Curb complete!

Over the last few days we have been finishing off the curb and fixing it into position. Here are a few photos showing the developments..... 

 

The curb, with metal track let-in. This acts as a 'ball-race' for the rollers which will allow the cap to rotate into wind. The large nut just inside the track is for one of the holding down bolts. Inboard is the guide ring, which, er, guides, the cap as it rotates around the curb.

 

Under the curb, showing a holding down bolt concreted into the masonry. The curb is temporarily propped up, to be lowered later, sliding down these bolts. This method allowed us to tighten the various bolts/nuts holding the curb and guide ring sections together, prior to these being 'lost' under the curb when it was lowered.

Ready to be lowered

Lowering on three chain hoists simultaneously, onto a bed of mortar. Note the lack of overalls due to working in the 'greenhouse' section of the scaffold, in 25 degrees heat.

Level and position checked, the curb in its final (we hope!) position.

Guide ring pieces

We have started to make sections for the guide ring, which will be fixed to the curb. Our new portable bandsaw is proving to be very useful for tasks such as this, we don't envy the original millwrights cutting by hand. Once planed and cleaned up, the sections should (will!) fit together as per the curb last week.

The curb begins to take shape

So, the nine sections for the new curb have been cut and pre-drilled for their holding down bolts. After checking the layout on the ground, the sections were then hoisted to the top of the mill and laid into place. Thankfully, everything lines up (never in doubt!) The next job will be routering a channel for the sections of metal ring which will be sunk into the curb, providing a 'track' on which the cap can rotate.

Hoisting, a time consuming two-stage process for each section

The first few sections going into place

The complete ring