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Constant Effort Supports
General Description
The Constant Effort Support designed and manufactured by Carpenter and
Paterson incorporates the latest design concepts, resulting in a constant
supporting effort through the total travel of the unit. The simplified construction,
together with the established principle of a compression spring working in
conjunction with a bell crank lever, achieves a mathematically perfect counter-
balancing of spring and load moments about the main pivot point.
With a fixed spring housing of substantial construction the unit can be installed in
many arrangements. The spring housing prevents the ingress of foreign bodies
such as construction debris, thus reducing the danger of damage or restriction of
the unit’s function.
The Constant Support is based on a simple mechanical principle:
In order to produce a Constant Supporting Effect the load moment about the Main
Pivot must be counter-balanced by an equal spring moment throughout the travel
range.
Referring to the diagram, take three positions of
the load travel - Top, Mid, Bottom - and equate
the moments of these points about the Main Pivot
F1 a1 = Wb1
F2 a2 = Wb2
F3 a3 = Wb3
F1 a1 = F2 a2 = F3 a3 = W
b1 b2 b3
Standard Range
Carpenter and Paterson Constant Effort Supports are constructed to
accommodate loads between 10 Kg and 45700 Kg with a standard range of
travels from 40 mm to 610 mm in 10 mm increments.
Constant Supports are manufactured having a deviation of p5 per cent of the
specified load.
(Approved by UK and Foreign Authorities)
3
Upper and lower travel stops are incorporated in all units to prevent excessive
overtravel.
All supports are fitted with clearly visible travel scale.
Carpenter and Paterson Constant Supports are also available using a range of
special materials which have been selected for use in the offshore industry.
Special Range
Special Constant Supports are designed to suit customer’s specific requirements, i.e.
higher loads, travels and configurations other than those indicated in the standard
range.
Load Adjustment
Although the supports are preset to the customer’s specified load and travel, it is
sometimes necessary to adjust this preset load to accommodate minor variations in
actual site conditions. A simple operation of turning the load adjuster screw in the
appropriate direction to increase or decrease the load is all that is necessary.The
amount of adjustment is shown on the adjacent scale calibrated in 2 per cent divisions.
The maximum adjustment being p20 per cent of the operating load.
Presetting
All Constant Supports are fitted with preset pins which are painted red. These pins are
factory positioned within the unit to suit the customer’s specified installation condition.
On completion of installation and prior to removal of the pins, the pipework system can
be hydraulically tested or acid cleaned without further deflection of the spring
assembly. The preset pins must be removed before commissioning the system (refer
to installation instructions).
Our standard presetting pins will enable loads of up to twice the capacity of the support
to be taken during the hydraulic testing period.
Should it be necessary to carry loads in excess of this, we must be notified at time of
ordering to ensure the supports are designed with adequate safety margins.
Infinitely Variable Travel Locking Mechanism
The Constant Support may be fitted with an infinitely variable locking device (within
the travel limits of the unit) that will lock the support thus preventing upward and
downward movement for temporary conditions of underload or overload.
The locking mechanism is only incorporated when specified.
The locking mechanism should always be positioned at the extreme of the adjustment
before the pipework system is commissioned.