TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

RUSSELL Feed Chute Transporters

FCT – Multi-Wheel Base Overview

TRAINING NOTES

www.rmeGlobal.com

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.......................................................................................................

Preamble.....................................................................................................................

1. Multi-wheeled FCT...............................................................................................
1.1 Base Frame..............................................................................................................................
1.2 Front Drive Wheels and Push Jacks.........................................................................................
1.3 Rear Steering Wheels..............................................................................................................
1.4 Counterbalance Weights..........................................................................................................
1.5 ‘Classic’ and Multi-wheeled FCT Operator Console...............................................................
1.6 Multi-wheeled FCT Operator’s Controls.................................................................................

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

Preamble

Copyright ©

Copyright © Russell Mineral Equipment Pty Ltd 2015.

The contents of these training notes are the copyright of Russell Mineral Equipment Pty Ltd, and may
not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from Russell Mineral Equipment Pty
Ltd.

Every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information contained in the notes, but no liability
can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Due to ongoing product development, RME reserves the
right to change without notice, any product details including specification, appearance and performance.

Excerpts from publications by component manufacturers are reproduced in this manual with the
consent of those suppliers.

RME Help Hotline (61) 408 334 600 24 Hrs/7 days

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

1. Multi-wheeled FCT
The RUSSELL Multi-wheel Feed Chute Transporter is designed for lifting and transporting feed chutes
for the specified grinding mills. This Feed Chute Transporter must not be used for any other purpose.

The Transporter may be connected to the Mill Relining Machine for hydraulic power or may be fitted
with an optional power pack. An optional diesel Powerpack is also available to supply the machine with
power. The electrical system will be 24 VDC if this is the case. It has hydraulic lifting jacks in each of
the six wheel assemblies which are arranged so that each jack carries an equal share of the feed chute
load. Hence the floor loading under each wheel is the same, even when allowing for variations in the
floor level. Multi-wheel Transporters can go up to 10 wheels, 4 for drive and 6 for steering.

In the machine pictured below, the four wheels at the rear are used for steering while the two drive
wheels at the front are non-steering. Also, a push-off jack, gearbox and hydraulic motor assembly are
mounted on each front wheel assembly. The two push jacks must be extended in conjunction with the
reverse drive function to ease the feed chute away from the mill.

Figure 1-1: Multi Wheeled FCT layout

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

Figure 1-2: Exploded view of a Multi Wheeled FCT

1. Base Frame

2. Front Drive Wheels

3. Rear Steering Wheels

4. Operator Console

5. Push off Jacks

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

1.1 Base Frame

The base frame is used to support the feed chute while it is being raised and moved. This frame is
made up of left and right leg assemblies and a rear centre torsion beam assembly. The front and rear
lift jacks, wheels and steering gear are mounted on each leg assembly. There are lifting lugs fitted to
each leg and hydraulic hoses are contained within each leg.

The rear torsion beam assembly also supports the travel drive console for use when the Transporter is
being driven up to or away from the mill.

Figure 1-3: Base Frame Assembly

1. Left Leg Structure – fabricated from steel and includes the left hand notched feed chute
interface plate for lifting the feed chute. The three left hand side lifting jack and wheel
assemblies are also mounted on this leg.

2. Right Leg Structure – fabricated from steel and includes the right hand notched feed chute
interface plate for lifting the feed chute. The three right hand side lifting jack and wheel
assemblies are also mounted on this leg.

3. Rear Centre Torsion Beam – has the left and right legs and the operator’s console
mounted on it.

4. Jack Cover – each of the six lift jack and wheel assemblies has a jack cover for protection
of hose fittings.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

1.2 Front Drive Wheels and Push Jacks

Figure 1-4: Front Driven Wheels Assembly

1. Hydraulically driven rubber tyre road wheels – steel rims with durothane rubber vulcanized to
the rim.

2. Drive gearboxes – are oil filled and have integral brakes which automatically engage when
the drive control is released.

3. Hydraulic drive motor – supplies power to the gearbox to manoeuvre the machine.

4. Front lift jack cylinders – provide the lifting force applied through the front wheels
independently of the lift of the rear jacks.
They have a shorter stroke than the rear lift jacks and when raising a feed chute they will set
the maximum lift level. At all times, the rear jacks are used to keep the feed chute level.

5. Wheel and gearbox hubs – attach to the drive jack cylinders and locked to the base frame
using low friction nylon bearings.

6. Front push cylinders – attach to the wheel and gearbox hubs assembly. Used in conjunction
with the reverse drive function to ease the feed chute away from the mill. They can provide up
to 200kN of force.

The front base drive hydraulic motors, jack cylinders and push cylinders are controlled at the base drive
console. For information on the controls for manoeuvring the machine refer to Multi-wheeled FCT
Operator’s Controls.
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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

1.3 Rear Steering Wheels

Figure 1-5: Rear Steer Assembly

1. Rubber tyre road wheels – steel rims with durothane rubber vulcanized to the rim.

2. Wheel hubs.

3. Stub axles – are fabricated assemblies and also the interface between the wheels and the
jacks.

4. Rear steering tie rods – both left and right hand sides are adjustable for steering
alignment.

5. Rear steering cylinders – control the machine rear steering. It should be noted that the
steering also does not centre when the control lever is released but remains in the position
where last set.

6. Steering arms – are the interface between the stub axle assemblies and the steering
cylinders. The stub axles rotate on the steering jacks and this provides the rear wheel
steering ability.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

7. Rear lift jacks – are used to lift the feed chute load at the rear of the Transporter
independently of the front lift jacks.

They have 50 mm more stroke than the front jacks and so should be used whenever a
feed chute load is being raised or lowered to keep the chute level.

The rear lift jacks are hydraulically interconnected to evenly share the load to each
wheel. This also alleviates any twisting forces being transferred to the base frame if the
Transporter travels over slightly uneven surfaces.

1.4 Counterbalance Weights

Some larger Multi-wheel FCTs have extra counterbalance weights added to increase the performance
of load distribution while unloaded due to the size of the Powerpack installed.

Figure 1-6: Counterbalance Weights

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

Figure 1-7: Transport Indicator

The white bar on the transport indicator displays the "Transport Height" of the feed chute. To ensure
that even floor loading is achieved, especially over irregular surfaces, the main lift cylinders share oil.
This enables ‘float’ like behaviour where the cylinders will move relative to one another based on the
floor displacements.

Lifting above "transport height" (2) will render the "floating" features of the cylinders inactive, therefore
putting the stability of the feed chute at risk. Lifting under the "transport height" (3) could cause the feed
chute and base to drag.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

1.5 ‘Classic’ and Multi-wheeled FCT Operator Console

The drivers console is positioned to give the operator adequate vision and control of the FCT during
feed chute manoeuvring. Hydraulic servo controls provide the operator with the means to operate the
drives; front and rear lift jacks and push jacks independently, or in unison. Symbols on the console
identify all functions.

Figure 1-8: Typical ‘Classic’ Operator’s Console

Emergency stop – engaging an ‘E’ stop will immediately shut the Transporter
1.
down and stop all motion.

PVG valve levers – control all Feed Chute Transporter site manoeuvring
2.
functions. Refer to Figure 1-9: Operator's PVG.

Oil pressure gauge – indicates the hydraulic oil supply pressure and a normal
3. pressure indicates to the operator that the Transporter may be used. Full
system pressures are found in the hydraulic schematic drawings.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

Blocked pressure filter indicator – if the main system pressure filter is blocked
4. then the filter blocked indicator will show as RED. It normally will show a
GREEN colour.

This indicator is mounted on the top of the system pressure filer manifold.

If the indicator shows red when the oil is at normal operating temperature
during operations then the filter should be immediately changed and inspected
for any contamination.

5. Control protective cover – shown in open position for Transporter use by

operator. When the operator is not at the controls, even for short periods, the
controls should be covered to prevent inadvertent operation.

6. Motion alert light and sound beacon – operates whenever any Transporter
function is being used to warn personnel of the motion.

7. Hose storage support – provided for safe storage of the Transporter supply
hydraulic hoses when the Transporter in not in use.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

1.6 Multi-wheeled FCT Operator’s Controls

Figure 1-9: Operator's PVG valve controls

All control levers return to the centre neutral position when they are released. All Transporter
movements cease when the levers are in the neutral position as all hydraulic cylinders remain in the
position where last set and all motors stop. For example, the Transporter lift height and steering remain
in the position last set until the corresponding lever is again moved.

1. Push jacks – Used to ease the feed chute away from the mill. Pushing the
lever forward extends the jacks which then push against the mill relining
machine front floor mounted tie down blocks and cause the Transporter to
move away from the mill.

Note that when used in this way to push against the mill relining machine
tie down blocks the reverse drive function must also be used or the brake
mechanism inside the motor drive gearboxes will be damaged.

2. Front lift jacks – Pushing the lever forward lowers the front of the
Transporter. Pulling the lever back raises the front of the Transporter.

Used to set the maximum lift height.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT - Multi-Wheel Base Overview

Affected Equipment: FCT
Relevant to:
Revision and Date: A 1 October 2015

3. Rear lift jacks – Used to raise or lower the rear of the Transporter
independently from the front lift jacks.

They have a longer stroke than the front lift jacks and when raising a feed
chute they should be used to keep the feed chute level.

4. Drive motors – Used to move the Transporter in the forward or reverse

direction. Pushing the lever forward moves the Transporter in the forward
direction.

Reverse drive must be used with the push jacks when they are pushing
against the mill relining machine tie down blocks.

5. Steering – Used to steer the direction of Transporter travel with the rear set
of four steering wheels.

When this lever is in the neutral centre position, the steering remains in the
position last set until the lever is again used.

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