When a prehistoric machine teetered on the edge of extinction, the Motion Engineering and Services Team stepped up as engineering archaeologists to assist in restoring a material handling plant to its operational state. Joel Robinson, an experienced member of the Motion Engineering and Services Team, offers insights into the intricacies of a task far from ordinary.
“The drop ball crane is a vital component in metal recovery operations,” he explains.
“Situated on tracks, it serves the purpose of breaking down solidified steel residue, referred to as the skull. Its primary function is to lift a steel ball using a magnet and drop it into a pit, enabling further processing and recycling of material, maximising product recovery.”
Joel explains that this particular crane was repurposed, originally built in the 1960s and lacking proper documentation. This required thorough monitoring and maintenance due to its age and unique characteristics.
“Our job was to carry out vibration analysis on the crane’s motors, alternators, and bearing housings to detect any potential issues. Upon careful inspection prompted by the presence of defect frequency and unusual noise in the bearing housings, we looked deeper into the issue,” Joel noted.
We identified that the bearings had been incorrectly installed which added further complications. To substantiate the findings, we took a grease sample, which revealed the presence of wear, along with elevated levels of iron and chromium.
Joel states that the presence of elevated levels of iron and chromium in the grease sample holds significant implications for machinery under inspection.
To read the full article, please click here.