Load pins were recently supplied to a subsidiary of BHP in Western Australia to provide weight data of loaded buckets.
Supplied by Accuweigh’s Perth branch in Willetton, the load pins are fitted to mineral buckets used to transfer material being mined underground to the surface.
These load pins are fitted in pairs (side by side) with four load pins fitted to each bucket and replacing the existing pivot pins. Each load pin outputs a 4-20mA output analogue signal which is relayed to an external PLC to convert into a digital weight reading for using in the mine’s control room.
Load Pins are precisely machined hardened metal pins with strain gauges bonded to the metal blanks and fitted with electronic circuitry to measure deflection of the load pin axis. Load Pin deflection can be caused by external forces including the volume of weight in the bucket and/or other forces acting on the bucket’s movement (excess friction or snagging).
The weight output from these custom manufactured load pins that have a weight capacity of 25 tonnes allows close monitoring of the bucket’s operation while moving material.
Accuweigh has a wide range of load pins and pin load cells to suit every pin and shackle weighing application. Accuweigh’s eight branches across mainland states provide full after sales support by teams of experienced professionals.