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New Demag DC chain hoist proves a success
The DC chain hoist recently launched by Demag Cranes & Components has successfully demonstrated its abilities in practice. By using the Demag DC chain hoist, customers already benefit from product features in the standard design, which are otherwise only available as costly options or not at all. The newly defined standard also includes a longer hoist service life, for example, and therefore higher efficiency, since repairs and general overhauls only have to be carried out at a much later date.
One of the first operators of the new DC electric chain hoist is BorgWarner Turbo Systems; a company that manufactures turbochargers for cars and commercial vehicles in Kirchheimbolanden, Rhineland-Palatinate. The subsidiary of the BorgWarner group, which is represented at 43 locations in 14 countries, has seen an increase in production volume for some years. The company achieved sales of 500 million US dollars with almost 3000 employees in 2002.
BorgWarner Turbo Systems ordered a DC electric chain hoist and a pillar-mounted slewing jib crane from Schneider Hebezeuge & Krantechnik GmbH, a Demag commercial partner. The chain hoist is used as a lifting appliance on the pillar-mounted slewing jib crane, which has a load capacity of 250 kilograms and an outreach of three meters. BorgWarner Turbo Systems uses the hoist to change the cutter on a grinding machine, which grinds turbocharger rotors. The heavy parts cannot be changed by hand. In addition to the technical solution, the company was impressed by the good value for money, which prompted it to invest in a further DC chain hoist.
The customer emphasises that the DC electric chain hoist is ideally suited to this application, thanks to the standard five meter-long chain and the height-adjustable DSC control pendant. Considering the many small modifications that BorgWarner Turbo Systems constantly has to carry out, it is not difficult to adapt the control cable to the many different hook paths and workplaces. Besides this, the hoist can be changed relatively quickly and used elsewhere. In addition to these unique features of the DC electric chain hoist, its DSC control pendant is designed for fast, fatigue-free and ergonomic operation. The DSC is also part of the safety concept, since it is only offered with 24 volt contactor control, thus eliminating the need for operators to use 400 volt direct in-line control.
Another safety feature incorporated by Demag Cranes & Components is the brake and slipping clutch principle monitored on the basis of speed. This technical innovation guarantees a maximum of safety and a reduced maintenance requirement thanks to low wear. In addition, this principle prevents the load from creeping or slipping as the result of an operating error.
A significant amount of time is saved and greater availability is offered by the service cover arranged centrally on the chain hoist, facilitating rapid access to all relevant assemblies for commissioning and service purposes. These include the important electrical plug-in connectors, the entire chain set including the chain lubrication as well as a possibility to store the control cable. A new chain guide design also makes it possible to change the entire chain drive arrangement, without having to disassemble motor or gearbox parts. Furthermore, the standard elapsed operating time counter and the infrared diagnosis interface are highly useful for service purposes. Commissioning of the chain hoist is facilitated by the folding suspension eye, which is designed for an optimum unit headroom dimension.
Other examples for the extended standard are operating limit switches for the highest and lowest hook positions and an elapsed operating time counter. Furthermore, Demag generally supplies the chain hoist with two hoist speeds.
BorgWarner Turbo Systems also benefits from the fact that the trailing cable for the chain hoist power supply is guided by a wire rope parallel to the crane jib. The cable is normally lead through a cable accumulation section and partly as a festoon cable from the mast to the tip of the jib. This reduces the approach dimension at the mast, and the cable loops are larger.
The new DC electric chain hoist operated at BorgWarner is a good example of the many varied applications in different production areas and industries. It also demonstrates how the operator benefits from this outstanding technology.
