Over the past 20 years, Wiedenmann has developed into a service provider for the entire lifting technology and safety equipment sector. This includes height safety and abseiling equipment, crane systems, hydraulic and vacuum technology and also the so-called steel fabrication. In special steel construction, the focus is on project planning and production of customized solutions with load handling devices with a maximum load capacity of 500 tons.

Support frame. (Image: Rodriguez/Wiedenmann)

Variable lifting beam for loads of different weights
A German manufacturer of wind turbines was faced with the problem that when loading heavy components such as generator housings, the lifting beam had to be changed again and again for components of different sizes and weights. This time-consuming process resulted in high costs. The lifting beams from the previous in-house supplier were also all static and unwieldy. Wiedenmann designed a variable lifting beam for this application with several quickly adjustable mounting points, which is optionally suitable for use with single and double hooks and also includes a simple device for transportation using a forklift truck. The Wiedenmann designers solved the "dual pick-up" with a special eyelet construction that can be locked manually using eccentric sliding bolts. Two support frames that can be moved horizontally between 2,000 and 7,000 millimetres enable a variable and at the same time solid loading process. Both frames can be locked in position at intervals of 250 millimetres without tools using lateral sliding bolts. Integrated support feet at the front for the crossbeam make a special storage rack superfluous. Spring-loaded stainless steel ball rollers integrated into the top chord ensure that the working length of the two support frames can be adjusted quickly and easily when unloaded. The spring force of the ball rollers makes it possible to carry out this process manually. As soon as they are under load, the ball transfer units spring into place and rest positively on the main beam. The maximum load is 70,000 kilograms in total for both support frames.

Ball transport systems. (Image: Rodriguez/Wiedenmann)

Ball transfer units make a big impact with little effort
Eight spring-loaded ball transfer units are used per support frame in the traverse; the diameter of the load balls is 25.4 millimetres. Due to the outdoor area of application, ball transfer units made entirely of stainless steel were chosen: This applies to both the load and support balls and the housing. The ball transfer units have a base flange and a spiral spring inside so that the ball can deflect under load and the entire load rests on the housing. The weight of a ball transfer unit is only 0.45 kilograms. The manufacturer of these conveyor elements is Rodriguez, one of the largest suppliers of ball transport systems, which have proven themselves primarily in material flow technology. The portfolio includes a total of 146 different ball transfer unit variants with load capacities from ten to 4,000 kilograms and ball diameters from 12.5 to 90 millimetres. There are also roller bearings, ball slewing rings, linear technology products such as profile rails, ball screw drives and linear axes. pb

Hall 23, Stand B19, (11)