Wood’s Powr-Grip PFHL89AC - Manual (Page 12)

Rev 26.0/1-14 10 PF-AC: #35130
T
O
A
PPLY THE
P
ADS TO A
L
OAD
Powering up the Lifter
With the lever on the vacuum control valve in the “RELEASE” position, place the power switch in
the “ON” position to energize the vacuum pump.
WARNING: Never turn power off during operation; keep pump running
throughout lift.
The lifter is designed for the vacuum pump to run continuously. Placing the power switch in the
“OFF” position during lifter operation could result in the release of the load and possible injury to
the operator (see T
O
L
IFT AND
M
OVE THE
L
OAD
: In Case of Power Failure to follow).
Positioning the Lifter on the Load
Make certain that the contact surfaces of the load and all vacuum pads are free of any
contaminates that could prevent the pads from sealing against the load (see MAINTENANCE:
V
ACUUM
P
AD
M
AINTENANCE
). Center the lifter’s pad frame to within 2" [5 cm] of the load center,
since off-center loading can cause the load to rotate or tilt unexpectedly (see T
O
R
OTATE THE
L
OAD
E
DGEWISE
or T
O
T
ILT THE
L
OAD
to follow), and it may also damage the lifter. 4 Make sure that all
vacuum pads will fit entirely on the load’s contact surface (see SPECIFICATIONS: Pad Spread)
and that they will be loaded evenly while lifting (see SPECIFICATIONS: Per-
Pad Load Capacity). Then apply the lifter to the load so that the pads are
touching the contact surface. Move the lever on the vacuum control valve
to the “APPLY” position to seal the pads against the load. Firm pressure at
the center of the pad frame helps the pads begin to seal.
Note: If a vacuum pad has been lying against a hard object (as during shipping), it may be
slightly distorted. Although initially it may be difficult to apply the pad to a load, this condition
should correct itself with continued use.
Reading the Vacuum Gauge
The vacuum gauge indicates the current vacuum level in the lifter’s vacuum system. The green
range indicates vacuum levels sufficient for lifting the maximum load weight, whereas the red
range indicates vacuum levels that are not sufficient for lifting the maximum load weight. The
gauge needle should show a sudden surge in vacuum as the vacuum pads seal against the load.
If it takes more than 5 seconds for the vacuum level to reach 5" Hg [-17 kPa], press on any pad
that has not yet sealed.
4
The lifter is designed to handle the maximum load weight (see SPECIFICATIONS: Maximum Load Capacity) when the load’s
center of gravity is positioned within 2" [5 cm] of the pad frame’s center point. Occasional loading deviations are permissible,
provided that the operator can maintain control of the load at all times and that the load weight is low enough to avoid damaging
the lifter.