Schwing’s new wireless radio remote control provides a reliable method of placing boom operation and concrete pumping from hundreds of feet away. Precise boom control is a Schwing trademark and ergonomic joysticks allow proportional boom movement calibrated to provide just the right feel for the operator. The new remote control box also includes a Schwing exclusive feature of two-way communication between the concrete pump and the operator. A display on the remote box reports critical information that allows the operator to monitor the pump to provide enhanced customer service and safety. Information available at the remote box includes strokes per minute, hydraulic pressure, PTO rpm, hydraulic oil temperature, hopper grate status, local/remote/ram change modes, switches out of neutral, emergency stop activation and low water tank.
By monitoring strokes per minute the operator can deliver an ideal rate of placement improving productivity for the labor crew. Too fast a placement rate results in more work to move the material by the finishing crew. By monitoring hydraulic oil pressure the operator can make adjustments to help the pump perform better and enhance safety. If a stiff load of concrete is introduced into the pump’s hopper, the operator will note an increase in pressure. Rather than risking a plug, which can be very dangerous, the operator can ask if the next load can be blended simultaneously to make the mix more pumpable. If the hydraulic oil temp is increasing, the operator can look for the source of the problem ahead of time or call for a back-up before a stoppage occurs. If an emergency stop is triggered, the operator can identify which function was affected immediately without guesswork.
When the operator is fully informed in this manner he/she can fine-tune the pumping process resulting in higher productivity with fewer delays. Low-level alarms are sounded and displayed on the remote box to provide clear and concise data so the operator can make an informed decision. Normally, a low level alarm does not prevent the job from being finished. A high level alarm notifies the operator of situations that may cause damage to the pump and will activate the emergency stop so the operator can evaluate the situation. In all cases, the operator has the display on the remote box to assist in diagnosis. This system hops frequencies 50 times per second to assure a strong signal even when competing transmitters are in use such as emergency vehicles, other construction equipment and airport support equipment.
A computer mounted in a cabinet on the truck records valuable data for pump management. Preventative maintenance can be scheduled accurately with ‘hours of operation’ constantly recorded for the mechanical systems on the pump. Also a counter allows for exact measurement of pumped yards on a project. One system fits all Schwing boom types. A small battery charger in the truck cab provides up to eight-hour operational cycles.
