175/25T BRIDGE CRANE

ACT Provided a new state-of-the-art crane control system, motors and brakes to modernize NASA’s 50 year old bridge crane used for assembling rockets and components for space flight. ACT also replace the operators cab, operators’ station, all new wire and conduit system, and hook rotate drive. Additionally ACT added a new power driven cable reel, new trolley power tracks, new safety features like over-wrapping detection, load cell systems and bridge and trolley anti-skewing detection and control. ACT also updated walkways, ladders and stairs on the crane to current OSHA safety standards. The new control system utilizes an “active front end” to regenerate electricity back into the grid while lowering loads which not only eliminates troublesome dynamic braking resistors, but offers a “green” solution for power use at the Space Center. This new control system can precisely move and spot heavy loads to within just a few thousandths of an inch. Single failure proof features include: -PLC control with a SIS, and PES “watch dog” control systems -Dual 24” HD operators control screens -Broken shaft detection system to detect hoist drive train issues -Unbalanced load limit detection system at the equalizer bar -Extensive diagnostics and data logging -Extensive redundancy in each motion to allow for “safeing” the load in the event of a single component failure. Due to the extreme height of the crane in the building ACT lowered the complete crane to the ground to perform this work creating a much safer and efficient work area.