I think most will agree that hydraulic crane safety should be of paramount importance and I would like to mention just a few observations about the use of this potentially dangerous piece of machinery.
In my opinion the safest type of crane has been designed to prevent overloading. Not just on the main lift but more importantly where you pick up a load and then telescope out. As the telescope extends increasing its length the main lift cylinder pressure also increases in proportion.
Now some cranes have load sensing devices that will disengage the telescope so that overloading cannot occur and stop the telescope extending when the maximum load is exceeded.
Also the counterbalance valve can also relieve and lower the load in a controlled way.
However there are some cranes that I have come across where they have been fitted with a simple hand valve with all blocked centre ports. These cranes have often been salvaged and the hydraulics replaced by people not proficient in hydraulic systems or crane design. Unwittingly the users of these cranes are just waiting for disaster to strike, at best causing costly damage and at worst serious injury.
See more on www.hydraulicbrain.com
very best
Bob
Saturday 24 September 2011
Sunday 18 September 2011
My Trip to Breast
The use of hydraulics is often simply down to the ingenuity of the designer.
I have just returned from France after commissioning a hydraulic system on an Open 60 racing yacht, not the most likely place you would expect to find large hydraulic rams.
Designed and built by Target Fluid Services two 100mm bore rams are connected together in a push pull arrangement moving a 3ton keel from side to side. The canting keel ensures the boat is kept upright in an optimum position for maximum speed.
The most challenging part of the design is providing the lightest system possible but strong enough to take the large dynamic loads experienced in the worlds heaviest seas.
The boat has been sponsored by a Spanish company called Acciona who specialise in renewable energy. The boat is also eco friendly with many innovations to generate green power (as well as the sail). The boat is covered with solar cells and a Hydrogen cell system to generate electricity. This power is used to drive an electric motor for emergency use and for moving in and out of the harbour.
I apologise that we cannot show the hydraulic stuff inside the boat as the client is sensitive to showing this at present time but you can see the keel when a 90 degree test is being carried out and witnessed by IMOCA who are adjudicators for this class of boat.
Anyone who is keen on sailing I would suggest that you watch out for this boat when it starts on the racing circuit as I believe that it could be a very fast contender.
Very best
Bob
www.hydraulicbrain.com
Have you signed up yet for more information on Hydraulic Brain. It is great value and you get loads of hydraulic information. You can even advertise if you are looking for a job by sending us your details and we put it up on the site.
I have just returned from France after commissioning a hydraulic system on an Open 60 racing yacht, not the most likely place you would expect to find large hydraulic rams.
Designed and built by Target Fluid Services two 100mm bore rams are connected together in a push pull arrangement moving a 3ton keel from side to side. The canting keel ensures the boat is kept upright in an optimum position for maximum speed.
The most challenging part of the design is providing the lightest system possible but strong enough to take the large dynamic loads experienced in the worlds heaviest seas.
The boat has been sponsored by a Spanish company called Acciona who specialise in renewable energy. The boat is also eco friendly with many innovations to generate green power (as well as the sail). The boat is covered with solar cells and a Hydrogen cell system to generate electricity. This power is used to drive an electric motor for emergency use and for moving in and out of the harbour.
I apologise that we cannot show the hydraulic stuff inside the boat as the client is sensitive to showing this at present time but you can see the keel when a 90 degree test is being carried out and witnessed by IMOCA who are adjudicators for this class of boat.
Anyone who is keen on sailing I would suggest that you watch out for this boat when it starts on the racing circuit as I believe that it could be a very fast contender.
Very best
Bob
www.hydraulicbrain.com
Have you signed up yet for more information on Hydraulic Brain. It is great value and you get loads of hydraulic information. You can even advertise if you are looking for a job by sending us your details and we put it up on the site.
Saturday 17 September 2011
A New Racing Yacht
A New Racing Yacht
The Open 60 Racing enthusiasts will soon see a new radically designed boat entering this high performance class of Monohulls.
The Spanish boat Acciona has numerous cutting edge features including eco friendly power generating systems.
The canting keel hydraulic system was designed and supplied by Target Fluid Services Ltd, Southampton www.targetfluid.co.uk The right balance between lightness and strength was the greatest challenge and achieved using high grade Aerospace titanium alloy, designed using Solid Works and ANSI stress analysis software.
The hydraulics has many safety features and feedback systems that will provide valuable data for future optimisation.
Target Fluid Services and Hydraulic Brain wish the Team a safe and successful campaign.
More information contact target.fluid@btinternet.com
www.hydraulicbrain.com
The Open 60 Racing enthusiasts will soon see a new radically designed boat entering this high performance class of Monohulls.
The Spanish boat Acciona has numerous cutting edge features including eco friendly power generating systems.
The canting keel hydraulic system was designed and supplied by Target Fluid Services Ltd, Southampton www.targetfluid.co.uk The right balance between lightness and strength was the greatest challenge and achieved using high grade Aerospace titanium alloy, designed using Solid Works and ANSI stress analysis software.
The hydraulics has many safety features and feedback systems that will provide valuable data for future optimisation.
Target Fluid Services and Hydraulic Brain wish the Team a safe and successful campaign.
More information contact target.fluid@btinternet.com
www.hydraulicbrain.com
Saturday 10 September 2011
Problem at Sawmills
Whenever my home phone rings in the early hours of the morning it usually means one thing, trouble!
It was a call from the Sawmills. There pump and servo valve had gone down.
The system drives a carriage complete with log attached, back and forth through a huge band saw. Without the pump and servo the plant comes to a standstill.
The piston pump with servo valve is part of a closed circuit and coupled to a fixed displacement piston motor.
My customer had already decided to replace the hydraulic drive with an electric motor and inverter but delivery one still some weeks away. So was there anything we could do meantime?
Repair was out of the question, the pump was obsolete and repair would take weeks.
I decided to use an 11kw power-pack in storage and couple the motor open circuit. We installed a simple hand valve for the operator and by lunchtime the next day they were cutting wood.
I hope that if they have future problems with the inverter drive they will be able to get the same response?
Very Best
Bob
Find more on
www.hydraulicbrain.com
It was a call from the Sawmills. There pump and servo valve had gone down.
The system drives a carriage complete with log attached, back and forth through a huge band saw. Without the pump and servo the plant comes to a standstill.
The piston pump with servo valve is part of a closed circuit and coupled to a fixed displacement piston motor.
My customer had already decided to replace the hydraulic drive with an electric motor and inverter but delivery one still some weeks away. So was there anything we could do meantime?
Repair was out of the question, the pump was obsolete and repair would take weeks.
I decided to use an 11kw power-pack in storage and couple the motor open circuit. We installed a simple hand valve for the operator and by lunchtime the next day they were cutting wood.
I hope that if they have future problems with the inverter drive they will be able to get the same response?
Very Best
Bob
Find more on
www.hydraulicbrain.com
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