Power Plants

Aluminum vs. Polyethylene Pump Guards

RMF

 

We have been recently changing out a lot of pump guards that did not hold up to the harsh factory environments that they were expected handle. These plastic guards are being exchanged for more durable aluminum guards.

 

Here’s what they found:

  • The plastic can’t take the heat of the high temperature pumps. The guards get soft and warp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • The aluminum guards will not rust, are highly resistant to weathering and are corrosion resistant to many acids.

 

  • Aluminum can be easier modified and repaired than plastic.

 

  • The plastic guards can only be removed a few times. After that, they become warped and difficult to fit back around the pump and often need to be replaced.

 

  • When supplied with a clear section for inspection, these areas quickly become clouded and useless. They have to be removed to inspect the unit opening a gap to a running pump.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Our upper ventilation slots also act as inspection ports so you can easily monitor the pump without touching the unit or removing a clouded cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • We’ve also added lower inspection holes to check the base of the pump for leaks, fallen items and belt issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • They have no ventilation or limited ventilation! Our aluminum guards have superior ventilation, increasing the lifespan of your high-temp pumps.

 

  • Many of these plastic guards come as kits. Your employees could spend may hours cutting and modifying one to get it to fit correctly. Our guards come custom built ready to install on your pump!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your people stay in the field = more dollars in your pocket.

 

 

Contact Riggs Machine about our durable, long lasting, custom aluminum pump guards.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Large Pipe Temporary Strainers (Witch Hats)

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Large Pipe Strainers - Chris for Scale
Large Pipe Strainers – Chris for Scale

 

These temporary cone and basket strainers (the models with the flat bottoms) are impressive. Used during start-ups and repairs, they will protect pumps, piping and other parts of the system from nuts, bolts and other stray debris.

 

Various Styles of Temporary Strainers
Various Styles of Temporary Strainers

 

These are made of 304 stainless steel and custom designed. Riggs Machine can provide them in a variety of materials, styles and sizes.

 

Witch Hat Strainer - CU

Temporary Strainers on Pallet
Temporary Strainers on Pallet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They might seem extreme, but when you realize what they can save, they are worth every dollar!

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Mobile Safety Barrier

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Traffic Cone

“When a Simple (traffic) Cone Won’t Do”

 

Movable Safety Barrier - 3D Render

 

There are several solutions to protecting workers and areas vulnerable to hazards like pedestrian and industrial traffic.

Some companies throw out a few cones, maybe even adding a flag or two for visibility. Then there’s the flimsy plastic folding barriers you might have seen around an out-of-service restroom at the mall.

But these solutions are not suitable for industrial environments. They don’t offer any real protection. They’re just one step up from wishful thinking.

Riggs Machine would like to suggest a better solution: the Mobile Safety Barrier.

This item protects the area around workers while in underground accesses such as manholes and maintenance openings or above ground on ladders.

 

Movable Safety Barrier - Man in Barrier

 

Highly Visible – can be see by those walking around the area and in vehicles and forklifts.

 

Movable Safety Barrier - Side View

 

Due to its sturdy design, it will not fold or buckle in high winds or bad weather. Can be bumped and still remain in position. It’s solid metal frame can withstand the harsh plant environment. Unlike plastic units, it can be painted any color or modified if necessary.

 

Movable Safety Barrier - Caster

 

The Mobile Safety Barrier positions easily on heavy duty casters and can be loaded on a flatbed for quick offsite setup.

 

This convenient, sturdy, mobile, highly visible unit increases safety in your facility.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

 

Preparing for the Outage

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Preparing for an outage can be almost as stressful as the actual event. Gathering drawings, getting materials ready, prepping vendors, suppliers and employees. Trying your best not to overlook any details.

 

construction workers
Photo by Jess Lis from Freeimages
blueprints
Photo by Fira Anuar from Freeimages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But often it’s not the big ticket items that slow or even stop production, it could be something as simple as missing shims to get a new pump to the correct height, a missing blind to close off a pipe section before adding a new unit, keys for new shafts or custom bolts you swore you ordered and now will take a week to machine.

 

bleeder blind pump shim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve seen all of these, and more. The excuses are varied, who was responsible for ordering the items, I thought they were included with the quote, the existing ones should have worked with the new unit, and even – I just forgot!

 

frustrated man
Photo by Marabu from ABSFreePIC.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So how best to avoid these situations?

– Get current manufacturer drawings for new equipment. Trying to fit a new pump on an old base never works out. Plan for modifications and additions. Make sure everyone has the same version prints. Don’t rely on old drawings someone pulled from the file or had stored on their computer. Verify you are on the same version. If you have to, create a new master set and pass them out to everyone involved.

 

parts and prints

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– Next, and sometimes more importantly, is having a local machine shop who can respond timely, ready for such emergencies. This might require several shops of varied disciplines; one for burn outs, one for custom bolts or nuts, one for blinds and piping…

 

weld shop

lathes in machine shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– You might want to get the shops involved early in the process, rather than late one evening when you realize something has gone wrong. They may make recommendations as to what items you may have overlooked. They may need to stock up on certain materials so you don’t have to wait to have them shipped in (and overnighted at an additional expense).

 

They may also have to juggle their schedule around to make sure they have the manpower available during the outage. Are they normally closed on weekends? Will they have a method to call someone in for a quick job? Are they in the middle of other shutdowns or production runs?

 

worker drilling

production parts being inspected
Photo by Michael Adkins photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some common last minute items:

  • Blinds (slip/paddle, bleeder and orifice)
  • Keys for shafting
  • Shims
  • Tube Plugs
  • Custom Bolts and Nuts (or just odd sized)
  • Non-stock metals (stainless piping or angle, brass bushings)

 

Benjamin Franklin

 

 

 

 

 

 

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. – Benjamin Franklin

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Shims – more than just a strip of metal

RMF

SHIM – A washer or thin strip of metal used to align parts, make them fit or reduce wear.

 

a new shim set – ready for installation

 

These, sometimes extremely slender, strips of metal are very crucial in industrial operations. From getting a pump to line up perfectly or to make a surface level, a shim must be exact.

 

don’t let your shims get this bad!

 

Shims come in a variety of materials, but most commonly from metals such as carbon steel, brass and stainless steel. And they also vary greatly in their thickness from up to 1/4” thick and down to .001 thick (imagine an industrial foil).

 

.003 thick shims – for precise applications

 

And the tolerances they must hold are key to their functionality. They cannot deviate across the surface, their dimensions must be held.

 

 

Often industrial shims come in sets of varying thicknesses. They can be added individually to get the final adjustments perfect.

 

a pack of new new shims

 

They also come in many different shapes, often having to be custom designed to fit around existing bolt holes and other features. We like to add the small hand holds (show below) to make installation and adjustment easier.

 

custom designed shims
pump shims w-install tabs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Riggs Machine and Fabricating we understand Industrial Shims and their importance in setup, maintenance and repairs. We understand the tolerances and design elements that separate a shim from a strip of metal. Yes, there is a difference. If the shop you are working with now doesn’t agree with that, then you are working with the wrong place. Time to call Riggs Machine.

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Welcome Gregg Nichols to the Riggs Team!

RMF

We’d like to welcome Gregg Nichols to our staff. Gregg has a combined 28 years in Industrial Distribution & Manufacturing Operations and Sales.

Gregg Nichols

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His prior experience includes 5 years with Perfection Rubber (operations manager and sales), 18 years with MSC / Dolin Supply (team leader and outside sales) and 4 years with American producers (outside and industrial sales)

The business segments he previously focused on included:

  • Coal
  • Construction
  • Chemical
  • Manufacturing
  • Petroleum
  • Power Generation
  • Steel Production
Gregg and Brent Inspect a New Platform

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gregg’s areas of expertise include:

  • Hydraulic Hoses, Tubes and Fittings
  • Metal working – Machining – Hole Making
  • Material Handling (lifting and rigging)
  • Pipes, Valves & Fittings
  • Safety

Gregg has jumped right in and got off to a strong start. His outgoing personality and years of knowledge have been a perfect fit here at Riggs. Call him for a visit to your facility and see why he’s an invaluable asset to our team!

Tapered Tube Plugs – Not as Simple as it Seems

RMF
Tapered Tube Plug

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Used during repairs and outages, this simple looking device becomes a necessity. The Tube Plug is hammered or welded into the open section of pipes in boilers and heat exchangers. They plug the end of the pipe to either stop the flow of steam or coolant. If the plug’s seal is not tight the coolant can seep into the material and contaminate it.

 

Heat Exchanger End *
Heat Exchanger Side *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What makes this seemingly basic item so important are a few factors. First, its fit must be right. Sure they are tapered, but they must fit without damaging the existing pipe or sliding too far in. Also, the material specifications for Tube Plugs can vary greatly. While some plugs can be made out a carbon steel like 1018, other plugs must match the existing pipe section (i.e. A350 with more carbon content) or even stainless steel, nickle or other metals. If the wrong type of metal is used, it could lead to corrosion, rust, leaks or a possible reaction with existing materials in the system.

 

Tube Plug in CNC Lathe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even the machining isn’t always as simple as it may seem. Bar stock in not always available in a size close to what the job requires or the material type needed is only available as plate. In that case, a plug larger than the finished size would be cut from the plate and then turned turn by hand on a lathe. Time consuming, yes, but necessary for a professional fit.

 

Plug cut from plate
Sample Heat Doc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Riggs Machine & Fabricating, we not only have the experience, but we ask the questions to make sure the job is done right, the first time. Don’t trust those supposed simple jobs to just any shop. Call Riggs first for the dependability and quality your facility demands.

 

Set of Tube Plugs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*(Morton, John, 2 Electrolyte Heat Exchanger Tube Bundles in the 8×6 Foot Wind Tunnel, 1975) – http://catalog.archives.gov

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!

Screw Conveyor – Auger

RMF

The Auger Conveyor uses a rotating helical screw blade to move materials along its length. This unit moves abrasive materials from hopper to hopper then to bagging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice how the abrasive material has worn down the blades. Also, material is sticking to the untreated blades. Material slides over the smaller, worn out blades making the conveyor ineffective. Jobs take longer and costs rise quickly.

 

 

This new unit has Hardfacing Wire (Lincore 55) welded to the blades to reinforce them and add durability. This surface resists sliding wear and mild abrasion. These new blades will have a longer service life.

 

Explosion Proof Hatch – Pyrite Ducts

RMF

Here are some newly machined explosion-proof hatches for pyrite ducts.

In preparing coal for energy production, pyrite, a sulfide that contributes to air pollution and acid rain, is removed before burning. The separated pyrite is forced through ducts to waiting hoppers using high pressure fans. These ducts have negative pressure in them. If a chunk of pyrite gets stuck in a hopper then unit has to be shut down and the duct removed from the unit to be cleaned.

Photo by James St. John / CC by
Sphalerite-Pyrite

With the addition of these hatches, if a chunk of pyrite gets stuck in the hopper, it is only a temporary shut down while the hatch is opened and the material is washed out. Once the hatch is sealed, the unit is quickly brought back on-line. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These hatches have also been used as inspection doors on gearboxes, giving quick access to the internals for routine maintenance or adjustments. The locking tab on the hatches also helps keep the unit secure.

 

A Phonographic Finish!

RMF

No, not what is used when a race is too close to call (that’s a photo finish). But a machined finish added to the raised face on a flange to give an extra level of security to prevent leaks and maintain effective seals.

Spacer Flange w-Phonographic Finish

The Phonographic Finish is actually a serrated finish, either concentric or spiral (much like the grooves on a record), that will grip the gasket between pipe sections firmly.

Phonographic Finish – Close Up

These finishes are typically added on a lathe to specifications set either by the company ordering the flange, the manufacturer or ASME B16.5 guidelines. Below is a render of the completed flange with bolt holes. I would have included a photo of the actual completed unit, but as soon as it was finished, it was rushed to the job site! But that’s why we’re here. Everyone knows who to call when a custom part is needed in a hurry.

Spacer Flange – Render

 

Riggs Machine & Fabricating – Serving industry in KY, OH and WV for over 45 years!