ExcellentMineralsSolutions

Ball Feeders and Hoppers

VULCOWear Resistant Linings

Vulco continuous ball feeders and hoppers offer distinct advantages compared to other methods of ball charging

Ball feeder advantages

A continuous ball feeder provides a series of competitive advantages over other methods of ball loading in grinding mills. One advantage is less variation of ball levels in the mill allowing the mill to keep its optimum grinding level longer. Less variation of ball levels results in the following advantages:

Higher operational stability

Increased capacity

Greater safety in the ball-loading operation designed to lower accident rates

Noticeable noise reduction during ball charging

Process ControlFV

Roll speed

Optimum filling level

Ball counting

Vulco ball feeders provide a ball counting system which can be incorporated into the plant control system and automatically control the ball feeding process

Photoelectric sensors

Photoelectric sensors allow ball counting. These sensors, connected to the automatic control system of the plant, allow the control of ball charging, ensuring optimum charge levels in mills.

Variable frequency drive

The variable frequency drive allows the control of feed roll speed; increasing or decreasing the feed rate.

Start-up service

Weir Minerals Vulco additionally offers a start-up service to help achieve optimization of the operation. Along with the instrumentation system, this service can provide the plant with optimized performance. Due to the automation in the process control, ball charging will be a known variable and can be stabilized to minimize metallurgical variances in the grinding process.

Photoelectric Sensors allow ball counting

The interaction of photoelectric sensors, pneumatic gates and the variable frequency drive allow excellent feed control rates

Automated process control

Motor

1 2

35

4

5

67

8

9

Cross-section Diagram of Ball Feeder

Lower regulating plate1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Back Chute

Manual Gate

Intermediate Chute

Lower Chute

Optical Sensor for Ball Counting

Rubber-Lined Surfaces

Double Acting Pneumatic Cylinder

Pneumatic Gate

Feeding Hopper

Dimensions observed can be modified according to the needs of each project

The Vulco ball feeder has three basic design elements for operation:

A bulk ball hopper is used to contain the ball charge for the amount of balls needed for a period of time as specified by the customer. Weir Minerals Vulco can design and build the hoppers to be integrated with the ball feeding mechanism. For impact and wear resistance, the hopper can also be lined with Linatex rubber products.

Two gates control the gap: a manual gate fixes the main gap and a pneumatic gate helps eliminate plugs and clogs.

Lastly, a variable speed drive connected to a low speed gear reducer keeps the system running smoothly and efficiently, controlling the flow of balls more precisely.

All of these elements are designed and manufactured in accordance with the layout of the plant or place of installation.

Ball feeder design characteristics

Linatex natural rubber linings

Protection grids in the feeder and counting sections

Gear reducer to allow for low rotational speed of the feeder roll

An option to use a variable speed drive on the feeder roll to control the feed rate

Photoelectric sensors for ball counting

Pneumatic gate to control ball obstruction in the transfer hoppers

ExcellentMineralsSolutions

Weir Minerals North America

Weir Minerals Linatex - Salt Lake City (formerly Rubber Engineering) 3459 South 700 Westa Salt Lake City, UT 84119 USA Tel: +1 801 574 2100 Fax: +1 801 261 5587

Weir Minerals Linatex - Gallatin 1550 Airport Road Gallatin, TN 37066 USA Tel: +1 615 230 2100| Fax: +1 615 230 2101 www.weirminerals.com

Weir Minerals Service Center 5005 E. Canada Street, Bldg. 2 Tuscon, AZ 85706 USA Tel: +1 520 790 9347 Fax: +1 520 293 3843 www.weirminerals.com

Copyright 2012, Weir Slurry Group, Inc.. All rights reserved. WARMAN is a registered trademark of Weir Minerals Australia Ltd and Weir Group African IP Ltd; CAVEX, HAZLETON and MULTIFLO are registered trademarks of Weir Minerals Australia Ltd; LEWIS and LEWIS PUMPS are registered trademarks of Envirotech Pumpsystems Inc; GEHO is a registered trademark of Weir Minerals Netherlands bv; FLOWAY is a registered trademark of Weir Floway Inc.; VULCO is a registered trademark of Vulco SA; ISOGATE is a registered trademark of Weir do Brasil Ltda.; LINATEX is a registered trademark of Linatex Ltd; WEIR is a registered trademark of Weir Engineering Services Ltd.

For further information on any of these products, service or support services contact your nearest sales office or visit:

www.weirminerals.com

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Geographical footprint

Weir Minerals has the geographical presence to service all the major minerals markets around the world. This global supply capability provides a competitive advantage in this relatively fragmented market.

Weir Minerals has operations across:

NorthAmerica Europe SouthAmerica Australia Africa Asia Russia

Customer profile

Our customers range from the worlds largest minerals and mining multinationals to single pumpset operators.

We support customer operations worldwide with consistent products and local engineering expertise. As part of The Weir Group, we have the reach and resource to build close, long term relationships with all our customers, helping them to achieve ...

The Lowest Cost of Ownership

Service and support

This global capability with our own dedicated service teams combined with the service centres of our sister companies within the Weir Group and those of our strategic partners provide support in virtually every developed market.