New Technology for Trussed Girder Log Handling Portal Cranes, 1997 Engineering Conference Proceedings

The first trussed girder log handling portal crane was installed in North America in 1977, and there are now over 100 operating in North America woodyards. Although the basic concept is now 20 years old, the technology is new when compared to overhead cranes, which have been in use in North America for over 100 years. As a result of the relative newness of the log handling portal crane (Fig. l), many new technological features have been applied to Andritz KoneWood cranes during the past 10 years. These new technologies have been applied for the purposes of improved productivity, minimizing maintenance difficulties and improved safety.

The purpose of this paper is to present the major portion of these developments which are available on new cranes, but also to alert users of existing log handling portal cranes that the items are available as retrofits to existing cranes. The items to be reviewed are:

- Single Wheel Gantry Drives

- Fully Regenerative, Solid State Electrical Drives

- “Snag Loading”

- Basic And Enhanced Diagnostics

- Gantry Storm Brakes

- Solid Bar Span Conductors

- Drum Flange Hoist Brakes

- Gantry Wheel Side Guide Rollers