Rail Roof Top Maintenance
ONE-STOP LIFTING FRAME
Rail transport, both passenger and freight, is fast becoming a modern and sophisticated global industry. Australia's heavy investment in technological advancement and product development will ensure that we remain a competitive player within the global market place offering complete solutions to markets worldwide.
In Europe, the industry now has technology to run trains without drivers, and trains which can travel in excess of 350 kilometres per hour. While technological advancement in the rail industry is happening at a rapid rate, some tools of the trade have not really changed.
Maintenance of train roof equipment today is still a manual process and nothing beats the humble lifting frame for the removal of items from the roof of a train such as the air-conditioner, pantograph, brake resistor, inductor or traction invertor. Up until recently, the lifting of train roof equipment was performed by a single purpose lifting frame, requiring new frame set-up for the removal of individual parts. The time inefficiencies of a single-purpose model created a niche for a better solution in the rail industry. Chess Engineering has recently manufactured and installed a new 'multi-purpose' lifting frame, developed specifically for the rail industry in partnership with client, Downer EDI, for use on the Chinese-built Waratah Trains.
“The humble lifting frame has been reengineered to lift several train roof parts using only the one frame,” says Michael Wilson, Rail Business Development Manager, Chess Engineering.
It is a simple solution that has saved time. A crane lifts the frame, it's bolted on to the top of the train and safely lifts the relevant part from the roof top and back to ground level. To collect another part, there is no need for the set-up of another frame; an adjustment of the holes on the existing frame is all that is required and the other parts can be lifted down safely and quickly. “It's now a one step process, saving the client 20 minutes as the new frame provides many applications using varying loads,” says Michael.
“The first of its kind, our 'one-stop' lifting frame is perfectly suited to save time in rail maintenance and most importantly is 100% safe,” says Michael.
A concept design was drawn and tested through computer software and prepared for client sign-off earlier this year. The frame design was a challenging job requiring engineering expertise to ensure the balance and different centre points were correct to manage the different lifting capacities, and the material needed to be strong and durable. Complying with frame certification and safety standards was also critical to the success of the job.
Chess Engineering has been a supplier for the rail industry for many years, with jobs spanning design, manufacture and refurbishment of many parts. “While it is exciting to see the changes and new technology in the rail industry, nothing says more about our business than our ability to embrace the new and old,” says Michael.
For further information, please contact Michael Wilson on 0447 271 341 or m.wilson@chessindustries.com.au
