How do you transport excavators within mines?

The Titan system can be towed on any haul roads or normal mine roads where either Articulated dump trucks or Rigid dump trucks operate. No specific roads need to be graded or built for the Titan system to operate.

The Titan System can utilise any of the haul trucks currently being utilised by the mine, including but not limited to Rigid Dump trucks and Articulated Dump Trucks.

The majority of Mining excavator manufacturers will refuse any warranty related to the tracks when the time the excavator moves on its own tracks is more than 7% of its operation time. In other words, an excavator working 24 Hours in a given day can only track or move 1.5 Hours in a day or approximately 1-2 km. With this in mind, the Titan system reduces the tracked time on the undercarriage and thus has No effect on the warranty.

The Titan Bogie system is made up with components and parts that are freely available and interchangeable with Caterpillar parts worldwide.

The Titan System typically shows a weight balance between the dump truck and the Excavator of 60/40. About 60% of the weight of the excavator lies on the Titan System and 40% on the dump truck towing the Titan System. Depending on the configuration of the dump truck and excavator, the balance between the two can differ from a ratio of 70% / 30% (excavator/truck) to 50% / 50%. There are no additional stresses or loads on the front of the excavator or shovel.

The Titan system Bogies are manufactured to the largest size shoe on the undercarriage of that specific mine. Any excavator on the mine with smaller shoes or narrower tracks will be able to utilise the system without modification or engineering.

The Titan System is completely independent and does not rely on the Excavators’ hydraulics or electrics. Once the Excavator or shovel is loaded, the umbilical cord can be disconnected and the machine moved to where it needs to be, then plugged back in to offload.

The Titan system is fitted with integrated battery chargers that can be kept charged via an electrical charge. There is also an option where the batteries can be kept to an optimum charge while the system is on standby via Solar Power.

This is dependent on a few factors, including height above sea level and haul road conditions. However, depending on the mine, between 1 – 10% Gradient.

The Titan system has a built-in, independent hydraulic braking system for each bogie. The hydraulic pumps control the speed of the bogies while travelling and can be activated for emergency stops.

The double depression control of the hydraulic braking system will gradually slow down the Bogeys when the excavator is being transported, at slopes and decline areas or in the case of an emergency.

The Titan System’s brakes are remotely controlled by either the Towing truck, the excavator being towed or the escort vehicle. Via remote control, both machines can be brought to a safe and secure halt.

The Titan system allows an extremely tight turning curve due to the shorter distance between the truck and towed excavator for a minimum turning radius.

On the Titan System the only maintenance required would be the periodic replacement of brake shoes, Bearings and tyre replacement when necessary. All parts are readily available from either Caterpillar or an alternative local bearing and Sintered brake supplier.

Other than a completely independent braking system that is not reliant on any external power source, including Air, Electrics and hydraulics, there are backup safety systems built into the Titan to ensure that the system is completely fail-proof.