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The Company
Ground Force designs and manufactures specialized trucks that
mix and deliver explosives. These trucks are used at mining
operations all over the world. They are the major supplier
of this type of equipment for several of the world’s
largest copper and gold mines, located in Indonesia and South
America.
The Problem
Ground Force needed an encoder to mount on their truck
that would have to withstand an incredible abount of environmental
abuse.
The Solution
Ground Force uses EPC encoders to measure the rotation
of pump shafts and of augers. The pumps deliver wet ingredients,
while the augers deliver the dry ingredients. Ground Force
uses a straightforward sprocket and ladder chain system to
drive the encoders from these shafts and augers. The encoders
are 200 pulse-per-revolution (ppr) incremental units and their
output is fed to a scaling system that converts the pulses
to the rate at which pounds or kilos of mixed product are
being delivered by the truck. A typical truck will use up
to four encoders, one for each type of component. The scaled
outputs from each encoder are, in turn, fed to a processor
that monitors the various outputs to make sure that the final
mixture is, and remains, optimal.
This same basic system has been used by Ground Force for
more than fifteen years. It has proven to be so reliable that
no alternative design has been found that satisfies their
requirements. In fact, to quote Alex Ritter, Chief Engineer,
“At this point in time, we are not even thinking about
searching for an alternative system, or about changing the
design.” This is strong testimony to the ruggedness and
reliability of EPC’s encoders, especially given the environment
in which they live in this application. Not only are they
mounted on the outside of the trucks, where they have to withstand
all types of weather conditions, (mud, dust, and rough treatment,
typical in a mine) but they must be resistant to the caustic
and corrosive elements that make up the explosive mixture.
These components will rapidly find any weaknesses in an encoder.
As further evidence of Ground Force’s loyalty, and of
their satisfaction, consider the fact that they have purchased
more than 1,000 encoders from EPC since 1985, and that EPC
is their only encoder supplier.
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