Rice Lake RL9000TWM-HT Series - Manual (Page 4)

LEVEL ± 0.5
FLEXIBLE PIPING
J-BOX
2. Mechanical Installation
2.1 General Installation Guidelines for Tank Mounts
1. The mounting surface for 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 mount is level when the vessel is fully loaded because
excessive defl ections in legs and supporting structures may cause additional side
forces which greatly affect accuracy. Defl ection 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-
mount systems should be avoided as even weight distribution becomes extremely
diffi cult to achieve. The load on each mount assembly should vary by no more
than 20%. Add shims where necessary to achieve correct load distribution.
3. Take extreme care to prevent overload damage. A tank or hopper can exert huge
forces when dropped only a fraction of an inch.
4. It is crucial that all piping or conduit be
horizontal and fl exible. If fl exible piping
is not used, make sure distance from
vessel to the fi rst pipe support is 20-30
times pipe diameter. In smaller, lower
capacity tanks and hoppers, isolating
resultant forces becomes extremely
critical. For details, see our Weigh
Modules & Vessel Weighing Systems
manual, P/N 43918.
5. The weighing assemblies should not be
installed 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 mount
when welding to maintain fi nished height. If welding is unavoidable after load
cell installation, connect the ground in such a way that the current does not fl ow
through the load cell. For example, if welding on the mount 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. Use only “hermetically sealed” load cells in washdown applications. “Environ-
mentally protected” load cells are not suitable for such applications and will be
damaged. If tanks and surrounding equipment are frequently steam cleaned or if
the load cell is subjected to direct washdown, a protective shroud for the weighing
assembly is recommended. Proper drainage is necessary so the weighing assembly
is not standing in water.
7. All support points should be equally stiff so that they defl ect by the same amount
as the vessel is loaded.
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