Aerial platforms are widely used in construction, utilities, forestry, rescue and fire services.
The main purpose of vehicle towers is to lift and move people, tools and materials to a given height to perform certain work.
There is a wide selection of aerial platforms on the market, differing in load capacity, lifting height, boom reach and type, purpose, chassis parameters and technical equipment.
Areas of application
Towers are used for working at heights in confined spaces:
- carrying out repair and construction work on the facades and roof of the building;
- installation of window fillings;
- installation and maintenance of antennas and air conditioning systems;
- washing windows and facades, removing icicles from roofs;
- placement of outdoor advertising;
- installation and maintenance of street lighting and illumination;
- decorating Christmas trees;
- cutting down and pruning tree crowns.
Also, aerial platforms are used for rescue operations, firefighting, repair and maintenance of bridges, power lines, and for various utility needs.
Using an aerial platform during rescue operations.
Construction of aerial platforms
An aerial platform is a vehicle or a special chassis equipped with a working platform (cradle) on a telescopic or articulated-telescopic lift with a rotating boom.
The main elements of automobile towers include:
- aerial platform chassis - chassis;
- platform on which the working parts of the lift are placed;
- a fenced work area (basket or cradle) where people, tools, equipment and materials are located during work;
- a boom, which is an external structure that provides lifting and movement of the working platform;
- a lifting mechanism in the form of hydraulic cylinders that drive the boom elements;
- support structures or outriggers to ensure machine stability.
The lift can be controlled from the driver's cabin or the working platform. Most modern models have two redundant controls:
- The lower one, located at the base of the boom, in the form of levers, buttons or triggers, is intended for the driver.
- The top one is for operators working in the cradle.
The hydraulic drive is carried out from the power mechanism through the power take-off box.
The tower can be installed on a fixed support frame or a movable rotating platform.
The stability of the structure is ensured by outriggers - outriggers.
On some lift models, the cradles can additionally extend and rotate relative to the boom head. Thus, workers in the cradle can move independently above within certain limits.
To ensure the safety of people working in the cradle, aerial platforms must be equipped with various sensors, limiters, emergency stop systems and lowering the boom when the engine is turned off.
Auto-tower device.
AGP interface capabilities
What was so interesting that Intel developers proposed more than twenty years ago that this connector not only became popular, but, having gone through various modifications, has survived in some machines to this day?
- The main advantage of the new connector at that time was its doubled throughput. This was achieved due to a higher data exchange frequency, which at that time reached 66 MHz and the ability to work with the separation of requests for data transfer and for performing operations.
- The second advantage that the AGP standard received is the ability to directly access the main system (RAM) memory in DMA and DME modes without using the central processor. This not only relieved the CPU, but also allowed the video card to expand the amount of memory used by external sources.
- The third innovation - the AGP slot made it possible to work with more powerful video cards that consume up to 40 W.
History of creation
The problem of lifting loads and people to heights has always faced humanity.
The first lifts were a structure consisting of a lever hinged to a base, to one end of which a load was attached, and a traction rope to which a load was attached. At first, the device worked using human power, then a winch was invented, on which a rope was wound.
Replacing manual power with a winch made lifting loads to heights much easier. Such devices were used for the construction of cathedrals and fortress walls, unloading and loading ships.
Over the years, manual power was replaced by steam, ropes - by chains and cables.
With the advent of automobiles, the idea arose to place lifts on truck chassis platforms.
The first lifts that combined a lifting mechanism with a car appeared in the 20s of the last century. They had a vertically rising boom with a mechanical drive.
In their modern form, aerial platforms appeared in the mid-20th century, when hydraulic systems were invented.
In 1960, the Leningrad plant produced the first hydraulic lifts with a folding three-stage lifting boom on hinges. Massive aerial platforms were reliable and safe, but required room to maneuver.
To work in dense urban areas, more mobile equipment with telescopic and combined booms began to be produced. Such aerial platforms do not take up much space and do not require a lot of space to lay out the boom.
A prototype of a modern aerial platform.
AGP connector compatibility
Motherboards that support the AGP port will either have a graphics card slot or will have a built-in connector. An AGP 3.0 graphics card can be used on a motherboard that supports more than just the 2.0 version, but it will be limited to the motherboard's support and not the graphics card's support. In other words, the motherboard will not allow the graphics card to perform better just because it is a 3.0 card; The motherboard itself is not capable of such speeds (in this scenario).
Some motherboards that only use version 3.0 may not support older 2.0 cards. So, in the reverse scenario described above, the video card may not even function if it is not capable of running the newer interface.
Universal AGP slots are available that support both 1.5V and 3.3V cards, as well as universal cards. Some operating systems, such as Windows 95, do not support the AGP port due to lack of driver support. Other operating systems, such as Windows 98 to Windows XP, require loading a chipset driver to support AGP 8X.
Specifications
The general characteristics of all aerial platforms include:
- Chassis type. Aerial platforms can be mounted on cars of domestic and foreign brands.
- Load capacity. The permissible weight of the lifting mechanism largely depends on the height of the tower and can reach 1,000 kg.
- Angle of rotation of the cradle. The indicator affects the accuracy of the cradle delivery to the work site, the comfort and convenience of workers.
- Cradle material. The devices are made of steel, aluminum or plastic. The strength and weight of the structure, specific load capacity and maneuverability of the installation depend on the material of the cradle.
- Cradle insulation. When performing electrical installation work, protecting the structure from current is of great importance. Isolated models about in the lift markings. Plastic work platforms do not require additional insulation.
- Lifting height. Towers are low-height (up to 18 m), medium-height (19-28 m), high-height (29-50 m) and super-high (above 50 m).
The Bronto Skylift F 112 HLA model on a seven-axle Mercedes-Benz chassis is considered the tallest aerial platform in the world. The machine is equipped with a two-section telescopic boom capable of lifting loads weighing up to 300 kg to a height of up to 112 meters.
Telescopic self-propelled loader
What games came out in the dawn of AGP?
This technology has improved the performance of video cards and given impetus to the development of fundamentally new software. Among them, it is worth highlighting the gaming direction, which has become a kind of engine of progress. After all, it was gamers who were the first to actively introduce innovations, changing motherboards and video cards on their PCs.
It couldn’t be otherwise, because during those 8 years while AGP was the only slot for video cards, computer games were born that became real legends:
- Quake 3
- Fallout
- Half-Life
- Diablo II
- The Sims
- Warcraft III
- Grand Theft Auto III
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- World of Warcraft
- Call of Duty
How do you like the list? Impressive? I myself had a stingy nostalgic tear, and I think many will understand and support me. Yes, even just for one of them it was already worth borrowing money and going to the store to buy hardware for an upgrade. For those whose capabilities were limited, we developed a special AGP-PCI adapter.
The AGP interface was constantly improved and modernized in terms of increasing performance: 4 of its standards appeared, designated 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x. The number shows the number of information blocks transmitted per processor cycle.
Version 8x provided a speed of 2 Gb/s and could support video cards like NVidia GeForce 6600. However, problems with the power-transmitting contacts began to manifest themselves when the video adapter was heavily loaded.
Advantages and disadvantages
Mobile towers are convenient to use in dense urban areas. Cars can drive into courtyard arches, park areas and various objects with a limited work area.
Modern technology is equipped with equipment and devices that allow us to fully carry out construction, installation and repair work.
The advantages of aerial platforms include:
- the ability to lift loads weighing up to 300 kg to a height of 60 meters and above;
- safety of operation. Workers are in a cradle with sides and are equipped with additional safety belts;
- joint lifting of workers, tools and loads;
- feeding of working cradles in various planes;
- simplicity and ease of use;
- compactness and maneuverability;
- maintainability and availability of equipment.
To start operating aerial platforms, no special preparatory measures are required.
When renting machines, you can pre-select models with the required boom length and load capacity.
An important advantage of aerial platforms is the ability to operate at sub-zero temperatures. For comfortable work of operators, heated cabins are used.
Disadvantages of car lifts include the need for driveways and parking areas and the installation of support structures.
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Installing an AGP video card
Installing a graphics card into an expansion slot should be a fairly simple process. You can see how this is done by following the instructions and pictures in this video card installation guide.
If you have problems with the installed video card, consider reinstalling the card. This applies to AGP, PCI or PCI Express.
Before purchasing and installing a new video card for the AGP connector, check the manual for your motherboard or computer. Installing an AGP video card that is not supported by the motherboard will not work and may damage the computer.
Types of aerial platforms: Russian classification
The modern market offers various types of aerial platforms, which are classified according to various indicators:
By boom design
The following types of aerial platforms are distinguished:
- Telescopic . The most popular types of lifts. Lightweight designs with extendable sections to increase boom length and a fixed or rotating work basket. They have a fairly large lifting height. Can only lift loads vertically. They require precise placement under the work site.
- geniculate . Lifts with a boom consisting of several sections connected by hinges.
- Elbow-telescopic. Combined devices with low load capacity. The maximum height of such a lift can be 70 meters. They are distinguished by the ability to move the boom in any direction by 360°.
The lift is cranked and telescopic.
- Elbows . Lifting booms requiring large working space.
- Pavements . They differ in the ability to move in the working position. They are used on extended objects for the repair and maintenance of contact networks, bridges or pipelines.
By arrow type
Depending on the type of work performed, aerial platforms are classified:
- AP - car lifts;
- APT - telescopic car lifts;
- AGP - auto-hydraulic lifts;
- PMS - mounting boom lifts
- TV - telescopic vertical lift towers;
- PSS - self-propelled boom lifts.
All aerial platforms are produced on the basis of automobile chassis, pickups, and minibuses.
By type of work performed
Based on the nature of the tasks performed, towers can be divided into three categories:
- Universal, performing a wide range of tasks. Used in construction and public utilities.
- Specialized - used for maintenance and repair of bridge structures. Mounted on a chassis providing high load capacity.
- Special aerial platforms are designed for servicing power lines. Maneuverable lifts are mounted on the chassis of all-terrain vehicles capable of moving in off-road conditions. The equipment is equipped with electrical protection, which ensures the ability to work on power lines without turning off the power.
Special aerial platform
According to performance characteristics
The main parameters characterizing aerial platforms include:
- working area area;
- boom reach and design;
- chassis speed when moving to the work site;
- lifting capacity, or the maximum permissible weight of the load lifted by the aerial platform;
- power of the power plant (drive, engine, battery);
- speed of lifting loads to the maximum permissible height;
- dimensions of the machine in working and transport position;
- weight of the machine with the equipped lift ready for use;
- maximum lift height.
Lifts can have a mechanical, electromechanical or hydraulic drive.
The class and characteristics of the chassis are of great importance for the lifting capacity of the tower. The longer the boom and the greater the weight of the loads being lifted, the more stable and powerful the chassis should be.
Accelerated graphics port versions
There are three common AGP connectors:
| Clock frequency | Voltage | Speed | Transmission speed | |
| AGP 1.0 | 66 MHz | 3.3 V | 1X and 2X | 266 MB/s and 533 MB/s |
| AGP 2.0 | 66 MHz | 1.5 V | 4X | 1.066 MB/s |
| AGP 3.0 | 66 MHz | 0.8 V | 8X | 2.133 MB/s |
Transfer speed is referred to as bandwidth and is measured in megabytes.
The numbers 1X, 2X, 4X and 8X indicate the bandwidth speed relative to the AGP connector 1.0 speed (266 MB/s). For example, connector 3.0 is eight times faster than port 1.0's AGP, so the maximum throughput is eight times (8X) that of version 1.0.
Microsoft called AGP 3.5 the Universal Accelerated Graphics Port (UAGP), but its transfer speed, voltage requirements, and other details are identical to the 3.0 bus.
What types of work are hydraulic lifts used for?
Depending on the design, hydraulic lifts are cantilever, telescopic and scissor type.
Stationary and mobile equipment is used for lifting and lowering workers, tools, equipment and materials when performing:
- construction and installation works;
- loading and unloading cargo;
- car repair;
- transporting cars to the parking lot;
- maintenance of buildings and structures;
Hydraulic lifts are in demand in warehouses and industrial facilities, on construction sites and in auto repair shops, in multi-level parking lots and service stations.
Scissor type hydraulic lift.
Requirements for an AGP driver
The profession of a machinist is a working specialty. Candidates for this position must provide proof of professional education and a valid driver's license.
It is possible that a potential employer will ask relevant questions: about the structure of the lift, about the rules of operation of the AHP, about the characteristics and purpose of working tools, about what causes certain malfunctions and how to eliminate the problems that have arisen in normal mode, etc. d.
Need I say that an experienced driver should know all the answers?
In addition, the required knowledge base includes:
Chassis manufacturers
The chassis used for installing aerial platforms are based on:
- Cars: domestic brands - KAMAZ, MAZ, ZIL, UAZ, Ural, GAZ; imported manufacturers - Hyundai, MAN, Volvo, Scania.
- Car trailers, pickup trucks Isuzu D-Max, JAC T8 Pro, Mazda BT-50, Lawn Next, UAZ.
- Self-propelled wheeled or tracked chassis.
- Trailed, without their own mechanism of movement.
Domestic equipment is unpretentious and suitable for operation in difficult Russian conditions. In addition, the machines are more economical to maintain and more affordable.
Hydraulic lift on UAZ chassis
A story about how I worked as an agp driver (aerial platform driver)
There was something like that in my biography, I worked for 3 years until the office collapsed. Phone numbers will be visible in the photo, do not take it as advertising, this company has not existed since 2014, the numbers are not valid. He worked in this office from 2011 to 2014. Briefly about the machine itself and the installation: Aerial platform based on Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter, Aichi installation, lifting height up to 25 meters, manufactured in 1989. At full reach, the boom reaches the 9th floor balcony of a standard nine-story building.
in the horizon the maximum reach is 13 meters, but under some conditions and if it is really necessary, it reaches up to 17 meters.
The orders come in a variety of varieties; what I liked the most was sawing trees, the work is creative, and you can get a little tough on me, especially if you’re on a business trip. There was often communication with the police during such work; local grandmothers called. They are cutting down a tree that she planted in her youth, it doesn’t matter that it is dry and may fall, the main thing is that she planted it.
What I didn’t like most was working with advertisers; they were not adequate people at all. There is a minimum wage of 2 hours, so they are trying in every possible way to meet it, they don’t care about safety. This aerial platform has no safety systems, the safety system is represented by a fortress of nerves, the car began to stagger, that means that’s it, stop pulling the boom, it’s time to move the car, so it’s extremely difficult to explain this to advertisers, give us another 2 meters, we need to finish it a little. The rearrangement takes a long time, as much as 5-10 minutes, and time is ticking.
One of the interesting requests was the washing of monuments. Especially when they washed the monument to V.I. Lenin, there were a lot of advisers on how to properly soap his bald head)) in the photo there is a monument to Alexander III
There was also work to replace the lamps, there is generally loaf, I order for the whole day, work for half a day at most, the rest of the time we roll cotton wool.
There was one interesting case, they were called to work cutting down trees, the difficulty was that the trees were close between the power lines and houses, that is, even if they were cut in pieces, there was nowhere to throw them. Therefore, we worked in tandem with a crane. The customer is an electric grid company. The line is disconnected and they give the go-ahead for work. I’m standing on a tower in an alley, the crane is on the corner of the house, next to the wires, that is, I don’t see it, I lift people up to the tree, the crane brings out an arrow over the tree, and the cable touches the wires, the fireworks were beautiful. as it turned out, the wrong line was disconnected; I don’t know why the line was not grounded. The cable short-circuited two phases, many household appliances burned out, wires fell on the road where I wanted to stand, but then I decided to stand in an alley, in general I was lucky, it’s good that no one was hurt.
If you're interested, I'll write more about what I remember. Some photos from work
Source
Manufacturers of lifting equipment
Table 1. The most popular manufacturers of Russian and foreign lifting equipment.
| Tadano Faun Group | The world's largest manufacturer of lifting equipment, with production facilities in Japan and Germany. | Supplies a wide range of aerial platforms to the Russian market, including:
|
| Aichi Skymaster | A Japanese company founded in 1962, with subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand, and China. | Among the most popular models:
|
| Horyong Sky 400 | The South Korean company is the largest Asian manufacturer of aerial platforms. All equipment is made from Swedish structural steel from SSAB using components from leading European manufacturers. | It is worth paying attention to the model:
|
| Pozhtekhnika | Russian company producing ATP brand construction towers |
|
| JINWOO | A company from South Korea produces telescopic towers on a Hyundai chassis (6x4) |
|
| DASAN HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO | South Korean manufacturer of a wide range of hydraulic lifts. | The most popular models in Russia are:
|
All equipment is adapted to Russian operating conditions.
AGP - the connector through which the best games came
I welcome my readers and today we have an unusual topic, the hero of which is the AGP connector. Yes, my friends, not many people saw him in action. But it is still present on some computers. Therefore, in order to study in detail the hardware you have, let’s talk about this slot.
The emergence of the AGP connector is directly related to the development of computer technology. Attempts to upgrade your PC to the maximum have always been unsuccessful, since something new was constantly appearing. And in order to get at least some groundwork for the video card connection protocol, the AGP connector was invented, which at one time began to be actively used on motherboards from different manufacturers.
The reserve was needed in terms of data transfer speed. Since it was this parameter that became the most relevant for the operation of the video adapter.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the connector was mainly designed for versatility and high throughput. But it was called AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port. I think that many people can cope with the translation of this wording without a dictionary. But just in case, I’ll say this is a “fast graphics port”.
Of course, AGP was not created out of the blue. Its predecessor was the PCI connector, which at first performed its function tolerably well. But with the growing demands of developers, it became a “weak link”. Therefore, active development was carried out by leading computer hardware manufacturers. And in 1996, Intel introduced a new motherboard with a new AGP connector designed for 32-bit architecture. Naturally, a video card supporting this bus was also created for it.
Safety precautions
The work of aerial platforms is a high-risk area and requires strict adherence to labor protection and safety regulations.
Safety rules before and during aerial work
Work at height must be carried out by workers who have received special permits and have undergone occupational safety training.
Persons showing signs of alcohol intoxication are not allowed to perform official duties.
Car lifts should be located at a distance of no closer than 30 meters from power lines. The tower basket should not touch the building or other structures.
The minimum distance from the basket and rotating parts of the machine to the structure must be at least one meter.
It is prohibited to install the lift at the edge of a trench or pit.
Table 2. Minimum permissible distances from the lift support to the edge of the slope for non-fill soil.
| Pit depth, (trench) m | Type of soil | |||
| Sand and gravel | sandy loam | loam | clay | |
| 1 | 1,5 | 1,25 | 1,0 | 1,0 |
| 2 | 3,0 | 2,4 | 2,0 | 1,5 |
| 3 | 4,0 | 3,6 | 3,25 | 1,75 |
| 4 | 5,0 | 4,4 | 4,0 | 3,0 |
| 5 | 6,0 | 5,3 | 4,75 | 3,5 |
There should be no strangers in the work area.
Before entering the aerial platform, workers must:
- put on a helmet, special clothing, safety belt, safety glasses;
- conduct a visual inspection and ensure the serviceability and stability of technical structures, mechanisms and fastenings;
- make sure that the weight of materials in the basket does not exceed the maximum permissible load capacity;
- You should only enter the basket in the “landing” position.
When lifting the basket, the entrance must be closed with a fence. In case of danger, lifting should be stopped immediately.
While working on a lift, it is prohibited:
- dump materials and objects from the basket;
- drink alcohol, smoke and eat;
- clutter the basket with foreign objects.
It is prohibited to lean out or climb over the railing while work is being carried out and the basket is moving.
Basic safety requirements after completion of work
Having completed the work, the aerial platform worker must:
- signal the driver to lower the basket;
- monitor the safety of the descent;
- exit the cart after it has stopped completely;
- clear the work site of tools, materials and debris.
After the end of the shift, work clothing and protective equipment should be checked for integrity and stored. Wet clothes should be dried first.
The machine should be removed from the supports after the boom has been moved to the transport position.
After completion of the work, the aerial platform is placed in the designated place, the cabin is closed, and the key is deposited in accordance with the existing procedure at the enterprise.
Any malfunctions in the operation of the mechanisms are recorded in the logbook, and the engineering and technical personnel are informed about their presence.
Automotive hydraulic lift safety devices
To ensure the safety of people working in the cradle, aerial platforms can be equipped with:
- automatic boom blocking system when the outreach is exceeded or in the absence of outriggers;
- orientation control sensors ensuring the specified position of the cradle;
- load limiters;
- systems for emergency lowering of the boom when the engine is turned off.
It is prohibited to operate lifts during a thunderstorm, in poor lighting, in conditions of poor visibility during rain, snow or fog, as well as when the wind force is more than 10 meters per second.
It is not allowed to operate the aerial platform at outdoor temperatures below those specified in the operating instructions.
Falling aerial platform.
Safety requirements in case of accidents
In case of accidents related to the operation of vehicle towers, you should act in accordance with current instructions, taking into account the specifics of the situation.
- If the basket or other elements of the lift come into contact with voltage, remove the machine from the source of electrical voltage and lower the basket to the ground. If there are victims, call a doctor and provide first aid. The lift operator, if danger arises, must leave the cabin and ensure his own safety.
- If soil subsidence occurs during operation of the lift, you should stop lifting the basket, inform the workers about the emergency and lower the basket to the ground.
- If a malfunction of safety devices is detected, the operation of the equipment should be stopped and the situation should be reported to the responsible person.
The lift operator must notify the engineering staff of any breakdowns or emergency situations. If there are victims, medical assistance is called. The incident is reported to the company management.
AGP driver's rights
In addition to duties, the driver also has rights. You need to know them in order to understand whether management is not exceeding its authority, in which cases the demands and penalties are fair and in which they are not.
What can an officially employed AGP driver do:
If a driver is dishonest about his work, he may be held accountable:
We emphasize that the permissible boundaries on all three points are determined by the current civil, administrative, and criminal legislation of the Russian Federation.
