Rice Lake RL1600 Series - Stainless Steel - Manual (Page 4)

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2. Mechanical Installation
2.1 General Installation Guidelines for Weigh Modules
1. The mounting surface for the base and top plate must be level. After installation,
the top and bottom plates must be level within
±0.5°. If the mounting surfaces
are not level, then shims and or grout may be used to level the mount.
If possible, check that the module is level when the vessel is fully loaded
because excessive deflections in legs and supporting structures may cause
additional side forces which greatly affect accuracy. Deflection of the mount’s
top or base plate due to loading should not exceed
±.5°. Reinforcement of legs
or other support structures may be necessary to correct this. Vessels with long
legs should have cross bracing applied between adjacent legs to keep them from
spreading under load.
2. Compression mounting systems use three, four, or more mounts. More than
eight-module systems should be avoided as even weight distribution becomes
extremely difficult to achieve. The load on each module should vary by no more
than 20%. During installation, add shims where necessary to achieve correct
load distribution.
3. If the actual load cells are used during installation of the weigh module, extreme
care must be taken to prevent overload damage. A tank or hopper weighing
several tons can exert huge forces when dropped only a fraction of an inch.
Dummy load cells can be used during installation.
4. It is crucial that all piping or conduit be hori-
zontal and flexible. If flexible piping is not
used, make sure the distance from the vessel to
the first pipe support is 20-30 times the pipe
diameter.In smaller, lower capacity tanks and
hoppers, isolating the resultant forces becomes
extremely critical. For details, see our Weigh
Modules & Vessel Weighing Systems manual,
PN 43918.
5. Load cells should not be installed in the mod-
ules until all welding is completed. The heat generated from welding current
passing through a load cell can damage the adhesive holding the strain gauge
to the body. If possible, use a dummy load cell when welding to maintain
finished height. If welding is unavoidable after load cell installation, connect
the ground in such a way that the current does not flow through the load cell.
For example, if welding on the module top plate, the ground must be connected
to the vessel, not to the mount base or support structure. Also, protect the load
cell and cable from weld splatter.
6. When possible, use only “hermetically sealed” load cells in washdown applica-
tions. “Environmentally protected” load cells are not suitable for such
applications and will be damaged. If tanks and surrounding equipment are
LEVEL ± 0.5°
FLEXIBLE PIPING
J-BOX