TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

RUSSELL Feed Chute Transporters

FCT – Familiarisation Overview

TRAINING NOTES

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Russell Mineral Equipment ©

1 May 2024
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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

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

Table of Figures.........................................................................................................

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

1. Description...........................................................................................................
1.1 Typical Feed Chute Transporter Safety Features.....................................................................
1.1.1 ‘Emergency’ Stops...........................................................................................................
1.1.2 Brakes..............................................................................................................................
1.1.3 Audible and Visual Alarms................................................................................................
1.1.4 Hydraulic Over Pressure Protection.................................................................................
1.1.5 Hydraulic Controls............................................................................................................
1.1.6 Hydraulic Hose Covering..................................................................................................
1.1.7 Counterbalance and Over Centre Valves.........................................................................
1.1.8 Power Failure...................................................................................................................
1.2 FCT connection to MRM...........................................................................................................

Table of Contents

Table of Figures
Figure 1-1: Typical Emergency Stop Button...................................................................................

Figure 1-2: Manual Park Brake Hydraulics.....................................................................................

Figure 1-3: Early FCT to MRM Connection Point...........................................................................

Figure 1-4: FCT Drain Accumulator (Esperanza)...........................................................................

Figure 1-5: FASTER Coupling......................................................................................................

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation 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 – Familiarisation Overview

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

1. Description
RME manufacture four basic types of Feed Chute Transporters:

1. ‘Classic’: is driven by a set of front drive wheels and steered using the rear wheels mounted inside
the frame. It can be powered from a Mill Reline Machine (MRM), a machine mounted electrical-
hydraulic power pack or a machine mounted diesel power pack dependent on client requirements.
Rated up to 80 tonne capacity.

2. Rail type FCB: can be powered or unpowered longitudinal and/or cross travel, powered by a mill
reline machine and/or electrical-hydraulic power pack. Rated up to 80 tonne capacity.

3. Powered tracked type: uses a diesel power pack and is rated up to 80 tonne capacity.

4. Multi-wheel type: can have up to 10 wheels (4 driven and 6 steering) and is powered either from a
Mill Reline machine, a machine mounted electrical-hydraulic power pack or a machine mounted
diesel power pack. They can be rated up to 100 tonne+ due to the ability to spread the load across
the wheels and thus reduce floor loadings.

All RUSSELL Feed Chute Transporters are designed for lifting and transporting feed chutes for the
specified grinding mills they are supplied to. Feed Chute Transporters must not be used for any other
purpose.

1.1 Typical Feed Chute Transporter Safety Features

1.1.1 ‘Emergency’ Stops

An Emergency Stop (‘E’ stop) is placed on the Feed Chute Transporter, near the control position, on the
console. Another ‘E’ stop is located on the front panel of the main control cabinet on the Transporter’s
power pack (if supplied). Engaging either ‘E’ stop shuts down the Transporter power pack, stopping all
Feed Chute Transporter motion.

If a Feed Chute Transporter is operated by connection to an MRM then the FCT can also be shut down
via the MRM ‘E’ stops as they are hydraulically and electrically connected.

If an emergency or dangerous situation is recognised, any ‘E’ stop should be engaged to stop all
Transporter motion. ‘E’ stops must be disengaged before the Transporter may start.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

Figure 1-1: Typical Emergency Stop Button

Emergency stop button – showing the three circular arrows on the top
1. button surface. Later models have an illuminated centre to help locate
the E-stop. This light will go out once pushed to help identify which E-
stop is pushed.

2. Emergency stop symbol – used throughout the manual and on the

machine to identify ‘E’ stop buttons.

To Engage

To engage an ‘E’ stop, press it until it locks in the engaged (in) position. If either ‘E’ stop is engaged,
then the ‘E’ Stop Engaged indicator light on the door of the main electrical cabinet will illuminate, the
Control Healthy indicator will not be on and the Transporter will not start.

To Disengage

To disengage an ‘E’ stop, rotate it clockwise (in the direction of the arrows) until it moves out into the
disengaged position under the operation of its own internal spring mechanism. An ‘E’ stop must never
be forcibly pulled out.

Typical Testing procedure

The ‘E’ stop circuit must be tested prior to each use of the Transporter. The test procedure can be
found in the operation section of each manual under testing of the emergency stops.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

1.1.2 Brakes
On the earlier models of FCTs, there are manually operated brake levers to apply the brakes.

Figure 1-2: Manual Park Brake Hydraulics

On the newer versions brakes are incorporated in the gearbox of drive wheels. These brakes are
applied automatically while hydraulic power is not supplied to the drive motors. Towing of the
Transporter is prohibited, unless the hydraulic pump is operating and supplying pressure to each
motor/gearbox (by operating the drive control lever) or else damage will occur to the drive wheel
gearbox/brake assemblies.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

1.1.3 Audible and Visual Alarms

The Feed Chute Transporter is fitted with a combined flashing light and audible alarm which operates at
any time a Transporter control function is used.

1.1.4 Hydraulic Over Pressure Protection

The primary hydraulic pump on the Transporter is a gear pump with open centre valving in the PVG,
limiting the system pressure. The Transporter control valve bank has integral pressure relief valves.
Shock relief valves are set to pressures rated to the appropriate load ratings.

1.1.5 Hydraulic Controls

All hydraulic control levers are spring loaded to the neutral position. Release of a lever will return the
control to a neutral position ensuring any Transporter movement will cease.

1.1.6 Hydraulic Hose Covering

Where hydraulic hoses are under pressure, they are run in an enclosed area or they are sheathed in a
durable ‘Cordura’ sleeve to protect personnel from hydraulic fluid if a hose bursts.

1.1.7 Counterbalance and Over Centre Valves

All hydraulic cylinders on the Transporter are fitted with counterbalance valves which lock them in their
final set position if hydraulic power fails or is shutdown. This is also the case if a hydraulic line were to
burst, all hydraulic movement would cease in that particular circuit because the counterbalance valves
are located as close as possible to the hydraulic cylinder.

1.1.8 Power Failure

In the event of a hydraulic supply pressure failure, all hydraulic motion will stop and remain set in its
final set position by the action of the counterbalance valves. Transporter motion does not restart
automatically when normal pressure is resumed as operation may only occur in the normal manner at
the control console by using the levers.

1.2 FCT connection to MRM

It is only an option for mine sites to purchase the Powerpack for the FCT, therefore RME has designed
a type of power take off junction for the FCT for when it is to be powered from the MRM. Below is a
picture of a typical connection point on a MRM.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

Figure 1-3: Early FCT to MRM Connection Point

1. Electrical Cable Connection

2. Loopback Plug when FCT is not connected

3. FCT Electrical Cable

4. FCT Hydraulic Hoses

5. Protective Dustcaps

6. MRM Baseframe

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

When the FCT is stationary during normal mill operation and the hoses in Figure 2-3 are not connected
to the MRM, hydraulic pressure can build up in the drain hose due to the sun heating the oil preventing
it from being able to be connected or causing damage to the hydraulic motors. To overcome this, a retro
fit assembly has been designed. This is an accumulator which will help absorb the pressure build up.
(Figure 2-4). Occasionally cylinders may slightly extend due to oil expansion during FCT rest.

Figure 1-4: FCT Drain Accumulator (Esperanza)

Later models were equipped with a FASTER coupling on the hoses that would allow the pressure to
bleed to tank while the coupling is ‘pulled’ together with the MRM end.

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 TRAINING MODULE:

Title: FCT – Familiarisation Overview

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

Figure 1-5: FASTER Coupling

It is essential that the MRM be shut down prior to hose disconnection from the
FCT. If the Tank line is removed while Pressure is still connected, there is a
high risk of the PVG on the FCT bursting due over pressure building up and
not being to return to Tank. Damage to the coupling can also occur.

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