Fully
Automated Dustless Surface Preparation & Painting System
"The
WallWalker significantly minimizes the safety issues associated with elevated
work, reducing workmen's compensation costs and providing for more profitable
work environment"
Pentek
has developed and successfully demonstrated a new robotic work module deployment
system (vertical and horizontal locomotion technology) called the WallWalker
to fully automate hazardous cleaning work. This technology makes it possible
to deploy completely automated work modules to large vertical and horizontal
surfaces, while eliminating scaffolding, respiratory protection, and other safety
equipment required to protect human workers. The WallWalker was a the result
of years of cooperative research and development to demonstrate the feasibility
of a completely automated decontamination and radiological survey systems to
assist with nuclear cleanup efforts. In general terms, the WallWalker:
Traditionally
utilizes up to four gear motors strategically located in/on a given structure
to feed cable to a central work head/module;
Utilizes computer controls to govern the length of the cables (with the
help of trigonometry) and moves the central work module over a specified
path at a specified velocity;
System configurable to support scabbling operations, hydroblasting, carbon
dioxide, baking soda, chemicals, lasers, flashlamps, abrasive blasting technology,
and other cleanup applications.
Process modules are available to perform 100% dustless surface preparation,
paint application, and inspection tasks.
Possessed built-in engineering controls keep hazardous emissions, such as
lead-based paints, PCBs, and radioactivity, below regulatory limits.
Optional
waste separation is achieved by a new, high performance solids separation
process modeled after Pentek's world class VAC-PAC®
HEPA vacuum and waste collection system.
Industry
Applications include:
Maritime
industries where the technology can safely and cost effectively automate
the cleaning and/or painting of ship hulls, dry docks, storage areas, and
other large support structures.
Fuel
storage tanks
Waste
storage basins
Multi-story
buildings
Operations
with the Wall Walker can be conducted for long hours and in inclement
conditions, reducing project schedules, costs for labor and supervision,
and indirect and overhead expenses.
