Underground jaw crusher.

Situation

The original crusher lubrication system was a constant flow, gravity fed, oil drip system. The mine modified the system to a controlled grease delivery system. The problems with the old system included excessive oil consumption, for what was required; a very messy area (a result of the excessive lubrication) and the oil drums were difficult to move in and out, because of the confined space.

Problem

The Mines’ modified system was experiencing the following problems:

• Because of contamination, the lubrication delivery blocks were continually failing.
• The lubrication controller was continually going into a fault mode. Because of the distance between the pump and the lubrication delivery block (40 feet), the grease was compressing. When the controller stopped the pump, after delivering the set grease cycles, the compressed grease in the lines would cause an extra grease cycle. This extra cycle was causing the controller to go into fault.
• An electric solonoid valve, in the grease delivery system, was continually failing. This was also a result of the compressed grease in the lines.
• The grease delivery blocks were exposed to constant water and rock fines making servicing an unpleasant and awkward task.

Solutions

• Install a filter, in line, and downstream, of the lubrication delivery blocks.
• The lubrication controller was reset, taking into account that the compressed grease would give an extra cycle, after the pump shut down. Also, the controller was reprogrammed to ignore an extra cycle.
• The solonoid valve was removed from the system. It served no useful purpose.
• The grease delivery blocks were installed in a water tight, steel enclosure. This resulted in quick, clean and simple servicing of the system.

Results