BULETINUL INSTITUTULUI POLITEHNIC DIN IAŞI

Publicat de
Universitatea Tehnică „Gh. Asachi“, Iaşi,
Tomul LIV (LVIII), Fasc. 1, 2008
Secţia
CONSTRUCŢII DE MAŞINI

CONSIDERATIONS ON DESIGNING OF TELESCOPIC BOOM AERIAL

PLATFORM SLEWING-RINGS

BY

dr. ing. Rezmires Daniel, ing. Bocanet Vasile, : S.C Sirca S.A. – Piatra Neamt
p.i. Monfardini Alfredo : S.C. Rima Spa - Italy
prof. dr. ing. : Racocea Cezar: TU “Gh Asachi” - Iasi

Abstract: During opetarion, telescoping boom aerial platform’s slewing rings are quasi-statically loaded with axial,
radial stresses and bending moments. The external loads are expressed depending on the position in space of aerial
platfome charged by workers and their necessary tools and materials. The telescopic boom aerial paltform rolling
bearings sizing takes into account stability conditions described as permanent contact between the soil the chassis.
The design have to deliver a 3:1 safety factor, and the ability to withstand greater wind loads and greater nozzle
reactions.

Key words: sizing, slewing rings, telescopic boom aerial platfome

This paper describes a method of sizing ball bearings with four contact points
used in the aerial platfome. Such a sizing algorithm has been conceived and
implemented within S.C. “SIRCA. S.A.” – Piatra Neamt, slewing rings manufacturer,
and “Rima Spa” – Italy, hydraulic equipment manufacturer. The program has been
developed using Borland Delphi © - software.

1. Theoretical Consideration

Vehicle-mounted cranes [4], have been widely used for handling material,
specifically for the lifting of relatively heavy loads of material from one place, and
depositing it in position at another place. An aerial lift platforms is somewhat similar to
the vehicle-mounted cranes. It including a vehicle with a boom mounted thereon for
both horizontal swinging and vertical luffing movement. Typically, the platform
includes a floor and an upstanding protective enclosure or railing, to prevent falling of
the workman from the platform. A telescopic boom aerial platfom have to lift one or
more workmans and the additionally engaged material, using an hydraulic equipment
and in the same time it have to assure the positioning porcess by rotating and translation
movements. The movable part weight and the boom space position generates an
external load (axial and radial forces and bending moments) transferred to the support
138 Rezmires Daniel, Bocanet Vasile, Monfardini Alfredo and Racocea Cezar Construcţii
slewing ring bearing. For this type of application have to check for slewing ring if
the contact pressures are below of the admissible load limit of the material used and if
the trunction of ellpises does not appear in the ball-raceways contact [1,2]. Also it is
necessary to verify the gear working conditions regardind the tooth contact resistance
and the bending moment, as well as the the numer of tapped holes, size and precision
class of screws.

2. Logic of slewing ring programming and dimensioning

The final user of the telescopic boom aerial platforme slewing ring recives form
Sirca and Rima an questionnary regarding informations about : constructive geometry
of machine and hydraulic equipment, as well as data about the gear parameters ( type of
loaded gear - inner or outer, angle of teeth tilt, and so on).
All these are input data in the program developed for SIRCA S.A. and Rima Spa.
An interface example is shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 1. Input data.

The input data provided by the beneficiary lead to determining the operating
coverage area of the aerial platform boom (see Fig. 2). For all points indicateted in Fig.2
the forces and moments acting on the chassis and the slewing ring are computed
supposing a continuous digging process. When the chassis may be in danger of loosing
its grip on the soil, the algorithm restrains and indicates the maximum value of the
stress which causes instability, by a feedback which generates information on a
possible over-sizing of the hydraulic system, or a down-sizing of the chassis. These
cases are shown in Fig 3 which indicates the point against which the stability condition
is calculated.
de Maşini Bul. Inst. Polit. Iaşi, T. LIV (LVIII), Fasc. 1, 2008 139

Fig. 2. Geometrical locus of active boom area.

Fig. 3 Stability point.

The program draws the axial and bending memoent stresses diagrams as well as
the useful load diagram against the geometrical locus of the slewing ring which
corresponds to the operating cycles for which the equipment stability condition is met.
Fig.4 shows, cumulatively, the analysis results.
140 Rezmires Daniel, Bocanet Vasile, Monfardini Alfredo and Racocea Cezar Construcţii
Fig. 4. Evolution of stresses and moments acting on the slewing ring, resulted in telescopic aerial
platform stability conditions.

Interpreting fig.4 results is relatively time-consuming, and for that reason the
data are sorted out depending on their occurrence frequency. This algorithm enables us
to approximate the loading cycles, in percentages. Fig. 5 gives the previous data
expressed in percentages, taking as sorting criterion the bending moment acting on the
slewing ring.

Fig. 5. Data sorted out in order to establish loading cycles.

The analysis carried out for the case under investigation lead to the conclusion that for
this case can be used an 2IE.064.00 slewing ring [3], and the utile load can be moved.
According to Fig. 5, the proposed configuration of the telescopic boom aerial platforme
can take up more than 100 Kg = 1KN. For safety we have to tack into account an useful
load grather like the nominal load mutiplied with the safety factor sf=3. For simplicity
we draw the limit load chart to verify that the bearing resist to the maximum axial force
and bending moment gives by the algorithm. Of course the considered case occur to a
super sizing bearing dimensions and an reconsideration have to be tacked into accout
with gear working conditions.

Fig. 6. Limit load chart of the investigated slewing ring. Fig. 7. Bearing geometry

In fig. 6, Pu is the point of use for the case under consideration [3], Peq is the value of
stresses and moments affected by a safety factor established by the beneficiary, and 10.9
is the classes of M16 screws usable. Fig 7 shows the bearing geometry.
de Maşini Bul. Inst. Polit. Iaşi, T. LIV (LVIII), Fasc. 1, 2008 141

3. Conclusions

The algorithm used indicates the multitude of situations that may occur in the
dimensional designing of a slewing ring, in correlation with the working environment
and the equipment for which it is destined. The analysis stages have been presented. The
developed algorithm has the following advantages:
• Establishes maximal operational cycles for an aerial platforme
• Establishes the outer loads that act on the slewing ring
• Ensures a feedback relation – between the hydraulics of the equipment and its
overall size leading to some constructive optimising situations
• Helps in mapping the aerial platforme operation by using a potential system of
sensors which may be attached to the mobile effectors ensemble.

Received May 20th 2006 Technical University of Iassy

Department of Machine Design and Mechatronics

REFERENCES

1. Harris T.A. ., Rolling bearing analysis 3rd edition . John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, 1991.
2. Rezmires, D., Research on Dynamics and Kinematics Optimization of the Spherical Roller
Bearings, Iasi, PhD Thesis, 2003 (daniel-rezmires.tripod.com)
3. http://www.rimaspa.com/
4. Howard I, s.a., Cranes and Derricks, McGraw Hill, 2000, USA

CONSIDERAŢII PRIVIND PROIECTAREA RULMENTILOT PENTRU PLATFORME AERIENE

(Rezumat)

In timpul operatiei de pozitionare a unei platforme aeriene telescopice rulmentii de sprijin sunt
solicitati cvasistatic cu forte axiale, radiale si momente de incovoiere. Sarcinile externe sunt exprimate functie
de pozitia spatiala a elementului de pozitionat raportat la centrul geometric al rulmentului, de parametrii
functionali ai sistemului hidraulic care antreneaza in miscare elementele mobile ale utilajului, cat si de
geometria constructiva (fixa sau variabila) a sistemului de sprijin. Dimensionarea rulmentilor pentru
platforme ia in considerare respectarea conditiilor de stabilitate, adica de pastrarare a contactului permanent
dintre sasiul utilajului si sol cat si conditii de natura economica.