Background:
Working in support of a prominent U.S. steel manufacturer, a manufacturer of custom, heavy-duty industrial machinery for use in metals and manufacturing industries needed a reliable method for immobilizing a 70-ton rail-mounted ladle preheater. To achieve this goal, the project required an industrial disc brake capable of resisting the full output torque of two gearmotors to be mounted directly on the ladle car idler shaft.
Given Hindon’s experience providing application-specific engineered industrial braking solutions across industries, including the steel mill industry, Hindon was a natural fit to support the customer with the braking aspect of their project.
A steel mill environment typically has a dusty, abrasive atmosphere with ambient temperatures reaching over 140°F.
Application Challenges:
- High torque requirement in a spatially restricted area
- Steel mill environment – high ambient temperature, dusty abrasive atmosphere
- High duty cycle requirement
Solution:
After understanding the customer’s project goals, constraints, and technical requirements, Hindon explored a range of potential braking solutions with the customer including a pneumatically released brake and several different electrically released brake designs, including options with single or multiple caliper sets.
After collaborating with the customer on several system design iterations, Hindon ultimately designed and supplied a brake system consisting of two spring-applied electromagnetically released disc brakes. The electromagnetic fail-safe brakes were equipped with a rectifier for control of the brakes. This solution was designed to meet/exceed the duty cycle requirement for the application, the ambient temperature requirement (up to 140 °F), and the torque requirement (~6,000 Nm), all while ensuring seamless integration within the existing spatial constraints.
Hindon’s delivery satisfied the project schedule and functioned exactly as the customer intended, providing a robust, reliable, and cost-effective solution that increased both safety and productivity at this U.S. steel producer’s facility.