Seeking Aerial Boom Lifts? We Would
Like To Identify A Series Of
Lift
Bucket Repairs, Upgrades And Accessories For The Long
Haul
If case this applies
to your operational, safety and maintenance
needs,
we'll show
you the best practice
for this type of
troubleshooting sequence or cycle.
(This should
be of value even to those who were attracted to this page
by
trying to find information about
Aerial Boom Lifts.
No? Then we would ask that you find the most appropriate person in your organization to give this information to because of its critical safety importance.)
First, There is a need to establish the very basic
requirements the for evaluating boom insulators, and what can distort the dielectric performance of the boom itself . The repair organization may
not be aware of it unless they are focused on this
particular type of evaluation and restoration process,
however there do exist formal standards issued by the government
on this type of device, for which repair practices must be
followed.
Second, no
competent testing and repair approach can be complete,
without looking at the material integrity of the
insulating members of the lift which carry loads as
well. Specifically, we are
looking at the insulators themselves and how much
stress and strain they can withstand over time without
breaking down. With respect to this enclosed platform
that the rider controls and works from, and how it can be important to maintain a high
level of electrical separation, is still a
large part of the safety equation against personal shock.
It then becomes even more critical that a three-stage [inspection-repair-inspection] process must also
be included. The idea of having a conductive
bucket in situations where power line exposure is a
potential is not wise, and using a non-conductive personnel enclosure versus a wire or
other metalized platform may be a contingency. There are many cases where
there is no
expectation of actually coming in contact with an
unprotected or exposed electrical
source, but this can unintentionally
happen over the course of the use of the
equipment.
Third are the
mountings that create
a secure Gibralter-like linkage from the bucket to the boom. There must be a rigorous method of checking
-including monitoring under load- of this important
functional aspect. (Again, if you were brought here by
researching Aerial Boom Lifts, we hope you feel it is important
enough for you to to make a priority to forward or deliver to the correct person in your maintenance or
management group.)
It is apparent,
this is not something that can be put in the category of
basic mechanical repair or restoration. So, some of
the special considerations involved in fiberglass repairs
and rebuilds of aerial manlift components
include:
The requirements for insulating
capabilities of upper booms and lower boom insulators .
The structural strength requirements for
fiberglass upper booms and lower boom insulators .
The real insulating
capabilities provided by the fiberglass bucket
itself, although the bucket is not officially
recognized for insulating capability by ANSI
A92.2.
Correct boom-bucket mounting
procedure.
More Than Aerial Boom Lifts: The Critical Assessment Of The
Abilities Of A Repair Facility For The Most Important Fixup
You'll Ever Do
With all that is at stake with human lift applications, there is a lot to
consider, so the following questions should be asked
of any company being considered for aerial manlift
fiberglass work:
Is there an adequate amount
of fiscal protection, against any unanticipated risk
exposure by the group, specifically for
doing aerial lift repair?
It is important that those who
actually do the work, they should have the proper
training and carry the proper certifications. A
notable source for this type of accreditation is known as
the CCT certification of
the American Composites Manufacturing Association.
Also to be evaluated:
Is the company familiar
with the special needs of fiberglass components in aerial
man lift units?
How does a customer know
if the insulating properties of bucket and boom have been
maintained during repair? By using an approved testing
device. (Again, we realize your direct interest is in Aerial Boom Lifts ,so there may be varying levels of need for this.
Further Than Aerial Boom Lifts: Repair Scenarios And The Right Way
To Deal With Them
It is
often helpful to understand where and how these
challenges may come about. We have listed what you
might say are a bit sanitized versions of encounters from
our own experience. A competent process would
embody most of the illustrations that follow.
Just Doing Your Job May Mean Taking A Bit Of Extra
Time
Scenario: The repair facility is shipped the
upper boom section that connects to the worker
basket for basic rehab . Most shops should include a cleaning, particularly if there is noticeable dirt buildup inside
the actual boom. This enables correct dielectric
testing, following recommended
procedures. If problems crop up, further
physical/electrical testing operations should be done with
such equipment as a conductivity meter. Problems should be noted for later
review with the owner. Even though they have not
been specifically asked to do this, the boom
should be inspected to see if any type of cracks or dents. The specifications for that particular boom section
should be consulted directly from the lift platform
OEM and the
damage evaluated against those guidelines. If there
are specific remedies suggested by those
guidelines, they should again be noted
for discussion with the owner. Structural testing is next. If no other issues are found, a
final waxing should occur.
It should then be sealed and protected for shipping with tamper-proof certifications with the results from the testing phases.
What happens when you know there
has been damage?
Remove anything that could -in any way-
obstruct any type of structural or other critical, underlying
concerns.
Internal and external visual and
sometimes touch inspection.
Check of
manufacturer dictates for proper repair.
Determination of
repair suitability per guidelines.
Repair using approved means
.
High capacity stress testing.
Electrical
testing.
Putting a protective and visually
appealing coating and perhaps identity
on.
Full package documentation and
shipment.
Using An Instructive
Example To Illustrate The Dangers Of Proceeding With
Improper Repair And Returning A Component To Full Field
Use
There are not a lot of backup
systems with a bucket style lift mechanism, especially when it concerns the
attachment of the boom to the bucket itself. In this case:
The main attachment
was accomplished through threaded rods into the side of the bucket.
From a visual inspection, it was clear
that there were fissures in the fiberglass
that supported
these mounting rods.
It is apparent that no amount of
reinforcement would likely return this
conveyance to a safe operating condition for the
operator.
Structural
Issues
A glimpse into this particular
case:
1. A bucket is received for repair. The bucket mount consists of vertical
fiberglass ribs protruding from one side of the bucket.
2. An initial examination of the mounting holes in the ribs reveals that there are cracks in the ribs.
3. The
bucket probably should not be repaired
Now You Can Have A Bucket Or
Similar Item For Repair That Has Cosmetic Damage
So, there are cases where competent skills can be applied with good results such as in this case:
Bucket comes in
with no problems on the actual physical connection side of the
bucket
Yet you can see fissures, cracks or
other issues elsewhere.
Yes, this can be
saved. Here it is more a matter of preference
from those who are paying the bills. Question: Does the person in authority want to have something that merely works and can be serviceable from the perspective of the operator, or do they wish to go further and have a cosmetically appealing effect as well?
So moving forward with any
refurbishment is a go or no go decision, and really
depends on the economics of both options, and making the first contact to whomever has sent them the component,
and to await further instruction.
Tags: Aerial Boom Lifts
