Ensuring a safe and controlled operation is critical in the challenging conditions of marine projects. Marine environments are corrosive and heavily influenced by currents and tides. Hence, it is paramount that all factors are considered before installation to ensure long-term performance.

This article discusses the reasons why the RUD TECDOS drive solution was ideal for the Brisbane River Ferry Terminals.

The Challenge: Decoupling Walkway in a Marine Environment

International Consulting Engineering company Aurecon approached RUD seeking a drive solution to decouple the Brisbane River Ferry Terminal walkways. The biggest challenge was enabling controlled release and rotation of the walkway undercurrents and tides and preventing damage caused by the ebb and recess of the water flow.

Why TECDOS? Addressing Key Requirements

RUD invited Aurecon to a site visit to the Brisbane factory to demonstrate and showcase the capabilities of the RUD TECDOS system.

RUD TECDOS possessed several benefits that aligned with the project's specific requirements:

• Corrosion Resistance: The zinc-coated RUD TECDOS chain is specially designed to withstand challenging marine environments, ensuring long-lasting performance without rusting even in a static position.
• 3D Flexibility: The inherent flexibility of the TECDOS chain allows for smooth and controlled movement of the walkway, accommodating slight misalignments while maintaining structural integrity. This is crucial for ensuring proper engagement and release during operation.
• Compact Design: Compared to conventional wire rope cables, the TECDOS system utilises compact wheels with six pocket teeth, minimising space constraints within the terminal design.
• Static Functionality: The system is designed to remain idle in a static position until decoupling is required. This ensures minimal wear and tear on the components during normal operation, extending their lifespan and reducing maintenance needs.
• Accurately Rated Load Capacity: The TECDOS system offers accurately rated load capacities, ensuring the safe and reliable handling of the walkway under various load conditions, including potential debris accumulation or high water levels.

Click for more details of TECDOS Pi-Gamma Drive and Omega Drive technology and why RUD is the world leader in drive technology based on the RUD round steel chain mechanism for horizontal, vertical and rotational applications.

The RUD Solution: A Controlled and Safe Decoupling Mechanism

The implemented solution leverages the TECDOS chain drive system to achieve a controlled and safe decoupling process:

• Chain Release with Damping: The mechanism utilises the TECDOS chain to control and lift the rotating gangway (walkway support structure) away from its cradle through a dampener system. This dampener ensures smooth lifting motion, preventing sudden movements and potential damage.
• Controlled Decoupling and Rotation: The control arm is integrated with the TECDOS chain to facilitate the lifting and subsequent release of the walkway. This allows the walkway to rotate controlled, aligning it with the downstream river flow to prevent damage during high tides, which increase water levels.

The Result: A Proven and Replicable Solution

The success of the RUD TECDOS implementation at the Brisbane River Ferry Terminal is evident by:

• Multiple Installations: We have installed the TECDOS drive solution in seven ferry terminals across Brisbane. Each terminal uses nine TECDOS six-tooth pocket wheels, chains, and terminations per unit. Each unit features a fixed pocket wheel connected to the dampener for controlled speed and additional wheels facilitating lifting and releasing the gangway.
• Operational Success: The fully fabricated and controlled system is operational across all seven ferry terminals, demonstrating its effectiveness in safely managing walkway decoupling during high tides and debris during flooding.

Watch the video of the engineering and design from Aurecon, which ensured an ideal option to ensure the critical ferry infrastructure is flood resilient, accessible and for travellers to enjoy and celebrate the river.

Conclusion: Addressing Marine Challenges with Innovative Solutions

The RUD TECDOS system on the Brisbane River Ferry Terminal demonstrates its versatility and effectiveness in addressing complex challenges in the marine sector. Its corrosion resistance, 3D flexibility, compact design, and precisely rated load capacity make it an ideal solution for applications requiring controlled movement and reliable operation in challenging environments.

In addition, the system's modular design and proven track record across multiple installations highlight its potential for wider implementation within the conveying and drive sectors, where accurate control, corrosion resistance, and space optimisation are critical considerations.

Article copyright to RUD Ketten and RUD Australia. This information is accurate at the time of publication, and RUD Australia takes no responsibility for any errors, inadvertent or otherwise. Some pictures are for illustration only

A gangway is a narrow walkway or platform that provides safe access to a ship, truck, or train. Ship gangways are used for the passage of both passengers/crew and cargo. They must move in all directions and be height-adjustable for use with different ships. The gangways must also be robust, secure and safe under challenging conditions.

RUD’s TECDOS Drive system offers an ideal solution for a gangway, using calibrated steel chains fitting into complimenting sprockets. TECDOS drive systems are an ideal replacement for pinion gear and wire rope drives because they function reliably even under the most challenging conditions.

For gangways, RUD TECDOS drive systems can include:

TECDOS PI-GAMMA DRIVE

The PI-GAMMA drive system, with a fixed 180-degree angle (PI) or a flexible 90-180-degree (GAMMA), is suited for horizontal and vertical applications. The PI-GAMMA pocket wheel block can pull the load along the round steel chain or move it to a different location.

The advantages of PI-GAMMA DRIVE:

• Ideal 2-in-1-solution.
• Light and can be used in narrow spaces.
• Can be used between a 90° and 180° redirection or a total 180° redirection.
• Multiple lifting points.
• Durable, reliable, and safe.
• Easy installation without the need for a stable mounting base.

TECDOS PREMIUM ROUND LINK CHAIN

The core component of each TECDOS drive system is a highly wear-resistant, calibrated round link chain that can be used in challenging conditions or with abrasive materials. TECDOS chains have high-grade strength to ensure maximum operating safety. The Premium Round Link Chain is case-hardened.

TECDOS END CHAIN FIXING

The chain end fixing, which connects chains to supporting structures, transfers 100% of the TECDOS chain operating forces. Because of its adjustable axis, it also ensures maximum flexibility during use.

TECDOS LIFT LIMITER

The lift limiter prevents the chain from “passing through” by limiting the unloaded sides of the chain, working as a route limiter.

The Project: 

RUD Australia was approached to build a passenger gangway for a cruise ship terminal in Western Australia. The client could not implement the standard method of using a hydraulic cylinder, as it was too expensive and not cost-efficient for the required lift height.

The Solution: 

After understanding the project's scope and the solution that best met the client's requirements, RUD developed a dual-strand loop drive component package for this project.

The Result:

RUD implemented a TECDOS 65 component package. Gear motors independently drove the Pi Drives.

The Project Inclusions:

• 2 x TECDOS 65 PI-GAMMA DRIVE
• 2 x TECDOS 65 HEBG END FASTENER
• 34m TECDOS 65 PREMIUM CHAIN
• 2 x POWERPOINT PP-VIP M36
• 2 x TECDOS 65 SPECIAL BOLT
• 2 x TECDOS 65 POCKET WHEELS

TECDOS systems are ideal for applications where materials or equipment must be swivelled, lifted, moved, or rotated safely and reliably. RUD quality is a result of years of research and development, creating bespoke drive solutions that are used by leading companies in maritime, engineering, automotive, and wind power and by military forces around the world.

Article copyright to RUD, this information is accurate at the time of publication and RUD Australia takes no responsibility for any errors, inadvertent or otherwise.

For more details on how RUD can help with your crane requirements, please call us on 07 3809 1300 or fill out an enquiry form here.

Sources:

• https://www.rud.com 

Drive Solutions for Stage and Events

Entertainment is big business. All musical and sporting events require smooth behind-the-scenes operations to create magic for the audiences. Many stadiums, opera houses and theatre buildings are constructed or renovated to accommodate a wide variety of events, from sports to live theatre, music concerts and dance performances. Hence, the stage needs to adapt quickly to new areas or shapes to accommodate the demanding requirements of such events. And the only way is by using systems such as mechanical chains that lift, lower, push, and pull equipment into a variety of configurations.

Every stage is different, which means that each component of the stage not only has to be durable and efficient but must also integrate into the whole equipment. Theatre and stage construction present technical challenges because of high loads on crossbeams, stage lighting, stage sets or entire stage platforms, which must move safely and reliably. In addition, technical equipment must operate quietly and out of sight, so as not to interfere with the performance.

A long history

RUD has been a world leader in lifting and drive technology with a history of manufacturing excellence for over 140 plus years.

The magic of a show is priceless. Many opera houses, theatres and stadiums across the world use RUD hoist chains and drive solutions that reliably raise and lower stage equipment such as crossbeams, platforms and curtains including setting up and dismantling shows. RUD chains and drive solutions also enable the smooth realignment of permanently installed lightning. Every event is unique and using RUD chains and drive technology guarantees a safe and easy process including customisation for each performance as required.

TECDOS from RUD is a drive system that combines high-quality and accurately calibrated steel chains which fit into complementing sprockets. TECDOS modules are suitable for high loads and reliable under the most challenging conditions. Every TECDOS round steel chain is stamped and issued with a standard 3.1 inspection certificate to ensure its traceability right back to the chain furnace.

Solutions for the entertainment industry:

All RUD products are finished in Galvanised Black Phosphate to blend with the stage equipment.

CASE-HARDENED ROUND STEEL CHAINS

Case-hardened RUD chains of RTS, RTD and RTB are the safe option for every electric hoist which require reliability and safety.

The benefits of RUD Case-Hardened round chains are:

• They can be used in high-wear applications as per DIN EN 818-7-T.
• They have a high vibration resistance which helps to resist fatigue fractures during operation.

D-PROFILE CHAIN

RUD D-profile chain, the round steel chain 2.0, is the leading technologically advanced round steel chain. Because of its large cross-sectional area, it has a higher maximum load, is case-hardened and designed for higher wear demands.

The benefits of RUD D-Profile chains are:

• Used for motor-driven hoists.
• Used in high wear loads in accordance with EN 818-7-T.
• Has approximately 8% higher load capacity than comparable round steel chains.

TECDOS DRIVE TECHNOLOGY

RUD TECDOS products can manage the lifting and moving of all stage elements, safely and reliably.

Some of the TECDOS products used for stage operations are:

TECDOS ROUND LINK CHAIN: The core component of every TECDOS system application is a highly wear-resistant RUD round link chain for maximum service life.

TECDOS PI-GAMMA: The 2 in 1 Pi-Gamma is suited for horizontal and vertical applications with a fixed 180 degree application, or a flexible 90 to 180 degree application. The drive system ensures greater efficiency through flexibility.

TECDOS OMEGA DRIVE: TECDOS Omega Drive with a wrap angle of 180 degrees is recommended for continuous linear (linear drive) or rotary movements.

TECDOS Pocket Wheel: TECDOS pocket wheels are optimally designed to fit round link chains for smooth running and long service life.

TECDOS Chain Connector: The highly wear-resistant chain connector forms a reliable connection system even under challenging conditions. Endless chain loops are possible by means of a simple hammer assembly.

TECDOS Chain End Fixing: The chain end fixing for connecting chains to supporting structures transfers 100% of the TECDOS chain operating forces. Due to its adjustable axis, it ensures maximum flexibility during use.

TECDOS PowerPoint Lifting Point: The PowerPoint lifting point for connection to chains, hooks, and eyes, can easily be rotated 360° and swivelled 230°. The double ball bearing ensures easy tilting, turning and rotating for drive technology.

If you want to know how the team at RUD can help you, please call 07 3809 1300 or fill out an enquiry form here.

Article copyright to RUD, this information is accurate at the time of publication and RUD Australia takes no responsibility for any errors inadvertent or otherwise.

Sources:

• https://www.rud.com