Dear Enrique

Due to the potentially tremendous destructive forces involved, we have found that it becomes impossible to prevent a belt from ripping. That's why Goodyear engineers developed Sensor Guard, an electronic rip detection system that shuts down a system when a rip is detected. Today, Goodyear’s Sensor Guard system stands alone as the most proven and reliable rip detection system in the world, with installations on every continent except Antarctica. In coal, copper, iron ore, and other applications, Sensor Guard has proven itself by reducing downtime costs, replacement costs, and lost production.

Goodyear operations in South America will be able to assist you with further technical and pricing information.

Please contact:

joselima@goodyear.com ■

Good morning Enrique..

There are numerous methods for rip detection including the nice Goodyear one mentioned above.

I would propose an additional approach which I have found to be of great benefit as well.

Back in the 80's I designed and commissioned a 3.4 Megawatt inclined shaft conveyor at Majuba here in South Africa, and I fitted a 3km long expensive ST 4500 belt and did not ever want to rip it....so

I decided to fit a sacrificial accelerator belt with metal detector and magnet...and

I decided to design the chute as if the conveyor were handling scrap iron instead of coal.

Since the mine was in the development stage, there was a lot of tramp iron coming through, and it ended up on the floor in a huge pile at the tail of my conveyor.

The order was given by the mine to get rid of the tramp iron but the operator simply threw it back into the the system via the chute feeding my expensive conveyor.

The amazing thing was that this caused no damage to my belt at all,....(but you should see what it did to the downstream belt..ripped to pieces)

The moral of the story...Look at the feed chute design as well.

Regards

LSL Tekpro ■

A proper chute design will eliminate puncture damage. ■

At least we agree on this one Larry! ■

a better way to go instead of sensors for belt rips is a rip resis. belt such as the miningwear straight warp (single or double ply)

contact me at dsowders@transconorthwest.com ■

I have used numerous belts with the Goodyear Sensor Guard, both Ply & Steel Cord belting and found it to be an excellent system.

I would also recommend the use of a Tramp Magnet following the loading area to eliminate this problem

Regards

Shane ■

At Cornelia mine here in RSA they ripped many kiometres of overland steelcord belt, even though it had the imbedded loops.

Apparently they had not got the system switched on!..there must be a moral in this.

LSL Tekpro ■

Estimado Enrique:

I have reviewed some of the replies and sensor loop technology is great technology for a long overland system. However, you stated that your system is only 200 meters.

I think that it would be more appropriate and definitely more cost efficient to either use a suspended magnet system (higher cost) or a simple single station rip detector (lower cost).

The advantage of a suspended magnet is that it will remove the metal from the system. The problem with the rip detector is that it does not remove the metal, it only stops the belt. Depending on the speed of your belt, the damage may be too extreme before the belt is stopped.

Please contact me and I will be able to give you some recommendations of each of the products above. I saw several of these suppliers at Extemin a few weeks ago. ■