Modern Mining March 2020

New Cat dragline bucket boosts fill speed

The new Cat double clip back bucket for draglines features an innovative design that increases fill speed and reduces bucket weight for faster cycle times and greater payload. The patented design also eliminates the high-maintenance spreader bar from the rigging system. The widemouth, aggressive lip angle and low front height reduce drag power required to fill the bucket. The design minimises the required fill distance for improved produc- tivity and reduced bucket wear. The unique shape of the rear wall enables the bucket to fill without upper rear corner voids, and it increases material density in the bucket for optimum payloads on every pass. It also clearly shows the operator when the bucket is full and should exit the cut. Eliminating the hoist rigging spreader bar has additional benefits, such as reduced wear and tear on the top rails and trunnions. Fewer system components result in less inventory management and reduced main-

tenance cost. The rigging system design also gives the operator better control of the bucket and reduces the chances of an inex- perienced operator damaging it. The unique trunnion design and loca- tion on the clipped portion of the bucket protects the lower hoist link from wear and provides quick dumping of the payload. The design includes a cast-in deflector to protect and increase the life of the trunnion. The new Cat bucket is available for a wide range of dragline sizes and applica- tions, no matter what the brand of machine. Using data-driven analysis, Caterpillar designs each bucket for the specific drag- line and application. The design process uses all significant parameters, including ground density, wear package, rigging package and bucket weight to optimise performance within the dragline’s rated suspended load. Reduced dead weight of the double clip back bucket, as compared to conventional industries in the Ashanti region, in Kumasi. The developments by are a direct result of increased demand for condition moni- toring services in Ghana. This brings to 17 the number of laboratories operated by WearCheck, which was founded over 40 years ago in Durban, South Africa, and today processes in excess of 800 000 used oil samples annually. Since 2013, WearCheck Tarkwa has successfully serviced Ghanaian mining operations and other industries, conduct- ing the scientific analysis of used oil and other condition monitoring techniques, all of which reduce maintenance costs and boost productivity by improving equip-

The wide mouth, aggressive lip angle and low front height reduce drag power required to fill the bucket. designs, ranges from 2 to 10%, depending on the application. Cat dragline buckets also include wear packages based on the mine’s material abrasiveness and digging conditions. The Cat dragline bucket lip nose casting sup- ports the Cat CapSure adapter and tooth system. The system delivers long wear life and hammerless installation of teeth for enhanced safety and faster removal and replacement.  ment reliability and availability. “The industries in Ghana have welcomed WearCheck with open arms, for which we are very grateful,” says MD Neil Robinson. “The positive feedback from our Ghanaian customers has inspired us to expand into the Ashanti area to meet the local need for our laboratory services.” 

WearCheck’s expansion in West Africa South African condition monitoring special- ist WearCheck has upgraded its laboratory in Tarkwa, Ghana into a modern testing centre which can now conduct transformer oil, coolant and fuel analysis, among a host of additional services, as well as traditional used oil analysis.

Tarkwa’s new laboratory, now housed in a building a block away from the original converted shipping container, is kitted out with various new instruments that enable extensive testing, and additional laboratory technicians have been employed. The company also opened a second laboratory in Ghana recently, providing oil analysis and reliability solutions services to

The company opened a second laboratory in Ghana recently, providing oil analysis and reliability solutions services to industries in the Ashanti region, in Kumasi.

March 2020  MODERN MINING  51