Background:
A leading U.S. provider of high-quality precast concrete products such as barrier walls, retaining walls, parking bumpers, septic tanks, and storm shelters approached Hindon regarding an urgent need for a replacement overhead bridge crane brake. Hindon determined that the existing electromagnetic brake was obsolete due to overall unreliability and the inability to find parts and support. The customer required a readily available retrofit solution that would get their crane back up and running immediately, while improving the crane’s long-term efficiency and safety.
After the customer’s obsolete overhead crane drive brake stopped functioning properly, a readily available and technically suitable replacement crane brake was needed
Application Challenges:
- Provide a replacement brake with favorable lead-time
- For ease of installation, the ideal brake would be a bolt-in replacement for use on customer’s existing brake drum
- Review the drive system’s technical specifications and the brake’s duty requirements to properly size a new brake and determine the optimal brake features
Solution:
After assessing the customer’s existing brake arrangement and reviewing the technical specifications of the crane drive system, Hindon recommended a thruster drum brake as the ideal replacement for the old electromagnetic brake.
Hindon’s thruster drum brake served as a bolt-in replacement for the existing brake and was suitable for use on the customer’s brake drum without additional modifications. The new brake was equipped with automatic wear adjustment that would ensure consistent and reliable braking, improving the crane’s efficiency and safety while reducing the need for inspections and maintenance. The electrohydraulic thruster used to release the brake was also equipped with an adjustable lowering valve, allowing the customer to set a time delay between when power is removed from the brake and when braking occurs. A slight delay allows for a smooth braking process, which is ideal for use on bridge travel applications as it helps avoid jarring the crane every time the brakes set.
The installation of the new brake was completed with minimal downtime to the customer’s operations. Hindon addressed the customer’s overhead crane needs with a readily available and cost-effective bolt-in brake replacement. This properly sized solution included all necessary features for the specific application, resulting in enhanced safety and productivity while minimizing reducing crane downtime.