Liberty Science Center’s Giant Working Rubik’s Cube
For the 40th anniversary of the Rubik’s Cube, Liberty Science Center in New Jersey commissioned an 11.5-foot-tall Giant Working Cube to demonstrate to museum guests the inetrnal mechanism of the iconic 3-D puzzle. TCS provided controls expertise to help create this one-of-a-kind exhibit, which toured the US, China, and Canada.
Designed and programmed the PLC control system which detects the movement of a guest-controlled Rubik’s Cube and recreates the motion on the Giant Working Cube via six servos.
Provided touchscreen controls for facility maintenance personnel monitoring and troubleshooting along with the ability to log in remotely.
Supervised fabrication of the control system and provided custom shop test programs to prove the reliability of the system and mechanism.
Provided on-site support and final program customization for the start-up at Liberty Science Center.
Margate Bridge Inspection
TCS performed an in-depth inspection of Margate Bridge, a privately owned toll drawbridge in southern New Jersey. Based on our recommendations, the bridge owner requested TCS’s assistance in correcting several deficiencies. TCS provided support for the following repairs needed to improve safety and reliability and to bring the control system into compliance with nationally recognized codes and standards:
Replacement of obsolete and undersized motor circuit protection devices
Bypass system update to comply with AASHTO LRFD Moveable Bridge Design Specifications
Replacement and recalibration of the span drive power metering system to provide accurate feedback to the bridge operator and maintenance personnel
Identification and replacement of deteriorating critical field devices throughout the bridge
Amtrak's Dock Vertical Lift Railroad Bridge
TCS provided critical troubleshooting expertise to Amtrak for this 1930s era 3-span vertical lift bridge complex. TCS has provided same-day emergency troubleshooting and in-depth analysis for numerous bridge issues with 100% success in solving every issue. Highlights include:
Troubleshooting and repair of the backup motor-generator power system, restoring it to service after decades of inoperability
Power system conceptual design for replacement of the 1930s era system with a modern DC drive system
Critical emergency troubleshooting for numerous field and control system device failures with 100% same-day success rate
In-depth analysis and troubleshooting of bridge facility switchgear and transformer failure
Design and installation supervision of a replacement backup power system for the bridge DC controls
NYC Govenors Island Ferry Slips Construction Support
TCS provided construction support during this major electrical and mechanical rehabilitation of the Soissons Landing ferry slip on NYC’s Governors Island. Highlights include:
Performed troubleshooting of installation issues prior to start-up
Provided design enhancements to overcome complex control system challenges
Conducted the final acceptance testing of the rehabilitated electrical and mechanical systems
Amtrak's Spuyten Duyvil Railroad Swing Bridge
TCS recently replaced the 1980s era primary thyristor motor drive and motor with a modern vector drive and inverter duty motor. Highlights include:
Design of the new drive system to integrate seamlessly with the existing span control system to virtually eliminate service interruption of the bridge
Coordination with vendors to ensure the designed drive/motor system was fully tested to IEEE standards prior to installation
Dedicated startup service to verify every subsystem was correctly installed and tested on-site, working hand-in-hand with maintenance personnel to ensure the new system performed to their full satisfaction
Design of a failsafe emergency system to allow span poeration in the event of a control system failure and trained operating and maintenance personnel on its use
DelDOT State Route 1 Fixed Bridge over Broadkill River
TCS was asked to provide electrical engineering services for the replacement of Delaware’s SR1 highway bridge over Broadkill River. Highlights include:
In-depth site review and ease-of-maintenance oriented design of the span navigation lighting and electrical systems for the new bridge
Coordination with the United States Coast Guard to ensure the new navigation lighting system is in full compliance with current regulations
Providing electrical engineering and construction expertise to structural design firm to advise on best project staging and construction methods and techniques
Corning Museum of Glass GlassBarge
The GlassBarge was a 30' x 80' glassmaking demonstration barge that was launched to commemorate the Corning company's 1868 relocation from Brooklyn to Corning NY via the Hudson River and the Erie Canal. TCS provided design, installation, startup support, and operating instructions for the GlassBarge canopy deployment machine electrical controls. This was a moveable canopy that raised and lowered to allow the necessary under-bridge clearance for the barge to recreate the historic journey along the same waterways with several show stops in between.
Additional Projects
Inspections
Three Cape May County Bridge Commission Bridges, NJDOT Type I & II (2019)
Two Atlantic County Bridges, NJDOT Type I & II (2019)
One Burlington County Moveable Bridge, NJDOT Type III-s (2019)
Two Cape May County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type I (2018)
Four Monmouth County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type I & II (2017)
Four Essex County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type II (2017)
Two Cape May County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type II (2016)
Three MarylandDOT Movable Bridges (2016)
Four MarylandDOT Movable Bridges (2015)
Four Monmouth County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type II & IIIs (2015)
Four Essex County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type IIIs (2015)
Margate Bridge, Margate Bridge Company, in-depth inspection and report (2015)
MD Route 157 over Bear Creek Bridge, MarylandDOT, in-depth inspection and report (2015)
Three NJDOT Bridges, NJDOT Type I and Type IIIs (2013)
Two Atlantic County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type II (2013)
Two Cape May County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type I (2013)
Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge, NJDOT, NJDOT Type IIIs (2013)
Two Bergen County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type II (2013)
Riverside/Delanco, Tacony/Palmyra and Burlington/Bristol Bridges, Burlington County Bridge Commission, in-depth inspections and reports (2012)
Route 7 Passaic Bridge, NJDOT, NJDOT Type IIIs (2012)
Route 40/322 Bridge, NJDOT, NJDOT Type IIIs (2012)
Two Atlantic County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type IIIs (2011)
12 NJDOT Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type IIIs (2009–2010)
Two Atlantic County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type I (2009)
NJDOT Route 47 Movable Bridge, NJDOT Type IIIs (2008)
NJDOT Route 13 Movable Bridge, NJDOT Type IIIs (2008)
NJDOT Route 36 Movable Bridge, NJDOT Type IIIs (2008)
Harlem River Lift Bridge, Triboro Bridge & Tunnel Authority, in-depth inspection and report (2006)
Three Burlington County Bridge Commission Bridges, in-depth inspections and reports (2006)
NJDOT Route 13 Movable Bridge, NJDOT Type I (2006)
Two Monmouth County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type I (2005)
Two Atlantic County Movable Bridges, NJDOT Type II (2005)
Three Burlington County Bridge Commission Bridges, in-depth inspections and reports (2004)