Flexible Electronic Systems was recently contracted to install the complete control system on a prototype tracked loader, which will be operating underground in the platinum mines, clearing the blast area and moving the ore. The need for safety in this hazardous process of removing the ore was the driving motivation behind the design of the 'tank' type loader, which is only 1,4 m in height, enabling it to operate near the rock face where the roof is not supported yet. A Deutz diesel engine was used to drive the hydraulic pumps, Bosch hydraulic proportional servo valves for the bucket lift and tilt and a Bosch PLC as the controller, with two Euchner joysticks each having two-control axis.
The loader had to be built with components that could be subjected to heavy mechanical stress, without having to constantly bring the machine up to the surface for maintenance. Accessing the machine once it is in the field is a time-consuming and cumbersome exercise, so it had to be built for flawless operation. We found that the Bosch CL150 PLC was robust enough to operate in such a harsh environment. Diverse functions are controlled by this compact PLC, including the hydraulic servos, the remote control and the engine management. For its size the little PLC can handle most tasks that would previously have required a bigger and more costly PLC, much to the delight of the OEM. By employing this level of technology, we gave the client total flexibility, as all the functions and controls are software driven. A software solution for a 'hard-wear' application.
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