Reduce Risks from Overhead Crane Load Sway
July 1, 2014
Sway Control is a Konecranes control feature designed to minimize the load from swinging during overhead crane travel. It is designed as a safer means to move loads at higher speeds while positioning the load more accurately. Operators can also apply faster speeds in process areas where the crane or trolley traditionally requires operation at slower speeds, even close to walls. By automatically dampening load sway, Konecranes Sway Control is intended to maximize uptime by reducing swinging loads that can lead to production delays and downtime.
"Combating load sway is a demanding skill that requires the operator to divide attention between controlling crane movements and monitoring the load itself," said a company spokesperson. "Sway Control allows the operator to concentrate on the surrounding environment and select a safe traveling path. With Sway Control, new or less experienced crane operators that have been properly trained, as required by OSHA, can control and position loads with precision and predictability and operate all motions simultaneously both in manual and optional automatic modes."
Sway Control from Konecranes stabilizes load movements in trolley traverse and/or bridge travel directions. When accelerating, Sway Control reads the operator's speed command and modifies the speed reference so that the requested speed is reached with minimal sway of the load. When decelerating, Sway Control minimizes the sway while the motion comes to rest.
Sway Control can be can be integrated into the bridge or trolley inverter of the crane to provide controlled operation for loads of all types and sizes. Initial settings are set up on the Service Display Unit during start-up. The crane operator can activate the Sway Control function with the selector switch on the operator interface. Sway Control can be retrofitted onto existing cranes as well.
For more information contact:
Konecranes, Inc.
4401 Gateway Blvd.
Springfield, OH 45502
937-525-5533
www.konecranesusa.com
www.konecranesamericas.com
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