Mianne Lift Bridge Improvement

Now THAT'S using the ol' noggin!  

Keep it railroad prototypical, put in a tell-tale.  Might also make it a designated hardhat area.

Well, I used it once too often on those beams, that's the reason for the "upgrade"!

I think I'll dispense with the hardhat, this seemed to be a better solution.

That is a great thing John. I speak from experience, its not pleasant hitting your head on any sort of beam. In my twenties, my head connected with one when I was trying to straighten back up. Needless to say one of my coworkers said the beam was bent now. Try not to break the lift bridge like my head did to that beam.

I hope the plywood on top will keep the beam from flexing too much and breaking.

Good move. 

Good idea John. Having crawled around in mechanical rooms for many years you quickly find the head bangers. Usually someone found them first and put an old rag or something on the offending pipe or valve handle.

Bob

gunrunnerjohn posted:

My new layout will have the Mianne lift-bridge, and it'll make access to the center of the layout much easier, especially as flexibility starts to wane in my later years.  However, I have identified an issue with the bridge, specifically the hazard to my head!  If you're under the bridge and misjudge the height as you duck under, you can whack your head on the I-beams.  The edges are actually very sharp and square, and I have a couple of cuts on my noggin to prove it.  I considered rounding the edges, but that would only be a partial solution, so I dropped into my local Lowe's store and picked up some 1/2" split pipe insulation.  A perfect fit, and a nice padded place for my head to land on, no more cuts!

If you have the Mianne lift-bridge, I recommend this solution, it works!

I was going to suggest this to you as I too had a couple good cuts to my head. Only thing was it wasn't till the wife hit her head I did anything. DOUBLE OUCH! form her and the lift!

GRJ,

What is the clearance from I-beam to the floor?

I’m short and may be able to walk under if I wear thin Sox.

It's 5' 1 1/2" to the beam from the floor.  I'm not tall, but I'm a bit taller than that!

CurtisH posted:

I was going to suggest this to you as I too had a couple good cuts to my head. Only thing was it wasn't till the wife hit her head I did anything. DOUBLE OUCH! form her and the lift!

My wife can just talk under it, so she didn't notice the problem!

I've used that same insulation foam padding on joists in my attics for a number of years. Saved my head many a time!

It must be a great idea John, I did it to all my exposed edges under my 42” high layout, front edges, all around my five hatches. Every now and then I “discover” bare wood- yet to be covered with foam. Ouch!  😂👍😊

Wally

Besides your great idea of the insulating padding, you might consider the addition of a magnetic proximity switch, such that when the lift bridge is open, you can have some flashing warning lights activated by the switch to call your attention to the "low bridge clearance".

gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's 5' 1 1/2" to the beam from the floor.  I'm not tall, but I'm a bit taller than that!

CurtisH posted:

I was going to suggest this to you as I too had a couple good cuts to my head. Only thing was it wasn't till the wife hit her head I did anything. DOUBLE OUCH! form her and the lift!

My wife can just talk under it, so she didn't notice the problem!

Too low for a guy 6'3" like me... GRJ, you just saved me a bunch of money and disappointment, as I will eliminate the Mianne  Lift Bridge from my access plan... Back to the drawing board.. (Which is nothing new.. lol)

It doesn’t help to be missing the pre-collision warning system also called hair!  Whacked my head on numerous objects since going bald!

Larry

SantaFeJim posted:

GRJ,

What is the clearance from I-beam to the floor?

I’m short and may be able to walk under if I wear thin Sox.

 

 

I actually depends on your table height. If you are at 32" then it will not go up as high as if you were at 42". This is simply because the height dictates how high due to leg length minus overlap.

Woodson posted:

gunrunnerjohn posted:

It's 5' 1 1/2" to the beam from the floor.  I'm not tall, but I'm a bit taller than that!

CurtisH posted:

I was going to suggest this to you as I too had a couple good cuts to my head. Only thing was it wasn't till the wife hit her head I did anything. DOUBLE OUCH! form her and the lift!

My wife can just talk under it, so she didn't notice the problem!

Too low for a guy 6'3" like me... GRJ, you just saved me a bunch of money and disappointment, as I will eliminate the Mianne  Lift Bridge from my access plan... Back to the drawing board.. (Which is nothing new.. lol)

See my note on table height!!! This lift is great trust me. I am 6' and just walk under bending my head with table height of 37".

John - I think OSHA mandates that the foam be wrapped in reflective yellow tape - barber pole style - with an appropriate warning sign !