Operating in pairs, Enerlaunchers each comprise a lifting bed designed for rigidity and security, onto which is integrated:
* A lifting section, positioned on a slide. Each lifting section incorporates a 796 ton CLL 8003 lifting cylinder system operating vertically at 500 bar with a stroke of 70mm and offering a lifting area of 1590.43 cm2.
* A push/pull section, operating horizontally via two articulated arms each containing double-acting 152 ton cylinders for advancing and retracting the lift section as the job requires. Locked to the sliding lifting section at one end, and secured to the lifting bed at the other, the paired sections collectively offer more than 600 tons of pushing force and 280 tons of pulling force for precise positioning.
* Pumping and control sections that centralises control of the push, pull and steering operation in one place. These contain components engineered for ultimate compatibility and fine control, including purpose-engineered hydraulic pumps, motors and integrated hydraulic valving and PLC control system.
“A big advantage of the PLC control system is that it allows greater control over bridge sections as they are being launched, as well as offering integrated control over the pair of Enerlaunchers employed so as to allow steering of the bridge as it is launched,” says Enerpac Integrated solutions Manager, Mr Colin Chapman.
Enerlaunchers are an extension of advanced high safety and high precision Enerpac lifting technology already extensively proven and supported in Australian and New Zealand, where Enerpac has operated for more than 50 years.
The technology complements Enerpac innovations such as PLC controlled synchronous lifting and strand lifting used to hoist and position loads ranging from bridges to mining draglines, dredges and ball mills.
“Enerlaunchers add further new dimensions to the innovation, efficiency and safety provided through Enerpac’s existing Integrated Solutions technology and experience,” says Chapman. “Examples of this experience include engineering the supporting assembly of the ‘Bird’s Nest’ stadium in Beijing, the launch of France’s Milau Viaduct (which is twice as high as the Sydney Harbour Bridge), and lifting the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco for seismic retrofits.
“Infrastructure and engineering projects – as well as onshore and offshore resources and energy projects – are areas that provide huge opportunities for technology such as ours, which combines world-class innovations with extensive local engineering expertise in 30 countries. Technologies such as Enerlaunchers are focused on projects that require the skills of the future, including precision, safety and demonstrated reliability of performance.”