Modern Mining June 2017

PRODUCT News

Kubota RTV-X900 delivers underground

A versatile utility vehicle for the underground mining industry is the Kubota RTV-X900. It has proved popular in the South African mar- ket and there are reportedly hundreds of the machines in operation around the country. Even though Maubra, a South African Kubota dealer, customises the Kubota RTV- X900 for use underground, as it comes it is a capable base vehicle with a powerful diesel engine of just under 900 cc with a unique fluid-drive transmission system that can drive either just the rear wheels or all four. This is controlled by a unique braking system that is linked to the fluid-drive transmission. Although the Kubota RTV-X900’s braking system is primarily controlled by the operator, the vehicle can only move if the transmis- sion is engaged and the throttle is pressed; in any other mode, the wheels will not turn. In the event that the engine has been switched off, the vehicle will not be able to freewheel, which means there is no possibility of it run- ning down an incline uncontrolled. In the event that the throttle is not pressed, even while the engine is idling, the transmis- sion will supply insufficient fluid to turn the wheels, so in this scenario the vehicle will also not be able to move uncontrolled. Due to strict requirements for underground operations, the Kubota RTV-X900 must be customised according to the specific task it will have to fulfil. Safety in this regard is par- amount, so the base vehicle is fitted with a strengthened roll cage, special-purpose front and back steel bumpers, steel lattice driver and passenger door, and an array of LED auxiliary lights (including nautical style red and green

The Kubota RTV-X900 utility vehicle.

side lights for easy identification of travel direction in the dark). The whole floor surface of the cab as well as the load bed is also coated with a rubberised non-slip material. The speed limit underground is 15 km/h, so Maubra governs all Kubota RTV-X900 vehicles destined for underground to this limit. The vehicle has a diesel engine that is not powered by HT electricity. All other electrical compo- nents of the vehicle are insulated in order to prevent any combustible vapour underground from being ignited by any incidental sparks. Thanks to the modifications undertaken by Maubra, the Kubota RTV-X900 is transformed into a highly effective underground utility vehicle, which is then further customised to suit even more specific applications, such as carrying explosives. Due to its fit-for-purpose durability and strength, long-term maintenance of the Kubota RTV-X900 is considerably less than a regular bakkie. Without a clutch, brake pads or shoes, as well as a simple, yet rugged three- cylinder engine, there is little to go wrong on this piece of equipment. Kevin Clarke, Maubra, cell (+27 82) 926- 2519, e-mail: kevin@maubra.co.za “The fact that we are a 100 % local manu- facturer allows us to tailor our valves to exact customer requirements and we can offer the Red Roc Hi-Lift pinch valve in higher pressures and sizes than the DN600 to meet specific requirements,” says Afrivalve’s Group Marketing Manager, Gregor Hopton. “Although predominantly used in the min- ing industry, Red Roc pinch valves are suited for use in various other industrial appli- cations such as in the power generation, sewage and effluent and fertiliser industries”. Gregor Hopton, Afrivalve, tel (+27 11) 791-1411, e-mail: gregh@afrivalve.co.za to DN600, with pressures ranging from PN10 to PN40 depending on the size.

Valve design allows reduction in downtime Afrivalve, a division of eDART Slurry Valves, now offers a simple patented design of the Red Roc Hi-Lift pinch valve. The design allows for inline changing of the rubber sleeve without the use of lifting equipment and has been granted a patent number.

This “unique and innovative feature”, as Afrivalve describes it, offers a drastic reduc- tion in downtime and manpower to replace worn sleeves, eliminates the need for lifting and rigging equipment in remote areas as well as removing the pipework and re-align- ment requirement. The Red Roc pinch valves, which are man- ufactured at eDART Slurry Valves’ facilities in Jet Park, Gauteng, range in sizes fromDN150

June 2017  MODERN MINING  51