With its access cover removed, this combination electrical slip ring/hydraulic swivel shows how the slip ring is located deep inside the componentâs housing to protect it from harsh environmental conditions. The swivel allows for continuous 360° rotation to maximize design flexibility.“By designing these assemblies as a single component—with integral electrical slip-ring components encased inside of the steel housing of the hydraulic swivel—Southstar’s attachments are much more resistant to outside elements like weather, dirt, and sawdust,” says Flaig, who has more than 20 years of experience working with hydraulic swivels.
Brady Haugo, UEA’s design engineer on the Southstar assembly, adds, “We also used more difficult manufacturing methods to ensure the product was robust. The main support flange could have been welded or bolted on, but for the sake of durability and robustness, we decided to machine it into the part even though doing so required a much bigger piece of stock material and more machining.”
Southstar’s customers also don’t have to stop production for tears in hydraulic hoses, which are virtually unheard of with UEA’s combination assembly.
“From the very onset of our meeting with Southstar’s engineering staff, we saw we were on a direct path toward solving a long-term drawback with their current design and the premature failure of the hydraulic hoses, says Flaig. “Unknown to us at the time, we also helped have positive impact on the operation and production cycle times to the processor head.”
The combination assembly also decreases Southstar’s assembly time with its 360° attachments. Michael Klopp, Vice President at Southstar, says, “Now that we have gone to the combination-style assembly, we receive our swivel slip-ring units pre-wired, which speeds up assembly time at the plant. We send these machines out and they work without any glitches right out of the gate.”
This information was submitted by Daniel Hanawalt, marketing coordinator at United Equipment Accessories (UEA), Waverly, Iowa.
