Joyce Dayton Jacks: Lift and Shift Waste

Joyce Dayton Jacks: Lift and Shift Waste

The Problem:

Joyce Dayton was required to combat and resolve two challenges given by a nuclear services company. They were requested to provide a transfer system that could move a specific load at a horizontal distance of 24m in 6m increments, and then customize the solution (jack and power system) to meet the unique design challenges of the nuclear industry.

The Solution:

A series of 22 Tonne Joyce® ComDRIVE® systems were used to transport the load over a horizontal distance of about 24m. The special rotating screw design allows the travelling nut to pass over a central support bushing in the screw with uninterrupted travel. As the ComDRIVE powers the transfer system, nuclear waste is conveyed down a 24m corridor. As the load traverses it is transferred across thresholds onto successive ComDRIVE systems until it travels the full distance. Stainless steel doors close as it passes each threshold sealing the nuclear waste in an inner chamber. Joyce Dayton Engineers worked with Project Engineers to provide the needed modifications to the 22 Tonne ComDRIVES including custom designed screws, jack sleeves, traveling nuts, and added features on the gear reducers. The unique features added were an encoder system, split nut for remote placement, recovery system with hex nut drive extension and variable frequency drive for over current protection (safety against self-destruction).

The equipment was modified to allow a smooth transfer across the thresholds of the steel doors without compromising the integrity of the shielding. The equipment could not be prone to leaking fluids which pose clean-up and maintenance problems in the nuclear environment and had to be rugged, reliable and capable of functioning throughout the 20 year life of the project.

Joyce Dayton Engineers worked with talented designers through the design process, step by step, until the finished design was reached. The end result was a successful transfer system whose function is central to the success of the waste packaging process.