Tucson Rolling Shutters, Caid Industries, and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope recently completed a massive windgate project together. The project was to install rolling shutters and motorized louver systems on their 3.6 meter optical/infrared telescope. The observatory is located at 13,800 feet at the top of Mauna Kea a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii.
Caid Industries provided the frame for us to mount our 12 motorized rolling shutters and 36 motorized louver systems. Each of the 12 openings are 5 feet wide and 20 feet tall and has 1 shutter and 3 louvers.
This part of the TRS manufacturing team that helped cut, powder, assemble and install the shutters and louvers. Behind the crew in this picture are three of the shutters and 9 louvers upright up for cycle testing before going on the boat to Hawaii.
The rolling shutters were cycle tested to 5 years of use without a single failure.
The louvers were cycle tested to 7 years of use without any failures. Both cycle tests exceeded the standards required by the project and were discontinued without reaching failure.
Here the rolling shutters can be seen on the front and the louvers behind during cycle testing.
This was the first shutter/louver system installed as test to make sure this would work as planned by the engineers. It worked so well the 11 other systems were installed and we received a follow up status report from the project manager.
Messages From the Customer
The following are two emails from the Director of Operations at CFHT:
From: Derrick Salmon,
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2014 3:00 PM
Subject: Vents and sustained high winds
Gents
Just a heads up that your vents have been subjected to sustained winds in excess of 100 mph, and over 80 mph for many hours the last few days and appear to be standing up well. In particular, there is very little wind noise and no rattling evident in the dome that can be attributed to the vents. Very impressive!
Once things die down to acceptable levels Steve and crew will make sure they continue to function well.
Cheers,
Derrick
From: Derrick Salmon
Sent: Friday, December 20, 2013 1:55 PM
Subject: Dome vents
Hi Folks
I had hoped to wait for all 12 vents to be fully wired and operational before sending this note out, but the holiday season is upon us and with 6 in proven operation, 8 wired and only 4 to go, it seemed unfair not to send you all our most hearty thanks for a job well done. We all here at CFHT really appreciate the effort, thought and commitment you have made over the past couple of years to seeing the dome venting project to completion. Last week our Board of Directors had an opportunity to see a full suite of 6 vents operating under remote control, both via video link in a presentation given by Steve Bauman, and the following day in person at the summit. All of the Board of Directors and staff alike are truly impressed with not only their operation but also with just how well they fit into the look and feel of the place. I should also mention that OMKM made a point of commending you on your professional work at the summit, to which we add our own thanks.
So, sorry its been a long while since you left the summit without a work of thanks from me – but indeed your work stands out and is very much appreciated.
Its been a pleasure working with with you all over the past couple of years.
Best wishes for the holiday season and for the New Year.
Cheers,
Derrick
