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Application notes
Fluid Power and Mobile Hydraulics Systems in Equipment Including Cranes
Load Moment Indicator Applications for Pressure Transducers
Load Moment Indication
Cranes are an everyday part of construction and maintenance operations. The safe operation of cranes is dependent upon information about the forces acting on the crane, the crane’s geometry, where loads are applied, and the motion of the crane. This information is provided by sensors including pressure transducers and is displayed to the crane operators using a load moment indicator.
Typical factors that pressure transducer-based load moment indicators monitor include:
- Specific load
- Crane geometric limitations
- Crane geometric orientation
- Outrigger loading
- Crane operating radius, including boom deflection analysis and boom angle
- Boom dynamics
- Wind loading
- Shock loads
- Load swing out
Cranes are heavy, inherently dangerous machines. Worksite safety is ultimately dependent on the crane operator. Load moment indicators are considered operator aids and are designed to remove as much guesswork from their critical tasks as possible. Use of accurate, durable, and reliable pressure transducers in a load moment indicator system ensures that crane operators have the most accurate information, allowing them to perform their job with the highest levels of precision, safety, and efficiency.
Application of Pressure Transducers for Load Moment Indication in Cranes
Pressure transducers are used in load moment indicators in fluid power and hydraulic applications including:
- Hydraulic cylinder control and monitoring in telescoping boom cranes
- Load cells in lattice boom cranes
- Hydraulic cylinder control and monitoring in outriggers
Pressure transmitters for load moment indicators require wetted parts that are compatible with standard hydraulic fluids. Pressure transducers are responsible for monitoring the pressure in the outrigger and boom hydraulic cylinders and also provide feedback to the control system for overload indication and protection. The control system in turn interprets the pressure data collected and presents critical operation information such as maximum permissible loading, the force on the boom, the hook amplitude, crane rating, and actual crane capacity to the operator. The WIKA MH-2 electronic pressure transducer is durable and reliable, providing a robust design that maximizes shock and vibration resistance for mission-critical tasks in crane-related mobile hydraulics applications.
Fluid Power and Mobile Hydraulics Pressure Transmitter Selection Considerations
- Accuracy and response time
- Moisture intrusion protection
- Resistance to pressure spikes
- Resistance to electromagnetic interference
- Vibration and shock resistance