Engineered Rigging Unveils Patent‐Pending Pipe Modular Lift System

Enlarge Image The Pipe Modular Lift System provides an alternative to traditional lifting devices.

October 7, 2015 - Engineered Rigging, Russellville, Ark., introduced its patent-pending Pipe Modular Lift System (PMLS) to the crane and rigging industry last month at SC&RA. The PMLS eliminates the hazards of suspended loads, impacts from wind, and reliance on cranes by using a platform that mechanically raises and lowers heavy components.

 

The PMLS has a freestanding, modular design, allowing the capacity and footprint to be custom configured for every site. It can accommodate lifting capacities of 400, 800, and 1,200 tons at a vertical travel distance up to 50 ft. or more, depending on the application. The standard column section can be increased in 10‐ft. increments, or it can be customized to meet jobsite needs. Additionally, it can be constructed in square, rectangular, and round layouts based on site-specific conditions. It is designed for 5% side loading with clear span openings configurable to 50 ft. or larger.

 

One key difference in the PMLS’s design is its transportability. It ships in 12 standard ground transportation trailers without any wide or heavy load requirements. Upon delivery, the system can be assembled in five shifts or fewer.

 

With a lifting speed of 20 in. per minute, Engineered Rigging reports its PMLS is twice as fast as strand jack systems, and it does not use cable drums or strands or hydraulics to elevate loads. If the PMLS loses power, the load remains in place on the secured platform until power is restored.

 

The PMLS is designed to withstand 120 mph winds and operates in winds up to 50 mph. Its wind capacity and enclosed structural components enable work to safely continue despite inclement weather conditions.

 

The PMLS platform accepts any mobile material handling equipment, such Engineered Rigging’s self-propelled modular transporters (SPMT) with the cargo in place. This approach creates a minimal load-handling environment by eliminating the need for additional equipment and lifts to transfer components from one system to another. Upon the cargo being safely loaded onto the platform, the computerized system controls the desired vertical travel distance based on the user’s input.

 

Redundant safety limits prevent travel beyond the required distance. Once the PMLS reaches the desired elevation, the mobile material handling equipment transfers the cargo from the platform to the adjoining structure for delivery. By minimizing the number of load-handling evolutions, the PMLS mitigates high‐risk activities.

 

This system is ideal for a multitude of heavy rigging applications in energy, aerospace, petrochemical, manufacturing, steel and other industries. According to Engineered Rigging, the PMLS was recently used by an electric power plant in the United States. Its ability to remain operational during high winds and inclement weather saved the utility time and money by eliminating the addition of critical path days during the outage.

 

The PMLS complies with the applicable sections of a number of standards, including ASME B30 and OSHA 29 CFR 1926.