Better to be Safe - with RotaBolt

For over 100 years, Holden and Brooke have manufactured high quality centrifugal and reciprocating pumps primarily for the underground mining and steel making industries. On their latest S250 model, the company has enhanced build quality still further by introducing the use of RotaBolt tension control fasteners on critical joints.

The S250 is a high pressure positive displacement pump designed to work in testing environments. Applications include: mining operations, high pressure water cleaning and descaling. When working at its maximum 20,000 psi, the pump develops extreme pulsating loads within the crank case.

Holden and Brooke's designers feared that these loads could cause the crank case cover to work loose, unless they included tension control from the start. It was also important to avoid over-tightening.

The cover requires the use of 8 x M20 bolts, tightened to precisely 435Nm. To ensure bolting integrity, the RotaBolt conversion was built-in to the original specification. RotaBolts enable the tension to be set accurately during manufacture and checked, both on installation and whilst in use, without the need for special tools or skilled staff.

The technology is simple, involving the straight forward conversion of the standard bolt to include a fixed pin and rotating cap. When under the correct load, the bolt stretches to prevent the cap from rotating. If tension is lost, the cap rotates between finger and thumb illustrating that the assembly requires attention. This ability to be checked with ease is the secret of RotaBolt's success, particularly when the application is inaccessible or in a confined space where the use of long-handled torque wrenches would be difficult or impossible.

RotaBolts have been a tremendous success for Holden and Brooke, allowing them to eliminate the risk of failure, even under extreme conditions improve safety and avoid downtime for their customers.

The company is delighted with the results and intends to expand the use of RotaBolts within their new range currently being developed for the American market.

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