Posted to News on 30th Nov 2009, 22:25
Custom load pins competitive with standard models
Applied Measurements can now design and customise load measuring pins to suit almost any existing mechanical arrangement.
Load pins are used in a wide variety of applications, including cranes, winches, hoists and other types of lifting equipment. Typically the application includes some kind of pulley system or sheave with ropes or wires. The rotating pulley wheel is held in place on a shaft, which can be replaced by a load pin. In these types of application, the load pins are designed and strain gauged to measure the load in a single direction or axis, since this is usually all that is required to provide the end user with the necessary information.
Other applications require load pins that are designed and strain gauged to monitor the load in two axes simultaneously, normally at right angles to each other. This requires a two-axis load pin.
In most cases, the output signal from the pin is directly from the strain gauges and is normally a low-level millivolt output. Often this low-level signal needs amplifying at the pin in order to overcome lengthy cable runs to the instrumentation. Where this is required, Applied Measurements can install small amplifiers within the head of the load pin to increase the output signal to 0-10V DC, 0-5V DC or milliamp, usually 4-20mA.
Price and delivery
Peter Lewis, Managing Director of Applied Measurements, comments: "We can offer custom load pins at almost the same cost and lead time as our standard load pins. Most of our customers now require us to fit the load pin into their existing mechanical arrangement, which normally requires some sort of customisation. This could be a special IP68 sealing gland for a marine or offshore application, or a two-axis load pin with full instrumentation package to ensure a complete load monitoring solution."
Applied Measurements' standard range of load pins is the DBEP series. This offers capacities from 2.5 tonnes up to 50 tonnes, although the nature of customer applications means that load capacities are often supplied from as low as 200kg up to 1500 tonnes.
DBEP pins are sealed to IP67 as standard, providing protection from harsh industrial environments. An optional IP68 submersible version is also available. The robust pins are manufactured from precipitation-hardened stainless steel.
