The J D Neuhaus company’s range of robust handling and lifting equipment is currently in use around the world on jack-up rigs, semi-submersibles, drill ships and FPSO vessels. Its product range incorporates both air and hydraulically powered hoists, with individual lifting capacities ranging from 250kg to 100t. These products can also be incorporated into single or double girder overhead travelling cranes, underslung cranes with special low headroom trolley designs, together with purpose-designed slewing jib cranes. Hoists can be supplied for specific function duties such as BOP handling (up to 200t), as well as providing virtually unlimited lifting and general load movement solutions including both oblique and horizontal pulling under pre-determined conditions.
A BOP handling unit incorporating four J D Neuhaus type EH50 air-operated monorail hoists has been supplied to the Maersk offshore rig Guardian, for synchronised BOP lifting and handling during both pre and post-drilling operations. Two hoists are mounted on each of the twin parallel overhead rails, with each hoist providing 50t load and 20m lift capacities for between-deck operations. With the two sets of hoists operating together, a combined lift capacity of 200t was made available. Synchronised operation of all linear movement and lifting operations of individual, paired or all the four hoists when used in conjunction, was provided with JDN type F multi-function controllers incorporating the main air emergency stop together with a load-monitoring device.
The largest purpose-built offshore crane system constructed to date by J D Neuhaus was a semi portal A-frame design supporting twin overhead horizontal track beams, each fitted with a single hydraulic EH 40-H hoist unit. These hoists can be operated individually or simultaneously from one controller, and when used in conjunction a total lift of 80t is possible with a 12m lift height over a 7.5m span. A JDN Profi 6 TI-H hoist with 6t lift capacity was also supplied to cover other operational and service requirements. The crane was specified to comply fully with offshore duties including operating at temperatures down to -20ºC. Survival conditions also have to be maintained in turbulent weather conditions to cover inclines from the horizontal of the rig of 3º with the crane loaded or 27º when unloaded.
All JDN products combine a rugged build quality with high performance, 100% reliability and the utmost in safety. JDN Profi TI hoists are also 100% duty rated and require low maintenance, eliminating unnecessary downtime. The products are also impervious to dust and damp working conditions, and operate within a temperature range of -20ºC to 70ºC. Where supplied for offshore operation, either on rigs or ocean-going vessels, the equipment is provided with a full offshore package, which includes extra corrosion protection to cater for rough, salty weather conditions. The main body component parts of both hoists and cranes are supplied with a four layer marine paint top coat, having a 280 microns total minimum dry thickness in standard traffic yellow RAL 1023 colour. Exposed products such as valves and valve heads, together with suspension chains are manufactured from stainless steel, together with bolts and nuts less than 12mm in size. Larger threaded bolt ends and nuts, together with trolley wheel bearings are otherwise protected with grease-packed covers, while chain containers are supplied with a galvanised finish.
All hoists in the JDN Profi TI range incorporate top hook suspension mounting and feature pendant push-button controllers as standard. The hand controllers provide sensitive, infinitely variable or single-speed control of the load lift, lower and powered trolley traverse movements utilising overhead rail mounting. Trolley-mounting options include manual, reel chain and motorised variations. All hoists are fully ATEX rated for operation in hazardous or potentially explosive atmospheres to a standard classification of Ex II 2 GD IIA T4 / II 3 GD IIB T4.
Standard safety features of the hoists include integrated adjustable overload protection for load ratings of 1t and above. A self-adjusting failsafe braking mechanism is fitted, together with trolley anti-climb drop devices and an emergency stop switch integrated in the main power supply. An emergency lowering device can also be supplied for the Profi TI hoists covering lift capacities from 25t to 60t. This involves fitting a separate air tank, with two additional buttons also incorporated into the hand controllers. The air reservoir is automatically maintained at the full working air pressure and acts as a positive emergency braking system when required. The device becomes operable in the event of a severe reduction or total loss of mains air pressure, with a two-handed control operation provided to avoid unintentional lowering. One control button selects between normal hoist operation and emergency lowering, with a second button providing braking to ensure a controlled lowering and safe grounding of the suspended load under the action of its own dead weight.
Additional optional safety features include rack and pinion trolley drives, Delta-P overload protection and load monitoring together with air, hydraulic, radio or electrical remote controllers. Special purpose hoists engineered for extreme conditions can be supplied to cover operations at arctic temperatures down to 45ºC, together with underwater hoists for operation down to 70m below water level.
Certification by Det Norske Veritas can also be provided on request, to comply with safety requirements involving applications for offshore cranes as well as power driven hoists. The standard ATEX classification is according to EC Directive on Hazardous Locations 94/9/EEC with increased spark protection also available if required to a rating EX II 2 GD IIC T4.