BONFIGLIOLI says its F series parallel shaft drives, normally used for conveyors and crane, have been used to drive a gondola on the Bizkaia suspension bridge in Spain.
The Bizkaia suspension transporter bridge was constructed in 1893. A 20t gondola runs on a bogey under the bridge, suspended on 18 steel cables. It carries pedestrians and vehicles from one side of the river to the other 24 hours a day, all year.
Due to the heavy usage of the gondola, it is now driven by twelve Bonfiglioli F302 UH40 24.4 P112 H3 gearboxes powered by 2.2 kW, 3,000 rpm electric motors with encoder control. The gear motors are controlled by closed loop vectorial frequency converters, the same technology used in Australia for industrial process control.
According to Bonfiglioli, the application is challenging because of the continuous operation, massive inertia varying from 20 to 50t, and the marine environment. Its parallel shaft helical F series gearboxes were selected because of the low noise operation and reduced angular play in suspended installations.
All gearbox components run in a permanent oil-bath, and a high duty factor was calculated to suit input power, overcoming alignment errors.
To ensure that the drive system is adequately protected against the salt air, the gearboxes are fitted with Viton seals and are externally finished in a thick coating of RAL9010 white epoxy paint.
Bonfiglioli says the unusual application of its drive technologies demonstrate the capabilities and qualities of its F series drives for conventional materials handling, conveying and lifting uses.
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