SKF - Grinding Wheel Manipulation Tool

A bearing manufacturer contacted us with a unique proposal, to model, design and manufacture a one-off bearing grinding wheel manipulation stand.

Design Requirements:

  • Accommodate 4 different grinding wheels of varying lengths, diameters, ridges and masses
  • Grip each grinding wheel securely with soft jaws, and be easily configurable for each size
  • Rotate each grinding wheel through 90 degrees, securely hold the wheel upright, and allow access to the top of the wheel
  • Locate the main pivot in the best position to keep the centre of mass as close to the fulcrum for each size of grinding wheel
  • To be able to be transported via a forklift or pallet truck

The design process required significant mathematical and modelling time, due to the large variation in sizes of the grinding wheels. Whilst the concept design is inherently simple, finding a straightforward method of adapting the manipulation stand to allow it to fit each size of wheel and allow adequate clearance for its manipulation was a time consuming process.

Our solution involved a base that accommodated the lifting requirements (1), a locking rotating stand that only allows up to 90 degrees of movement (2), and a pivoting clamping mechanism (3). The design incorporates shims to adapt the diameter of each clamp to accommodate the various sizes of grinding wheel (4), as well as mechanical stops that do not allow over-rotation as a safety precaution.

Established

Rope & Marine Services Ltd was established post WW2 by the founder Alan Edwards in 1948 with a business partner, he bought out his partner in 1957 to become sole owner. Alan Edwards served in the RAF in WW2, he trained in Canada and then served in North Africa and Europe flying Spitfires, he was shot down in October 1943 and crash landed when over Northern France, luckily the aircraft did not catch fire, he sustained severe injuries and spent some 3 months in a German run hospital and then remained a P.O.W. until the end of the war, a number of escape attempts failed, his P.O.W. camp was eventually overrun by the Russians and he made his own way back to Allied lines.


RAMS Past

Rope & Marine Services Ltd was first located at Free Trade Wharf, situated on the river Thames, the site has long since been redeveloped into luxury riverside apartments, adjacent to the eastern entrance to the Limehouse link tunnel. The company was originally formed to supply steel wire ropes and fibre ropes to the marine industry, the Thames being a hive of activity at that time with many large and small jetty operations, lighterage and dredging companies. The Port of London Authority London Docks & Tilbury Docks were major customers over the years and remained so until containerisation killed off the requirement for stevedoring and conventional cargo handling.

 

Construction & pipelaying sectors gradually replaced the reliance on the marine trades and demand from these sectors required the company to diversify and extend its range of products and services and supply associated lifting equipment and accessories, i.e. chains, shackles, slings, manual & powered hoists, repairs & testing, engineering and fabrication works were also undertaken in the field of lifting and handling equipment.

 

Relocation

The company relocated to its present site in Yorkshire road E14 in the late 1960’s, over the years further land was acquired allowing the company to expand the premises to the considerable island site it is today fronting, Yorkshire Road, Salmon Lane, Raby Street & Chaseley Street, land opposite the main works was also acquired and developed into a large secure car park compound. 

 

Rope & Marine Services have been suppliers to every major London based construction project down the years, the Thames Barrier, the Jubilee Line extension, the O2 Dome, Wembley, 2012 Olympics, Crossrail, London Gateway, to name but a few. The company nowadays has a very diverse range of customers through to train operators, utilities, construction & civil engineering, theatre & entertainment industries, aerospace, lifts & escalators industry, lighterage, waste management, abseil cleaning etc.


Progress

Reacting to demand over the years, we have built up a large fleet of equipment for the rental market, lifting & jacking equipment, associated equipment and bespoke equipment designed and manufactured in house, hire proves to be an ever increasing proportion of our business.

 

The company is still family owned, by the Edwards family, and celebrated its 70th year in 2018.