Industrial traffic control for Arizona open pit mine
TEMPE, AZ - 01/28/2010 - Solar Traffic Controls has completed delivery of an industrial traffic control system for an open pit mine in Northern
Arizona. The mine is developing a new deposit of material on the other side
of a rail overpass from its primary dig site. The rail overpass includes a
curved tunnel approximately 80 feet long. The eastbound approach to the
tunnel is on an incline and trucks entering the tunnel need to take a sharp
turn to enter. This turn, coupled with a curve in the tunnel and the height
of the overpass, make it impossible to see traffic approaching from the
other side of the tracks. Also, the haul trucks deployed at the site are so
large only one truck can transit the tunnel at a time.
The mine safety manager began looking for options and devised a scheme to
have an automation engineer at the plant build the system. While
researching possible sensors for the project, the mine decided to have STC
design and build the system.
The system design is based on the Solar Ped-X product line which uses
wireless communications to control the lamps. The main goal of the system is
to function as a single lane, industrial traffic control, which STC has
previously furnished as a hardwired, AC powered system for many years. (See
link below to Industrial Traffic Controls on STC's Website.) This goal
required modifications to the standard software to place the system in
standby (dark signals); respond only on sensor detection of a vehicle
approaching the entry; and sequence the lamps in a specific manner to
facilitate easy transit by the users.
Since the project is on private property, STC was able to apply equipment
not integrated in normal systems. To minimize hardware on the pole and to
aid color-impaired truck operators, STC selected an Industrial Traffic
Solutions 12-inch dual color lamp. The lamp features a red X and a yellow
ball, all LED, in the same signal face. Each entry is equipped with a TC26B
sensor configured as an approach detect. Each exit is also equipped with an
exit detector and both entries are also equipped with a Polara Bulldog
pedestrian button. The balance of the equipment is a standard Solar Ped-X
crosswalk system with FHSS radio connection and a solar-powered system.
The lamps appear dark in standby. When an approaching vehicle is detected,
the entry which detects first, places its lamp into a yellow flash for a
predetermined interval (field programmable) while the other end is placed in
flashing red. At the close of the entry interval both lamps flash the red X.
The red X display is maintained while the truck transits the tunnel.
Each tunnel exit is equipped with an exit sensor to detect the truck's exit.
The flashing red X display is maintained during the exit detection. When
the truck leaves the sensor's field of view an exit interval timer (field
programmable) is started and holds the flashing red X long enough to allow
the truck to exit the general area of the tunnel.
Both points in the system are solar powered with battery backup to provide
up five days of operation without any sun. Communications are completed
using FHSS radio modems with YAGI directional antennas to compensate for the
short, but non-line-of sight radio pathway. STC also provided spun aluminum
pole kits for the project which were mounted to rock at the site. The
underpass also serves as a wash for rain water. Conventional concrete
caisson foundations would most likely wash away in heavy runoff, thus the
rock foundations.
For more information on STC's products and services, please stay here on our
website or send an email to info@solar-traffic-controls.com or call
480.449.0222.
For more information on similar Industrial Traffic Controls projects:
https://solar-traffic-controls.com/specialty/industrial.php
Key parts: For sensor information - www.mssedco.com
For lamp information -
www.lanecontrols.com
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