A gear motor drive assembly and cable spool reel engineered for rope shovels has dramatically decreased the occurrence of unexpected dipper trip system failure, one of the biggest productivity thieves in surface mining operations. Developed by Flanders Electric, the SureTrip dipper spool reel applies constant tension during the dig cycle to maintain full control over the tripping cable, and delivers optimum torque to ensure reliable, consistent gate activation. Performance studies show the long-life SureTrip system delivers 99% activation reliability, and SureTrip is the only dipper trip system that can be custom-set based on digging situations to help maximise digging efficiency, Flanders Electric reports.
At shovel operations where SureTrip is installed, customers have reported the following benefits:
- Easy integration of the digital drive into existing shovel control systems
- Significant increases in productivity
- Much lower levels of operator frustration
- Extended rope and component life due to smooth torque regulation
- Fewer maintenance requirements due to elimination of wound motor
- Maximized component life due to extreme-duty cable reel assemblies and ring and pinion gear.
In addition, operators where SureTrip is installed report SureTrip’s new Graphic User Interface (GUI) to be user friendly, with secure and modifiable settings and intuitive navigation that reduces training costs. Mining operations say SureTrip’s detailed diagnostics minimize maintenance downtime.