MTS Series 311 Load Frame - Manual (Page 24)

Series 311 Load Frame 24 Safety
Keep bystanders
safely away
Keep bystanders at a safe distance from all equipment. Never allow bystanders to
touch specimens or equipment while the test is running.
Wear proper clothing
Do not wear neckties, shop aprons, loose clothing or jewelry, or long hair that
could get caught in equipment and result in an injury. Remove loose clothing or
jewelry and restrain long hair.
Remove flammable
fluids
Remove flammable fluids from their containers or from components before you
install the container or component. If desired, you can replace the flammable
fluid with a non-flammable fluid to maintain the proper proportion of weight and
balance.
Know compressed gas
hazards
Most servohydraulic systems contain accumulators that require a high-pressure
gas precharge (pressures that exceed 138 bar [2000 psi]). In addition, some
systems can contain devices, such as static supports, that are pneumatically
operated. High-pressure devices are potentially dangerous because a great
amount of energy is available in the event of an uncontrolled expansion or
rupture.
Observe the following safety practices when you work with high-pressure air or
gases:
• When you charge an accumulator, follow all the charging instructions
provided in the appropriate product information manuals. When precharging
accumulators, properly identify the type of gas to be used and the type of
accumulator to be precharged.
Use only dry-pumped nitrogen to precharge nitrogen-charged accumulators.
(Dry-pumped nitrogen can also be labeled “oil pumped” or “dry water
pumped.”) Do not use compressed air or oxygen for precharging: the
temperature increase caused by rapid gas compression can result in highly
explosive conditions when hydraulic fluid is in the presence of oxygen or
compressed air.
• Always follow the recommended bleeding procedures before you remove or
disassemble components that contain pressurized gas. When you bleed a gas
or remove a fitting, hose, or component that contains a gas, remember that
many gases cannot support life. Therefore, as the ratio of released gas to
oxygen increases, so does the potential for suffocation.
• Wear appropriate safety devices to protect your hearing. Escaping air or gas
can create a noise level that can damage your hearing.