Rice Lake RL1900 Series - Manual (Page 4)

2
2. Mechanical Installation
2.1 General Installation Guidelines for Tank Mounts
In circular mounting configurations, the preferred mounting orientation is with the
long axis of the load cell pointing toward the center of the vessel, as illustrated in
Figures 1 and 2 below.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate mounting configurations for rectangular vessels where the
long axis of the load cell should be parallel to the long dimension of the vessel. In
any application where a recurring force is present in one direction, as in a conveyor
belt or roller platform, the long axis of the load cell should align with that force.
1. Mounting surface for base plate and top plate must be level within
±
.5
°
to
minimize side loads and extraneous forces. If the mounting surfaces are not
level, then shims or grout may be used to level the mount.
If possible, check level and plumb again when container is fully loaded because
deflections in legs and supporting structures may cause additional side forces
that greatly effect accuracy. Reinforcement such as cross bracing of legs or
other support structures may be necessary to correct this. Deflection of the
mount’s top or base plate due to loading should not exceed
±
.5
°
.
2. The relative load on each mount assembly should vary by no more than 20%.
During installation, add shims where necessary to verify that the correct load
distribution is achieved on each mount.
3. During installation, dummy load cells can be used to prevent overload damage.
However, if the actual load cells are used during installation of the weighing
assembly, 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.
4. It is crucial that flexible sections are close to the vessel and all piping or conduit
be horizontal. 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. For details, see the technical infor-
mation section of the Rice Lake Weighing Sys-
tems Load Cell Product Selection Guide. In smaller,
lower capacity tanks and hoppers, isolating the
resultant forces becomes extremely critical. If
possible, flexible conduit piping should be used
close to the vessel instead of the rigid variety.
LEVEL ± 0.5 °
FLEXIBLE PIPING
J-BOX
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 3