Repeated dipper-crawler strikes are a major contributor to reduced crawler shoe life and structural cracking. This can result in unplanned and unbudgeted shoe, pin and hardware replacements. Long term, it can also mean more costly repairs to crawler frames and car body structures. “Dippers are increasingly becoming larger and deeper. Mining operations in applications such as oil sands require wider tracks to accommodate floatation,” said Eric Hsieh, product manager-technology at JoyGlobal Surface Mining. “Under these circumstances it is difficult even for the most experienced operators to avoid repeated dipper-track strikes.”
The Track Shield system can give shovel operators the confidence to maintain full speed in order to achieve optimum cycle times. It can also assist new operators by guiding them in where they need to be in respect to distance to the digging face for proper fill factors. Reinforcing best digging practices for both new and experienced shovel operators, combined with improved machine availability, can result in a significant increase in productivity.
