Seeking A Boom Lift? We Would
Like To Share Some Information About
Aerial Bucket Repairs, Upgrades And Add-On Types Of Equipment For The Long
Haul
While we certainly
respect the fact that you are spending your time on the
internet
(and possibly other places),
with a clear focus of attention at this time on
A Boom Lift, this
subject of thought
may come up as well:
While a
body shop or a custom molder
of fiberglass
medium-to-large shell type
structures like a boat hull or container
could certainly
have the skills inventory
within their organization
to
make a
repair look
tolerable, trustworthy or
unblemished,
often the group
can't guarantee the
aerial
lift components truly safe (enough to really protect
the lineman). Nor will they likely have the
economic and risk management resources that are
needed by most reputable operators like
product liability insurance (to protect the company).
[Added
note:
Understandably, even
though the priority is for
A Boom Lift,
the information below should
be passed on to your service-repair
organization.]
So, here is what needs to be
addressed in a competent and
without any type of
doubt rigorous manner:
What the official
specifications are for making sure the upper boom is
dielectrically separated from the lower boom, and how
this separation can be compromised.
The structural strength requirements for
fiberglass upper booms and lower boom insulators in
view of the special stresses to which these items are
subjected.
Sometimes
the final line of defense in preventing electrocution is
the bucket itself. And while there are no formal
standards for this level of dielectric separation,
this ability must be checked
during any refurbishment.
Specifications must be
strictly followed for the reliable union of the bucket
and the telescoping or articulated arm.
You Have Considered A Boom Lift,
So Now How Do You Restore A Lift?
So what capabilities are needed ? Here are some of the key ones to look
for:
Does the company carry product
liability insurance that can fully support any
errors that might be made in providing aerial lift repair?
Are any of its people certified by the American
Composites Manufacturing Association as Certified
Composites Technicians?
In addition
to the above:
The components in aerial man lift units must perform
as life preserving conveyances with high levels of
criticality, often beyond other uses for fiberglass. Does
this supplier understand and is very familiar with
(and we mean have experience and a strong sense of
mission and ethics about) this unusual way of applying
fiberglass?
In addition to maintaining
physical integrity, after a repair has been made, a final
electrical insulation test should be performed to ensure
that the refurbishment process has not also created a literal and figurative potential for dangerous
circuit completion that could effect the operator. (For
situations relating specifically to A Boom Lift, a consultation
with those in your organization who actually purchased your aerial lift products are a
good idea to gain their perspective.)
Beyond A Boom Lift:
Examples of Specific Component Repair/Rebuild Issues and
How the Repair Company Should Handle Them
Here are some real world situations that occur. They
are instructive because they illustrate the steps a
qualified repair facility would typically undergo. With
broadly interpreting them, you can get a grasp of the
best practices of repair.
As a manufacturer of
buckets, and a re-manufacturer of booms, we have seen
all of these situations come into being.
No Obvious
Damage
XYZ group receives an initial request. They are sent an
upper boom for surface
refinishing and rehabilitation. Here are the
steps:
1. Start to visually examine the boom for any evidence
of damage. Any
problems require the action indicated in the manual.
2. If the boom is dirty inside, the shop should
ask permission to pressure wash
the inside. After cleaning, the boom should
then be dielectrically tested . If there is a dielectric
problem, the boom should be analyzed with a conductivity
tester to identify the problem. and discuss the steps needed to solve it.
3. If there are no additional problems, the boom
should be cosmetically repaired and refinished as needed.
4. Then, the boom should be dielectrically tested
again and structurally tested. If no flaws are
found, the boom should be waxed ,
and shipped back to the owner. The final phase is
creating some type of secure package in which it is
placed .
Looking once more at the uppermost member of the support boom. It has fractures that have been flagged in the field and also are confirmed by an initial visual inspection. There
is usually a cosmetic and visual coating on the boom
itself. This protective layer should be
stripped off and inspection made
both on the outside, and also on the hollow
inner core of the boom itself. Next determine if it can be repaired and the boom
restored to full and safe operation. This is done by
consulting what the manufacturer has declared proper, and
also comparing the damage to the capabilities of the
repair materials. These typically include physical
reinforcement, using similar OEM products and suitable
bonding materials which are impregnated into the repair
base. At that point in time, a full
mechanical stress/tension test needs to be performed at
over the rated loading for the boom section.
Appropriate electrical testing would follow the same
pattern, but this would most likely be done
after surface finishing or layers are restored. Full
documentation needs to accompany the device back to its
owner/user.
Cutting
Losses
1. A bucket is received for
repair.
2. The bucket mount consists of a
number of studs protruding from the bucket wall. A simple
inspection reports a bolt from this assembly has punched
through the side of the operator area.
3.
The bucket probably should not be repaired because of
concerns about the possibility of the bucket later coming
loose from the boom.
When The Basic Bonding Gives Way
Another
situation is when the
enclosed platform that holds the operator is formed into reinforced arches
into which studs or bolts are fitted that in turn
are used to connect the boom arm. When damage has
occurred, it
can compromise the actual boom mounting assembly. If
this is the case, it is more than a concern for the
safety conscious operator. While there are repair
techniques that can be used, none will likely restore
this critical supporting assembly to a viable state.
Because this design depends heavily on both the integral
bonding of the mounting fixture into the supporting
fiberglass, again the recommendation to the owner would be for replacement rather than remanufacture or some other type of restorative repair.
Now, a more normal state is where
wear and tear have taken their toll, but have not yet pushed the item out of its service
range. Recycling in effect is a good potential for
such occurrences, particularly if the ownership is
willing to trade functional for cosmetic differences and
allow the vendor who is tasked to offer trade-offs
between these poles. Consider a series of
material separations on the edges of the bucket retainer,
but no apparent problems with the actual bucket-boom
connection area. It is very likely that this apparatus
can be returned to many years of active service-
depending of course upon the loading and general
treatment of the restraint in the field. The key question is
whether it is mainly restoring the holding capability of
the bucket or in addition whether surfaces need to be put
back to near OEM levels of feel and look. In this
case, providing levels of pricing for each approach
action, structural only or structural plus
cosmetic, is the appropriate response.
Tags: A Boom Lift
