Despite the inherent hazard of motor couplings, Machine Guard & Cover Co. finds many couplings improperly guarded or completely unguarded during site visits. Couplings are both exposed shafts and grab points that present hazards to anybody with loose clothing, hair or laces. In most cases where an attempt at guarding has been made, a piece …
When designing turbine shaft guarding for hydroelectric dams, there are numerous challenges of size, space and simplicity that must be addressed. Although these aren’t exactly new challenges for Machine Guard & Cover Company, since we regularly work in environments where floor space is at a premium, some projects can still be daunting. We were approached …
This water treatment facility had a cast pump housing with a coupling that required guarding. The shape of the housing and the constant rotation of the coupling provided an opportunity to use perforated plastic mesh as a guarding material. The plastic mesh was used as a template for locating the mounting points on the cast …
The fan provides necessary cooling and ventilation for the new shop floor of Machine Guard & Cover Company. Unfortunately, the exposed fan blades and belt and pulley system create an unsafe work environment. Proper guarding will be required to maintain the guard functionality without impeding shop floor safety. At any shop, floor space is at …
The Challenge Machine Guard & Cover Co. was asked by the Army Corps of Engineers in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to bring seven pump and motor coupling assemblies up to current ANSI B11.19-2010 guarding safety standards. The couplings were covered by bent metal covers that were installed years ago and no longer provided adequate protection …
Machine Guard & Cover Co. specializes in both stock machine guards and bearing covers, as well as in-house tooling and manufacturing of custom parts. The Challenge Low head hydraulic power plants have turbines set at or close to the discharge level of the water, with a generator placed above the turbine. (See Figure 1) These …
