Bespoke control system keeps winch in check
A
Sensor-Technik product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 18, 2006
How Sensor-Technik UK developed a rugged, easy to use control system for the winch system on vehicles belonging to an electricity supply company.
A leading UK electricity supplier required a vehicle with a powerful winch in order to move the characteristically heavy duty cables.
Sensor-Technik developed a robust and rugged system, rejecting delicate PLCs or computers in favour of simple, high state control components plus stand-alone amplifiers and sensors.
The vehicle needed to be equipped with a central control box as well as a remote unit for controlling the winch.
As well as offering simple control of pay-in and pay-out of the cables, the system also had to control the force according to the type of cable.
The system needed to be both rugged and robust since the vehicles are used in all weather conditions and in a wide range of temperatures.
Further, operation of the vehicles is characterised by alternating long periods of standing and long periods of hard use.
Sensor-Technik's control interface employed large buttons and a clear display, making the system easy to use, even under the coldest or wettest conditions.
After working out all the signals and determining exactly how the operator wanted to use the equipment, Sensor-Technik first made and tested a prototype.
The company then developed the concept into a range of stand-alone modules with simple cabling, with an emphasis on making field maintenance as simple as possible.
Sensor-Technik not only developed the control system, it also installed and commissioned the complete system.
All of the customer's requirements for an easy to use, robust, reliable design were met through the development of simple modules and the use of standard components.
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