When an internationally recognised automation company needed to develop a new product for the Aerospace industry it required a professional supply partner with quality products …so it chose Drive Lines Technologies Ltd.
Bosch Rexroth Ltd, part of the Bosch group, based in Cirencester, has designed and built an innovative Vertical Personnel Platform (VPP) for use within the Aerospace industry and other potential areas. The VPP would provide a height adjustable, safe working platform from which personnel could raise themselves and tools to correct working heights for intricate assembly operations.
The design required an inherently safe, self locking and controlled vertical drive mechanism to raise the lightweight aluminium modular framed platform 2.2m from its lowered position. Drive Lines are unique in being able to supply a complete component solution for the mechanism as exclusive agents to our principle manufacturers of screw jacks, couplings & line shafts and bevel gearboxes. The package of parts was critical with regard to cost effectiveness, precision, safety, quality and reliability – all of which are core values at Drive Lines.
Drive Lines specified a screw jack system using compact Grob Antriebstechnik cubic design screw jacks, featuring a travelling safety nut and self-locking worm wheel gearbox. R+W Antriebselemente precision line shafts and couplings provided the transmission to all four jacks in the system via spiral bevel distribution gearboxes. A brake motor, also supplied by Drive Lines, provided the power. With a mechanically linked system the platform can be raised safely and precisely with non-uniformly distributed loads without the risk of slipping or distorting.
Drive Lines, supply partners to Bosch Rexroth, worked closely with Bosch at design and project stages and 3D models of all components were provided to create a virtual VPP before manufacture began. Detailed modifications and evolutionary requirements were discussed and Drive Lines responded using the latest technologies from R+W to create a quieter drive operation and overload protection via a torque limiter. Low voltage motor brakes and bespoke spindle protection bellow designs all contributed to a successful and professional looking solution.
‘Being able to outsource a complete technical solution in a cost effective drive package from Drive Lines helped the product to get off the ground’ said Mark Dash – Engineering Manager, Bosch Rexroth.
Bosch Rexroth has been successful with the new product range and with the support of Drive Lines has engineered a demonstration VPP which can be seen at exhibitions throughout Europe.
For more information on the range call Drive Lines on 01234 360689, log on to www.drivelines.co.uk or email sales@drivelines.co.uk and request some literature.