Transport

Application Details:

Special Effect Car Reveal System

The system centred around the C-Series cubic machine screw jack and was pivotal to a dramatic ‘magic mirror’ effect that slowly unveiled the car. The car sat inside a ring of pillars of coloured LED light, and was covered by a mirrored box that had a horizontal split. To make the car appear and disappear, the sides of the box were moved up and down in synchronisation so the top and bottom halves of the car were revealed at the same time. To keep the mirror operation simple yet effective, Power Jacks engineers opted to use a four screw jack system in an H-configuration.

The design needed to move two platforms in opposite directions, at the same time and rate. To achieve this, Power Jacks designed a special lead screw which had right hand and left hand threads on the same lead screw, built into the screw jack body. The screw length matched the height of the installation: the upper half had a right hand thread form and the lower half had a left hand thread form.

A lead nut with corresponding thread ran on each thread form portion of the screw, so each screw in effect had two lead nuts. Therefore the system had eight lead nuts in total (two per screw jack) – four connected to the top mirror section and four to the bottom mirror section. As the jacking system was operated, the nuts ran in opposing directions so the mirror sections did likewise at the same speed in a mechanically synchronised manner.

By using a mechanically linked system, the whole operation was controlled by one motor which greatly simplified the control system and minimised costs. The four C-Series cubic machine screw jacks selected for the system were mechanically linked to the electric motor via three bevel gearboxes from the ultra compact Neeter Drive Range-N design.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks

C-Series

Lead Screws

Jacking Systems

Range-N

Electric Motors

Couplings & Drive Shafts

Application Details:

Sheet Metal Bundle Turnover Machine

Six pairs of Power Jacks E-Series worm gear screw jacks position the clamps for holding the sheet metal during the rotation. The screw jack used was the 100kN (10 tonne) ME1809 metric machine screw jack in inverted screw configuration. Associated drive shafts and flexible couplings were also provided.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks

E-Series

Electric Motors

Couplings & Drive Shafts

Application Details:

Paint Booth Spraying Nozzles

Standard Range N Series-38 bevel gearboxes with a 1:1 ratio were chosen for their compact design, high reliability, and precision. The units are sealed for life, ensuring minimal maintenance in demanding conditions.

Products Used:

Bevel Gearboxes

Application Details:

Paint Pump

The Rolaram® linear actuator was selected to drive the reciprocating, double acting paint pump. A total of 31 pumps and actuator systems are in use at the paint shop at BMW Mini Oxford, which was the first all-electric paint mix facility in Europe.

Rolaram Special Features:

• ‘In-line’ configuration, minimising the installation ‘footprint’
• Completely sealed unit, ensuring no contamination of the pumped medium
• Intrinsically safe, servo motor drive, for explosion risk environment
• Intrinsically safe, end of stroke limit switches
• Internal Anti-Rotation screw mechanism for ram

Rolaram Key Benefits:

• Significantly reduced running costs over pneumatic systems
• Elimination of contamination problems associated with hydraulic systems
• SPIRACON™ roller screw mechanism provides high life and reliability
• High efficiency drive – SPIRACON roller screw and helical gearbox
• Grease filled screw and nut system, eliminating oil contamination
• Low maintenance
• Contamination free
• Low paint degradation

End User Benefits:

• Highly energy efficient, reducing operation cost
• Quiet operation, improved working environment
• Environmentally friendly
• Compact design reduces installation space and cost

Products Used:

Rolaram®

Application Details:

Plane Support & Maintenance Platforms

The BA Cardiff maintenance facility is the central area for maintaining their fleet of aircraft. During maintenance periods it is Power Jacks screw jacks that they rely on to position key equipment. Aircraft jacking system using E-Series screw jacks to position platforms designed to support the total weight of a Boeing 747 and 777’s to allow total under body and wing maintenance as well as allowing “levelling” of the whole aircraft.

Overhead Roller Screw Jack controlled platforms for fuselage and tail areas, which enabled corrective work to take place safely throughout the top surface of the aircraft. In addition, mobile access platforms for engines etc, also use E-Series screw jack systems for positioning.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks

Bevel Gearboxes

Electric Motors

Reduction Gearboxes

Couplings & Drive Shafts

Application Details:

Aircraft Access Platform

These platforms need to provide a safe access route to the cockpit that can be adjusted to the right height for each plane given varying ground conditions and pilot size. Once in position these platforms must lock securely and safely to prevent any accidental damage to the plane occurring.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks

Bevel Gearboxes

Couplings & Drive Shafts

Application Details:

Jumbo Jet tail dock maintenance platform

The screw jacks can be individually motorised or driven as a mechanically linked system. Safety features that can be employed include safety nuts, brakes and wear monitors. The picture opposite shows jacking systems lifting the aircraft access structure (tail dock) for a jumbo jet.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks

Reduction Gearboxes

Bevel Gearboxes

Electric Motors

Couplings & Drive Shafts

Application Details:

Lift for Aero Engine Transport

Trent 500 and 700 Aero engines typically used on Airbus A340-500, A340-600 and the A330 family require secure, precise handling during transport. The T57 Roadrunner transportation cradle was developed as a modular stand to accommodate various transport modes, including air freight and road.

To lift and lower the engine safely and accurately, a mechanical height adjustment system was implemented using a three-point screw jack setup. This system includes three 50kN E-Series keyed machine screw jacks (EMT0050-UK0) linked via bevel gearboxes, couplings, and drive shafts.

Keyed screw jacks were essential due to the lack of external guides, and the system was designed to be manually operated, self-locking, low-maintenance, and resistant to environmental exposure. The screw jacks feature a 24:1 gear ratio and 9mm lead screw for low torque operation, chrome-plated worm shafts, and PVC bellows for protection. Two compact Series-35 bevel gearboxes ensure efficient, space-saving drive shaft connection to each screw jack in the system.

This system has proven to be a reliable and precise solution for engine handling in transport cradles.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks

Bevel Gearboxes

Couplings & Drive Shafts

Application Details:

China Maglev Rail System

Maglev, short for magnetic levitation, uses powerful electromagnets to lift and support rail vehicles, eliminating the need for wheels and significantly reducing rolling resistance.

China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. sought a high-quality, reliable, and precise electric linear actuator to operate the turnout/points locking mechanism – a vital component of the rail line’s infrastructure. This mechanism securely locks the rail track in place, ensuring safe and efficient train operations.

Power Jacks designed a bespoke version of the R125 Rolaram electric linear actuator, tailored to meet the demanding requirements of the Maglev system. A total of 18 x R125 Rolaram actuators were installed and integrated into the 3-way turnout/point control systems, ensuring reliable and precise operation.

Products Used:

Rolaram®

Application Details:

Railway Carriage Lift

Power Jacks provided two 500kN metric machine screw jacks for the lifting mechanism on this system installed in Australia.

Products Used:

Screw Jacks