FIELD Engineers has considerable experience in developing jacking studies for mining excavators and shovels, ensuring personnel can safely carry out maintenance tasks on the machines.
Images
Electric rope shovel up on jacks (main image)
Close up of Jacking “Beak”, named due to the design resembling a beak (left).
The jacking beak’s cantilevered frame allows the jacks to be positioned so that from the lower works can be walked out for overhaul (above).
Cost savings
Long lasting solution
Completed to improve maintenance
Innovative engineering design
Customised design for specific needs
Client needs and considerations
- Mine equipment, including large shovel excavators, require regular shutdowns for maintenance and repairs.
- The jacking beak is a cantilevered frame which permits the machine’s upper works to be ‘split’ from the lower works. This enables the lower works to be walked out from beneath, allowing access to the undercarriage components for refurbishment.
- Projects often require a modular jacking beak design to suit common electric rope shovels such as P&H 4100 XPB/XPC and CAT 7495HR/HF/HD.
Approach
Jacking attachments for shutdown works need to attach quickly, and without welding or modification to the existing shovel structure. Our client wanted a faster attaching beak that could still withstand the enormous jacking loads.
FIELD designed this jacking beak to pin to the shovel’s boom foot lugs. Fast and easy (if anything on a shovel shutdown can ever be easy).
FIELD used LIDAR scan data to make an accurate 3-D model of the shovel. Allowing the complex beak to be fully fabricated prior to the shutdown.
This beak fits-up faster than any previous designs, and has lower stress (and a higher safety margin) in the beak structure and connection points.
Cost savings
Reduced downtime due to the beak being faster to fit prior to jacking, and remove after lowering.
Elimination of need for welding during installation.
SUCCESS:
FIELD’S mechanical engineers have many years of experience in optimising mining machinery and equipment for specific purposes.
Outcomes
Shutdown duration reduced by 23%.
FIELD Engineers is the leading designer of innovative jacking systems for mining excavators and rope shovels.
Removal of welding for fit-up allow welding crews to remain focussed on repair works, further reducing shutdown duration.
Recent case studies
Our diverse portfolio is a reflection of the expertise and skills FIELD Engineers possess and a testament to the commitment of our team.