Overhead cranes allow materials to be moved through the air. It frees the ground area for workers as they stay productive. Overhead cranes also move heavy loads onto specific conveyances, such as rail cars, and to production processes.
An important part of the overhead crane is the crane wheels. Crane wheels are part of the traveling system to move materials to different locations in facilities. Without them, the crane cannot function to move the materials. Due to the daily work that these parts go through, in time they need to be replaced. There are several signs to look for that may tell you when to replace your crane wheels.
Misalignment
The overhead crane may become misaligned on the tracks. Even with only a slight misalignment, this problem leads to the crane placing unnecessary heavy load stresses on certain parts of the system that are not used to carrying such stress. The misalignment may be due to broken wheel flanges or cracked wheel flanges. Wheel bearings or rails that have worn down prematurely may also indicate a misalignment.
In certain circumstances, the wheels will disengage from the rail and rise up before crashing back down. Even when getting the overhead crane realigned, you may have to replace the wheels after experiencing such hard crashes that could have caused damage to the bearings or wheels themselves.
Overcapacity
Workers want to get loads moved as quickly and safely as possible. However, they should only have the overhead crane move materials that fall within the capacity and service range of the machine. Placing on heavier loads leads to extra stress on the wheels and the truck when it moves along the rail This stress causes the wheels to fail due to excessive wear.
Excessive Damage
A sign that may indicate the wheels need to be replaced is excessive wearing on the wheels. While normal wearing is expected, there are times when the wheels, bearings, and flanges may wear down prematurely. The problem may occur due to overcapacity. Another issue causing wear impacts custom overhead cranes where the wheels are made from softer materials than required for the application.
Understanding the types of materials that will be moved will allow you to pick a material for the wheels that can withstand large stresses. Just keep in mind that the hardness of the wheel’s material should match that of the rails. If the rails are made from softer materials, they may experience damage from the harder wheels.
Loud Scraping
Running the crane for long periods of time may cause the wheels to begin to wear out. If the crane exhibits loud scraping noises when in operation while moving along the rail, it could indicate that there is a broken or a cracked wheel. All noises that are not part of the overhead crane’s normally operating system should be investigated and replaced immediately.
Keeping the overhead crane running efficiently means inspecting the wheels, wheel bearings, and wheel flanges for excessive wear, breakage, or cracks. If you are in need of specialty crane parts, turn to Kor-Pak. Contact us today to learn more.