FEATURE | LOAD MONITORING
coil; and the frequency of the AC voltage indicates the amount of deformation of the ring – and hence the strain and hence the load. Strip, ring and coil are hermetically sealed inside a stainless-steel housing. An advantage is that the signal
generated is substantial, and therefore needs no amplification. (As we have seen, standard strain gauges produce only very small changes in resistance, which needs careful measurement; this is generally done by means of a Wheatstone Bridge circuit. Other benefits are that the frequency output is of low impedance, which gives a high immunity to electromagnetic noise. It can be used to measure tensile or compressing forces; it can withstand a ten-times overload without failure; and it is certified for use in ATEX hazardous zones. The company specialises in digital-based solutions to water-related applications, both maritime and for onshore utilities – for example drinking- or waste-water systems. With their sensor goes their Mipeg X Compact safe load indicator system, which monitors the crane operation and displays it on a 7” colour touch screen. A large, clear analogue pointer shows the
percentage of safe working load on top of a “traffic light” Green, yellow and red colour band. Other data can also be displayed. The lesson from all this is that data from load monitoring systems can be sent to, and considered part of, the overall Internet of Things (IoT); and, if you look at last month’s article on Artificial Intelligence, it can feed into that as well. Which means in turn that it could become, at some future date, part of the operating system of the whole plant. It is rather more than just measuring the weight of the load.
CM HOIST HAS BUILT-IN MONITORS
Not all monitoring devices are below- the-hook add-ons. Columbus McKinnon’s Lodestar VS Electric Chain Hoist is available with the company’s Intelli-Connect Diagnostics and Analytics technology built in. This makes it, says the company, the only chain hoist that allows operators to wirelessly program the hoist. But it does not only allow control; it also makes it the only chain hoist able to send detailed diagnostic and analytic information, of the type we have been talking about, from the hoist itself to a smartphone or tablet. Intelli-Connect is available as an option on all new Lodestar VS units or in “By combining the capabilities of Intelli- Connect with the Lodestar VS, we’ve made it easier than ever to program, maintain, monitor and troubleshoot your hoist,” said Bryan Holby, senior global product manager, powered chain hoists. “Customers can get insight into how their hoist is operating to easily and proactively monitor performance and schedule maintenance, helping them address issues more quickly, keep operators safer and ultimately reduce downtime.” Intelli-Connect eliminates the need to connect a tablet or PC to the hoist with a cord. Users can access information
Data from CM’s Lodestar VS chain hoist can be sent wirelessly to a smartphone. © MacroEcon /
Shutterstock.com
wirelessly through the Intelli-Connect Mobile or Mobile+ apps from their mobile device. Intelli-Connect Mobile+ includes continuous equipment monitoring complete with long- term performance information, such as runs, faults, alarms and VFD status variables like fault codes, motor voltage, current, available hoist operating life, and more. The Intelli-Connect Mobile app is available as a free download on Google Play or the Apple App Store. Users can upgrade to Intelli-Connect Mobile+ functionality for a one-time fee through the app.
Aanderaa Data Systems AS, (part of Xylem Analytics), Mipeg S-sensor 38 | January 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
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