Major
Areas This Search Applies To: Aerial Lift Truck
A Field Note: Allowing
That There May Be Topics Of Greater Interest To Your
Investigation Of Aerial Lift Truck - Yet There Exists Information
Transfer And Aid On Making Lift
Bucket Repairs And Upgrades Within The Reach Of Any
Organization
It is
interesting that while often
checking into Aerial Lift Truck, there are previously unaware
managers who have asked about the following as well:
It is true that you may be able to go to
someone who works with fiberglass in many other
roles, such as a body shop, general molder or other
product producer like boats, etc., they generally may
not provide the best protection over the long-haul.
For instance, there are both structural needs and electrical insulating properties that may not be addressed if the repair
just takes into account the physical repair. Plus
legal/monetary risks they can't support. Moreover, it can be a tremendous
problem for a larger operation that has more exposure
over time because of higher volume of activityand the
resulting revenue it can generate. (For
those doing an analysis of Aerial Lift Truck, the comments contained
within this article may be more applicable to to whomever
carries the responsibility for field vehicle
operations.)
So, here is what needs to be
addressed in a competent and
emphatically 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 level of tension and damage the insulators for the upper and lower boom can safely withstand.
While there are no formal
standards, the lift bucket itself does provide
electrical insulation, so a check of these properties is
an important part of the repair.
A certain component for
preservation of human life is the safe physical
connection between the
bucket and the boom.
More Than Aerial Lift Truck: The Critical Assessment Of The
Abilities Of A Repair Facility For The Most Important Fixup
You'll Ever Do
So, here is a potentially life-saving
checklist to evaluate any group that undertakes
an aerial lift
overhaul:
Is there any way of verifying that they currently
have the full level and type of liability insurance that is specifically
underwritten for the after
repair problems that can occur with regard to bucket
truck lift repair area?
For those who
actually do the work, they should have the proper
training and carry the proper certifications. One that is helpful is the CCT certification of
the American Composites Manufacturing Association.
There are other steps that
should be taken, if one was serious about this potential
problem.:
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. In this situation it becomes the next
evaluation point to check. (Again, we realize your direct interest is in Aerial Lift Truck ,so there may be varying levels of need for this.
Moving
Away From Aerial Lift Truck: How Repairs Can And Should
Unfold
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
Those responsible for repair have been in some way notified. Through either shipping or
pickup, they are in possession of an
upper boom in fairly good condition for surface
refinishing and rehabilitation. Here are the
steps:
1. Start to visually examine the boom for any evidence
of damage. Any such evidence should be compared with
boom damage criteria shown in the OEM manual.
2. If the boom is dirty inside, the shop should
ask to pressure wash
the inside. The boom should
then be dielectrically tested to make sure that it is
still dielectrically sound. If there is a dielectric
problem, the boom should be analyzed with a conductivity
meter 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 properly to help
shed water and dirt, to ensure its insulating effect,
and shipped back to the owner. The final phase is
creating some type of secure package in which it is
placed along with certificates showing the results of
the dielectric and structural strength tests.
Looking once more at the top
section of a structural 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. In order to ensure that all damage can be
identified, this protective layer should be
stripped off and a full end to end inspection made
both on the outside, and inside. 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. This
must be done on calibrated
equipment that can be shown to measure and record the
amount of loading placed on the repaired member.
Appropriate electrical testing would follow the same
pattern, but this is done
after surface finishing or layers are restored. Full
documentation needs to accompany the device back to its
owner/user.
Using An Instructive
Example To Illustrate The Dangers Of Proceeding With
Improper Repair And Returning A Component To Full Field
Use
When there is
quite an obvious or intrinsic structural defect, there may be pressure on the repair entity to attempt
servicing . Tempting but potentially
dangerous. For instance, where the actual bucket mounting bolts have pulled away from the laminations in the bucket itself. This is a repair that may be effected in some way by recompressing and then
gluing or remolding the mounting into the fiberglass layers as perhaps someone might effect a repair on a boat . Repair in this
situation is not likely to produce a safe, dependable
platform. These connections are primary and must be an integrated
part of the platform integrity. The most responsible action in this
casewould be to reject the item for repair.
Structural
Issues
While the
owner ultimately makes the call as to repair, they
need good advice. In effect the risk management falls on whoever
at the customer is managing this function. So here is
a piece of advice we gave.
Buckets can be
attached by creating an assembly out of the actual
fiberglass, formed from thick, redundant layers of
resin and the glass strands.
Gaps where material has pulled apart
can form in these material-based attachment
points.
When something like this happens, it is pretty difficult to ensure the safety of the operator of the the equipment will not be
compromised.
If safety is chosen over profit,
then it would be wise to recommend replacement.
Now, a more normal state is when field
use has not yet pushed the item out of its service
range. 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.
Communication with whomever sent the device in is
appropriate - basically to ascertain the level of
work that should be done. In this
case, providing levels of pricing for each approach
action is the appropriate response.
Tags: Aerial Lift Truck
