The Requirement
A large manufacturer of power transmissions recently presented an interesting problem to Lift Products. The manufacturer needed to lift a heavy machine operator, negotiate (2) integrated obstructions, and provide for floor level capacity to handle a 50,000 lbs. rolling load.
A highly customized lift table was designed for the application to meet these criteria. The unit provides 24" of lift to the operator and is pit mounted so when collapsed the equipment is flush with the floor. The goal of providing an operator ergonomic access to a large production machine was the easy part however.
The Solution
Since the lift table needed to be very close to the production equipment, it also had to accommodate the obstruction of (2) large protrusions right in the path of the tables vertical travel. Normally, such items could be notched around without too much concern. However, in this application, this rudimentary approach would have presented a dangerous tripping hazard. Lift Products responded by designing telescopic plates that covered over the protrusions when lowered and recessed into the smooth platform surface when raised.
When the table was collapsed, a 25,000lb. pallet truck carrying a 25,000lb. steel coil would need to transit the lift tables surface. The pallet truck furthermore would distribute this weight on 6" wheels thereby point loading the weight.
Lift Products solution was to build a false top of 1" thick steel reinforced with (9) 4" high steel stringer beams welded underneath the surface. When fully lowered, the (9) stringer beams rest directly on (2) perpendicular 12" steel beams integral to the unit's base frame. With this support in place, the unit took shape and cleared the final obstacle in providing a highly custom solution for this very unique industrial application.
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