The influence of geometry on dragline bucket filling performance

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This thesis desc1ibes the procedure followed in order to establish geometry changes to thecurrent lig!1tweight dragline bucket lmilt by Wright Equipment Compan:Y to improve itsperformance. The bucket performs very well as is and big changes v , e not expected.This project was done as part of the Mechanical Engineering Masterr- Jegree requirementsat the University of Stellenbosch, while being employed by Wriglh EquipmentA scale model dragline was designed and built to be used in collecting the data. The mostsignificant variables when considering dragline bucket filling were established and rankedaccording to their relative influence. The tests were done, using four different scale modeldragline buckets and changing a 11umber of variables on each of them at different dragangles and in different digging conditions.Eventually it was found that a shorter, wider bucket with a lower hitch, resulted inimproved performance as far as filling distance and filling energy requirements wereconcerned. The maximum required drag force was not increased, meaning stalling of thebucket would not be a problem. The changes do have some structural implications thoughaud should be investigated before any changes are made.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University