Industrial motors manufacturer Baldor Electric Company, which is a member of power and automation technology group ABB, has introduced an enclosed explo- sionproof motor system for use in the dust-filled explosive atmosphere of underground coal mines.
The totally enclosed system is expected to be launched in South Africa later this year.
“In the continuous 24/7 operation of under- ground coal mines around the world, rugged and durable motors are required to power the constantly running mining machinery. “These motors need to be maintenance free and must be designed to operate safely and efficiently in this hazardous and severe environment,” says ABB Minerals business unit marketing communications head Marion Kaufmann.
Kaufmann adds that the tight machining tolerances of the housings, bearing brackets, and the conduit box provide the explosion-proof integrity required by the US Depart-ment of Labour’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and other inter-national certifying agencies, which greatly increases the importance and quality of the system.
“The cast iron conduit-box parts, along with packing glands and protective hose connectors, meet the requirements of explo- sion protection company Atex, the Inter-national Electrotechnical Commission and the MSHA, as well as other certifying agencies,” explains Kaufmann.
ajor features of Baldor’s motor are its 1 100 V capability and its compliance with international standards for efficiency.
Optional extras include shaft configura-tions, double shaft extensions and flange mounting configurations.
“Customers benefit from the global cus-tomer support systems and our proven designs, which translates into increased equip- ment uptime and, therefore, improved productivity,” concludes Kaufmann.