Explosion-proof hoists take up 50% less space
Mannheim-based SWF Krantech-nik has developed explosion-proof versions of its Nova electric wire hoists. The company is also working to adapt its frequency inverter technology to further enhance the hoists' traveling performance.
The Nova series, introduced in 2001, was designed to lift loads with a minimum of hook travel. The range includes fixed hoists for freestanding, suspended, or wall-mounted installations; double-girder trolleys with high or medium connections, suitable for applications with minimum headroom or requiring optimized headroom, and single-girder trolleys for locations with limited lateral space, extreme hoisting heights, or heavy loads (up to 80 tonnes).
According to Oliver Gans, the company's hoist products manager, "The big advantages our products offer derive from their compact, space-saving design. We have reduced the dimensions by 50%, partly through use of better materials, and partly through the design of our drum, which allows us to wind more rope to a shorter distance. Also, we provide higher quality motors – 60% ED [duty time] – for our hoists.
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"The brake in our system is designed to last for the lifetime of the hoist," he adds. "Brake linings should not need to be replaced. If you bend the rope over a smaller drum with a smaller diameter, the outer strands of the rope must be able to withstand a higher braking force. We believe that the lifespan for wearing parts of the wire rope in our system may be twice that of some competing designs."
Other features of the Nova hoists include:
- Design allows for optimized motor cooling, even during heavy-duty operations. The drum, with its self-contained lifting motor, creates a kind of tunnel effect, with the air stream being guided along the complete length of the motor
- Oversized toothed wheels in the lifting gear provide safer, more reliable operation.
Both these features have been retained for the new, explosion-proof versions. However, to guarantee spark-proofing protection, bronze trolley wheels and a bronze-coated load hook will be available on request.