On time clutch delivery of winch parts
When marine winch manufacturer Broehl Maschinenfabrik needed a fast delivery of water cooled brakes and clutches for one of its anchor handling winch projects it called UK clutch and brake specialists Industrial Clutch Parts.
Tension control of the anchor cables is critical to rig stability in the swell of the ocean, with dependable brakes and clutches key to winch performance in a typically harsh environment.
After discussions with Broehl, ICP pledged to deliver a batch of 24” WPT POWER WCC water cooled clutches within a very small delivery window in the rig build programme. Since the first batch of storage winches were located in the bottom structure of the rig, they needed to be installed at the start of the construction programme before the decks above were permanently welded closed.
Penalties for late delivery in this industry are severe and Broehl stressed the need for a guaranteed delivery schedule for the clutches, which ICP committed to.
Then, liaising with Broehl engineers, ICP configured the clutch design for optimum output torque and slipping performance to deliver the necessary tension control in the anchor winch cables during payout and retraction functions.
The anchor handling winch is designed with a WPT POWER 24” water cooled clutch, to provide variable torque and high heat dissipation capacity in constant slipping applications. The clutch is fully protected against saltwater corrosion and is airtube actuated for sensitive torque control.
Broehl supplied the cooling water and vital control system to maximise the efficiency of the clutches.
In the second part of the contract and also under penalty for late delivery, ICP supplied a batch of WPT POWER 36” WCB Water Cooled Brakes for the anchor cable traction winches. The traction winches are fitted with WPT 36” WCB Water Cooled Brakes that enable the operator to safely pay out a very heavy wire rope anchor cable, often hundreds of meters long, via a tugboat and brake control system. This ensures a secure handling of the rope between the winch and tugboat which otherwise, through any slackness, could run uncontrolled to the seabed.
ICP’s Mike Wallworth said, “Key to winning this contract was our ability to supply clutches and brakes that were designed, built and delivered within Broehl’s critical delivery window. In addition, we worked closely with our client installing in the clutches and brakes some new features developed from their experience in this very specialised industry.”
The Broehl order was delivered within four months of ordering, a solution that, according to Mike Wallworth, “is all about focus on quick delivery and an efficient response to the application brief.”
