Rice Lake RLC Stainless Steel - Manual (Page 4)

2
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
±
0.5
°
.
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
horizontal 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 criti-
cal. For details, see our Weigh Modules &
Vessel Weighing Systems manual, PN
43918.
5. Load cells should not be installed in the modules 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.
LEVEL
±
0.5 °
FLEXIBLE PIPING
J-BOX