DC Velocity - September 2016

Leak detection kit: The Spectroline OPK-441 Industrial Leak Detection Kit is a starter kit designed to pinpoint the exact source of even the smallest leaks in hydraulic equipment, compressors, engines, gearboxes, and fuel systems.

The kit features the Optimax 400 violet light LED flashlight, a compact, high-intensity unit that quickly reveals all leaks in small to medium-sized oil-based fluid systems, even in cramped areas that are inaccessible to larger lamps.

Also included is an 8-ounce (237 milliliter) twin-neck bottle of patented Oil-Glo 44 concentrated fluorescent oil dye, which is compatible with all synthetic and petroleum-based fluids. When circulated into a leaking system and scanned with the Optimax 400 flashlight, the dye glows a bright yellow/green at all leak sources to reveal their precise location.

Rounding out the kit is an 8-ounce (237 milliliter) spray bottle of Glo-Away dye cleaner, dye treatment tags, and fluorescence-enhancing glasses. (Spectroline, www.spectroline.com)

Trailer management system: Phillips Industries has introduced the Permalogic Smart-Charge trailer power management system. This “smart” charging system for liftgate and auxiliary battery banks recognizes and automatically manages the best power source(s) to charge your batteries from all available sources collectively at the same time.

The Permalogic Smart-Charge system can pull from a number of different sources. The system has built-in low-voltage detection to avoid draining power sources and an LED indicator to display which power input source is being utilized. (Phillips Industries, www. phillipsind.com)

Hitch mount: Ergodyne has introduced its Umbrella Trailer Hitch Mount. The 6193 is a portable accessory piece that fits with a standard two-inch hitch receiver onto the back of a truck and holds the Shax 6100 Umbrella in place, providing shade wherever, whenever.

Easy to attach and operate, the 6193, when used with Ergodyne’s 6100 Umbrella, protects workers at outdoor worksites like highways, construction sites, and farms from the sun’s UV rays.

The hitch mount is ideal for anyone seeking convenient shade on the job, the manufacturer says. The thumbscrew holds the rust-resistant steel umbrella pole in place. The umbrella trailer hitch mount’s long length allows users to bring down the tailgate and sit in the shade. (Ergodyne, www.ergodyne.com)

Battery guide: Fronius has developed the “Cool Battery Guide Easy” information and management system, an intelligent solution for forklift truck operators that’s designed to improve the utilization of the traction batteries. The system intuitively guides the user to the battery that has been fully charged for the longest and is therefore the coolest. This increases the useful life of the battery, while reducing the total cost of ownership and optimizing the performance and availability of the forklift truck fleet at the same time.

With the Cool Battery Guide Easy system, users can dramatically improve the utilization of their battery pool, the company says. A control unit processes the signals of the individual Fronius Selectiva battery charging systems, while a blue LED strip on the unit itself shows the user which battery has been fully charged for the longest and is therefore the coolest, intuitively guiding the user to the correct battery. As a result, incorrect selections by employees are a thing of the past. In addition, an alarm signal can be triggered if the wrong battery is taken. More effective utilization improves the chemical properties of the battery and ensures maximum capacity and performance for as long as possible. Up to 1,500 charging cycles are possible during normal operation under these conditions.

The intelligent battery management system extends the service life of the traction batteries, thereby reducing the operating costs. As the user always has access to a fully charged battery, constant availability of the forklift truck fleet is guaranteed. In some cases, Cool Battery Guide Easy can also reduce the pool of backup batteries needed. For example, 20 percent fewer backup batteries can be used for a fleet without any impact on forklift truck availability. This significantly reduces purchasing costs for these expensive batteries.

For those wishing to deploy the system in harsh operating conditions, Fronius can also supply on request a special housing for the control unit that provides enhanced IP protection. (Fronius, www.fronius.com/intralogistics)