Terms: Aerials Parts
A Field Note: Even
Though Your Interest Is Probably In Aerials Parts - For Your Information There Exists Instruction On Making Lift
Bucket Repairs And Upgrades Within The Reach Of Any
Organization
It is
interesting that while often
checking into Aerials Parts, 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, they generally may
not provide the best protection over the long-haul.
For instance, there are both structural needs and (where
applicable) 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. And that is not a viable option for
virtually any company. (For
those doing an analysis of Aerials Parts, the comments contained
within this article may be more applicable to to whomever
carries the responsibility for field vehicle
operations.)
Because this
situation involves human life,
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:
What are the
technical needs to safely insulate the two sections of
the boom from one another.
The structural strength requirements for
fiberglass upper booms and lower boom insulators .
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.
A certain component for
preservation of human life is the 100% dependable linkage of the
bucket and the boom.
If You Are Already
Thinking About Aerials Parts, Now
How About An Effective Evaluation Of Vendor Capabilities
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 that claims authority for aerial manlift
fiberglass work:
Is there an adequate amount
of fiscal protection, against any unanticipated risk
exposure by the group, that can fully support any
errors that might be made in providing aerial lift repair?
Like any
professional, 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.
There are other steps that
should be taken, if one was serious about this potential
problem.:
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 this unusual way of applying
fiberglass?
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 Aerials Parts .
Please consult manufacturer specs to determine
applicability.)
Further Than Aerials Parts: Repair Scenarios And The Right Way
To Deal With Them
Here are some real world situations that occur. They
are instructive because they illustrate the steps a
qualified repair facility would typically undergo. While the situations
they represent may seem a bit one dimensional, by
broadly interpreting them, you can get a grasp of the
best practices of repair.
The bottom line is as a manufacturer of
buckets, we have seen
all of these situations come into being.
No Obvious
Damage
XYZ group receives an initial request. 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
call and ask to pressure wash
the inside. 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. If the
analysis reveals a problem, the company should call the
ownerand discuss the steps needed to solve it.
3. If there is nothing else on the repair
agenda, 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 along with certificates showing the results of
the dielectric and structural strength tests.
Here we have again received
the uppermost member of the support boom. It has fractures 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 inspection made
both on the outside, and inside. At this point the
potential harm from the fissures need to be determined if
they 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 is done
after surface finishing or layers are restored. Full
documentation needs to accompany the device back to its
owner/user.
A Case Where The Risk Is Too High
1. A well used fiberglass enclosed operator containment platform comes in.
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.
Structural
Issues
The flip side of the above 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. While there are repair
techniques that can be used, the recommendation to the owner would be for replacement rather than remanufacture or some other type of restorative repair.
Now You Can Have A Bucket Or
Similar Item For Repair That Has Cosmetic Damage
A fiberglass lift platform comes into this particular shop:
1. The
mount side is not damaged, but the front corners are
cracked through. With proper techniques and
materials, the bucket can be repaired.
2. The
repairer should determine whether the customer just wants
the bucket repaired structurally or wants the bucket to
also be refinished to a like-new condition.
3. An
estimate is made first, and then the appropriate repair action should
be taken.
Tags: Aerials Parts
