Coal Age

MAR 2014

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rotor X6 and X6 long-flight UAVs can be used for visual inspec- tion, aerial mapping, surveying and security, offering a range of features that include fully automatic take-off and landing; high- ly configurable flight characteristics; training and geo-fence modes to maintain UAV flight patterns within safe, defined spa- tial limits; dynamic POI (point of interest) setting capabilities that automatically maintain UAV alignment toward the POI during flight; enhanced safety features such as failsafe modes in case of loss of RC-signal/low battery voltage, etc.; and a stan- dardized interface and modular design that enables integration of many kinds of sensors. According to Aibotix, its UAVs have a climb rate of up to 8 m per second and a top speed of 60 km per hour. If a motor should fail, the Aibot X6 will still have sufficient power to fly safely on the remaining rotors. A lightweight carbon fiber casing protects the rotors when operating in close proximity to objects, as well as providing safety for operators and bystanders. In addition to fully autonomous waypoint flights, the Aibot X6 V2 also allows dynamic setting of waypoints during a flight, offering an expanded range of capabilities for aerial surveys. The X6 V2 long-flight version, based on V2 architecture, has more powerful motors and batteries that enable flights up to 30 minutes long and payloads of up to 3 kg. Bukit Asam Selects Voith Fluid Couplings The Indonesian mining company Bukit Asam expanded its operations at the Tanjung Enim coal mine in Sumatra, Indonesia. For 10 new belt conveyors, it will deploy 14 TVVS flu- id couplings from 55-315 kW. "We're all very impressed with the performance of the TVVS constant-fill fluid couplings. They're very easy to maintain — only oil changes are needed — and the reliability is just great," said Kris Tjahajaning Tyas, manager of maintenance planning for Bukit Asam. The mine operates 24/7, and any equipment downtime means loss of production. In older sections of the mine they've been using TVVS on belt conveyors since 1997 — without any unplanned downtime. "Proven reliability is why we absolutely wanted to have Voith fluid couplings in the new conveyor drives as well," said Tatra Muis, senior manager of maintenance for Bukit Asam. The Voith fluid couplings are well suited for use in extreme environments and are completely insensitive to harsh condi- tions like dust, dirt and humidity. The fine coal dust in Tanjung Enim has had no effect on performance. The couplings dampen torsional vibrations in the driveline and protect it against over- load, extending the lifetime of the entire system. Because torque is transmitted by a fluid, the power transmission of the fluid couplings is wear-free, reducing maintenance to a minimum. The 13 existing belt conveyors at Tanjung Enim still rely on TVVS fluid couplings (rated from 55 to 500 kW) that were installed more than 17 years ago. The mine has two coal han- dling facilities, with the longest belt conveyor having a length of 4,284 meters and a capacity of 1,700 tons per hour. The drive of this conveyor is equipped with three 315 kW motors and three fluid couplings, type 750 TVVS. In addition to the conveyor drives, the bucketwheel excavator drives at the mine are also equipped with five 750 kW fluid couplings, Type T, that dampen vibrations and protect the driveline from damage also in case of frequently occurring overload. Tanjung Enim coal mine, located in Sumatra, is one of the largest coal reserves of Asia and the world. The mine has been in operation for more than 90 years. In 2012, it produced nearly 15.5 million tons of coal, and the production forecast is higher in the coming years. Motion Industries Completes CSI Acquisition Motion Canada, a division of Birmingham, Ala.-based Motion Industries, a leading distributor of replacement parts, completed the acquisition of all of the shares of Commercial Solutions Inc. (CSI). The acquisition agreement was previously announced dur- ing December 2013. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, CSI is one of Canada's leading independent national distributors of industrial supplies, including bearings and power transmission products, complete solutions for drilling rigs, and industrial and safety supplies. With annual sales of $4.5 billion, Motion Industries is a lead- ing industrial parts distributor of bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical and industrial automation, hydraulic and industrial hose, hydraulic and pneumatic components, industrial products, safety products, and material handling. Motion Industries has more than 560 operations including 15 distribution centers throughout North America and serves more than 150,000 customers. s u p p l i e r s n e w s c o n t i n u e d March 2014 www.coalage.com 49 Miners in Europe tested the Aibot X6 multicopter UAV (drone). This conveyor is equipped with three 750 TVVS fluid couplings (pictured above). CA_pg48-49_V4_CA_pg46-47 3/12/14 8:42 AM Page 49

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