|
Designs on Safety: Custom machine eliminates manual installation of roof bolts in mines |
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Andre Voshart
|
 After a year and a half of development, Saskatoon-based DynaIndustrial
recently created a custom piece of equipment at the request of
PotashCorp for its expanding Rocanville, Sask., potash mine. The
low-ceiling-height roof bolter, named the DynaBolter, is used to secure
potash mine ceilings, eliminating the need for a worker to manually
install roof bolts.
Since 1970, DynaIndustrial been focused on helping companies in various
industries improve their process productivity by designing and
developing custom equipment, primarily serving steel mills, pipe mills,
and mining and oil and gas companies.
DynaIndustrial recently completed the design and prototyping of a
custom roof bolter at the request of PotashCorp’s Rocanville mine
located in Southern Saskatchewan. DynaIndustrial spent the last year
and a half developing the DynaBolter to fit the expanding mine’s
specific underground requirements.
“Many meetings were held to refine the details of the equipment and
their requirements,” DynaIndustrial general manager Darrin Craig said.
“DynaIndustrial modeled the bolter and used that model as the basis for
most of the meetings. Both maintenance and operations staff at the mine
were involved in the meetings to provide their input on the design.
After the machine was delivered, a number of changes were made to
improve the functionality and reliability of the machine.
“We are frequently in contact with the mine on the bolter to provide
training of new personnel and update or modify the machine as required.”
Currently, the company has four different models at various stages of
development and is working with several other potash mines to develop a
bolter to meet their specific requirements. Agrium Potash Corp. in
Calgary and Mosaic Potash in Saskatchewan have also just purchased the
newly created piece of machinery for their underground mines.
According to DynaIndustrial, the DynaBolter significantly improves the
safety and efficiency of the bolt installation process, and the machine
can be adapted to different applications from its original intended
use. The equipment eliminates the need for a worker to manually install
roof bolts. Instead, a single operator can now drill and install up to
five bolts from their seat.
“The reason that mines use roof bolters is to stabilize the back (or
roof) of the mine to prevent cave-ins or loose rock or potash from
falling,” Craig says of the technology’s purpose.
Prior to the new equipment, safety concerns came into play because the
task of drilling through loose or unstable back can cause rock to fall.
“In certain situations with existing equipment, personnel are directly
under where they are drilling and bolting thus being exposed to falling
rock,” he explains. With the DynaBolter, the work is done 15 feet away
from where the drilling or bolting is taking place.
“The cab is certified for falling object and roll-over protection to
protect the operator,” Craig adds. “Thus, the operator is not exposed
the hazards.”
Features also include a “state-of-the-art” hydraulic control panel that
has on-screen tutorials, making training and operating simple for any
worker. The machine runs on diesel and is extremely agile for its low
profile. The DynaBolter can be integrated onto existing pieces of
equipment that mines are already using.
The company’s engineering team uses the latest 3D modeling software and
finite element analysis (FEA) software to optimize equipment design
while keeping in mind manufacturing, maintenance and safety.
“DynaIndustrial uses Autodesk Inventor 3D modeling software, and we use
Algor FEA software,” Craig specifies.
Additionally, “the DynaBolter would not have been possible without the
co-operation and support of the Rocanville potash mine and the efforts
of the dedicated personnel at this mine,” the company said in a press
announcement.
www.dynaindustrial.com
|
