Industrial Vehicle Technology - June 2020
EASE THE LOAD
2020-07-10 04:57:00
WIRELESS CONTROL TECHNOLOGY THAT HELPS TO SPEED UP HOPPER UNLOADING CAN ALSO BE USED IN OFF-ROAD INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES
Unloading bulk materials from railcar and semi-truck hoppers can be especially difficult when meal or grains harden and refuse to flow. To loosen bulk materials, many methods have been tried, including vibrators, scrapers and mechanical impact devices. Devices range from hand-held to large hydraulic and air-operated equipment, and operating them can be dangerous, costly or time-consuming. Some can even damage the hopper, railcar or truck if used improperly.
Faster and safer
Pneumat Systems has developed a faster, safer way to speed hopper unloading called the Hopper Popper. They were seeking a system that would enable fine control of the arm at the same time being able to provide remote access to the machine all the while data logging critical information for review after the fact.
The innovative design uses hydraulics, including HydraForce SP10-47 four-way proportional valves, to drive a ‘blast probe’ into the hardened material and provide precise control of articulating motion. After the probe is positioned, compressed air is introduced to safely ‘fluidise’ the material, while minimising potential damage to the hopper and vehicle. Use of telematics, wireless control and communication with various sensors via CANbus provide precise motion control.
The Hopper Popper power units range from a 20HP/15GPM pump combination to a 40HP/27GPM combination. CANbus and 4-20mA sensors provide feedback for the position of the arm and operational characteristics of the hydraulic system.
Remote access unit
Working with Power Systems, their fluid power distributor, Pneumat configured the Hopper Popper with a HydraForce ERAU-6200 remote access unit and CODESYS software to log data and enable remote software updates and troubleshooting. The ERAU-6200 is primarily intended for use on mobile machinery and enables telematics for mobile equipment hydraulics.
Its possibilities range from geotracking and condition monitoring of machinery, remote desktop control of machine calibration, smartphone access to machine hydraulic controls plus operator/service manuals. The ERAU-6200 allowed Pneumat to design a single controller package with remote access capability and telematics for both its rail and truck versions of the Hopper Popper.
Built-in telematics
Pneumat had previously prototyped telematics and remote access via a remote Windows PC rated for temperature and vibration, and an additional telematics device. However this was expensive and impractical, and it took a long time to set up the CANbus messaging.
With the HydraForce ERAU-6200, the telematics and remote access are built in. Setup is simple because all variables are local to the controller, which is the gateway to the portal. The ERAU- 6200 provides access to parameters such as min. and maximum currents for valve control. Fault conditions and other parameters can be viewed live and historically. Troubleshooting code while the machine is running is easily accomplished.
“The Hopper Popper is used across multiple countries and the software, as with any sophisticated machine, can be continuously improved,” says Cole Joos, electronics design engineer at Power Systems. “Traditionally, software updates and customer support would require a trip to the field by an engineer or field technician, but with the ERAU-6200 it can now be done remotely. HydraForce has provided an outstanding solution for remote troubleshooting, telematics and minimising service calls.
Author: Cynthia Fawcett, senior technical publications specialist, HydraForce Inc.
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EASE THE LOAD
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