HELUKABEL supports manufacturers of safety systems in equipping heavy machines
The mining industry has always been considered one of the most dangerous businesses in the world. Although operations are now much safer for workers than in the past, miners still face dangers on a daily basis. The most common health and safety hazards include collapses, collapses, fires, explosions, dust and exposure to loud noises. Mine shafts today are much larger than ever before and this allows much larger equipment (bulldozers, front loaders, off-road dumpers, cranes) to be used in the extraction of materials. Due to the limited space, the risk of accidents is always high.
HELUKABEL supported a manufacturer of safety systems in equipping mining vehicles. (Source: wirestockc / Envato Elements)
AROUND VIEW WITH CAMERAS AND SENSORS
To overcome these safety challenges, mining companies and the miners themselves must embrace a wide range of safety solutions, such as vehicle proximity technology. This equipment – from cameras and monitors to sensors and digital recorders – can be mounted on the front, sides and rear of a mining vehicle, giving the operator a 360-degree field of view. The system can provide audible notifications, such as “door not closed,” “objects outside the vehicle,” or seat belt notifications. In more extreme cases, the system can brake or completely shut down the vehicle. These devices help the operator operate the machine safely.
For these devices to function properly, they must be interconnected by cables that can withstand the environmental and mechanical challenges found in a mine, as the cables are usually installed along the exterior of the vehicle.
HELUKABEL was approached by a proximity technology manufacturer with this challenge. From the extensive product portfolio of the specialist in the field of electrical connection technology, the flexible UL/CSA-approved MEGAFLEX 500-C control cable came out on top.
The following requirements had to be met:
- Low-smoke and halogen-free – The demand for a cable that is halogen-free revolves around the fire risk in a mine. In the event of a fire, miners and operators would be exposed to significantly less smoke and toxic gases filling their spatially restricted areas.
- Can withstand a 20 joule shock – A 20 joule shock can be tested by dropping a 4.5 kilo weight onto the cable from a height of 0.5 metres. This is done 10 times. A fault is a loss of continuity or short circuit between the conductors or the shield. A cable that can pass this test can withstand the impact of debris that a vehicle may encounter in the mine.
- Shielded – Shielded cables reduce the volume and intensity of all types of electrical noise and EMI, reducing the ill effects of signal transmission loss. Shielding not only protects the cable, but can also protect machines and other people. In an underground application and in confined spaces, equipment intended to prevent vehicles from crashing into other equipment or people can potentially have the opposite effect if not functioning properly.
- UV Resistant -Vehicles retrofitted by the manufacturer are primarily used underground and occasionally parked outside. UV resistance is important so that the cable is not affected when exposed to direct sunlight.
- Abrasion Resistant – In a mining environment, vehicles come into contact with gravel, dirt and other abrasive materials. The cable used must be resistant to such objects. Because the cable is shielded, the outer sheath is thicker and therefore more wear-resistant than unshielded cables.
(Source: AdobeStock / Peruphotoart)
ONE SOLUTION FOR WORLDWIDE USE
MEGAFLEX 500-C not only meets the manufacturer's requirements, but is also highly fire-retardant, resistant to oils and greases, ozone-resistant and contains no silicone. The temperature range of -40°C to 80°C is more than sufficient for this hazardous underground application. Finally, with a tensile strength of over 14 N/mm², MEGAFLEX 500-C has the durability to withstand many types of demanding environments.
Since the manufacturer provides services to mining companies around the world, the cable would be used on vehicles in several countries. Although the cable was already approved for use in the United States, Canada and Europe, the company had to submit samples and work with HELUKABEL to provide the necessary documentation to their end users for local testing and verification. When the approval process was deemed successful, the MEGAFLEX 500-C cable was accepted and specified for field use.
You can find more information about this cable here.
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