Thursday 31 July 2008
Case study: metal coupler castings tested with hydraulics
JB ATTACHMENTS is using hydraulic technology to batch test its coupler castings to ensure they are compliant with international standards.
The company exports its patented JB Quick Couplers to Australia, the UK and USA. It is using Enerpac’s high-pressure 700 bar hydraulic technology to ensure its castings are strong and reliable in service.
The metal couplers are used to attach buckets, spades, rippers, rock breakers, concrete breakers and other attachments to vehicles. Failures during use can be fatal.
The hydraulic cylinders provide 45t of force and use a 10mm stroke to test the coupler jaw castings to the international standard AS1418. The test system is actuated by an Enerpac P141 2.4kg hand pump, while the force imposed in the test rig is measured on a digital gauge.
According to the hydraulics provider, its compact cylinders apply their force where needed for the quality assurance testing.
JB Attachments’ test rig is currently employed on multi-couplers up to 30t capacity. Batches from production runs of thousands of units a year are continuously tested to withstand loads in excess of twice the specified capacity.
The company says it will introduce a second test rig in 2008 to extend the testing process onto larger sizes.
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