BALANCER MAINTENANCE
This part of the manual is intended for maintenance personnel ONLY
CERTAIN OPERATIONS OUTLINED IN THIS SECTION ARE VERY DANGEROUS
AND COULD INJURE PEOPLE IF PERFORMED BY UNSKILLED PERSONNEL.
REFER TO THE OPERATING MANUAL TO INSTALL, ADJUST AND USE THE
BALANCER.
Maintenance
The balancer’s size is such that it is maintenance-free for its entire work life.
However, if it is used under particularly harsh conditions and requires any
interventions, ensure that the spring-drum group (27) is discharged before
disassembling the balancer. The spring is the balancer’s only dangerous
component. It is housed inside the drum (27) that is lubricated for life. The spring-
drum spare part (27) is supplied complete:
do not remove the spring for any
reason whatsoever.
Do not disassemble the spring group as this is a dangerous operation.
Removing and inspecting the balancer
- Remove the screws (1); raise the cap (11); unwind the cable completely (28);
- Inspect the spring-drum group (27): if the internal spring is broken or the cable
guide groove is damaged, replace the whole group. The spring-drum group (27) is
supplied assembled, lubricated and complete with bearings. Never open it for any
reason whatsoever;
- Check the cable (28): replace it if is has the defects shown in (Fig.5);
- Check the working efficiency of all the shutter kinematics (6 and 13), check the
screw (9), which should slide axially and turn, and the working efficiency of the
springs (7-8-12).
Balancer assembly:
- Check that the stop (23) is free to move;
- Fit the plate (25) on the end of the cable (28) and lock it in place with the screws
(26);
- Wind the cable inside the drum’s helical slots (27) paying attention to insert it into
the stop (23) and assemble;
- Fit the cap (11) on the shaft (22), couple it to the cap (38) and close carefully.
Tighten the screws (1) with a torque of 3 Nm;
- Once done, charge the spring of the group (27) with the screw (9), until the screw
head (11) re-enters the cap 11 (Fig. 4);
- Install the balancer adhering to the directions supplied in the “Balancer operating
manual”.
Spring drum breakage
- If the balancer is blocked, check that the drum spring is not discharged (condition
that blocks the balancer as if the spring were broken). If you are unable to charge
the balancer by adhering to the procedure described in paragraph “Balancer
adjustment”,
this means that the drum spring is probably broken.
WARNING: ensure that the spring is charged before carrying out any type of
check.
WARNING - DANGER: DO NOT open the drum and/or attempt to replace the
spring for any reason whatsoever. This operation is extremely dangerous and
could seriously injure anyone.
WARNING - DANGER: dispose of the drum containing the broken spring in
compliance with prevailing regulations. DO NOT dump it together with other
waste or scrap since opening it, even accidentally, is VERY DANGEROUS and
could seriously injure anyone.
Use original Chicago Pneumatic spare parts only.
When requesting spare
parts, the Customer should kindly contact the supplier of the balancer, or the
manufacturer directly, specifying the machine’s identification data printed on the
plate.
English
EN
Operating & Safety Instructions
Install the balancer before using it. This operation is to be carried out by skilled
personnel who must comply with the directions outlined in this manual: a wrong
installation could cause injury/damage to people/property.
This manual contains important information that the user must adhere to in order
to use the balancer safely. Be sure to have clearly understood all the instructions
before using the balancer. Failure to do so could cause injury.
The balancer was built in conformity with European Community Directives that were
pertinent and applicable when the balancer was put on the market and that entail the CE
marking of the product.
Intended conditions of use
The balancers are designed to balance the weight of tools and utensils in general and are
to be used by one operator at a time. The balancer may be used in an assembly line, in
single workplaces, in professional environments.
For professional use only.
Always operate, inspect and maintain this balancer in perfect working order in
accordance with all regulations pertinent to balancers, tools and workplaces.
Use contraindications
Do not use the balancer in environments with potentially explosive atmospheres.
Do not permit children or people under age to use the balancer.
Do not work, transit or linger underneath the balancer.
When using balancers, always fully and duly comply with the standards and laws in force in
the country in which they are used.
Chicago Pneumatic will not be held liable for any damage or problems caused by
customers using these balancers for any other application.
Choosing the balancer
Assess the total load to be balanced: tool, accessories and sections of hoses or cables to
be lifted by the balancer. The overall load to be balanced must fall within the balancer’s
minimum and maximum load-bearing capacity.
Starting up the balancer
Assess the range of the work area and, if need be, hang the balancer on a carriage to be
able to use it properly in an area wide enough to carry out the required activities.
If screw fixing devices are used to install the balancer, use self-locking nuts, split-pins or
other safety systems.
Always connect the safety suspension S, using exclusively the supplied standard
fittings (Fig.1), to a suitably sized support.
The safety support MUST NOT BE the same
one used for the main suspension 33 (Fig.1). If the main suspension breaks, the max
falling distance must not be more than 100 mm. Tighten the nuts of the clamp 20331 (Fig.
1) at a torque of 4 Nm.
To avoid anomalous wear, the load must be applied vertically and in any case the cable
must be free to line up with the direction of the load.
Using the balancer
Grip the tool hanging from the balancer and carry out the required operations. Then
accompany the tool until it balances, on the vertical line of the balancer, and release it.
The load to be balanced must be hung on snap-hook 29 (Fig.4). Ensure that the snap-hook
is properly closed after having hung the load.
The cable must never be unwound all the way: its work travel must end at least 100 mm
before it reaches the lower limit (balancers CP9954-CP9959 are fitted with an automatic
limit stop system).
If need be, move and lock the clamp 42 (Fig.4) to stop the upward stroke.
When using the balancer, always don individual protective gear and closely adhere to the
prevailing accident prevention regulations.
It is strictly prohibited to:
- Abandon the load if it is not in a vertical position;
- Swing/throw the hanging load to another operator;
- Move the load by pulling the balancer’s cable;
- Hang loads that are not within the upper and lower ranges of the admissible load-bearing
capacity;
- Hang more than one tool on the balancer.
The sole risk linked to the use of the balancer consists in any uncontrolled
rewinding of the cable. This very dangerous event will be avoided by adhering to the
following instructions:
- if you have any doubts concerning the working efficiency of the balancer,
BEFORE
performing any kind of inspection be sure to hold up the hanging tool to prevent it from
falling and
UNLOAD THE SPRING COMPLETELY
;
- if for any reason whatsoever the balancer does not rewind the cable,
DO NOT
do
anything on your own initiative but contact the customer service at once;
- never release the load if the cable has not been fully wound in the drum;
- should you find the balancer with the cable unwound and no load applied to it,
DO NOT
do anything on your own initiative but contact customer service at once.
Adjusting the balancer
To enable the balancer to balance heavier loads, use the specific key to turn screw 9 (Fig.
4) in the direction indicated by symbol “+”. For lighter loads, turn screw 9 (Fig. 4) in the
direction indicated by symbol “-”.
After having adjusted the load, check that the cable slides freely for its entire length: the
movement must not be restricted when the spring has wound all the way. Check the stroke
often and at different speeds.
NOTE: should the balancer’s capacity of supporting a hanging load decrease,
this could mean that the spring of the drum is about to break. DO NOT MODIFY
BALANCER ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE IT HOLD UP THE LOAD IN ALL CASES BUT
CONTACT SKILLED PERSONNEL IN CHARGE OF MAINTENANCE AT ONCE.
Safety devices
Drum spring breakage
The balancer is fitted with a safety device that trips when the drum spring breaks and stops
the balancer to prevent the hanging load from falling.
If the hanging tool cannot be lifted or lowered through ordinary strain,
DO NOT INSIST but
contact customer service.
NOTE: the balancer stops even if the drum spring is fully discharged: in this
condition the head of the charge screw 9 (Fig.4) protrudes approximately 4 mm
outside the cap. To restore operating conditions, try to charge the spring as outlined
in paragraph “Balancer adjustment”.
If the balancer does not release
, DO NOT do
anything and contact customer service.
Manual lock
The balancer is fitted with a manual locking system (Fig.2): push and turn the pin 6 (Fig.2)
by 90°(position A) to lock drum rotation; push and turn the pin 6 (Fig.2) by 90°(position B)
to operate as usual.
WARNING: do not leave the balancer with the drum locked and no hanging loads.
WARNING: if the balancer’s cable is not fully wound, and no load is applied to it, DO
NOT do anything but contact the customer service at once.
OPTION “RI”, insulated rotary suspension (Fig.3)
Permits to insulate the load hung on the balancer and/or turn the hanging tool freely
without twisting the cable.
WARNING: always comply with the safety regulations when using electrical
appliances.
Installation: insert the snap-hook (29) into the pin E of the rotary suspension. Insert the
cable’s thimble (28) into the pin F; insert the split-pin (D) and deform it.
INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance may be carried out only by skilled and authorized personnel.
- The user must visually inspect the balancer on a regular basis (such as, for instance, at
each work shift) especially to check the state of suspensions (33) and S (Fig. 1), the fixing
screws and the self-locking systems (if used), and the condition of the hooks and cable.
Should the cable have the defects shown in Fig.5, replace it immediately.
Do not make any modification to the cable unit and, specifically,
DO NOT SHORTEN the
cable
: if need, please get in touch with Chicago Pneumatic.
- check that the cable’s movement is smooth and that it does not make any strange noises;
- do not lubricate the balancer with flammable or volatile fluids;
- do not remove any labels. Replace any damaged labels;
-
the balancer must be inspected at least once a year by skilled, authorized
personnel.
Never disassemble the balancer. Maintenance is to be carried out only by skilled,
authorized personnel.
The balancer must be disposed of complying with prevailing rules and regulations at the
end of its work life.
Warranty
The use of non original Chicago Pneumatic spare parts will negatively affect safety and
performance and will, in any case, void the warranty.
