Diverter Plough: the Solution for Quicker Commissioning
A Diverter Plough, also known as a Diversion Plough or Diverter Plow, is a machine that redirects or discharges material being conveyed off the conveyor belt at a location between the head and tail pulleys.
This machine can be fitted onto a typical conveyor system, usually positioned mid-way along the belt.
Although the discharging material may seem like a common occurrence, doing so at a point which is not the end of the conveyor can be problematic due to size and scale of the conveyor and the forces involved, with one of the key issues is how to divert material from a troughed belt.
Our Most Recent Diverter Plough Project
DYNA Engineering’s latest Diverter Plough has just been successfully installed on a train load out conveyor system in one of Western Australia’s newest and largest iron ore mine sites, in the Pilbara. The complete Diverter Plough assembly was locally designed, engineered and fabricated in the DYNA Engineering Bayswater workshop, where over 15 tons of locally sourced steel work were utilized.
In this project, the Diverter Plough is being used to divert material from the conveyor before it reaches the head pulley, creating a stockpile while the train loader is still under construction. This gives the operators the ability to commission the processing plant which is further upstream in the system.
To realize the project DYNA Engineering worked closely with the client’s engineering team, designing and producing a detailed and customized solution able to meet all the customer’s needs, specifications and requirements.
Designed, engineered and fabricated in under 12 weeks, the apparatus installed is one of DYNA Engineering’s largest Diverter Ploughs. At maximum operating capacity the double-sided V blade is able to push up to 4,500 tons per hour of iron ore fines from the 1800mm width belt into purpose designed chutes.
The assembly consists of several parts including: the blade, belt support mechanism, discharge chutes, structural frame and guarding, to protect against hazards created by the diversion process.
For this project, the V blade and chutes were designed using Discrete Element Method (DEM) software to optimize material flow, wear plate life and energy consumption. The customized V blade has a purpose designed and built nose which utilizes the best available wear materials to ensure long life and maximize time between maintenance. The chutes, fabricated inhouse, are over 4m in height, with an assembled weight of 6 ton each.
How it Works
A custom designed belt support system lifts the belt from normal troughed position into a flat diversion position underneath the V blade. The belt lift process takes less than 1 minute to actuate and complete the transition. When material diversion is no longer needed, the belt can be lowered at the push of a button, permitting the conveyor to carry material underneath the V blade and allowing normal operation.
DYNA Engineering was able to use our exclusive HDPE conveyor guards as part of the assembly. Each panel, 2.2m in height and 1.1m in width, weighs less than 15 kg and was designed to comply with AS4024.3610 and AS4024.3611.
Approximately 300kg of recycled HDPE (plastic) material was used to manufacture the guards locally in our Bayswater workshop.