Caution is required when working in an explosive atmosphere. Even small ignition sources can trigger dangerous detonations. Therefore, according to the ATEX regulation, consistently defined, safety-relevant parameters must be monitored when operating industrial trucks. The new EX monitoring app from Linde Material Handling (MH) displays all safety-relevant values and errors and provides specific recommendations for action. This helps forklift drivers and fleet managers to operate the vehicle safely and without failures. In addition, maintenance, diagnosis and repair are easier.
As soon as flammable hazardous substances are manufactured, processed, transported or stored in a plant, there is a certain risk of explosion. This is often the case in the chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food and beverage industries. Here, it is essential to exclude all ignition sources that could cause an explosion.
Industrial trucks are used in ATEX zones 1/21 and 2/22. These include, for example, areas in which hazardous substances are openly mixed, transferred and stored and transported in closed containers and can be released in the event of an accident or breakdown.
When gases or dusts combine with the oxygen in the ambient air, an explosive atmosphere can develop. In order to avoid ignition sources on the vehicles, they are equipped on the one hand with explosion-proof equipment On the other hand, safety-relevant values such as temperature-relevant parameters, resistances, voltages and wear are permanently monitored. These include the temperature of the housings of electronic controls and power modules, the brake shoes, the magnetic brake and the traction motor.
In practice, the driver has so far been informed of safety-critical faults via a flashing code on the vehicle display. However, the identification and handling of faults does not always run smoothly, sometimes leaving the vehicle out of service for longer than necessary. Every now and then, for example, the fault is not checked thoroughly enough or the visit by a service technician is inefficient because it has been inadequately planned.
With the help of the new Linde EX monitoring app, drivers and fleet managers are comprehensively informed about the current status of the vehicle, the meaning of the flashing codes and errors, and the next steps for troubleshooting. The two-stage traffic light system indicates the next steps. The yellow light means: cool down the vehicle and arrange a maintenance appointment. A red light, on the other hand, means: Stop and request a service technician! The detailed diagnosis with all values of the monitored components and parameters provides assistance. The app also displays the error history and provides specific recommendations for action. All information regarding the wear of safety-critical components and the remaining operating hours is thus recorded. The EX monitoring app from Linde MH is a unique selling point. It is currently already available for five series. In the future, it will be part of all explosion-proof Linde models.
