The Challenge: Uneven Surfaces, High Impact Forces, and Dust
The issues being faced by the LJ5139 Jaw Crusher which was used in a quarry, were varying in nature. With the machine itself weighing up to 110 tonnes, the chassis is subject to high loads when tracking on uneven surfaces. In addition, the hopper and feeder receives high impact forces when large stones, with a volume of up to 1 cubic m are dropped from the excavator which is used to feed it. Moreover, the crusher itself is subject to forces of up to 8000 kN during the crushing process.
“To deal with these issues, we initially made use of Finite Element Analysis during the design process and verified the results in the field using strain gauges. Previously relying on rented equipment, we were keen to invest in our own equipment for increased flexibility.” said Ian Boast from Terex Corporation.
Furthermore, the initial equipment being hired was susceptible to noise interference from surrounding equipment. This was particularly problematic as the loadings in the crusher are often random and transient in nature which could potentially cause confusion and false results. In addition to this, the physical environment in the quarry, which is arduous with high levels of dust, not only limits the test options on site, but also requires extra care to be undertaken with the conventional equipment being used.