An update on the future of the Unified Hydraulic Jacking System
Imagine being able to control and monitor every step in the operation of your Unified Jacking machine with a lightweight, handheld, wireless control device. Well, we have too.
Imagine, instead of having to stand in front of the machine's control panel at some distance from the jacks, and having to yell to communicate with someone who is watching each jack as it is unified, you would be able to stand next to each jack as it extends. You can see how much pressure is generated and how much main unit stroke it takes to snug the jack up to the load. Then you could then press one button and the jacks would raise in unified mode. If one jack ran out of stroke, or exceeded the operating pressure, the machine would stop and the display would notify you of the problem. You could stand at a jack and reset it by remote control. When using more than one jack per outlet when the main unit runs out of stroke, the machine would reset the main unit in an automatic operation, without any operator input being necessary. Over the past 2 years we've been investigating the possibility of doing just this.
The first challenge was finding solenoid valves that are rated for the 6000psi operation pressure that the Unified Jacking Systems operate at. When operating pressures are this high there are few choices in such valves. The valves has to be absolutely leak-free. We finally found and tested some valves that work late this past summer.
The next challenge is to find a rugged, lightweight, reasonably inexpensive portable screen, which we have also just recently found.
This little gem is manufactured for use by the military, which is going to be at least as hard on it as house movers will be!
Among the information displayed on the screen will be the pressure on each jack, along with the location of the main unit, as shown below
on the screen of one of our jacking systems used by the automakers to separate the dies that stamp out sheet metal car parts.
The screen will also show the weight on each jack, along with the total weight on all of the jacks.
You will be able to open and close each unified valve, each outlet valve, each helper valve, and the main cylinder valve with an on-screen pushbutton. Raise and lower pushbuttons will also be on the screen. The machine will go thru an automatic system check each time it is turned on, to detect any malfunctioning parts or leaks, and if any are found, instructions on repairing the problem will appear. Step by step instructions will appear on the screen to guide even new users thru the proper and safe operation of the machine.
Enough about how nice it will be to operate the machine away from the noise of the engine, and being able to see the movement of the jacks up-close. How close is this to being available for purchase? Well, pretty close.
Now that we have the valves available, and I've designed and had manifolds made to use the valves and pressure sensors, all that remains is to assemble the control system onto a prototype machine, program the screen, and test it in the field, prior to making it available for sale.
UPDATE!
I've found another ruggedized, portable, wireless touch screen display panel! I'm in the process of finding out more about it.
If you have any questions or comments about this machine, fire them off to me at LRenshaw@att.net