| Application: Jib crane system to lift and position 24″ couplings for water pumping system on the Mississippi River Customer: Magruder Construction Co., Inc. Location: Eolia, MO Line Pull: 6,000 pounds Line Speed: 40 feet per minute Power Source: 15 HP hydraulic power unit Special Features: 1.5-ton capacity jib crane with 360º rotation, 16′ height, and 14′ span; hammerhead trolley; custom hydraulic power unit with quick-connect hoses |
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Why APPI: Unknown to many people are the extensive wetlands maintained behind the flood levees on the Mississippi River, the 4th longest in the world. The protected wetlands act as buffers that smooth out river water levels while providing recreational opportunities and providing a habitat for fish and waterfowl.
Jeff Vassalli, a project manager for Magruder Construction Co of Eolia, Missouri, was given the job of installing a site-specific, bi-directional water pumping system for the Corp of Engineers in one of these habitats areas. The system needed to be capable of moving 60,000 gallons of water per minute to ensure as stable a water level as possible. A barge-mounted pump with a flexible connector was specified to tie up next to either of the two pumping stations at this location and connect with another flexible coupling on the pump station side.
The connection on these 24″ diameter couplings is at water level. Therefore, Magruder required a jib crane to lift and position the couplings laterally. After examining several possibilities, Magruder suggested – and the COE approved – a pair of jib crane systems designed specifically for this job from Allied Power Products, Inc. (APPI) of Beaverton, Oregon. Equipped with APPI’s proprietary hammerhead trolley system, these jib crane systems feature a hydraulic hoist powered by a portable hydraulic power unit as there was no source of power at the site.
The hydraulic power unit from APPI is compact, reliable, and easy to move from storage to the job site and then from crane to crane. The cranes’ other notable features included a jib crane rotation locking mechanism and a lockable weather-proof housing to protect the hoist. Resistant to damage by design, the only exposed portion of the system when it’s not being used is the hammerhead trolley, a distant target high above the pumping stations.
Although these cranes were designed and built for this application, the startup testing and acceptance by the COE was, as Vassalli said, “Absolutely flawless.” As a result, both Magruder and APPI are looking forward to future opportunities where their respective skills and expertise can be put to work.
Please contact us if you would like more information about this particular jib crane system or any of our other products and services.
Allied Power Products, Inc. has specialized in providing winches, hoists, capstans, and cranes to meet our customers’ specific application requirements for more than 30 years.
