Applications

T.I.C., the repair contractor, and Falkirk Mine officials set up a 92 day, round-the-clock, schedule for maintenance of a 6 story high, 13.6 million lb. Marion 8750 dragline. Safety for 100 workers was a major concern. Power Team supplied the lift equipment and expertise in one of the largest lifts in Power Team's history. To begin work, the upper section was raised using four Power Team 500 ton RD5006 rams, and the lower "tub" section was moved to a special concrete pad for repairs.

Seventeen Power Team RD5006 rams, each connected to its own Power Team PE194 hydraulic pump, were placed on the concrete pad, underneath the upper rotating section with its supports for the boom and shovel. The pumps were connected to an operator's control panel with pressure gauges for each ram. A single operator could control the entire system.

The upper section was first lifted to "as digging" position for repair. Then the system was used to level the rotating frame, so the precision traveling mill could machine the roller circle. Carroll Dewing, Falkirk's project engineer, said, "The system sent us by Power Team was quite easy to control." And, "everything worked well." Virgil Tatman, T.I.C.'s superintendent, agreed, "It was probably one of the nicest systems I've worked with. Power Teams pilot-operated check valves were excellent. They made lifting a smooth process. We'll definitely go with that system again."

Each rock crusher in the Azusa California aggregate plant, owned by Transit Mixed Concrete, contains 6 internally mounted hydraulic cylinders for clamping functions in the mantle and bowl assemblies. Rock crushers provide a dirty and demanding environment for hydraulic components. Original, custom hydraulic rams failed often, were expensive, and took 4 hours to fix.

The people at Transit Mixed Concrete retrofitted each of their 4-1/4 in. cone crushers with 6 Power Team RH503 center hole hydraulic rams powered by a PE183-2 pump. Components rated at 10,000 psi and costing half the price of the original, they are operated at 2,500 psi in this clamping operation.
    The Power Team 3 in. stroke rams have operated for over a year without failure, but servicing them when necessary should not be a problem. They can be removed quickly by unscrewing the top nut from the threaded center-hole rod and uncoupling the hydraulic "quick disconnect" fitting.

The Branson Belle, a project of international superstar Kenny Rogers and Silver Dollar City, was placed in the hands of John Dismer, president of On Site Marine. The boat was to be as long as a football field and four decks high. On Site Marine built the Belle's hull and the first two of the four decks on lakeshore instead of in a shipyard. When this phase of construction was done, the unfinished 1000 ton 265 ft.-long 74 ft. wide stern-wheel riverboat was launched into Table Rock Lake with the usual fanfare and the help of Power Team Hydraulics.

For the sideways launch, steel "ways" were positioned under the shoring and out into the water at 3 points along the hull. Launch timbers were installed, and the ways were lubricated with bananas.

The hull was lifted in fore and aft stages using 10 Power Team C7513C, 75 ton spring-return hydraulic rams. The rams were connected to a single manifold with shut off valves and quick disconnects. They were driven by a single Power Team PE553 electric pump, The PE553 was chosen because it starts easily under load with the poor power conditions that are common at the end of long extension cords.

"The Power Team equipment was perfect," said Dismer. "It did exactly what it was supposed to do."