One challenge that Planet Platforms recently tackled was to work round a new series of jet engines at various heights and with different engine profiles.
The issue of working at varying heights completely around an engine was to offer a pair of handed platforms with three distinct points of access; ground level, the main working platform and the platform hop-up step.
Working at ground level, the platform sub-frame is made of an aluminium box section that gives excellent head clearance as it removes the need for cross bracing which would reduce the working area. A small integral hop-up step gives that marginal additional height for engineers to work on the mid-section of engine.
Moving up the engine to the main platform area, Planet used their knowledge and expertise to offer a multi-functional work platform. The need for the equipment to suit a number of aircraft engines types/models was one of the main project briefs. To enable this Planet used a series of manually adjustable sliding fingers that profile each engine type exactly. The composite fingers were chosen for their strength but most importantly for their low slip potential. Each finger is adjusted from ground level by sliding into position and then locking in place. Fixed stop buffers prevent the over extension and accidental removal of each finger.
The final area to access was the upper fan casing section and a built-in sliding hop-up step on the main platform area helps engineers achieve this. The hop-up simply slides and locks in place and an adjacent extending guardrail provides fall protection.
The ergonomics of access equipment is as an important factor as the working platforms themselves. Features on this system included integral lighting and electrical points. These additions help improve the working area in terms of productivity and health and safety. Obviously such added features do come at a cost, but in terms of a time and motion study, they will always benefit the client.
When assembling a piece of engineering excellence the right tools for the job are essential, particularly so when it’s a multimillion pound jet engine. One challenge that Planet Platforms recently tackled was to work round a new series of jet engines at various heights and with different engine profiles.
The issue of working at varying heights completely around an engine was to offer a pair of handed platforms with three distinct points of access; ground level, the main working platform and the platform hop-up step.
Working at ground level, the platform sub-frame is made of an aluminium box section that gives excellent head clearance as it removes the need for cross bracing which would reduce the working area. A small integral hop-up step gives that marginal additional height for engineers to work on the mid-section of engine.
Moving up the engine to the main platform area, Planet used their knowledge and expertise to offer a multi-functional work platform. The need for the equipment to suit a number of aircraft engines types/models was one of the main project briefs. To enable this Planet used a series of manually adjustable sliding fingers that profile each engine type exactly. The composite fingers were chosen for their strength but most importantly for their low slip potential. Each finger is adjusted from ground level by sliding into position and then locking in place. Fixed stop buffers prevent the over extension and accidental removal of each finger.
The final area to access was the upper fan casing section and a built-in sliding hop-up step on the main platform area helps engineers achieve this. The hop-up simply slides and locks in place and an adjacent extending guardrail provides fall protection.
The ergonomics of access equipment is as an important factor as the working platforms themselves. Features on this system included integral lighting and electrical points. These additions help improve the working area in terms of productivity and health and safety. Obviously such added features do come at a cost, but in terms of a time and motion study, they will always benefit the client.
