There is growing demand for lighter than air, near space systems that can carry aloft wide-area communications, broadband, and sensing devices to meet the requirements of military and commercial customers for network connectivity and ready access to mission critical information. Aerostats, which are commonly referred to as blimps, play an important role in our nation’s rapid response communications infrastructure - from supporting climate research and natural disaster response to combating terrorism and providing deploy-able “eyes in the sky”... + continue reading
Our Blog
Thursday, July 15, 2010 - 19:06
One of our leading partners, DynaWinch, out of Calgary, Alberta, has been working with the MTNW LCI-90i display for years to bring decimal point accuracy to their arsenal of down-hole tools and applications. Recently, DynaWinch has incorporated our displays (both the LCI-90i and the LCI-80) into their new product line of slickline skid units. They now manufacture electrically, hydraulically, and diesel driven skid based units for all types of environments and needs. Their product line includes aluminum wireline van bodies for slickline, case... + continue reading
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - 18:38
In a previous posting we discussed the technique of calibrating the payout line parameter for winch applications.It is also important to understand the technical challenges of calibrating the tension line parameter of your winch monitoring system.The calibration of a tension measurement system can be achieved through several methods.MTNW employees calibrate two Foss tugs in Puget Sound by having them pull against each otherIt’s always best to conduct a live calibration of the winch monitoring system once the sensors, displays and line have... + continue reading
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 15:34
Through one of our partners, Dillon Quality Plus, the Coast Guard purchased and used our HRT-3mm Running Line Tensiometer (or line rider) to measure the cable tension loads during some qualification testing on an improved rescue hoist for the Coast Guard H-65 Dolphin Helicopter. An HH-65C flight crew hoists an injured hiker to safety from a mountain peak in WA at an altitude of 6,300 feet.The hoist was improved by adding a clutch designed to release if the cable forces exceed a known value. The Coast Guard tested the release force... + continue reading
Tuesday, January 12, 2010 - 21:37
We often get asked questions about the difference between tension meters, tensiometers, and dynamometers.There is good reason for the confusion because many different industries use the same words for different applications. For example, the word tensiometer, which we use to describe our primary cable tension/payout monitoring equipment, is also used to describe a soil moisture monitor, and dynamometer is a word that was widely used within North America for a device for measuring automotive horsepower. At Measurement Technology NW we focus on... + continue reading
Friday, December 4, 2009 - 19:00
We just spoke with Michael Kasten, President of Coordinated Wire Rope, and during the conversation he mentioned that last Friday the CD Lyon team was working with the LCI-90 and HRT-3MM tensiometer/dynamometer system (described in our last blog post) when they hit “a snag”…literally. The CD Lyon team was pigging the pipe, which means that they were dragging a device through the existing pipe looking for obstacles, when tension readings on their LCI-90 display suddenly jumped from 3,000 lbs to 13,000 lbs. Because the LCI-90 payout measurement... + continue reading
Friday, November 27, 2009 - 19:24
Based in Ventura, CA, Coordinated Wire Rope (http://www.coordinatedcompanies.com) approached us for a project that required highly accurate measurement of line tension and payout on an underground cable pulling application for their customer, CD Lyon. CD Lyon had been tasked with pigging (looking for obstacles) and slip-lining (inserting a new pipe into an old pipe) an old 8 mile natural gas pipe, and they were looking for solutions that would make the project run smoothly and efficiently. CD Lyon planned to use a 5/8” wire rope to pull the... + continue reading
Thursday, October 8, 2009 - 10:00
Our lead systems engineer, Matthew Lee, has just come back this month from installing, calibrating, and commissioning a mooring system for the Frontier Duchess, a drill-ship which is currently off the coast of Nigeria.Running Line Tensiometer measuring tension on mooring lines for the Frontier DuchessOn short notice, Matthew flew for over 20 hours from Seattle, through France, down to Port Harcourt Nigeria. Once in country, he was met by a friendly security team that helped him travel safely to the local heliport. From there it was a short but... + continue reading
Thursday, October 1, 2009 - 18:16
After spending the last 15 years installing and commissioning winch monitoring systems, we've found that some of the most commonly asked questions are about calibration.How do we calibrate the LCI-90 display for tension and payout/speed?How often should we calibrate?These are important questions because the calibration inherently affects the accuracy of the winch monitoring system. The following are methods we have used to calibrate the payout/speed system using our LCI-90 displays: First, once the payout has been calibrated the speed... + continue reading
Monday, September 28, 2009 - 18:45
For the last 15 years we have received monthly calls from winch operators and shipboard electronic technicians who have legacy MD Totco LM-2000 winch monitoring displays in need of repair or replacement. During these calls we are often asked how the LCI-90 and MD Totco LM-2000 compare. Rather than go through a long list of features and benefits, the key differences are:Daylight readability. The LCI-90 uses an electroluminescent display built originally for jet-fighters to ensure readability in direct sunlight. See picture... + continue reading
