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Apex & ICEB team together to breathe new life back into the Mobile Service Tower (MST) for Boeing Delta IV Rocket at Vandenberg AFB

Apex and ICEB have teamed together to take on the challenge of refurbishing both the MST Drive and Tower Lift Hydraulic Systems. This massive mobile rocket tower weighs approximately 19 million pounds. It is supported and travels by way of nine rail trucks and is driven by four 150-HP hydraulic power units. The HPUs supply 16 low speed, high torque, radial piston hydraulic motors. The Tower Lift Hydraulic System is powered by a separate 100-HP HPU supplying controlled pressure to 72 bellows-style hydraulic jacks.

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Phase I: The Mobile Service Tower Drive and Tower Lift Systems power units were removed from the Launch Site for teardown evaluation, repair and re-assembly, full load testing, painting and detailing. The HPU Systems were then re-installed at the Launch Site, systems and piping were flushed, and acceptance testing was performed

Phase II: 16-Drive Truck motors shall be removed, evaluated, rebuilt, full load tested to 10,000 ft lbs @ 30 RPM on our test bench. Drive wheels shall be removed and bearings inspected, lubricated and re-sealed. Forty-eight bellows shall be changed out to the new high load design. The newly refurbished 85,000 lb Drive Trucks shall be shop-flushed, proof tested, re-installed and acceptance tested.

Apex and Launch Site History: The MST Drive and Tower Lift Hydraulic Systems were originally built and designed by Paul-Munroe Hydraulics (PMH) for the Titan III program in 1966. In 1985 PMH was tasked to refurbish and upgrade the MST hydraulic systems for the Space Shuttle program. In January 1995 Apex acquired Paul-Munroe Engineering Service through an acquisition by employees David Reiniger, Harsoyo Lukito, and Todd Gallagher. See our website at www.apexdt.com for company information and turnkey capabilities.

CALL TODAY: 1-800-730-APEX or EMAIL: info@apexdt.com
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