In cranes and automated handling equipment, travel wheel blocks, as core transmission components, directly impact the overall operational reliability and economy of the machinery. The DEMAG DRS series offers three configurations: single flange, double flange, and flange-free. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the most widely used single and double flange types.
Single Flange Travel Wheel Block: The Economical Choice
Advantages:
1. Compact Structure: The single-side flange design offers a more streamlined structure, effectively reducing installation space requirements.
2. Cost Advantage: Compared to double flange structures, weight is reduced by approximately 15%, and manufacturing costs are lowered by 20-30%.
3. Easy Maintenance: The unique self-cleaning groove design effectively removes track impurities, reducing the frequency of routine maintenance.
Disadvantages:
1. Limited Load Capacity: The maximum wheel load typically does not exceed 80 kN, making it unsuitable for heavy-duty applications such as metallurgy or nuclear power.
2. Guidance Performance: Prone to lateral deviation at track joints or curved sections, requiring additional horizontal wheels for assistance.
Double Flange Travel Wheel Block: The Preferred Choice for Heavy-Duty Applications
Advantages:
1. Exceptional Safety: The dual flanges form a closed guidance system, increasing anti-derailment capability by 300%.
2. High Load Capacity: Made of GGG70 ductile iron, with surface quenching treatment enabling a single wheel block load capacity of up to 160 kN.
3. Operational Precision: Integrated with DEMAG's patented balance beam system, it automatically compensates for track deviations, ensuring a travel straightness of ±1 mm/m.
Disadvantages:
1. Friction and Wear: The contact area between the flange and the track increases by 30%, resulting in an annual wear rate approximately 0.5-1 mm higher than that of single flange designs.
2. Adaptability Requirements: Demands extremely high track installation precision, with parallelism deviations needing to be controlled within 1/1500 of the span.
Conclusion:
Correct wheel block selection requires comprehensive consideration of load characteristics, operating frequency, environmental conditions, and lifecycle costs. It is recommended to engage with DEMAG support during the equipment design phase for professional optimization advice.