|
contents | news | |||||||||
| Man-Down Alarm feature for overhead cranes Cattron Group International announced they will offer their 'Man-Down Alarm' feature on Radio Remote Control systems for overhead cranes and other industrial machinery. The feature previously was available only on the company's Locomotive Remote Control systems. The 'Man-Down Alarm' is a backup safety feature designed to activate automatically in the event that an operator using a Radio Remote controller equipped with a tilt switch falls or becomes incapacitated causing the controller to be in a tilted position. If the controller remains in the tilted position for more than five seconds, the Remote Control system will initiate an emergency shutdown of the controlled crane or machinery. At the same time, the Man-Down Alarm function generates a synthesized-voice distress message which is broadcast from a user-supplied two-way radio located on the equipment being controlled over a plant or facility-wide communication network. The distress message is repeated until the Alarm is manually reset or for a maximum of 10 minutes. As an added feature of the Alarm function, the broadcast distress message includes a 'call-sign' indicating which Remote Control controller is causing the alarm. This is particularly useful when more than one Remote Control system is in use within a facility or if the Remote Control application requires two operators, each with his own controller. In the case of certain overhead traveling crane applications, a Pitch-and-Catch function allows two operators to transfer control of the crane between each other typically in situations where it would be unsafe and inefficient for one operator to accompany the load for the entire move. The 'call-sign' identification provides immediate indication of which operator has caused the alarm. Cattron Group International is a manufacturer of remote control products and professional services for the industrial, mining, commercial mobile and railroad markets. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |