Engineering & Mining Journal

MAR 2013

Engineering and Mining Journal - Whether the market is copper, gold, nickel, iron ore, lead/zinc, PGM, diamonds or other commodities, E&MJ takes the lead in projecting trends, following development and reporting on the most efficient operating pr

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BAUMA PREVIEW 2013 matic speed control system for moving down slopes fully loaded at the safest maximum speed. Innovations in Tire Protection Technology Celebrating its 70th anniversary as a tire protection chain manufacturer, Erlau will display its Easylock tire chain system and the Sideflex tire protections system. The Easylock overcomes the difficulties of installing and removing tire protection chains (TPC). Ordinarily the open ends of the Omega rings are passed through the adjacent eyes of a pair of links and joined by a forged hasp which is secured by a pair of steel pins. Driving home the pins is difficult and carries the risk of injury both from the hammer and from flying steel fragments. When it comes to removing the TPC, punching out rusty pins is equally arduous and using torches next to a $20,000 rubber tire could be hazardous for one's personal safety. Furthermore, once cut, the omega rings are no longer usable and replacements have to be purchased. The Easylock is a connecting ring that can be fitted and removed, without hammers or cutting equipment. It consists of two components, an Omega ring and a 56 E&MJ; • MARCH 2013 Erlau will showcase two new tire protection concepts at bauma, the Sideflex system for haul truck tires and the Easylock for tire protection chains (inset). locking hasp. The ring is passed through two adjacent links and the hasp pushed over the prongs of the open ring. The hasp incorporates a locking device which is secured with a 90° turn, in either direction of a simple hex key. Due to long distances, weight considerations and increased fuel costs, TPC do not work for haul truck tires. For mine trucks, Erlau has developed Sideflex, a cost-effective sidewall protection system. The light weight system consists of a sturdy set of replacement wheel nuts and extensions supporting a flat ring to which is attached a fanned array of over-lapping platelets. The platelets shield the entire sidewall and deflect any aggressive rock debris that might otherwise pierce the sidewall. While the mounting components are made of steel, the shield is manufactured from an engineered polymer. This robust material has a unique memory capability that enables the platelets to flex and deform upon impact and then return to their original shape. www.e-mj.com

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