DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ETL 1110-2-360
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CECW-EE
Washington, DC 20314-1000
Technical Letter
No. 1110-2-360
31 December 1993
Engineering and Design
BRAKE WHEEL PROBLEM ON TAINTER GATE HOIST MACHINERY
1. Purpose
drum had also begun to "walk off" from its shaft
(Figure 2).
This engineer technical letter (ETL) provides infor-
mation concerning brake wheels (drums) which have
b. The brake is a Cutler-Hammer Type GH505,
a tendency to "walk off" the shaft at the gear box on
254-mm (10-in.) D-C Magnetic Shoe brake manufac-
tainter gate hoists. This can cause damage to the
tured by EATON Corporation. The brake drum to
tainter gate and its operating equipment. This ETL
the shaft has a loose fit which is not adequate for this
provides one solution to the problem.
type of application. A key held by a set screw is
used to transmit the torque.
2. Applicability
c. The same problem was discovered during
periodic inspection No. 6 at Canton Lake, North
This ETL applies to HQUSACE elements, major
Canadian River, Oklahoma. Periodic Inspection
subordinate commands, districts, laboratories, and
Report #6, dated November 1992, paragraph d(2)
field operating activities having responsibilities for
states: "It was noted that the brake drums on tainter
civil works projects.
gate Nos. 3, 8, and 12 were partially off the keyed
shaft resulting in a lining to drum contact area of less
than 100 percent."
3. References
d. These brakes for the electric motor driven
a. EM 1110-2-2702, Design of Spillway Tainter
tainter gates are common at Corps projects. They are
Gates.
included in EM 1110-2-2702, Design of Spillway
Tainter Gates and specified in CWGS-14615, Electri-
b. CWGS-14615, Electrical Equipment for Gate
cal Equipment for Gate Hoists. To ensure continua-
Hoists.
tion of the safety, stability, and operational capability
of the Corps facilities having these components,
remedial actions are required.
4. Discussion
5. Requirements
a. On 6 July 1993 the No. 2 tainter gate at Old
River Auxiliary Structure fell a distance of 2 m
a. All facilities having this type of arrangement
(6-1/2 ft) from its opened position and impacted the
should be checked immediately. If the above con-
gate sill. The damages included the service bridge's
dition exists, the drums should be repositioned and a
downstream concrete parapet wall and handrail, a line
positive mechanical stop placed on the end of the
shaft segment and its support brackets between piers,
reducer shaft to secure the brake drums from "walk-
and a cooling fan attached to the motor. A team
ing off." For example, the shaft can be threaded at
from New Orleans District made a field investigation.
the end and fitted with a A325 high-strength bolt with
The team concluded that the brake failed on the
thread locking compound (Locktide) and a large plate
motor controlling the operation of gate #2. The brake
washer to hold the drum in place (Figure 3). Locking
failed when the brake drum "walked off" from its
compound can be used between the brake drum and
shaft (Figure 1). An inspection of other gate motor
the shaft.
brake drums at the same facility revealed that another
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