Unique operational features in new crane design
A
Control Techniques product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jul 21, 2006
Control Techniques drives have enabled crane control specialists NTK Technik to build in unique operational features into a new design of crane recently launched by Jost Cranes of Germany.
Crane control software incorporated into Unidrive SP AC drives from Control Techniques has enabled crane control specialists NTK Technik to build in unique operational features into a new design of crane recently launched by Jost Cranes of Germany.
"We have worked closely with Control Techniques to produce sophisticated crane control software that runs in the drives' application modules," explains NTK-Technik managing director Bernd Niehoff.
"This incorporates two completely new features that include a new method of assessing load during the lift to eliminate the weighing delay - and its accompanying jolt - and a selectable operating mode that gives a constant load height irrespective of the luffing position of the crane".
Unlike other crane control systems, the NTK-Technik system weighs the load during the smooth S-ramp lift, using the 55 kW hoist drives internal torque measurement.
This eliminates the need for static weighing by a load cell after initial lift, making the process more comfortable for the operator without the usual jolt caused by the start-stop-start of the hoist.
The unique constant load height feature makes the crane operation both easier and safer.
The 30 kW luffing (jib) drive can lift the jib from horizontal (0deg) up to 89deg.
This would normally change the height of the load above the ground.
During cargo loading and unloading, there is a need to keep the load at a constant height after an initial lift.
This is achieved by operator key selection, at which point the drives take-over.
The hoist and luffing drives operate in digital lock mode, with feedback from absolute encoders on both motors directly into the application module software, which then calculates, the take-up or payout of the hoist cable, as the jib drops or lifts, to maintain load height throughout the operation.
The third Unidrive SP, again 30 kW, provides the 360deg slewing movement of the crane.
Another software generated mode is the joystick-selected 'constant power hoisting mode'.
This instructs the hoist drive to increase the speed of the motor over its nominal speed when a part-load is detected, giving more efficient lifts without any increase in power consumption.
"The Unidrive SP has many features that are ideal for crane control," says Herr Niehoff.
"Its vector control, integrated space-saving braking and its superb dynamic response are all important, of course".
"But what makes it the best for our needs are the application modules with pre-loaded crane specific software, which make the process of design much easier".
"They are a key part of our double-redundancy ultra-safe design that meets grade 4, the very highest level of crane safety".
"Because the drives are compact and programmable, we can also keep the panel size to a minimum, which has been important in the overall crane design".
"We initially chose Control Techniques' drives because of the company's experience in the lift and hoist market, and we have total confidence in the back-up they give us at every stage from design to worldwide after-sales support" concludes Herr Niehoff.
The tower crane company Jost has adopted the NTK-Technik system for their new generation of topless luffing cranes which are destined to become the backbone of the company's product line.
A key feature of the new series of cranes is a compact cabin that houses all of the drive electronics, for ease of access, as well as the driver's cockpit.
The task of designing a compact drives solution to meet the demanding control requirements was fulfilled by NTK-Technik, who works as a preferred partner with Jost.
The crane, the world's first topless design, is rated at four tonnes at 60m, 8 tonnes at 50m and16 tonnes at 22.1 m.
Its modularity simplifies erection, with the upper crane being installed in just two lifts.
These comprise the central turntable section with the cabin platform, with controls, the hoist unit hydraulics and tower top.
The second section comprises the complete pre-rigged jib and counterweight unit.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Control Techniques
Tel +44 1952 213 700
Other Control Techniques stories
-
Automated jigs cuts towbar assembly time in half
Automatic Technologies International's rotating jigs use Unidrive SP AC drives with UMD servomotors from Control Techniques Dynamics, with programming provided by on-board EZMotion modules. -
The drive behind Robbie Williams' sellout show
The innovative set for last year's Robbie Williams "Weekends of mass distraction" concert tour featured a huge eight-section video screen precisely positioned using eight Unidrive SP AC drives. -
Control Techniques launches soft starter families
Control Techniques has launched its compact Digistart soft starter range. -
Control Techniques releases motor control handbook
Commissioned by the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Control Techniques has launched the 2nd edition of the Drives and Controls Handbook, edited by Prof Bill Drury. -
Control Techniques releases drives brochure
A multi-language, 24-page product brochure entitled 'Drives, Drives Systems and Servos - 0.25kW to 1.9MW' gives an introduction to the range of drives products available from Control Techniques.
Browse by category
-
Capital Equipment (3,533)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (546)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,133)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (478)
- Production line blowers and fans (74)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (978)
- Consultancy and Services (927)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,142)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (818)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (190)
- Control and Instrumentation (3)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (297)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (204)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,210)
- Plantwide control (1,354)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (577)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (393)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,451)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (2)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,293)
- Industrial Motors (502)
- Linear Drives and Motors (121)
- Precision Motors and Gears (434)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,097)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,328)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (588)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (724)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (653)
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (377)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (722)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (430)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (830)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,388)
- 2D CAD software (203)
- 3D CAD software (1,199)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (583)
- Data, document management software (324)
- Electrical design software (168)
- Engineering Design Software (17)
- FEA and structural analysis software (377)
- File conversion software, data capture (358)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (340)
- Materials design and moulding design software (153)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (325)
- PLM and collaboration software (665)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (269)
- Publishing and documentation software (234)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (208)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (965)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,199)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (273)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Conferences (438)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (851)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (578)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (354)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (635)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Seminars (421)
- Engineering Training Courses (458)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (180)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (285)
- Health and Safety Legislation (403)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (115)
- Machine Building (4,633)
-
Materials and Processing (3,041)
- Materials and components (2,272)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials processing and testing (292)
- Rapid Prototyping (472)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,682)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (491)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (505)
- Data loggers (428)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (645)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (766)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (449)
- Materials testing equipment (439)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (159)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (522)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,723)
- Bearings (986)
- Chains and belts (334)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,482)
- Hydraulic Components (475)
- Lubricants (441)
- Powertrain Design (4)
-
Sensors (7,324)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (450)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (650)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (292)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (158)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (539)
- Linear Position Sensors (418)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (733)
- Pressure sensors (644)
- Proximity Sensors (715)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (567)
- Sensors (12)
- Temperature sensors (626)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,417)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (2,059)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,732)
