Full Truck Drop Tables – Macton has full truck drop tables designed to accommodate two and three axle trucks. Full truck drop tables may also have a split service top to accommodate single axle removal. The machine screws in Macton drop tables are positioned behind the lifting columns for protection against debris and damage. The jack nuts are guided and lubricated through the entire stroke to maximize the wear life. The control of the table is through a PLC, which is programmed for automatic operation. The precise positioning of the drop table is automatically monitored, thereby providing the operator with maximum convenience and decreasing the wear and tear on the drive mechanism. Macton drop tables are designed for many years of reliable, safe operation.

KEY BENEFITS INCLUDE:

  • Capable of changing out full trucks as well as single axles with traction motors.
  • Four (4) Self-locking machine screws with bronze nuts and steel safety follower nuts.
  • Independent lifting columns with variable frequency drives (VFD) and absolute multi-turn encoders.  Absolute height position sensing also included on each column as an additional safety device.
  • Automatic table positioning using absolute laser feedback allows operator to select destination and traverse table with accurate precision with the touch of a button.
  • Operator Station provides drop table location and fault information on HMI display.  Wireless remote controller provided with emergency stop pushbutton.

For a full list of features and benefits, click on the tabs below.

Maximum Capacity

Will handle a total load of up to 125 U.S. tons 

General Capabilities

Drop table system will handle the change-out of an entire rail truck; it is capable of lifting the total lifting load one inch (1”) above the top of the shop rails to allow such truck to be disengaged from the rail vehicle, and then have the lifting carriage lower to the bottom of the service track pit and then traverse over to the release track, where it can then be raised up to move the truck off the release track; the process can be repeated in reverse to put a new truck back into the rail vehicle

Lifting/Lowering Speed

3.0 feet per minute for lifting or lowering 

Traversing (Racking) Speed

Carriage racking speed is controlled by a variable frequency drive; while traversing through the pit the speed is approximately 30 feet per minute and slows to 3 feet per minute when approaching the service and release areas

Service Top

In normal operations, the truck to be removed is positioned over the service top (which is located on top of the drop table carriage); the carriage is used to raise and lower the service top as well as traverse between the service track and release track

Release Top

An open release area (i.e., no release top) is assumed in our base equipment price (a bascule top or canopy top is available as an option – see options below) 

Body Stand Supports & Box Beams

Supports along the sides of the drop table will support the rail vehicle while the truck is lowered (the maximum capacity of such supports is 62.5 U.S. tons each); the jacking pads on such supports are adjustable to accommodate a wide range of vehicle jacking pad locations 

Screw Jacks

Drop table has four (4) self-locking ACME-thread machine screw jacks, each driven by its own independent gear motor – as a result, they can lift at a higher speed when lifting or lowering in non-critical areas, and at a slower speed in the upper range of travel

Vertical Guide Supports

Vertical travel of the lifting carriage is guided for the entire travel length by steel rollers against guide columns to prevent side loads and enhance screw life

Track Gauge

U.S. version is 4’ 8-½” (56.5”); Canadian version is 4’ 10-7/8” (58.875”)

Controlled Upper Racking of Service Top

Controls allow the drop table to rack approximately 1” from centerline in either direction within the upper range of lifting travel to allow for easier alignment for replacing trucks in the vehicle

Service Top Locking Bars

Manually-operated locking bar system to support the rollover load of the rail vehicle when activated (electrically-operated locking bar system available upon request – see options below)

Safety Features

Self-Locking Nuts – Self-locking machine screw jacks with bronze nut – system designed to be fail-safe so as to support the entire rail vehicle in the event of a power or mechanical failure (they require power to raise or lower the system)

Steel Safety Nuts – Screw jacks include a steel follower safety nut, to support the load in the event that the bronze load nut fails 

VFD with Encoder Counts – Each jack unit has a variable frequency drive and an absolute multi-turn encoder mounted directly on the motor to maintain synchronous lifting and lowering speed of all of the hoist motors in the system.  The signals from the variable frequency drive and the encoder are monitored using a network of PLCs located on the lifting carriage.  If any of the jack units in the system stop for any reason the entire system will stop and a fault will be indicated.  The use of variable speed motors also minimizes power consumption and prevents large in-rush start-up currents by ramping up the gradually motors during the starting process.  

Absolute Height Position Sensing – Upward and downward motion of the screw jacks is further monitored and controlled using an absolute height encoder position sensor located on each screw jack, with a sensor that monitors the travel and position of each lifting column throughout the lifting operation (as well as lowering). 

Overload Protection – The variable speed drive also will shut down the entire system if one of the motors in the system is experiencing an overload due to mechanical malfunction or an obstacle that is preventing the system from lifting or lowering.  

E-Stop – Operator station and each remote pendant have a mushroom-type emergency stop push button that will shut down control system when activated

Controls – “Dead-man” type controls make sure controls require constant pressure to operate

Screw Protection

Each screw is enclosed with a stationary cover and brush guards for protection from debris and contamination

Modular Sections

Equipment is built in modular steel sections, allowing for a quick and reliable assembly at the jobsite, as well as for better control of the overall equipment quality

Pit Rail

To be provided and installed by others (optional pit rail available – see options below)

Finishes

Steel structures are coated with one coat of rust inhibiting primer followed by a top coat of yellow industrial grade polyurethane enamel

Embedments

Fabricated steel embedments for the concrete foundation are provided prior to equipment installation (to be installed by others) – these include embedments for the service top locking bars and, if needed, any guide frames for pit covers 

Lifting Motor Used

An electric brake motor drives each of the lifting gearmotors; each uses 480V, three-phase, 60Hz power (other voltages available)

Traversing Motor Used

An electric gearmotor with brake and VFD (to ensure accurate and repeatable positioning) drives the traversing operation; it uses 480V, three-phase, 60Hz power (other voltages available); absolute laser feedback is used to further ensure the accurate positioning of the drop table system within the pit 

Control System

Complete control system including (i) operator’s control station with a touch-screen operator interface that displays operating and fault messages to help the operator more easily understand and use the equipment, (ii) a remote pendant, (iii) electrical enclosures on the equipment base, which manage all functions of the drop table and continuously monitor the correct lifting and traversing operations for the drop table, and (iv) remote diagnostics to allow a service technician to remotely diagnose issues and upload software updates to the system (customer to provide internet connection or wireless access for this feature)

Automatic Table Positioning

Control system allows the operator to select the destination of the drop table – once the travel is initiated the drop table smoothly accelerates to full speed, travels until the stop is within range, decelerates to a creep speed and stops in position at the center of the selected track – this prevents the high rate of wear associated with the drive train on a drop table operated with only a motor starter that has to be started at full speed and jogged into position

100% New Equipment

All assemblies, parts and other items on equipment are completely new and not from any used or refurbished parts (refurbished equipment often has a reduced useful life and increased safety concerns from re-using older equipment)

Quality Procedures

All materials and work done on the system are carefully monitored under an ISO 9001:2008 certified quality program and 100% designed and built in our facility in the United States (we don’t reassemble systems built in other countries); all welding is performed in accordance with ANSI/AWS Structural Welding Code D1.1 standards and is inspected and approved by a Certified Welding Inspector qualified under Section 6.1 of the AWS current specification

Pre-Shipment Factory Testing

Equipment is fully assembled and operationally tested at the factory prior to shipment – at this time, the owner’s representative may inspect the system prior to shipment to confirm the product specifications are met

Installation Supervision, Startup & Training

A factory-trained technician will provide onsite technical supervision of the system during the installation, along with onsite startup, commissioning and one (1) day of training, at no added cost (all field labor and travel costs included in equipment price)

Estimated Install Time

Typically five (5) days, using a three-man work crew for equipment installation (assuming equipment is installed in a new foundation), and one (1) day for start up, testing and training 

Warranty Period

5 years – the most extensive warranty in the industry, demonstrating how confident we are in the performance and durability of this equipment

O&M Manual

Operation & Maintenance manual in English provided in electronic format with each system

Pit & Box Beam Dimensions

Different pit depths, widths and lengths are available; in addition, the range of motion for which the body stand supports can be moved, as well as the box beam dimensions, can be modified to accommodate the lifting of different-sized rail vehicles

Added Service Tops

Additional service tops can be provided

Bascule or Canopy Release Top

Release track can be equipped with either a bascule top or “canopy-style” top designed to open as the drop table raises to facilitate the removal of trucks

Auxiliary Top

An auxiliary top which facilitates the removal of single wheelsets and the associated traction motor combos 

Traction Motor Dolly

Traction motor dolly supported on steel rollers to provide support of traction motors during the removal and replacement of individual wheel sets which have traction motors.  The dolly head can be lifted or lowered to assist in the removal and replacement of these items, and it plugs into an 110V outlet (to be provided by customer).  The lifting cylinder comes equipped with one of a variety of fixtures that can accommodate a wide range of traction motor styles and manufacturers (customer can order additional fixtures, if needed).

Pit Covers

Pit covers to cover parts of the release area or other areas around the drop table system; such covers are designed to support either a uniform load of 300 PSF or a 6,000 pound concentrated load over a 6” area (other loading capacities available) 

Pit Rail

For new equipment foundations, pit rail and an integrated steel embedment structure is available for ease of construction 

Truck Progression System

A truck progression system can be incorporated into the design of the drop table

Track Gauge

Different track gauges available upon request

Service Top Locking Bars

Electrically-operated locking bar system available upon request 

Pit Railings

Removable guard rails around pit openings

Warning Lights / Horns

Warning lights and/or horns to advise that equipment is in operation

Control Systems

Additional controller locations and wireless remote controls available

Nut Wear Indication

Sensors to advise if any bronze lifting nut has worn past an acceptable level

Work Lights; Power Outlets 

LED work lights on service top, as well as power outlets for hand tools used by equipment operators, to assist operators doing work while on the service top

Shipping

Shipping to jobsite (for shipments within North America, the equipment is shipped via flatbed truck; for shipments overseas, the equipment is sent via standard, 40-foot shipping containers)

Spare Parts; Post-Install Servicing

Spare parts packages available upon request; ongoing inspection and maintenance programs are also available upon request