Rigging operations can take up valuable time of your consecutive offshore operations. With the Universal Quick Connector, Huisman offers a safe and efficient solution to reduce your cycle time and mitigate the safety risks of people involved in changing installation tools.
The Universal Quick Connector (UQC) offers unprecedented versatility for changing tools and the operational use of your crane.
By automating tool changes, you can minimise the need for riggers and people on deck in high-risk operations.
The complementary range of tools can be changed quickly with the standardised interface of the UQC, optimising the operational effectiveness of your crane.
With the UQC, tools are connected firmly to the crane block to reduce pendulum motions, enabling you to continue your operations in harsher weather conditions.
The only requirement for a lifting tool, to be handled by the Universal Quick Connector, is a pin with a machined interface. We offer a predefined range of UQC to ensure that the size of the interface is in line with the crane's capacity. The interfaces are upward compatible, which means that a high-capacity block can also engage a low-capacity tool using a straightforward filling piece.
The self-locking mechanism of the UQC is fail-safe. A tool can only be released when the release mechanism is intentionally activated.
An attached tool, of up to the maximum capacity of the crane, can be rotated to align with the object that needs to be lifted, using an integrated rotation mechanism.
Integrating the suspension point of a tool into the lower block eliminates the need for rigging and increases the effective lifting height of your crane.
The Universal Quick Connector and its complementary tools are powered by an exchangeable battery pack. The battery capacity is sufficient for 24 hours of typical crane operation.
Tools can be integrated into the crane’s control system, providing the operator with a combined readout of your crane and tool, offering an automated and safer way of working. The tools communicate with the crane’s control system via a data transmitter, for example, a radio link for deck operations or an acoustic transmitter for subsea operations.
The data connection of the Universal Quick Connector can relay the data from cameras mounted on the tools, hook or lower block to the CCTV system of the crane. This can include cameras with image recognition to automatically position the crane above a load.
The Universal Quick Connector is also available as a stand-alone unit that can be connected to existing cranes with standard hooks. This can significantly improve tool handling on existing cranes and improve overall operational efficiency.
The Universal Quick Connector can be adjusted for subsea operations. Features such as rotation and data network functionality are highly suitable for your subsea projects.
By deploying the Universal Quick Connector, all lifts can be performed in a uniform way, regardless the installation tool. In this case, there will be no need for specific engineering prior to each individual lift.
Improving safety and mitigating risks in the construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms are the foremost challenges of the industry. To help you optimise every stage of installation and operation, and boost your competitive edge, Huisman has developed an innovative range of tools for you to be equipped for impact.