In response to customer requests for a different approach to the raise drilling and blasting sequence, a mobile ‘plug-and-drill’ raiseborer has been launched.
The new mobile unit is said to offer fast set-up times and high drilling productivity, providing an integrated solution that allows mines to meet drilling targets.
Sandvik Mining & Rock Technology asserts that its mobile Rhino 100 raiseborer offers superior mobility and drilling speed. The unit carries all of its own components, from rods and cables to hydraulics and the raiseboring head, and is pulled by a specially adapted double-axle John Deere tractor.
The company further explains that outriggers stabilise the machine, eliminating the need for a concrete pad before setting it up, allowing for a fast set-up time. In addition, no roof bolting is required, as the rig is equipped with an inclinometer that provides the operator with the necessary x and y coordinates, which the surveyor can confirm before drilling starts.
The Rhino 100 offers high drilling speeds, with penetration rates of about 2 m an hour, which allows for progress drilling at more than double the rate of conventional methods.
The rod-handling arm aims to prevent back and finger injuries and contributes to overall improvement of underground health and safety conditions. The automated arm is able to manipulate and change rods without touching the ground, minimising the collection of dust and rock chips in the threads. This helps to maintain the workflow and efficient running of the process.
The 52-t Rhino 100 is 3.1 m wide and 3.4 m high and is designed to fit into a standard mine haulage, allowing for easy mobility from one tunnel or stope to the next.
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