Terms: Alta Lift Truck
A Field Note: It
Appears To Us You Have Selected Alta Lift Truck - For Your Information There Exists Expertise On Making Lift
Bucket Repairs And Upgrades A More Cost Effective But Safe
Item
If case this applies
to your operational, safety and maintenance
needs,
here's the best method
for this type of
field-created
safekeeping.
(This should
be of value even to those who were attracted to this page
by
Alta Lift Truck.
No? Then we would ask that you find someone 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 capabilities of upper boom and lower boom insulators, and what can potentially degrade or impede 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. Loads that we need to
remember are special human cargo, and deserve the highest
quality protection available. 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( which is the main
reason for the choice of a non-conductive material like
fiberglass from which it is fabricated), 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. There are many cases where
there is no planned or anticipated potential of actually coming in contact with an
unprotected or exposed electrical
obstruction, 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. No slacking here
lest a potential decoupling of the lift
superstructure occur in the
future. (Again, if you were brought here by
researching Alta Lift Truck, and this does not apply directly to
your area of responsibility, to make a priority to forward or deliver to the correct person in your maintenance or
management group.)
So, here is what needs to be
addressed in a competent and
emphatically rigorous manner:
The requirements for insulating
capabilities of upper booms and lower boom insulators and what affects the performance through
which the boom must operate in as safe a
manner as is possible.
The structural strength requirements for
fiberglass upper booms and lower boom insulators in
view of the special stresses to which these items are
subjected.
Also, 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 Alta Lift Truck: The Critical Assessment Of The
Abilities Of A Repair Facility For The Most Important Fixup
You'll Ever Do
So what capabilities are needed ? Here are some of the key ones to look
for:
Can they prove that they
have liability insurance that is specifically
underwritten for the bucket
truck lift repair area?
Have the
workers been adequately trained and experienced for this type of work,
carrying the appropriate certifications
such as those proffered by the ACMA?
Also to be evaluated:
Is the company familiar
with the special needs of fiberglass components in aerial
man lift units?
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 potential for dangerous
circuit completion that could effect the operator. (For
situations relating specifically to Alta Lift Truck, a consultation
with those who purchased your aerial lift products are a
good idea to gain their perspective.)
Moving
Away From Alta Lift Truck: How Repairs Can And Should
Unfold
Let us take a look at
some steps a
qualified repair facility would typically undergo in
order to ensure safe and proper repair of the bucket and
boom parts under question. With
broadly interpreting them, you can get a grasp of the
best practices of repair.
We have seen
all of these situations come into being.
Sometimes You Have
To Look A Bit Deeper Because On The Surface,
There Is Often Not Much That Is Apparent
Here we find that a boom
section shows up to do a general check-over and servicing. A
lower end repair shop may do no more than a basic
visual inspection . However,
when the real uses of the component are considered by
a specialist, its clear they have a mandate that would do
more, including the following items:
Communication with - and gaining permission - from
the entity in authority prior to any charges being incurred.
A thorough cleaning inside and outside, followed by a
visual inspection into the inner cavity of the boom itself.
Initial dielectric testing to determine unwanted
continuity.
Load or stress testing.
Resurfacing and additions of protective coatings.
Final electrical testing to ensure no part of the
process caused any issues/problems.
Publishing and
notification to the customer of all tests and
servicing done.
Highly protective packaging and attachment of
certifications prior to shipping.
A Package Arrives
With An Obvious Cause For Concern
The top most section of a telescoping lift arm with some apparent cracks is received for evaluation.
1. The cracks should be reviewed using the repair manual guidelines of the manufacturer. If the
cracks are judged to be repairable, the repairer
should provide a detailed work plan including time and materials .
2. If approved, the repair company
should complete the structural repairs, then do a structural test on the boom.
3. If the repairs are
acceptable, the boom should then be cosmetically
refinished and dielectrically tested.
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, and that
goes double with the
attachment of the boom to the bucket itself. There are
various ways that this main support can be
accomplished. In this case:
The main attachment
was accomplished through threaded rods that are in
effect integrated into the side of the bucket.
It was clear
that there were fissures in the actual fiberglass
that supported
these mounting rods.
Without even checking
further it is apparent that no amount of
reinforcement would likely return this
conveyance to a safe operating condition for the
operator.
Structural
Issues
While the
owner ultimately makes the call as to repair, they
depend on expert repair depots to
provide the advice on how successful the operation may
be. So here is
a piece of advice we gave.
First we noted that the
fiberglass lift platforms can sometimes be attached by
creating an assembly out of the actual fiberglass. It is possible, as in this case, that layers of resin and the glass strands gaps or stress lines where material has pulled apart can form weakness in critical areas. And finally, under
this scenario, it is often pretty difficult to
ensure that the further damage won't occur. Therefore, an
expert in this area would
recommend replacement.
So, the bottom line is there are cases where competent skills can be applied on an aftermarket basis with good results:
Bucket displays no damage on the actual physical connection side of the
bucket
However, there is deterioration
on non-supporting side
Yes, this can be
saved. Here it is more a matter of preference
from those who are paying the bills. Question: Does the department in authority want to have something that merely works , ?
So moving forward with any
refurbishment is a go or no go decision, and really
depends on the economics of both options, ,
and to await further instruction.
Tags: Alta Lift Truck
