Turbine maintenance and inspection companies are using a new machine to get them up where they need to be. The huge Bronto S 90 HLA can lift up to 1000-lb (454 kg) of men and materials in an 8 by 3-ft, fully enclosed platform to a 295-ft (90m) maximum working height. Maximum horizontal outreach is 108-ft (33m) and when fully elevated, they can withstand winds speeds up to 28 mph (12.5m/s) so they can be safely used on most turbines currently operating in North America today and access overhead areas on high rise buildings. Mounted on a 6-axle Kimball chassis, TGM Wind services’ Bronto machines can navigate most terrain and easily reach remote tower locations or negotiate job site obstacles.
Because of their advanced controls and one-button automatic leveling of the outriggers, from the time the Bronto aerials are driven onto the site they can be positioned, set-up, and elevated to the overhead area in 15 to 20 minutes or less. When used on wind farms with multiple turbines, this can save considerable time and money in transportation and set-up costs alone compared to other methods of accessing towers, plus it results in faster, safer, and more accurate inspection and maintenance of turbine exteriors and blades.
The machines are also equipped with electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and water lines running inside the telescoping boom from the ground to the platform so that TGM technicians can operate powered tools and washers in the platform. This not only saves time, it is much safer as it eliminates having lines or hoses running down from the overhead platform to ground level.
TGM Wind Services www.tgmwind.com
Filed Under: O&M