Rock knocker
Veteran Member
Rationalize all you want
work platform on truss boom
- Thread starter Renze
- Start date
- Views: 15698
CNC Dan
Veteran Member
It's called a hydraulic fuse. It is like a check valve with the spring holding the valve OPEN, untill excesive flow causes the valve to close and then the pressure differance keeps it closed. It may leak down slowly when tripped.
Ed of all trades
Elite Member
Dont worry, i didnt post this here to ask for anyones approval, to take well assessed risks that only involve myself and no third parties.
By that statement I assume you are not married and have no kids or old parents that depend on you.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Silver Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2007
- Messages
- 123
- Location
- Mason Dixon Line
- Tractor
- Kubota L3301 w/LA525 loader, old IH Cub Cadets - 1250, 105, 124, Ferris IS1500z
I know nothing specific to man-lifts, but working on other lifting / overhead hydraulic equipment I have seen a few forms of safeties involved.
some use an oriface to control flow / speed and let the item down at set speed.
Another way is called a "velocity fuse" -- sort of like a check valve with a spring holding it open until the flow through it is strong enough to shut down. So a blown hose will allow a tiny burst of free flow out of the port, and nearly instantly the valve is forced shut by the weight against it and stops the movement.
Lots of stuff these days use a pilot operated check valves or counterbalance valves. They are essentially always closed / holding until you apply pressure from your hoses. The pilot circuit pushes the check / balance adjustment open to allow it to move.
bigdeano
Platinum Member
I built a work platform for my loader bucket from wood last summer. When I got it where I was going to work I put a 4 x 4 under the bucket so the hydraulics wouldn't leak down, and for safety. Very simple and effective.
Its good to hear opposing viewpoints. Some people can do things others cannot. I am 57 and have been somewhat of a risk taker all my life. My dad taught me. His saying was always "Piss on them dirty bastards, we'll build it ourselves". It has worked out well for me. I still have all my fingers, and can do almost anything I could do when I was 17. I know I have saved a lot of money doing, and building things myself. I like it, I feel good about it and my instincts have always served me well. I always appreciate someone who has the ability and courage to do things. It would be a boring world indeed if no one had the spirit to take a chance.
It, in my opinion, is much safer than teetering around on a ladder leaned against a tree with a chain saw in hand.......which I have done on numerous occasions.
Tim
MMagis
Veteran Member
It’s got nothing to do with not wanting to do things ourselves. It’s simply a horribly designed contraption. It’s actually designed in such a way that it WILL fail if used with much regularity. It’s not even a question. If it wasn’t built in such a way that it’s constantly trying to tear itself apart due to simple gravity, no one would have said much.
That's fine. Except that there are some folks on this forum now cogitating on building their own boom lift loader attachment out of wood and using baling wire to fasten it to their bucket. Don't laugh. I once put a 22' ladder into my fully raised bucket in order to free up a flag pole pulley up on top. When I got there, the pole bent over about 10 ft from a vertical position. After that, I rented a boomlift and found it so much more comfortable, I bought a used one. Worth ever penny. As is usually the case for me, once you have such a tool, the additional uses start lining up. Best one is painting a house or barn. Lateral movement plus extension plus an airless sprayer gets the job done in record time. Hope you know your limits one yours Renze, Its a great project. Best condition would be if you had a second person controlling the hydraulics from the ground, or do you have a rope or cable system to adjust the mechanism? The only other thing I would suggest is that you test it with some dead-weight to 'certify' that its won't break or tip over at max outreach with 400kg in it. You know, for that warm and fuzzy feeling.
I agree with you totally, bailing wire is great stuff. Bailing is much better than duct tape. You can build anything with bailing wire. My dad could fix a flat tire with bailing wire. In my opinion bailing wire should take first place over the wheel for man's greatest invention.
As far as building it out of wood, I could do that. Ships have sailed around the world made of wood, so I'm sure I could get 20 feet in the air with it. However bailing wire would not be my first choice to fasten it all together.