A patented hinged door concept is being used on Atlas Copco’s PAS and PAC ranges of pumps to facilitate easy access without assistance or specialised lifting equipment.

The diesel driven dewatering pump sets are distributed locally by dewatering specialist IPR. The company explains that the innovation allows technicians to gain access to pump internals within three minutes – facilitating regular inspection and maintenance.

“The simple but brilliant hinged door concept has meant a massive improvement in ease of maintenance for users of these end-suction dewatering units,” say IPR product manager:  Atlas Copco Steve du Toit. “It reduces the downtime required for inspection and servicing of Atlas Copco’s PAS and PAC pumps, as it requires none of the traditional equipment that was normally involved to safely lift and move large pump covers.”

An individual technician can now conduct inspections and maintenance on their own – a job that previously required a team with appropriate heavy lifting equipment to open and handle the end-suction cover. Depending on the size of the pump, it may also have required certified rigging equipment and a mobile crane or forklift.

“With the hinged door, you need none of these items,” explains Du Toit. “The technician simply loosens the bolts on the cover, and swings it open on the hinge – gaining access to the impeller within as little as three minutes.”

The feature is particularly useful in mining and agriculture applications. In mining, strict safety compliance requires specialised lifting equipment for heavy pump end-suction covers, and in the agricultural sector it may be difficult to get the required lifting equipment to remote locations.

“The quick and easy access to the wear plates, the impeller and the mechanical seal is particularly important in applications where the pump is expected to run continuously – where it must not be stopped for any length of time,” says Du Toit. “The patented hinged door drastically reduces the inspection time, so that it can be returned to work much more quickly.”

“By facilitating frequent inspection, the hinged door can actually benefit the user by lowering their total cost of ownership by ensuring that they don’t have to replace pumps prematurely.”