Linden Comansa, Pineville, N.C., has developed Effi-Plus, a new tower crane hoist drive system which may increase productivity of hoist operations up to 29 percent. The new system increases hoist and lowering speeds in Linden Comansa tower cranes with light loads up to 70 percent, so the hoist cycle time is drastically shortened, according to the company. Since January, Effi-Plus has been applied to the 24-, 37-, 50-, and 65-kW drives of the LC1100, LC2100 and LCL (luffing-jib) Series tower cranes, without affecting the price of any of the models.
The significant efficiency improvement of the new drive system developed by Linden Comansa is based upon the application of cutting-edge control and motor design technology. This re-engineering work applied to the control and optimization of the system has allowed for increased maximum hoist speed of the hook, while keeping the current optimized drive configuration (electric motor-brake, gearbox, drum, frequency inverter, brake resistor).
Effi-Plus includes an exclusive control algorithm that optimizes acceleration, deceleration time, and space, while keeping smoothness under every circumstance. It ensures the best control of the hook even at the very high speeds that can be reached. The drum capacity has been increased in some of the mechanisms so the crane can now reach higher heights.
When Effi-Plus is combined with the automated reeving change function, the crane operator can change, in a couple of minutes and on his own, the crane speed-load chart by selecting the appropriate reeving mode. The automated reeving change system allows him to adapt the crane load-speed features to the site working needs. As the system is fully automated, he can do it from the cabin seat and no manual operation or third-party assistance is needed.
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
