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EP-4098597-B1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOAD TESTING A LIFT BEAM

EP4098597B1EP 4098597 B1EP4098597 B1EP 4098597B1EP-4098597-B1

Inventors

  • DANG, VAN
  • MOORE, ROBERT WILLIAM
  • CHAKRABARTY, Biswajit
  • VELU, Sridhar

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220520

Claims (6)

  1. A system for load testing a lift beam (22), comprising: a load testing framework (100) configured to support the lift beam (22); a first connector (124) configured to couple with a lift connector (44) of the lift beam (22); a second connector (192) configured to couple with a load connector (52) of the lift beam (22); a plurality of drives (102) configured to force the lift and load connectors (44, 52) away from one another to load test the lift beam (22), a plurality of first connectors (124) including the first connector (124), wherein the plurality of first connectors (124) is configured to couple with respective lift connectors (44) of the lift beam (22) at different axial positions relative to a longitudinal axis (50) of the lift beam (22); a plurality of second connectors (192) including the second connector (192), wherein the plurality of second connectors (192) is configured to couple with respective load connectors (52) of the lift beam (22) at different axial positions relative to the longitudinal axis (50) of the lift beam (22), a plurality of supports (108) configured to be disposed at the different axial positions, wherein each of the plurality of supports (108) is driven to move by one of the plurality of drives (102), wherein each of the plurality of second connectors (192) is coupled to one of the plurality of drives (102), wherein each drive (102) of the plurality of drives (102) is configured to generate and apply a force relative to one of the plurality of second connectors (192), wherein each of the plurality of supports (108) comprises a frame (112) extending around a receptacle configured to receive the lift beam (22), wherein the load testing framework (100) comprises a reaction beam (104), wherein the plurality of supports (108) is coupled to the reaction beam (104) at said different axial positions, a plurality of linkages (128), each one of plurality of linkages (128) configured to extend between one of the plurality of first connectors (124) and a respective one of the plurality of lift connectors (44) to couple the lift beam (22) to the reaction beam (104) via the lift connectors (44) on a top portion (46) of the lift beam (22) and the first connectors (124) on a bottom portion (126) of the reaction beam (104).
  2. The system of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the drives (102) comprises an electric drive or a fluid drive (220) having a piston (232).
  3. The system of any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the drives (102) comprises a lever assembly (310) having a lever (314) coupled to a pivot joint (322).
  4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein each of the first connectors (124) comprises a plurality of connection joints (132), and the respective linkage (128) is selectively coupled to one of the plurality of connection joints (132) to vary an angle (134) of the linkage (128) relative to the longitudinal axis (50) of the lift beam (22).
  5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of drives (102) is configured to independently vary the forces to the plurality of second connectors (192).
  6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the frame (112) comprises a first frame section (384) and second frame section (382), and the first frame section (384) is removable from the second frame section (382) to reveal an opening into the receptacle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND The present application relates generally to systems and methods for load testing a lift beam. The invention as herein claimed relates to the subject matter set forth in the appended claims. A lift beam may be used to raise and lower a heavy load during installation, maintenance, or transportation. For example, the load may include a variety of power plant components, a gas turbine engine, a generator, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), or any combination thereof. Prior to use, a load test may be performed on the lift beam to ensure integrity of the lift beam. The lift beam may be tested by using large gravity objects, such as concrete blocks, water balloons, or other large masses. Unfortunately, these gravity tests require considerable space and large gravity objects to perform the tests, increasing installation costs and time. Document "LEEA Guidance - The Verification of Lifting Beams - Lifting Safety " , pages 1 - 6, by Selby Engineering And Lifting Safety Ltd., published by the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association, last update on 30 April 2018, URL: https://www.liftingsafety.co.uk/site/leea-guidance-verification-of-lifting-beams.html discloses various methods for load testing a lift beam, in particular for load testing a lift beam by means of an applied force. GB 2 223 594 A discloses a load testing system for cranes and other lifting gear or for load bearing structures e.g. towers, bridges or ramps. The load testing system uses one or more rigid tanks filled with liquid to act as loading weights. They are of modular size corresponding to standard freight containers and their corner fittings enable them to be bolted together in a stack and/or a side-by-side group. Gauges are provided at the ends to indicate the liquid content level and filling and emptying is via valved fittings to which hoses can be attached. Each tank has evenly distributed lugs with chain or wire pennants to a common lifting joint. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved system and method for load testing a lift beam. BRIEF DESCRIPTION The invention as herein claimed is set forth in the appended claims. Certain embodiments commensurate in scope with the originally claimed subject matter are summarized below. These embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed embodiments, but rather these embodiments are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the subject matter. Indeed, the presently claimed embodiments may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the embodiments set forth below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed techniques will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic of an embodiment of a lifting system having a lift beam configured to raise a load.FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embodiment of a load testing framework having a reaction beam, a plurality of supports disposed about a lift beam, and a plurality of drives configured to perform a load test on the lift beam.FIG. 3 is a schematic of an embodiment of an adjustable spacer configured to adjust a spacing between the supports of the load testing framework of FIG. 2.FIG. 4 is a schematic of an embodiment of the load testing framework of FIG. 2, illustrating a direct connection between a drive and a load connector of the lift beam.FIG. 5 is a schematic of an embodiment of the load testing framework of FIG. 2, illustrating an embodiment of the support having a linkage connected between the support and the load connector and a drive coupled to the support.FIG. 6 is an embodiment of a fluid drive system having a piston cylinder assembly configure to provide a fluid driven force for load testing the lift beam of FIG. 2.FIG. 7 is a schematic of an embodiment of a geared drive system configured to provide a force for load testing the lift beam of FIG. 2.FIG. 8 is a schematic of an embodiment of a mechanical leverage drive system configured to provide a force to load test the lift beam of FIG. 2.FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 are schematics of embodiments of a lift connection assembly configured to connect the lift beam with the reaction beam of FIG. 2, while allowing adjustability in an angle of a linkage between the reaction beam and the lift beam.FIG. 12 is a schematic of an embodiment of the lift connection assembly of FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, further illustrating details of the connections at the lift beam and the reaction beam.FIG. 13 is a schematic of an embodiment of the load testing framework of FIG. 2, illustrating a support with multiple frame sections configured to enable easy insertion and removal of the lift beam and the reaction beam for performing a load test.FIG. 14 is a schematic of an embodiment of the load