Replacing damaged bearings on a bridge is a straightforward, multi-step, process. Usually, the most efficient and safe method is to lift the bridge up, remove and replace the broken components, and lower it back to the ground.
Of course, there are multiple ways to lift a bridge, but the way that allows for the most control and least damage is synchronized hydraulic lifting. Here, we’ll look at a recent bridge repair project in Washington State using the Power Team innovative eSync hydraulic lift system.
The Lifting Challenge
The bridge in question is located in eastern Washington, just outside Walla Walla. It spans 80 ft. and crosses a creek, and needed several broken bearings replaced. The bridge is also in a remote location, which complicated the crew’s ability to transport lifting equipment in large trucks and set up a suitable staging area.
The county’s bridge authority required synchronized lifting for the project, which tracks with the current trend toward DOTs specifying synchronous lifts for projects like these. The advantages are clear: synchronous lifting helps keep lifts smooth and even, reducing pressure points and torque that can lead to cracks and other structural damage.
A Simple, Yet Powerful Solution
With little experience in synchronized lift systems, the crew turned to Jacking Solutions, LLC in Auburn, Washington. Company President, Brian Middlekauff, and his team sell and rent hydraulic lifting and jacking construction equipment for projects just like this. Middlekauff knew this would be a perfect test case for the eSync system from Power Team.
As county engineers and personnel stood by on-site, Middlekauff and the Power Team global product manager David Lundquist worked with the crew to set up the lift with an eSync system.
Equipment and Specs
- 2 linked eSync units creating an 8 point system with Power Team PE55 series pumps
- Power generator
- 5 x 1006L 6 in. stroke Power Team cylinders: 3 on one eSync unit and 2 on the other
- 1mm tolerance
Results
The crew raised one side of the bridge approximately 1 in. to repair bearings, then lowered that side. One week later, the process was repeated on the other side. With the help of the eSync system, the project was finished on time, and the crew was pleased with their very first synchronized lift project.
The Modern Way to Lift
“Customer support has been excellent. There is factory training, on-site training, and consultation available for when you're just getting started,” said Middlekauff. He emphasized that eSync transforms efficiency and safety compared to legacy lifting methods by keeping workers out from under the structure, while the system oversees the actual lifting.
One eSync unit supports up to four cylinders, but up to 16 eSync units can easily link together for a total of 64 lift points for even the largest jobs. Operation remains streamlined with one unit designated the “master unit” that controls and oversees the rest.
And because the cylinders are synchronized and governed by a central control unit, there’s no need to watch needle gauge valves on a manifold-based system, and far less potential for the bridge to twist or bend. “In our experience, the key has been the preparation in the setup,” says Middlekauff. “Once everything is in place, the system is a one-man operation. This is the future of bridge lifting.”
New Lifting Power from a Trusted Expert
With over 90 years of expertise, Power Team serves critical industries such as construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, mining and rail, delivering essential solutions for various industrial markets. Our eSync synchronized hydraulic lifting system is compact, lightweight, and portable, featuring the industry’s first fully battery-operated synchronized lift technology (a corded version is also available for use with a portable generator).
Are you ready to take your lifts to the next level, in any location? Download our guide to smarter, modern lifting to learn more!