Airless tiresused in underground mining, reduce maintenance and downtime, and improvesafety, thus increasing overall reliability and reducing total cost ofownership, making them a cost-effective choice, writes Shyam Gyanani.
“They(Solid and Semi-solid tyres) significantly improve occupational safety as thereis no possibility of tyre blowout related accidents.”
- Shyam Gyanani,
Trident International P Ltd.
In thedemanding world of underground mining where conditions are tough, access islimited, and working spaces are tight and confined, tyre reliability and safetyare critical. The harsh environment presents numerous tyre-related operationaldifficulties that can result in expensive downtime on machines that are fittedwith normal air-filled pneumatic tyres.
Here aresome common tyre issues:
Punctures and Tyre Damage: Sharp rocks, debris, and severe terrainresult in frequent punctures and tyre damage. Repairs and replacements are timeconsuming and costly, interrupting work flow and increasing operationalexpenses.
Blowouts and Safety Concerns: The occurrence of sudden tyreblowouts in underground spaces pose significant safety risks to both personneland equipment. The likelihood of accidents and injuries escalates when tyrefailures cause vehicles to lose control.
Fast Tyre Wear: Unpaved and uneven terrain coupledwith heavy loads increases tyre wear necessitating regular replacements andmaintenance. Accelerated tyre wear leads to increased downtime and operationalinefficiencies.
The use case for Airless Tires in UndergroundMining Applications
The useof airless tyres can mitigate many of the problems listed above by eliminatingthe risk of punctures. Airless tyres reduce maintenance and downtime, andimprove safety, thus increase overall reliability and reduce total cost ofownership, making them a cost-effective choice. Some of the currently availableairless tyre options are:
Solid and Semi Solid Rubber Tyres
These arefull rubber tyres that are 100 per cent puncture-proof and highly damage resistant.They significantly improve occupational safety as there is no possibility of tyreblowout related accidents.
Theseare made from highly wear resistant rubber compounds and have extra deep treadsthat significantly extend tyre life, usually 3–4 times that of pneumatic tyres.Different tread patterns e.g., traction or smooth, and specific compounds areavailable for hard and soft rock mining.
Semisolid tyres have specially designed sidewall apertures to provide shockabsorption and reduce the ride hardness typically associated with solid tyres. Theseare ideally suited for LHD’s, Roof Bolters, Jumbo Drills, Shield Haulers, Toolcarriers, etc. However, these are not recommended for speeds beyond 25 km/h andfor long-haul cycles.
Foam-Filled Tyres
FoamFilling Tyres is a process in which a pneumatic tyre is injected andpressurized with a special 2/3 component urethane polymer in a preciseproportion using a special metering pump. The polyurethane cures into a soft,resilient, synthetic rubber core replacing the air in the tyre.
Theresultant filled tyre is, thus, rendered puncture proof and maintains therequired tyre pressure throughout its service life. Foam Filled tyres have afull footprint and are capable of carrying their rated load at all times.
Foamfilled tyres are recommended when speeds exceed 25 km/hr or when haul distancesare longer. Equipment such as LPDT’s, Shuttle Cards, Personnel Carriers, etc.,are good candidates for foam filled tyres.
Thereare some other airless tyre options, such as rubber liners and rubber inserts,that are fitted inside pneumatic tyres to make them airless. However, these arenot very popular as the liners and inserts are made for specific tyre innerdimensions. Therefore, an insert/liner designed for a given size of one brandof tyres may not be compatible with the same size tyre of another manufacturer.Besides, fitting requires a specialised equipment and a high level of skill.
Miningoperators may choose the most appropriate solution depending on their specificconditions and related problems.
About Trident
Tridentwas established in 1997 and specialises in the design, development, manufacture,and supply of both solid and foam filled tyres for Aerial, CompactConstruction, Material Handling, and Underground Mining Equipment. Currently, thecompany serves the needs of mine developers and operators, rental companies,and other end users in India and the Middle East as well as distributors acrossNorth America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.