Hydraulic excavator assisted dozer production method: Fid-Bau Portal

Hydraulic excavator assisted dozer production method

Ingle, J.H. / Oats, R.H. / Humphrey, J.D. / Fung, N.

A hydraulic excavator can be a cost-effective and productive enhancement to a dozer system. The use of cast blasting and production dozing is a common method for improving dragline or mobile equipment overburden removal. However, the most unproductive portion of the dozer cycle is when the machine is cutting up against the new highwall. One solution is to use a hydraulic excavator to remove this material and to cast it to the Dozers. In the paper is explained how, despite the need for additional equipment, a hydraulic excavator can be used to increase production and lower total system cost per yard. A process to optimally match the dozer fleet sized to an excavator for a desired level of production is outlined. By freeing up the dozers for more productive work, the overall system productivity increases 25 %, and the cost per yard moved is reduced by up to 10 percent. Dozer fleet sizing can be determined to match a specific production schedule or can be sized to balance with an excavator's production. Using an excavator to remove the highwall key cut of a pre-bench cast, as long as it is used more than 25 % to 30 % of the time, in conjunction with a dozer fleet can greatly benefit a mine. The method reduces the cost per cubic meter by some 7 % as a result of lowering the operating cost of the dozers and limiting their time in the difficult and expensive to dig highwall cut.