No two operations are the same and Weir Minerals has the cone crushers to suit any application.
Believe it or not, but the first cone crushers were invented at the beginning of the 19th century.
And thanks to their durable and simple design, they quickly became the preferred choice as a secondary or tertiary position machine. The basic principle of these early live-shaft cone crushers was to have the head and main shaft as a single component.
In Weir Minerals’ TC Series live-shaft machines, the countershaft takes the motor power and turns the eccentric to produce the crushing action. However, because of these machines’ component geometry, there is a limit to increases in stroke and speed. These limitations drove the development of the TP Series fixed-shaft machines.
With its moveable head and stationary pedestal, the fixed-shaft style machine was widely celebrated as a faster-running cone crusher. While this style cone doesn’t necessarily guarantee operators more production, it does ensure more hits – on the head and the bowl, as well as interparticle crushing – per pass. These extra hits usually result in an better overall particle shape.
As a result, many manufacturers decided to stop producing their live-shaft crusher, despite the fact it excels in various applications and creates less fine material.
Weir Minerals decided otherwise. No two operations are the same and the company has therefore continued to manufacture both its Trio TP fixed-shaft and TC live-shaft range of cone crushers. There is, in other words, a cone crusher for every application.
In an application like pebble crushing, which requires an extremely high level of force in order to crush what’s essentially the hardest rock, the Trio TC machine is perhaps the only viable option.
However, in most applications, determining whether the Trio TC or Trio TP machine is the preferred option is best determined through a consultation process with Weir Minerals’ team of comminution experts.
The application will ultimately dictate which machine is the best choice, as each crusher has its place in the flow sheet; however, it is one consideration among many. And, whereas not all competitors have the flexibility to offer customers live- shaft and fixed-shaft options, the fact Weir Minerals does allows it to provide a more tailored solution.
The Trio TC Series design – with its aforementioned stroke and speed limitations – has been engineered for maximum output without compromising reliability.
The Trio TP Series, with its fixed main shaft, allows the head to move independent of the shaft which, in turn, allows a faster input speed, higher pivot point and increased stroke. These features allow additional power input, which equates to an increase in production compared with similarly sized live-shaft machines.
Feed material to all cones should be screened for optimal performance, but the Trio TP crushers perform at their best with a screened and well-graded feed material.
Fines percentage in the feed should be kept to less than 10 per cent passing the closed side settings (CSS) for proper operation. Any exceptions can be discussed with a Weir comminution expert.
Maintaining the proper chamber density will reduce the potential for bowl float or overload. In some applications, this may equate to a lower overall reduction ratio compared to the Trio TC Series, which can accept a higher level of fines material.
Nonetheless, some limits still apply. Typically, the reduction ratio (F80/P80) should be about 4:1 in the Trio TP Series, whereas the Trio TC Series can be as high as 6:1.
Driven by the need for upgrades and an increase in service requirements, some in the industry have started upgrading the coiled spring tramp release system with a hydraulic one. These upgrades can be achieved more effectively by replacing the whole machine.
A new installation brings all the benefits of an unused machine without the performance and reliability challenges of a machine that’s been operating for decades.
To learn more about Weir Minerals’ TC Series, visit global.weir.
This feature appeared in the April issue of Quarry Magazine.