Spotlight Feature Articles Joy Global Drilling & Loading Apr17 | Page 9

DRILLING AND LOADING
Cat LatchFree Dipper on 7495 shovel
latch assembly with a strong steel link assembly mounted to the dipper back . The key to the design is the geometry of the locking mechanism . The unique arrangement makes it possible to locate the components away from the harsh flow of material .
“ The system has been designed and field proven for a service interval of 3,000 hours , as compared to the standard system that requires adjustment as often as each shift . In addition to delivering greater uptime and lower maintenance costs , the system eliminates false trips – releasing the dipper door inadvertently – caused by dirt buildup or the need for adjusting shims . The result is fewer delays , consistent production and lower cost per tonne .”
The LatchFree Dipper System is currently available for Cat Electric Rope Shovels with dipper capacities of 45 m 3 or smaller . The system proved its performance on a Cat 7495 loading Cat 797 trucks in the challenging oil sands of Alberta , Canada .
“ We ’ re giving it the best challenge – with the environment along with the volumes we mine every day – to test this product to the limit ,” said Dino Colbourne , Maintenance Manager of Shell Albian Sands , during field testing of the LatchFree Dipper System .
“ We ’ ve got a lot of sticky , wet dirt ,” said Darrell Lewis , Maintenance Team Lead for Albian Sands . “ That can create a lot of problems with either the bucket or with the amount of force it takes for the machine to move through it .”
In the harsh conditions of the oil sands , standard dipper latches required maintenance about two times per day and had a significant number of false trips .
“ To adjust door latch shims , we have to walk the shovel out two times the face height , so the process takes 15 to 20 minutes . That ’ s 10 truckloads of bitumen we ’ ve lost ,” said Keith Black , Albian Sands Mine Manager .
“ If you ’ re using the LatchFree , you swing to the truck with confidence that it ’ s not going to trip ,” said Mikita Burton , Shovel Operator at Albian Sands . “ So you can swing faster and don ’ t lose time at the face .”
“ We don ’ t see the system going down or having to repair it ,” said Andrew Mackinowski , Operations & Maintenance Coordinator at Albian Sands . “ Predictability in maintenance and maintenance intervals is a huge benefit .”
New Russian deliveries
Two new shovels from IZ-KARTEX started working at large mining enterprises in Russia in the fourth quarter of 2016 . On November 30 , an EKG-32R began operation at the coal mine of AO Mezhdurech ’ e . The installation was performed by the regional service company OMZ Sibir Service . On December 16 , a ceremony was held dedicated to the commissioning of this , the first Russian excavator of such a capacity at Mezhdurech ’ e .
The uniqueness of the EKG-32R is in its size and technical characteristics . The bucket capacity is 35 m 3 . Only three such powerful machines are working now in Russia – the first two EKG-32R shovels are being operated at the Krasnobrodsky coal mine of Kuzbassrazrezugol ( KRU ). “ While creating a new excavator , the engineers have taken into account the design features of its predecessors . In this model , many parts are upgraded and improved , and the excavator showed excellent results while testing .”
The forecasted performance of the EKG-32R at Mezhdurech ' e on the basis of the mining plan of the enterprise is 30,000 m 3 of rock per day .
On December 12 at JSC Aldanzoloto , an excavator of model EKG-10 started work . The installation was performed by the regional service company OMZ Gortekhmash Service with the participation of IZ-KARTEX in the installation and acceptance tests . Installation of the lubricant system was also performed by IZ-KARTEX .
THYI continues global expansion
The leading Chinese shovel OEM , Tai Yuan Heavy Industry ( TYHI ) continues to make its presence felt in the global market . The fourth TYHI WK-35 shovel for coal mining group EXXARO Resources in South Africa is now under erection on-site . Since January 2013 , TYHI has delivered now four sets of the WK-35 shovel for EXXARO , an indication of its performance . Two of six WK-20 excavators ordered by Northern Coalfields Ltd , part of Coal India , in June 2016 , are under erection .
In November 2016 , TYHI signed a contract with Polyus Gold in Russia , for two sets of the WK-20 and three sets of WK-35 shovels . The WK-20s were transported on ‘ The Belt and Road ’ China to EU trains in January 2017 to Lesosibirsk . There are already WK-35s in Russia but these are the first WK-20s .
In China itself , new orders include a WK-35 for Dexing Copper Mines , part of Jiangxi Copper Company , five WK-35 excavators for Tibet Julong Copper Co Ltd , one of which is being commissioned now . Outside of loading tools , TYHI is delivering four semi-mobile crusher stations to Tibet Julong Copper , two of which are already under manufacture . The company is also delivering a 4,500 t / h spreader to BaoGang Group .
Powering shovel relocation
Aggreko works with mining companies all around the world , and at various stages of a mine ’ s lifecycle . Electric rope shovel walks are just one area of operation that rely heavily on
APRIL 2017 | International Mining