PFlow Industries, Inc. (booth # 4424)

Summary of Innovation

The US Department of Energy, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, developed plans to build the world’s largest survey reflecting telescope – known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope or LSST – atop an 8,737 feet high mountain peak in Northern Chile to conduct a deep survey of space. The goal was to compile an astrological catalog over a 10-year period that would provide scientists with thousands of times more data to help answer the most pressing questions in astronomy and physics.

LSST’s design incorporated huge reflecting mirrors, weighing up to 93 tons and spanning almost 30 feet in diameter. The mirrors had to be lowered down some 80 feet from the telescope for periodic recoating to maintain the high-resolution imaging required for the 3.2 gigapixel camera that is used to record the deep sky images – the largest digital camera ever constructed! LSST contacted Pflow Industries, Inc., the world’s largest and most innovative manufacturer of vertical reciprocating conveyors (VRCs), to solve the complex material lifting challenge.

PFlow engineered a new chain drive system (patent pending) to provide smooth operation of the lift, eliminating chordal action inherent in chain-over-sprocket drive mechanisms and achieving true linear lift platform velocity. Pflow then designed a locking system to lock the platform in position to ensure precise positioning during loading and unloading of the massive reflecting mirrors. Last but not least, Pflow’s engineers designed the lift to absorb seismic loads of up to 8.0 on the Richter scale and resist 100-mph wind loads due to the mountaintop installation.

Innovation Statement

Moving large loads vertically with exacting precision required Pflow to innovate traditional industrial designs to help solve the challenges of rapid advancements in technology and science.

Applicability

The industrial technologies developed by Pflow for LSST can be scaled to provide reliable, safe, smooth, and precise vertical

 

Posted Date	12/19/19
Contact	Chuck Cobb
Contact Email	Chuckc[at]pflow.com
Category	Best Innovation of an Existing Product

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