Project Details:

Total Value:            $90 000
Year Completed:    2010
Duration:                3 months

Background:

At a manufacturing facility, a non-motorized ladle car was utilized to transport ladles across the plant for storage and cleaning. With a laden mass of up to 60 tons, the car was propelled by a steel cable manually wrapped around a gearbox shaft by the operator. This method resulted in slow movement due to cable slippage and posed a significant tripping hazard when the car was positioned farthest from the gearbox, as the cable extended across the path. 

Description:

The ladle car was retrofitted with an onboard gearbox, an electric motor, and a battery bank to enable wireless operation between designated points. A docking station was installed to facilitate battery charging. Operators controlled the car using a wireless crane remote control system. To integrate the new drive system, on-site machining was performed to install a drive gear on the ladle car axle shaft.

This upgrade eliminated the safety hazards associated with the manual cable system, improved operational efficiency, and provided a reliable, user-friendly solution for ladle transportation.