Crusher upgrades to increase productivity

15th July 2016

Crusher upgrades to  increase productivity

MAINTENANCE MADE EASIER Maintenance can be reduced through the improved lifetime of components, more reliable crushing and easier maintenance procedures

Mine and industrial services provider Metso has introduced a new generation of crusher upgrades for its heritage branded crusher models that aim to increase productivity by up to 30%, with the complete range having been specifically designed for the mining market.

Part of this range is the Symons cone crusher, which now boasts advanced bowl adjustment control, a hydraulic motor bowl adjustment system and a hydraulic tramp release and clearing system for the Symons 5½' HD and 7' HD, XHD and SHD cone crushers.

Metso understands the tough nature of the current mining market for our customers, so we made it our goal to design a new generation of crusher upgrades that enable them to generate more return on investment without the need for expensive capital investments. “The close collaboration with our customers has allowed us to develop these great products that not only help them bolster their bottom line, but also leads to a safer job site,” explains Metso spare parts sales development director Jaakko Huhtapelto.

To improve the production of “your Symons cone crusher by up to 15%”, Metso advocates the use of its hydraulic motor bowl adjustment system, which offers ease of maintenance with a focus on safety and efficiency improvements. The system provides faster and safer bowl adjustment, eliminating the need for a bowl locking arrangement.

The company states that increasing profitability in crushing is a recurring industry challenge, which means that all costly investments need to be carefully considered, adding that any investment made should also bring improved safety considerations.

The new-generation bowl clamping system provides faster and safer bowl adjustment than the manual or hydraulic ram-style systems, says Metso. “It also eliminates the mechanical bowl locking arrangement, replacing it with a hydraulic break system. Heavy-duty hydraulic motors turn the ring gear up to three full turns in one minute, speeding both bowl adjustment and bowl removal during liner change-out.”

The Metso hydraulic bowl clamping and adjustment system dramatically reduces the total manual labour needs normally provided by maintenance staff during bowl adjustment, installation and removal.

Metso offers three packages.

The hydraulic bowl clamping and hydraulic ram-style adjustment package includes hydraulic lock posts, hydraulic adjustment ram assemblies, upgraded lock arm assembly, hoses and fittings.

The hydraulic bowl clamping and gear drive adjustment package includes a new adjustment cap assembly, hydraulic lock posts, a hydraulic adjustment motor (and brake assemblies),
hoses and fittings.

The hydraulic gear drive adjustment package includes a hydraulic adjustment motor, brake, mounting bracket assemblies, drive ring, brake control hoses, fittings and valves.

“Retrofit systems include all components, hardware, templates, instructions and manuals for installation and operation of your upgraded system. A power unit is offered separately and selected based on the level of the upgrade. The installation of the power unit may require electrical and civil work,” Metso explains.

Meanwhile, by replacing the original Symons mechanical springs with the Metso hydraulic tramp release and clearing system, which features hydraulic cylinders equipped with accumulators, maintenance and repair costs, downtime and operating time can be reduced.

“Maintenance costs for your crusher need to be continuously evaluated in terms of cost benefit ratios. Any money invested needs to fall within budget. And the result should translate into more productivity, improved safety and reduced downtime.”

The company further explains that a crusher equipped with the new-generation tramp release permits the quick and convenient clearing of a plugged cavity and also allows for the inspection of crusher liners and the repair of mainframe liners in “clear mode”.

This new-generation retrofit will reduce the potential for stalling the unit, allowing crusher operation with a smaller closed side setting for finer feed heading to the downstream circuit. This results in more crushing and less grinding.

The hydraulic tramp release retrofit package comprises hydraulic cavity clearing cylinders, hydraulic tramp release cylinders, accumulators and mounting brackets. The retrofit systems alsoinclude all components, hardware, templates, instructions and manuals for installation and operation of an upgraded system. A power unit is offered individually, owing to the power requirements being based on the level of upgrade.

New upgrades are also available for Nordberg cone crushers and Superior gyratory crushers, says Huhtapelto, adding that they are offered in packages that are easy to use. Every kit includes clear installation instructions or alternatively, Metso can provide the customer with a field service team for support or the complete installation of the upgrade.

He concludes: “Metso upgrades help customers get more out of their existing crushers at a cost that is lower than buying a new machine. Our customers are supported by a broad scope of services and a global network of over 80 service centres and about 6 400 service professionals.”