 Thern’s 5122 Series Portable Davit Cranes are helping aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney build the engines that move the world.
Pratt & Whitney has been building aircraft engines since 1925. Today their engines drive more than half of the world’s commercial airline fleet. They also build engine–s for sophisticated weapons systems, land-based gas turbines and space vehicles.
Pratt & Whitney engineers at the company’s Middletown, Conn. facility use Thern davit cranes to lift tool blocks used with vertical lathes. Although other means of lifting the tool blocks had been tried in the past, they fell short of Pratt & Whitney’s high standards of performance and safety.
“Electronic hoists were too expensive to install and maintain, and skyhooks were a safety concern,” says facilities engineer Noah Passardi.
Additionally, the limited amount of space between machines in the workshops is a problem for most lifting apparatus. The tool blocks can weigh up to 150 pounds each and are difficult to move in small spaces.
According to Passardi, “The [Thern] davit cranes are not only economical, but compact and maneuver easily between the machines.”
Pratt & Whitney has seven cranes mounted in pedestal bases that include sleeve bearings which allow the cranes to rotate 360° for easier maneuverability.
Thern’s 5122 Series Portable Davit Cranes also feature an adjustable boom with two different positions for operation that folds down for easier storage and transport. When mounted in the base, the crane measures 47.38 inches in height with a hook reach of between 35 and 42 inches depending on the position of the boom.
They are hand winch operated and can handle up to a 500-pound load, more than enough power to lift the tool blocks used by Pratt & Whitney. The spur gear hand winch is equipped with an automatic disk break giving the engineers more control over the load as they move the tool blocks into position.
All of Thern’s davit cranes are available in stainless steel construction or with galvanized coating for superior corrosion resistance.
For over 50 years Thern has been designing and manufacturing cranes, davits and winches that are working smoothly and efficiently in plants of every description. And if what you need can’t be found in their product line, Thern will work with you to design and build a custom crane or winch that will work with your unique application.
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