Tipping the balance
November 1st 2009 According to Robert Brame,Gravloc, a low cost, retrofittable hydraulic switch that stops any make of forklift truck from tipping over, could be the future of safer materials handling,Brendan Coyne reports.
At the recent FLTA safety conference, Robert Brame, director of Gravloc, asked an audience packed with industry professionals if anyone had heard of the EU standard BS EN 15000:2008 is. Not one person raised their hand.
Possibly, that's because the standard only affects certain types of forklift… At least, for now. But standards of this sort tend to be introduced initially across one platform and then cascade down – so there's every chance that in the not too distant future, all forklift manufacturers will be keenly aware of it.
Regardless of the standard, Gravloc, presents a compelling product: a hydraulic device that stops trucks becoming unstable – as soon as they do, it cuts out the pressure and prevents further adverse movement. It can be incorporated at point of manufacture or retrofitted, and according to Brame, costs under £500.
"Put simply… Gravloc prevents tipovers by enabling safe lifting and travel, particularly on inclines," says Brame. "It's a mechanical switch that detects movement – both tractive and lifting – from a stable to an unstable condition." For example, if a telehandler with load raised approaches an incline, the system activates and will not allow the operator to drive down the incline, only to lower the load. A forklift trying to lift beyond its capacity, for example, would not be allowed to lift, no matter what the operator tries to do.
According to Brame, the system is tamper proof. Whereas simple warning systems such as audio alarms can be turned off, negated by headphones and an iPod or even cable-nicked with a Stanley knife, Gravloc cannot be accessed by the operator.
A hydraulic rather than electrical switch, Brame claims Gravloc will perform more reliably in harsh environments. "Technically it has few moving parts but each is precision engineered. It also contains a hydraulic circuit, which enables it to be deployed in the most challenging environments, where shock, contamination, water, corrosion, static electricity or temperature extremes would adversely affect electrical circuits," says Brame. "Throughout it's development it has only been tested in the harshest environments: It has even been tested in Swarf and hydraulic oil." Unsurprisingly, Gravloc is attracting attention from OEMs, with Toyota - renowned for its SAS stability system – among the forklift manufacturers taking an interest.
"Toyota is very interested because there is a complimentary aspect: it doesn't conflict or replicate SAS, but adds to it by detecting activity on inclines. Toyota took its time developing the SAS and protected it with blanket patents – which is the right thing to do. But ours is a hydraulic solution, which takes the patents out the other side, so now other manufacturers cannot attempt similar systems in either area for fear of breaching patents from either company." However, Brame, and business partner, Vince Edwards, who invented the device, do not intend the Gravloc to be limited to any one company, and plan to licence the technology to OEMs. At present, they are focusing on the construction and forklift markets – but the technology has applications across many markets – from agriculture to heavy industries.
Gravloc which can be retrofitted relatively quickly, could also provide forklift dealers with another source of income – and a way of improving their customer's health and safety procedures, not to mention bottom lines: According to Brame, by fitting Gravloc across a forklift fleet, companies could possibly achieve payback in terms of reduced insurance premiums, in just one year. |
