Seeking KW4? We Would
Like To Share Some Information About
Lift
Bucket Repairs, Upgrades And Accessories
If case this applies
to your operational, safety and maintenance
needs,
here's the best method
for this type of
admittedly
critical repair.
(We hope you
find this pertinent, even in your search for
trying to find information about
KW5.
If in this situation that is not the case, we would ask that you find someone to give this information to.)
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, in effect, distort the dielectric performance of the boom itself . There is a basic but
established specification that must be consulted.
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. And the bucket
itself, although no standard for insulation
exists, 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.
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 way of escaping
some unwanted consequences. (An example may be routine tree trimming
or tree removal where at some point, the operator may be
exposed to electrical power sources. In this case it may
be wise to have the capability at all times.)
Third, a point of common wear, are the
mountings that in a sense form the primary
structure bridging the bucket to the boom. No slacking here
lest a potential decoupling of the lift
superstructure occur in the
future. (Should your travels have delivered you to this page from your interest in KW7, and this does not apply directly to
your area of responsibility, to make a priority to express its importance to the correct person in your organization.)
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 and what affects the performance through
which the boom must operate optimally.
The level of tension and damage the insulators for the upper and lower boom can safely withstand without compromising their insulation properties.
The real insulating
capabilities provided by the fiberglass bucket
itself, although the bucket is not officially
recognized for insulating capability by ANSI
A92.2.
A certain component for
preservation of human life is the safe physical
connection between the
bucket and the boom.
You Have Considered KW8,
So Now How Do You Restore A Lift?
So what capabilities are needed for the
entity that can safely complete a bucket truck lift
repair? Here are some of the key ones to look
for:
Is there any way of verifying that they currently
have the full level and type of liability insurance that is specifically
underwritten for the risks associated with bucket
truck lift repair area?
Are the
personnel technically competent for this type of work,
carrying the appropriate certifications
such as those proffered by the ACMA?
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 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?
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 KW9 ,so there may be varying levels of need for this.
Please consult manufacturer specs to determine
applicability.)
Beyond KW10:
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 that should be applied.
We have seen
all of these situations come into being.
Sometimes You Have
To Look A Bit Deeper
Scenario: The repair facility is shipped the
upper boom section for basic rehab and potential
resurfacing. 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. The boom
should be inspected to see if any type of cracks or dents or if it has suffered any type of noticeable harm. The specifications for that particular boom section
should be pulled from the manufacturer guidelines and the
damage evaluated against those guidelines. If there
are specific remedies suggested by those
guidelines, the
customer should be consulted. Structural testing is next. If it
withstands this test and no other issues are found, a
final waxing to protect the boom should occur.
It should then be sealed and protected for shipping.
Here Is A Time When More Care Is Needed From The
Very Beginning,
Here we have again received
the uppermost member 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 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. There will be a suitable timeframe for these
materials to setup and reach their full operational
resistance and use. 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 .
Appropriate electrical testing would follow the same
pattern, but this 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
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 into the side of the bucket.
It was clear
that there were fissures in the fiberglass
layering that supported
these mounting rods.
It is apparent that no amount of
reinforcement would make for a safe operating condition for the
operator.
This One Involves The Fiberglass Mounting Holes
Themselves
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 these mounts are cracked or badly worn, 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, the recommendation to the owner would be for replacement rather than remanufacture.
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. In most
cases, the latter option is chosen.
3. A quotation for the cost of the
repair should then be given to the customer, and then the appropriate repair action should
be taken.
Tags: KW11
