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Tower Bridge Special
Bridge Check by Rexroth
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Rexroth as general contractor for the refurbishment work
Almost 15 million vehicles pass over Tower Bridge each year and they leave their mark. The vibrations caused by the traffic take a lot out of the bridge structure. Pivots, bearings, locking bolts and detent pawls show clear wear and tear. Rexroth in Great Britain was commissioned to act as general contractor for the refurbishment work. The entire bridge control system had to be overhauled in just 39 days.
Technical cure to provide maximum safety
Apart from testing, maintaining or replacing the electro-hydraulic components, such as hydraulic valves and pumps, hydraulic cylinders and units, essential technical improvements were also undertaken. Whilst in the past it was possible to dissipate the forces of the bridge incorrectly into bridge structure, they are now uniformly distributed along special supporting blocks. These are electronically controlled and are permanently monitored to ensure that the load tolerances are maintained. Generally speaking, all measures that contribute towards increasing reliability and safety, have been improved. Modern hydraulic cylinders with transmitters and limit switches guarantee absolute control over each movement and position, such as the seat of the supporting blocks or position of the individual elements of the locking mechanism. Locking gates for pedestrians and vehicles are controlled by two programmable controller systems, i.e. dual safeguard, whilst in addition, everything is monitored around the clock by video cameras.
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