WHAT’S NEW: GETMAN’S UNDERGROUND GRADERS

Two new road-graders specifically designed for underground mines were recently introduced by mining equipment manufacturer Getman Corp. at its plant in southwestern Michigan.

In a ceremony attended by The Northern Miner Magazine, President Dana Getman unveiled the RDG-1504C, designed for hard-rock mines, and the RDG-1504S, its counterpart in mid-seam coal mining. Both machines are diesel-powered and are intended to eliminate the high cost of maintaining modified, lighter-class vehicles now in use in most underground mines, Mr. Getman said.

Grading creates cleaner, harder road surfaces than rolled or compacted roadways. The material that remains after grading is smooth and solid, not compacted, crushed material that can become loosened by continuous traffic. This smooth surface results in less wear on underground vehicles, which, in turn, results in lower maintenance costs.

Both Getman models are 4-wheel-drive, 150-hp (112-kW) units weighing a hefty 30,000 lbs. (13,500 kg) and could just as easily be called road “builders.” The company is considering adding capabilities for compaction, ripping, scarifying and spreading gravel with an auxiliary bucket and blade. The heavy-duty articulated frame provides additional manoeuvrability for negotiating 16-ft. (4.8-metre) crosscuts.

The 30,000-lb. weight results in excellent traction, explained Vice-president of Product Development Keith Brownfield. “If you don’t have weight, you don’t have traction,” he said. “And if you don’t have traction, you can’t get any work done.”

Grading is accomplished via a 12-inch (30.5-cm) blade equipped with a wear-resistant moldboard. Side shift, for operations close to ribs and pillars, is hydraulically actuated with a mechanical blade tip.

The 4-speed full reversing transmission with planetary reduction power shift offers high-speed travel while the torque converter provides additional power for tough work.

The front axle is made of solid steel with a 23 total oscillation and an 18 wheel lean, right or left.

“The introduction of our new series of road-builders for both mid-seam and high-seam mines is an extension of the Getman philosophy — that is, a vehicle designed exclusively for the heavy-duty demands of mining,” said Dana Getman. “It is our goal to continue to provide tough, dependable equipment at a competitive price.”

Major markets for the graders include coal mines in the U.S., Australia, South Africa and possibly Europe. Non-coal markets include potash, salt and metal mines in the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan.

Getman Corp. specializes in manual, diesel-powered, rubber-tired underground mining equipment. Its fleet includes scalers, drill carriers, pumps, personnel carriers, scissor lifts, boom trucks, ANFO carrier/loaders, mechanics trucks, lube trucks, water trucks and other utility vehicles.

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Precise Recorder

The Alrain recording system, developed By Felco Electric Sales Co. of Dartmouth, N.S., functions as a chart recorder, a data-logger and a digital panel meter. It is ideal for the busy engineer who wants to take precise recordings quickly and easily. The portable unit displays moving traces in real time and features two input channels with eight recording speeds, high memory capacity and long battery life, as well as an event marker and programmable timer. The stored data are easily downloaded to a computer for analysis.

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Positioning System

Used by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Geographic Society and most recently by the U.S. forces in Iraq, Magellan Systems Global Positioning System (GPS) is now available in an updated version for land-based professionals. Improvements to the hand-held GPS NAV 1000 PRO permit a 2.5-second position update rate for better navigational accuracies. Improvements have also resulted in convenient and economical differential positioning, integration of the PRO GPS information with Geographic Information Systems and the capability of communicating with other manufacturers base station units. The new instrument also has a new menu-driven format for ease of operation as well as redesigned post-processing software.

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Overvoltage Suppressors

A line of voltage surge and spike protectors is being marketed by Transient Surge Protectors of Regina, Sask. In an age when an increasing number of machines and devices are controlled by computers, and indeed are computers themselves, there is increasing vulnerability to transient surges of electrical power. The new suppression units are Models 202 CDN and 404 CDN for 120/208 and 347/600 volt 3-phase electrical systems, respectively. The suppressors work on either AC or DC systems.

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IP/Resistivity Receiver

Scintrex Ltd. of Concord, Ont. has introduced the IPR-12 Induced Polarization/Resistivity Receiver. The time domain unit is integrated with a microcontroller and a 16-line screen and this may be its most important feature. It permits high-quality data concerning instrument status and measured information to be displayed on the screen in graphic or alpha numeric form. This is of vital importance as there are 18 parameters measured for each dipole and up to eight dipoles can be measured simultaneously. The solid-state memory records all information including header information and measured and calculated data. Header information includes time, location, electrode array, etc. The IPR-12 stacks the information for each cycle and calculates a running average for Vp, SP and each of 14 IP transient windows.The recorded data include an adjustable summed chargeability window, statistical error, Cole-Cole M and Tau, resistivity K factors and apparent resistivity. Taking a reading is fast and only a few key strokes are needed.

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Cleaner Conveyor Belts

The cleaning of conveyor belts is always a problem, but Rema Tip Top Rubber Products Canada of Toronto, Ont. has come up with what may be a universal winner. An annotated diagram shows the main features of the T-Bar Scraper. The conveyor belt cleaner has a unique design.

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