Crane conductor bar basis: crane conductor selection and quality evaluation tips

Conductor bar is an important part of the mechanized equipment, i.e., overhead cranes and other equipment which are widely used in mining industry, machinery industry, and other industries. Crane conductor bar is small but affects the working efficiency of the whole mechanism of overhead cranes. How to examine the quality of crane conductor bar? This article emphatically introduce how to identify the quality of conductor lines based on observation and touch.

Crane condutor bar system

Conductor bar systems

Crane conductor bar, are also called crane conductor line, crane security sliding line, or simply known as the sliding line. Crane conductor bar system is consisted of a series of insulated bars made out of galvanized steel, copper, stainless steel, or aluminum, which transmit electricity through sliding collector assemblies that power the motors, trolleys, hoists, etc.
The crane conductor bar system are typically used on monorails, runways, and bridge crane applications. Some types of crane conductor bar systems are also available with a curved design. Generally, the crane conductor bar systems have the variations such as, side contact bars, heated conductors, cluster bars, and heavy duty bars, etc.

Drawing of typical crane conductor bar system

Bars are attached to brackets that are typically either web mounted (for top running cranes), flange mounted (for monorails or under-hung cranes), or laterally mounted.

              Web mount,               Flange mount,              Lateral mount

 Crane conductor system selection

In order to properly select a bar system, it is necessary to determine the following:

• Type of System (monorail, runway, bridge).
• Length of Run.
• Number of Cranes and Current Requirements.
• Number of Conductors (calculate an extra for ground).
• Location of Power Feed.
• System Voltage.
• Temperature and Duty Cycle.
• Environment.

Crane conductor line quality checklist

With ten years of development, based on the statistics and analysis of crane conductor bars practical application, researchers at home and abroad draw the performance indicators for crane conductor bars which are used by customers to examine the quality of overhead crane conductor bars. How to identify the quality of overhead crane conductor bar? Generally, the quality of the overhead crane conductor bar can be examined according to the following checklist:

1. Carbon brush of crane conductor bar

Carbon brush affects the quality of overhead crane conductor bar. Carbon brush is one of the most important parts of overhead crane conductor bars. The carbon brush is a consumable item which means the service lift of the carbon brush is not long, which is effected by the usage frequency and traveling distance, the traveling distance effect on the maintenance cycle, etc. Thus, strict attention should be paid to the traveling distance of the crane sliding contact line, the general life of which is proportional to the travel distance, just like the locomotive.

Carbon brush

2. Crane conductor bar observation

How to exam the quality of overhead crane conduct bar? Observation is important. Observe the appearance of the crane conduct bar in terms of ordinary type, corrosion type, abrasion type, resistance to high temperature sliding contact line type, etc.

Crane contact sliding line

3. Conduct bar application environment

The working environment affects the working life of overhead crane conductor bars.
The overhead crane conduct bar should be selected according to the usage environment of the sliding contact bar. The outer surface of the sliding contact bar or the quality of conductor line shell should to be used in proper environment with suitable temperature for the conductor bar can’t be exposed, and it can’t bear very lower temperature in winter. If long time not into usage, the conduct bar should be properly collected, to prevent weathering and so on.

4. Other elements affects the conduct bar performance

Sliding contact bar collector performance is mainly judged by the service life of the wheel, turning wheel design and whether the conductor bar can be suitable at the plant. We must pay special attention to, slope and downhill, in different routes, turn round design and collector bite should be specially managed.

5. Contact bar deformation

Contact bar deformation is related to the length of the conductor bar. If its length is more than 100 meters, the expansion problem should be considered.

In the process of using the crane conductor bar, we must pay attention to the problem of voltage drop, voltage drop varies with different conductor bar length. After erection, crane conductor bar should be properly adjusted to ensure normal usage and high efficiency.

4 points to identity conductor line quality

1. Thickness of the PVC shell.

Generally speaking, sliding contact line shell can protect the sliding contact line conductor and insulation functional devices. At the same time it can protect the conductor line from sunscreen, moisture-proof, anti -rain and snow, dust proof. The thickness of the shell of the sliding contact line is a standard to measure the quality of the sliding contact line. If the sliding contact line is relatively thin, the safety performance can be greatly reduced.

Conductor line outlooks

2. Conductor cross-sectional area, conductor thickness.

It is clear that the larger the conductor cross-sectional area, the better the heat dissipation, the thicker the conductor thickness, the stronger the conductive ability.

Conductor snaps

3. Quality and source of conductor aluminum alloy materials.

4. Overall design

The overall design of the sliding contact line should be follow with the majority of the engineering environment, and the design is conducive to the protection of the sliding touch line, also a plus point from the aesthetic point of view. This will enhance the competitiveness of products in the conductor line market.