TAD were instructed to design, document and manufacture a control system to raise and lower a pedestrian bridge on the Leamouth peninsula in London.
The pedestrian bridge is the main access from the local train station to the Leamouth Peninsula, so it is imperative that the control system is reliable or residents would lose easy access to their homes. Equally important is the need for the bridge to be raised when large ships need to pass under.
The solution consisted of four large control cabinets over two separate plant rooms to synchronously lift four, two stage hydraulic rams.
During operation, the control system constantly monitors safety interlocks while error checking all the control system components. The high level of safety required for this system was achieved in part by having two operators, one on each side of the bridge, to ensure safe operation.
