Eadon recently worked on a unique project to design a custom drive system for a trolley used to place precast concrete planks on a new pedestrian and cycle bridge.

The trolley was required to travel along two narrow steel flanges with minimal clearance, presenting a significant design challenge. Our task was to integrate the drive components – particularly the bogies – within the tight spatial constraints while still meeting demanding load-bearing requirements.

We explored a few drive system options, including both two-wheel and four-wheel drive setups. Each had pros and cons, especially when the trolley wasn’t evenly loaded. To help make the call, we sent a list of options and ran a HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study) with the wider project team. Following evaluation, we selected a high-capacity four-wheel solution, of which two were driven from a German supplier that satisfied both the structural constraints and safety and performance requirements.

We also designed a simple but effective guidance system to keep the trolley on track during operation. It used a set of guide rollers underneath the trolley that only engaged if the trolley started to drift from its intended path.

This was one of those projects that really tested our ability to think creatively in a tight space – both literally and figuratively. It was also a great example of how good engineering often means close collaboration across different teams and disciplines.

If you have a project which requires bespoke machinery or access equipment, either driven or undriven please contact us here.