RYCO Hydraulics will highlight the safety aspects of its fluid connector technology – including a new mine-safe connection system – on Stand 1707 during AIMEX, September 6-9. Headlining the company’s stand will be CROCBITE, a new mine-safe connection system that RYCO describes as an innovative Australian first. “CROCBITE is a cutting edge, safe and secure connection system available in sizes from DN10 to DN 75 with a maximum working pressure of 420 bar,” RYCO Marketing Manager Sean Babbage said.
CROCBITE features a segmented “Croctail” that fully engages the circumference of the connector to ensure maximum possible hold and increased safety for personnel. CROCBITE provides a 20% reduction in
width and increases the bearing contact area by 200%. It is an ultra-slim, snag-free connection system which is many times stronger than the standard DIN 20043 staple connector,” Babbage said. “Being contamination and corrosion resistant, it is an ideal connection system for the arduous conditions of underground coal mining.”
Australian-owned RYCO will support the CROCBITE range at AIMEX with its hose and fittings range, including 350 bar JIC coupling and adaptor products. The company will feature its hose and coupling assemblies that conform with Mining Design Guideline (MDG) 41 for fluid power system safety at mines that states a hose assembly (hose with couplings attached) must be fit for purpose and that hose and couplings must be matched.
“Hydraulic circuits today convey tremendous pressures,” Babbage said. “The attachment of a coupling to the end of a hose may seem a simple operation, but it is a complex engineering solution.” Accordingly, RYCO offers a matched system, with all products clearly branded with a unique RYCO part number and batch code, where practical.
A hose assembly made of a hose and couplings from different manufacturers was not matched unless it had been fully tested and certified, Babbage said.
RYCO will also promote training programs it has developed to cover all aspects of fluid connector technology. These range from competencies for product selection and assembly practices through to a nationally recognised Mobile Connector Specialist Course.