What’s New POLY CHAIN

One of the reasons bikers like the new drive is that it eliminates a lot of machine vibration (and it allows them to see out their rear-view mirrors). But Poly Chain GT also offers virtually maintenance-free operation, greater efficiency in transferring power from the motor and lubrication-free servicing, says Wayne Schuman, product manager for Gates Canada.

For mine operators, belt stretch alone can cause a lot of problems. On average, a 2.54-m chain drive will have an apparent stretch of about 7.6 cm over the life of the chain. The amount of stretch for a comparable poly chain drive, however, is only 0.2 cm, according to Gates.

What gives the poly chain these unique operating characteristics are the materials that go into making the product. An elastomeric compound is used to surround the tensile cords of the belt. These cords are constructed of Kevlar, a material which is stronger than steel, has a very high modulus of elasticity and does not stretch. The teeth of the belt are constructed of polyurethane, which gives them a high shear strength during power surges and shock loads. The belts typically weigh up to one-third less than the systems they replace.

The materials used to build the belt and the way it was designed are a departure from traditional neoprene (or rubber) belts, which are typically known as high-torque drives. Gates effectively cornered the technology for manufacturing high-torque belts (and also cornered the market for the belts) by acquiring Uniroyal in 1986. So the development of the Poly Chain GT is a natural progression for the company. Using the latest in materials engineering, the company’s innovative new belt is capable of transmitting in excess of 515 kW using a 12.7-cm wide belt at 4,000 rpms — double the capacity of conventional high-torque drives.

What makes it particularly attractive to Canadian mine operators is the range of temperature within which it can operate effectively –54 degrees C to +85 degrees C — and its resistance to corrosion and contamination. “You can even hose down a machine that uses a poly chain drive,” Schuman says.

This is not to say that the poly chain is the choice for all belt applications. But Gates expects it will be an economic alternative in problem applications where an operator is faced with replacing an existing chain. “You can probably put the entire poly chain system (including sprockets, etc.) on a machine for less than it costs to replace an existing chain,” David Finnamore, industrial regional manager for Gates says. All the company’s salesmen can quickly calculate the economics of replacing an existing system with the poly chain system. Gates’ sales offices are located across the country. Distributors of the product will be trained in using the company’s in-house computer program by the end of the year, Finnamore says. It allows them to make quick calculations on the economics of replacement.

One calculation which is of some interest is the efficency of the new drive system. The poly chain operates at about 98% efficiency, Schuman says, compared with about 93-94% efficiency for typical V-belts. That means that the poly chain pays for itself in less than one year in most applications. Winches

Winches in sizes from 4,000 to 10,000 lb of vertical line pull are being manufactured by Jeamar Winches of Richmond Hill, Ont. Filters

Industrial Filter Fabrics of Hamilton, Ont., is marketing a wide range of filter products.

The company manufactures discsectors, press cloths and rotay vacuum filters. Ultrasonics I

A system of non-contact, ultrasonic level measurement of bulk solids and liquids in heights of up to 15 m has been introduced by Milltronics Process Measurements of Peterborough, Ont.

An improved version of the original MultiRanger, the system features enhanced software for higher accuracy and greater reliability, according to the company. The unit provides accuracy to 0.24% of range, or 2 mm within 3 m.

The system consists of a patented ultrasonic transducer and a compact, sealed electronics box with a removable programmer. Ultrasonics II

An ultrasonic measuring unit which can detect the boundary between a liquid and a sludge is being marketed by Bailey Controls of Burlington, Ont.

Called the USP10, the unit gives accurate sludge level measurement regardless of foam, turbidity, or color of liquid, the company says. The self- cleaning nature of the measuring technique results in reliable measurements and little maintenance. The fully encapsulated probe eliminates the possibility of liquid coming into contact with the electronics. Ultrasonics III

A prototype ball mill that uses high- frequency and high-amplitude sonic energy to grind ore is being constructed by CETEC Sonics of Burnaby, B.C.

The 500-ton-per-day mill, to be called the Sonic Grinder, is being built for Placer Dome. The project has the potential to greatly reduce the power consumption of grinding mills. Drill Hole Camera

Knopafex of Mississauga, Ont., which designs and manufactures pipeline inspection cameras and accessories, has developed a color camera for inspecting drill holes up to 1,000 ft deep.

Called the BH-170, the camera has a remote focus, electronic iris and variable lighting. A wheel system keeps it in the middle of the borehole. An optional rotating mirror assembly allows more direct examination of the sides of the hole. Options include a built-in video cassette recorder and color-monitor, video tilting, commenting and report generation. In-the -hole Fibre Optics

A highly accurate tool for surveying diamond drill holes, which employs fibre optic technology, has been developed by Techdel International of Toronto, Ont.

The Light-Log, as the unit is called, measures azimuth and inclination of the hole at 3-m intervals down a drill hole, with a precision of plus or minus 0.1 degrees . Measurements can be taken while the hole is being drilled or upon completion of the hole. The unit is attached to any wireline and operates inside the drill rods. Oxygen Plant

Companies which consume 15 to 50 tons of bulk oxygen per day can reduce their oxygen costs by using an oxygen production system developed by Linde, a division of Union Carbide.

The first Pressure Swing Adsorption system, with a capacity of 25,000 cu ft per hr, was installed at a Manitoba Rolling Mills plant in Selkirk, Man.

The 2-bed system uses a molecular sieve to trap nitrogen and allow oxygen to pass through. The only input required, besides air, is electricity and cooling water. Field Data-collector

Resonance Geophysics of Wales, U.K., is marketing a field exploration instrument that measures induced polarization and both time-domain and frequency-domain electromagnetic responses. The instrument was designed so that it makes virtually no coupling measurement errors.

Called the RAS-1, the instrument measures complex impedance at frequencies in the range 0.01 hz to 90 khz or the transient voltage in equal time intervals in the time domain.

Features include robust construction for portable field use; streamlined rain-proofing design; ability to operate under temperature conditions ranging from — 20 degrees C to +70 degrees C; a full keyboard; built-in text editor; lcd screen (80 characters by 25 lines); data storage on 256 k byte cards; menu operation and automatic self-calibration.

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