FLSmidth launched the Cage Guardian Safety Brake for steel guides. The brake uses mechanical systems to keep underground mine workers safe in the event of slack-rope or a rope-break event. It is built to withstand even the toughest underground mine environments and meet the most stringent regulations for safety catches, the company reported.
The Cage Guardian Safety Brake is strictly mechanical, with no hydraulics, pneumatics or electricity. This helps ensure failsafe operation, even on wet or contaminated guides. Actuation and operation is performed by redundant mechanical systems, only requiring a slack-rope or rope-break event to bring the cage to a safe stop, the company reported. With average deceleration rates of .9 gravities (g) to 2 g, the Cage Guardian Safety Brake has a lower jerk rate and provides smoother deceleration.
The safety brake system also allows for easy retrieval of the cage after an event, FLSmidth reported. Unlike conventional safety dogs for wood guides, the Cage Guardian Safety Brake inflicts minimal damage to any cage or guide components. This results in faster redeployment of the cage.
Every system is completely factory tested and calibrated for the mine-specific application. Each system is also free-fall tested and results are documented with a certified test certificate. Additionally, the design of the safety brake system enables easy ongoing maintenance and regular testing.
http://www.flsmidth.com