Italian aerial work platform manufacturer Multitel Pagliero has introduced a gravity lowering valve and control system on its 71 metre MJE 710. The valve, developed in collaboration with Flodraulic Motion Systems is built into the lock valve assembly on the main boom lift cylinder.
The MJE710
The gravity lowering system has been in development and cycle testing since 2022. When the boom elevate controller is operated to lower the boom, it opens, by means of a precision proportional valve, the control valve flanged to cylinder and uses the gravitational effect/weight of the boom to push the oil out of the lift cylinder barrel while a precision proportional valve keeps the rod side of the cylinder filled with oil, preventing cavitation or shocks during descent, while a compensation system regulates excess oil discharge progressively.
Unveiled at Bauma in April, the MJE 710 has a five section lower boom, three section upper boom and an articulating jib, for a maximum working height of 70.6 metres, an outreach of 30.1 metres with 600kg, 33.4 metres with 320kg and 37 metres with 100kg.
The production valve
Giovanni Vaccari, Flodraulic manager said: “In simple terms, we control gravity. Normally, the cylinder must push to counteract the weight, but in this case, the descent is intelligently regulated using gravity itself. It’s a more efficient, smoother, and safer system.”
Multitel Pagliero technical director Roberto Bramardo added: “We control gravity gently. The main advantage is that the boom responds uniformly and predictably in all conditions.”
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