offers more torque and is integrated onto a totally redesigned swing-out mounting system.  The robust power source for these key components initially originates from the 58 hp Kubota diesel engine that’s Tier 3 compliant, and is directly coupled to a high-capacity 40 gpm hydraulic pump.  The proven, durable 20-series track carrier components were again used as the means for moving the machine around field sites at nearly 5 miles per hour.  All these critical components are affixed to a new dynamic frame with full-length side attachment rails making it easy for 7822DT owners to configure accessories to meet their unique field application challenges.

“If the improvements stopped here, most operators that we hear from would be satisfied,” said Mark Abker, Lead Geoprobe® Engineer for the 7822DT project.  “But of course we didn’t stop there.”  The 7822DT machine foundation became a springboard for an entirely new set of features.  “We packed as many new features on this machine as we could,” Mark added, “still keeping it small and compact, the way our customers like our machines."

Some of those features Geoprobe® operators are sure to notice quickly include:

      • A totally redesigned Control Panel. More options.  More controls.  More feedback for the operator.  Just a nice layout. 

      • Rear stabilizer with Geoprobe® Drop Rack System.  Using the Drop Rack system first released by Geoprobe® with the 8040DT machine, operators can move accessories and tools weighing up to 2,000 pounds around jobsites eliminating operator fatigue.

      • New mast and winch configuration.  This provides users better control and faster line speed, which, according to Lee Shaw, Geoprobe® Customer Service and Number 1 fan of the machine, “it’s ‘Da Bomb!  It’s like lightning.  It has a much nicer valve controlling it.”  Lee is also a fan of the DT22 tooling system.  When he first tested the 7822DT, “I was able to sample with the DT22 to 200 feet in a couple hours in our Kansas clays.”

      • Oscillation. Provides easy vertical positioning of the foot on unlevel terrain which, according to Victor, “is especially great for augering when you’re aligning the auger joints.  The operator has complete control over alignment.”

      • Auxiliary hydraulic power ports.  Three quick coupling hydraulic power ports allow for the use of multiple field accessories including Moyno® pumps, hydraulic liner extruders, pressure washer modules, and many more.  What makes two of these auxiliary outlets even more useful is that they are proportionally controlled by the operator from the control panel, and the two have a flow capacity of up to 25 gpm.

      • Safety and Serviceability.  Finally, but arguably the most important aspects of the new Geoprobe® Model 7822DT machine revolves around two big words: Safety and Serviceability.  Safety first.  This machine was designed and built CE compliant allowing machine owners to utilize the 7822DT on sites around the world regulated by the strictest safety protocol.  As for serviceability, building durable and field supportable machines has been a trademark of Geoprobe® for over 20 years.  During the design phase of the 7822DT project, the Geoprobe® engineering design team spent significant effort to streamline the service aspects users would encounter in hopes of eliminating or reducing a service interval whenever possible.  Along these lines, one of the most exciting service related improvements to the 7822DT is the GH64 Modular Percussion Power Cell Technology.  This feature allows for fast removal of the percussion hammer section of the GH64 hammer ... in less than 15 minutes!  Combined with the fact that this Modular Percussion Power Cell is small and compact, it can now be sent via standard overnight carriers for easy service and fast, efficient turn around ... with no special fees.

So, think about it.  All of these features ... and more ... in the same Geoprobe® small, compact package.  “This machine is just so improved,” Victor added. “You can see the quality of this machine just by looking at it.”

• 78 in. (1,981 mm) probe cylinder stroke
• 48,000 lb. (214 kN) pullback for today’s larger sampling tools and deeper depths
• New GH64 Hammer with Modular Percussion Power Cell and integrated two-speed, bidirectional
  rotation
• GA4000 Augerhead offers more torque and is integrated onto a redesigned swing-out
  mounting system
• Totally redesigned control panel with more options, more controls, more feedback
• Designed and built CE compliant
• Auxiliary hydraulic power ports
• Rear stabilizer with Geoprobe® Drop Rack System
• Oscillation provides for easy vertical positioning of the foot on unlevel terrain
• New mast and winch configuration provides better control and faster line speed
• Powered by a four-cylinder, 58 Hp, liquid-cooled Tier 3 compliant Kubota turbo diesel engine