Modern Mining June 2017

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June 2017MODERN MINING51
PRODUCT News
A versatile utility vehicle for the underground
mining industry is the Kubota RTV-X900. It
has proved popular in the South African mar-
ket and there are reportedly hundreds of the
machines in operation around the country.
Even though Maubra, a South African
Kubota dealer, customises the Kubota RTV-
X900 for use underground, as it comes it is a
capable base vehicle with a powerful diesel
engine of just under 900 cc with a unique
fluid-drive transmission system that can drive
either just the rear wheels or all four. This is
controlled by a unique braking system that is
linked to the fluid-drive transmission.
Although the Kubota RTV-X900’s braking
system is primarily controlled by the operator,
the vehicle can only move if the transmis-
sion is engaged and the throttle is pressed; in
any other mode, the wheels will not turn. In
the event that the engine has been switched
off, the vehicle will not be able to freewheel,
which means there is no possibility of it run-
ning down an incline uncontrolled.
In the event that the throttle is not pressed,
even while the engine is idling, the transmis-
sion will supply insufficient fluid to turn the
wheels, so in this scenario the vehicle will also
not be able to move uncontrolled.
Due to strict requirements for underground
operations, the Kubota RTV-X900 must be
customised according to the specific task it
will have to fulfil. Safety in this regard is par-
amount, so the base vehicle is fitted with a
strengthened roll cage, special-purpose front
and back steel bumpers, steel lattice driver and
passenger door, and an array of LED auxiliary
lights (including nautical style red and green
side lights for easy identification of travel
direction in the dark). The whole floor surface
of the cab as well as the load bed is also coated
with a rubberised non-slip material.
The speed limit underground is 15 km/h, so
Maubra governs all Kubota RTV-X900 vehicles
destined for underground to this limit. The
vehicle has a diesel engine that is not powered
by HT electricity. All other electrical compo-
nents of the vehicle are insulated in order to
prevent any combustible vapour underground
from being ignited by any incidental sparks.
Thanks to the modifications undertaken by
Maubra, the Kubota RTV-X900 is transformed
into a highly effective underground utility
vehicle, which is then further customised to
suit even more specific applications, such as
carrying explosives.
Due to its fit-for-purpose durability and
strength, long-term maintenance of the
Kubota RTV-X900 is considerably less than a
regular bakkie. Without a clutch, brake pads or
shoes, as well as a simple, yet rugged three-
cylinder engine, there is little to go wrong on
this piece of equipment.
Kevin Clarke, Maubra, cell (+27 82) 926- 2519,
e-mail:
Kubota RTV-X900 delivers underground
The Kubota RTV-X900 utility vehicle.
Valve design allows reduction in downtime
Afrivalve, a division of eDART Slurry Valves,
now offers a simple patented design of
the Red Roc Hi-Lift pinch valve. The design
allows for inline changing of the rubber
sleeve without the use of lifting equipment
and has been granted a patent number.
This “unique and innovative feature”, as
Afrivalve describes it, offers a drastic reduc-
tion in downtime and manpower to replace
worn sleeves, eliminates the need for lifting
and rigging equipment in remote areas as
well as removing the pipework and re-align-
ment requirement.
The Red Roc pinch valves, which are man-
ufactured at eDART Slurry Valves’ facilities in
Jet Park, Gauteng, range in sizes fromDN150
to DN600, with pressures ranging from PN10
to PN40 depending on the size.
“The fact that we are a 100 % local manu-
facturer allows us to tailor our valves to exact
customer requirements and we can offer
the Red Roc Hi-Lift pinch valve in higher
pressures and sizes than the DN600 to
meet specific requirements,” says Afrivalve’s
Group Marketing Manager, Gregor Hopton.
“Although predominantly used in the min-
ing industry, Red Roc pinch valves are suited
for use in various other industrial appli-
cations such as in the power generation,
sewage and effluent and fertiliser industries”.
Gregor Hopton, Afrivalve, tel (+27 11) 791-1411,
e-mail: