Drives and actuators help train crane operators
A
Parker Hannifin - Electromechanical and Drives Division product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Mar 28, 2006
Servo drives and electromechanical actuators used in a simulator for training crane operators working on offshore oil and gas platforms, and in container ports.
Servo drives and electromechanical actuators from Parker Hannifin are being used in a simulator for training crane operators working on offshore oil and gas platforms, and in container ports.
Developed and made by Drilling Systems in Bournemouth, the Krane SIM-6000 can reproduce various normal and emergency scenarios, letting trainees master all aspects of crane operation in a safe but realistic environment.
To construct this virtually perfect replication simulator, the firm uses real-time digital computing techniques with standard crane controls and functions, plus synchronised visual information, to create a realistic simulation.
Trainees can learn to perform all the necessary crane movement operations in controlled conditions and quickly gain a wide knowledge of crane and cargo manipulation without the risks and costs normally associated with on-site training and work experience.
Although Drilling Systems has a history of developing simulators for various industries, the Krane SIM-6000 is claimed to be the first to use real time motion control at such an advanced level.
Richard Blashill, Crane Division Manager, said: "Crane operation, especially on offshore platforms, is extremely complex and our simulator has accurately to recreate all types of sea, wind and weather conditions on a variety of rig types, including jackup, tension leg, semi-sub and concrete platforms, all of which react differently and affect the motion of the crane and thus the operator's experience in often unpredictable ways".
To meet these motion control requirements, Parker Hannifin provided three Compax 3 drives controlled via Profibus, with an Ethernet link to a dedicated PC controller.
Each drive operates one of three Electro-Thrust electric cylinders; these devices operate independently, with two cylinders lifting the simulation rig at opposite ends, while the third provides horizontal motion to create the potential for full movement through x, y and z axes.
The electric cylinders provide speeds up to 1.0m/s, with a maximum travel of up to 2.4m, and incorporate C7 class ballscrew drives, so they can operate under the heavy loads of up to 1200kg imposed by the Krane SIM-6000.
Just as importantly, the combination of high performance, torsionally stiff actuators and the closed loop servo system means the simulation rig responds instantly to control signals and changes in conditions caused by trainee operator input or programmed by a system trainer.
Blashill said: "The closed-loop servo system enables us to create extremely subtle changes in the orientation of the rig, quickly and smoothly in real time, while features such as internal regeneration circuitry and external resistor connections on the Compax 3 drives make it even simpler to configure the system to redistribute power to each actuator as it is required, to produce the most realistic wave motion and strength".
"In addition, the robust nature of the actuators mean they require only minimal maintenance, helping us to ensure that our systems get the maximum usage with the lowest possible operating costs for our customers".
"We chose Parker to provide the drives and actuators for the Krane SIM-6000 for several reasons".
"We have dealt with Parker on previous projects and know its products are reliable and that the company has the ability to provide us with a high level of local technical support".
"Its engineers are both responsive and helpful, and have worked closely with us to develop a system that meets and, in many respects, surpasses our expectations".
"Following the success of the offshore crane simulator, we are already working on a further generation of dockside container crane simulators that use Parker's stand-alone process controllers".
The Krane SIM-6000 has recently completed rigorous testing procedures and is now available for training.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Contact Parker Hannifin - Electromechanical and Drives Division
Tel (00800 27 27 5374)
Visit Parker Hannifin - Electromechanical and Drives Division website
Other Parker Hannifin - Electromechanical and Drives Division stories
-
AC drives permit wider use of magnet motors
Parker Hannifin has launched a range of AC drives that allows energy-efficient permanent magnet motors to be used in a wide range of pump, fan and compressor applications. -
Parker Hannifin saw motor maintains 40m/s speed
Parker Hannifin has developed a hydraulic saw motor that automatically maintains an optimum cutting speed of 40m/s for 35 per cent faster cutting. -
Profinet brings AC890 drives to Ethernet users
Parker Hannifin has launched an open Ethernet-based networking communications module for its AC890 range of drives. -
Parker PFD provides real-time awareness
Parker's electromechanical automation division has announced the release of the Parker Factory Display (PFD) visualisation system. -
Parker controls boost wind turbine productivity
Parker Hannifin is providing power conversion systems and generators for a wind turbine design from Green Energy Technologies.
Browse by category
-
Capital Equipment (3,526)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (543)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,133)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (477)
- Production line blowers and fans (74)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (975)
- Consultancy and Services (924)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,132)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (817)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (190)
- Control and Instrumentation (3)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (297)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (203)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,205)
- Plantwide control (1,354)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (575)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (392)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,442)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (2)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,290)
- Industrial Motors (502)
- Linear Drives and Motors (121)
- Precision Motors and Gears (432)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,093)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,312)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (584)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (719)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (650)
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (3)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (376)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (722)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (430)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (828)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,374)
- 2D CAD software (203)
- 3D CAD software (1,195)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (583)
- Data, document management software (323)
- Electrical design software (167)
- Engineering Design Software (17)
- FEA and structural analysis software (377)
- File conversion software, data capture (358)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (339)
- Materials design and moulding design software (153)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (325)
- PLM and collaboration software (664)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (269)
- Publishing and documentation software (234)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (208)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (959)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,212)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Conferences (438)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (850)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (577)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (366)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (636)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Seminars (418)
- 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 (4,623)
-
Materials and Processing (3,037)
- Materials and components (2,268)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials processing and testing (292)
- Rapid Prototyping (472)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,665)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (490)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (505)
- Data loggers (428)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (644)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (762)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (449)
- Materials testing equipment (435)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (159)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (520)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,272)
-
Powertrain Design (3,716)
- Bearings (985)
- Chains and belts (333)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,477)
- Hydraulic Components (475)
- Lubricants (441)
- Powertrain Design (4)
-
Sensors (7,296)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (449)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (645)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (291)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (158)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (538)
- Linear Position Sensors (416)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (731)
- Pressure sensors (641)
- Proximity Sensors (715)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (563)
- Sensors (12)
- Temperature sensors (622)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,412)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (2,051)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,727)
