LMIs/RCIs serve as digital hub

Load Moment Indicators, also known as Rated Capacity Limiters, were never meant to replace a crane operator’s experience or know-how when making a lift. They are designed to be an operator aid, a backup to assist the operator in assuring safe lifting operations. Today’s LMIs/RCLs are much more sophisticated than in the past, and many operators want them on all the cranes they run. A small but mighty aspect of every crane, LMIs/RCIs are crucial in both safety and efficiency.

All in one

RaycoWylie’s i4500 is more than just a system. The all-in-one operator aid boasts the flexibility to suit any crane and any application.

“RaycoWylie is continuously striving to advance its i4500 according to specific customer requirements, simple or complex, enhanced with customer logos, custom crane pictograms, camera views, outrigger monitoring, integrated engine data, etc.,” said Manon Huard, OEM sales manager, RaycoWylie. “The use of multiple displays in a crane cab is a thing of the past.”

But new to the RaycoWylie family of LMI’s is a list of new applications. The newest is the i4300 for pipe layer side booms. It uses CAN bus sensors to monitor load, angle, radius, boom tip height and rated capacity shown on a color screen with user intuitive menus for easy operation.

RaycoWylie has also recently introduced the knuckle boom application. Again, this includes the all-in-one concept showing all crucial information at a glance on a 7-inch color display.

For the tower crane industry, the company has recently added the anti-collision feature preventing collision of two or more cranes on the same jobsite. The location of the hook is communicated via radio signals between the cranes. Last but not least, the company now offers a hybrid i4500 wired CAN bus solution using wireless sensors communicating to the network via gateway. This product is as ideal for OEM’s as it is for modernizing older cranes.

“The i4500 series is not just an innovation; it is a way of rethinking security on construction sites in which the operator plays the key role of his own safety,” Huard said.

New and improved

WIKA Mobile Control currently offers two LMI options- the qSCALE maestro LMI upgrade for the aftermarket and the qSCALE Ix LMI as a solution for both the OEM and aftermarket.

The qSCALE maestro is an LMI upgrade solution for existing DS150G, DS350G/GW, and maestro systems that are currently in the field. The system features a user friendly 4.3-inch color display that shows actual and allowable load, boom length, boom angle, and load radius. The qSCALE maestro also incorporates an integrated light-bar and event recorder. System components include console, controller, junction box, pressure transducers, and cable assembles. The system also incorporates the use of either a cable reel upgrade kit or a complete boom kit. The cable reel kit is chosen based on the specific requirements of the end user.

Other optional features are available to support additional customer or application requirements. These include an external light-tower, wind speed and camera option.

One of the main features of the qSCALE maestro is that it is configured to use the original calibration data. Converting the existing software eliminates the need for costly re-calibration and enables the end user to install the system quickly and efficiently in the field. This aids in reducing overall cost and machine down-time.

“Now with the qSCALE maestro we can offer our customers event recording and optional CANbus based features such as an external light bar,” said Brian Considine of Skyazul (WIKA Mobile Control Premier Dealer). “The open architecture of the qSCALE maestro platform provides opportunities for expandability that we didn’t have before.”

The qSCALE Ix LMI was designed to increase efficiency and productivity of crane operations. The system provides the operator with a graphic display of the cranes current load and geometric information, including the actual and allowable load, boom length, boom angle, and load radius. The display also includes an integrated bar graph which provides the operator with information about the cranes utilization. The qSCALE Ix features the option of a 4.3” or 7” color graphic display with user friendly navigation providing the operator with an easy to use step by step setup process.

One of the features of the qSCALE Ix is the easy to use Crane Configurator Tool. The tool minimizes the required time for system integration by OEM’s resulting in a more effective configuration for new cranes while reducing costs. This tool also provides a cost-effective solution for the aftermarket making the qSCALE Ix a viable retrofit option. In order to improve the efficiency of the production process for the crane manufacturer, the time required for calibration is greatly reduced and simplified through a menu-driven calibration process. The sensors can be chosen freely, depending on whether the signal is transmitted through power, CANopen, or wireless.

Cranesmart Systems

Cranesmart Systems has introduced a new LMI 4 touchscreen system. The advanced technology includes a main display, receiver and a control module, while adding to the full LMI Cranesmart system. The touchscreens clearly display sensor transmissions for the operator, internally handles all software logic and menu interfaces, allows for easy transducer spares and swapping, a USB port for alarm logging and programming updates, function kickouts available and an output to existing function kickouts, computer or PLC.

The load cell wirelessly transmits weight on the lift line to the display panel. Various sizes include 7.5K, 15K, 25K, 40K, 50K, 80K and 120K. Cable reel wirelessly transmits positional information to the display panel, and is custom fitted to each application. A2B monitors the counterweight on the slow speed line of a travelling block, and wirelessly transmits alarm signal when the block contacts the counterweight. The level indicator indicates if a machine is level, sending an alarm signal if necessary. This is useful where ground thaw, sinking mud or extreme wind are factors.

The load pin offers 360 degree free-rotating load sensor, factory calibrated, no adjustment required and a minimum 5:1 safety factor. The angle indicator wirelessly transmits boom angle information to the display panel and is accurate to within 0.1 degree. A line rider wirelessly transmits weight on the blocks to the display panel, and is accurate to within 1 percent of actual load, to a load resolution of 100 pounds. Wind speed indicator wirelessly transmits wind speed range of 15-80 MPH and is useful where operations are required to shut down due to extreme wind.

This full “Load Moment Indication” system combines load measurement, angle sensing and anti-2-block functionality. Cranesmart strives to meet any crane safety challenge put forth by customers, including large capacity cranes, line riders, load pins and unique, non-crane applications.

The future is bright

“Big changes are on the horizon which will disrupt the current market,” said Haroon Khan, TWG’s Engineering Manager for New Product Development. “The LMI/RCL will become the digital hub of the crane. It will communicate with other devices on the crane such as the engine and hoist, providing real time information and history to the cloud, which will be available by fleet owners and users. Future LMI/RCL systems will have more processing power, provide much more data from multiple inputs and have event recording and notification capability.”

As one of the seven TWG brands, the others providing products such as hoists, gear drives and slewing ring bearings, Greer offers an integrated package to the crane manufacturer of mechanical, electronic and digital products.

Greer offers two CAN J1939 enabled displays with high-resolution WVGA graphics; the smaller Greer Insight and the larger Greer Element II. The Insight is designed especially for boom trucks. Both are waterproof per IP67 and offer an impressive list of capabilities including multiple screens, customizable configurations, imperial or metric units and multiple language options. They are optically bonded for outdoor viewing and support ECU readout screens as well as multiple inputs.

Greer LMI/RCLs are available in the aftermarket for telescopic boom cranes. Greer also provides retrofit solutions for rail charts, barge charts and multiple attachments. In addition, the company recently released a wireless anti-two

block switch that can support either one or two switches. It is designed for and tested in harsh environments and uses long lasting lithium batteries for reliable performance.