Hilliard shares with NAM its thoughts on brake system best practices for maintenance that can help can ensure the best safety for workers.
Often overlooked, brake systems are one of the most important components of the mining industries’ most utilized equipment. If you’re a mining engineer, you know that brakes are an essential part of your operation.
Brake systems need to be able to stop and start moving objects quickly and efficiently. One of the best ways to ensure an efficient mining operation, and less down-time, is by executing good safety and maintenance practices for your brake systems.
Here are some of the best safety and maintenance practices for brake systems in mining applications:
Ensure that all workers who operate equipment with brakes are properly trained in their use and maintenance procedures. This includes understanding how to identify warning signs and what to do in the event of a malfunction.
Keep the brakes clean and free of dirt and debris. Regular cleaning helps prevent contamination build-up that can impact the brakes performance. Regularly inspect the brakes to ensure they are in good condition.
Make sure to lockout/tagout and secure the application prior to preforming maintenance. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and never place anything between the brake pad and the frictional surface.
Lastly, avoid muscle strain or back injury. Use lifting aids and proper lifting techniques when removing or replacing brakes. These are just some of the best safety and maintenance practices for mining brake systems. It is important to always strive to improve your processes. This will eliminate some of the risks for your employees and save more money for your mining operation, with less equipment down time.
However, even if you maintain the best maintenance practices, it is inevitable that you will have to perform brake pad replacement and safety inspections for compliance purposes. This is where Hilliard Braking technology comes in.
The Hilliard M500 Spring Applied, Hydraulic released modular brake, commonly used in conveyor belt applications, features “maintenance mode,” which removes all stored spring energy within the cylinder assembly. This allows for brake pad replacement, monitor unit adjustment and seal replacement without the need to remove the brake from service. This will be a win-win for your maintenance employees because it makes maintenance of the brakes safer, and allows for brake pad replacement, while keeping your operation running.
Hilliard’s M700 and M900 Mill brakes also have replaceable spring packs, eliminating the need to remove the complete brake assembly for maintenance. This is a major advantage in terms of repair time and ease of service. Hilliard’s new line of brakes also uses interchangeable component parts, and with the increased commonality of parts simplifies onsite maintenance and decreases the amount of parts customers must stock.