Testing cable carriers in realistic situations

German company Tsubaki Kabelschlepp tests cable carriers for crane systems on its own fully-automated and monitored outdoor testing facility where travel lengths of more than 100 m and travel speeds of up to 5m/s can be automatically simulated. A system developed in-house for monitoring the pull/push forces in energy chains ensures the system works safely around the clock seven days a week.

The 116.5 m long testing facility for cable carriers requires two fully automated and individually controlled 105 m travel lengths – the trolley travel length of a ship-to-shore (STS) gantry crane. The maximum test speed of the 1.3 tonne system trolley propelling the long travel chain system is 5 m/s with an acceleration of 1m/s².

Tsubaki Kabelschlepp focused on the unloading procedures in a port when defining and deciding the actual test procedures for cable carriers. These show a somewhat irregular pattern and therefore also an irregular load for the overall system. The test engineers took this fact into account in the specially programmed crane-test cycles. Realistic permanent loads of the cable carrier chains can be tested, monitored and documented – that is unique in the industry.