MINE LIGHTING
Caterpillar ( Bucyrus ) 495 shovel fitted with Phoenix ’ s Danger Light at Canadian Natural Resources Ltd ( CNRL ) in the Alberta oilsands
A bright future
Smart and innovative lighting – such as lighting which is able to react to conditions , or even host nodes to create a local network – remains a major focus for the industry with a focus on safety and worker productivity , reports Paul Moore
To get the latest on lighting technology for primary fleets , IM was able to speak directly to three of the leading players in mining equipment smart lighting at bauma in Munich in late October 2022 – namely HELLA , now part of Forvia ; TYRI ; and Nordic Lights . All three are focused on smart lighting solutions for mining customers , with some real innovations on display .
Starting with TYRI , the company was showcasing its INTELLilight™offering which European Business Development Manager Christopher Parke explained allows the operator to change the colour temperature of the lighting , dim the lighting and even group / regroup the lighting according to working conditions . This could include changing the lighting tone to a warmer colour in snowy conditions to improve visibility , or taking similar action in foggy or dusty conditions . Another application example is when the bucket of a wheel loader or excavator is being raised – INTELLilight can increase the lighting intensity underneath the bucket – this was on display at bauma 2022 on a real Komatsu machine . This is all possible by connection via a wireless mesh network which is controlled via an app or remote control . All the lights are equipped with their own router creating a 360 degree wireless mesh network . This makes the system easy to install , very reliable , and if one light fails , the system keeps on going . Finally , Parke said that the light itself is of the highest quality – tested according to TYRI test lab standards and having Hi-Cri ( Colour Rendering Index ) over 90 , which is very close to sunlight at 100 . He added that it is working on the next logical step which is to use sensors to automate the work lighting – the sensors for example will actively detect light from reflections or approaching vehicles , automatically dimming the lights so as not to blind the operators .
Andreas Honfi , Head of Sales-Mining at Forviaowned HELLA homed in on some of its latest offerings on show at the event , which included
TYRI ' s INTELLilight is a patented and it says future safe system that is flexible and intelligent the intelligent worklamp RokLUME 280N SMART , which increases safety in mining and on construction sites . With its individual light settings , the intelligent worklamp enables the colour temperature to be changed from warm to cool white and the light colour to green or amber , depending on the variant . “ This adjustment of the light colour is of utmost importance , especially in poor visibility conditions caused by dust , snow or fog , to ensure the highest possible visibility . In addition , the brightness level can be adjusted to the current lighting conditions using the dimming function .” The worklamp is available in six illumination options , including ZEROGLARE with a new patent-pending reflector . Via the HELLA control panel or the Human Machine Interface ( HMI ) in the vehicle , the worklamp can be operated easily and quickly .
Conventional worklamps can be replaced with the intelligent RokLUME 280N SMART easily . Powerline communication ( PLC ) enables the control unit ( gateway ) to communicate with the
Andreas Honfi , HELLA Head of Sales Mining
worklamps over the existing harness without interference . Since the existing wiring harnesses and circuits are used , no changes to the vehicle architecture are necessary . “ Equipped with lifetime management , the system warns in good time before the worklamp ´ s lifetime expires , thus preventing unplanned downtime . Anti-theft protection and a memory function for storing individual illumination settings are also integrated . With the Gateway Prime , the vehicle can also be equipped with a cornering light function .”
The Smart Modular Worklight intelligent lighting system was also developed to improve work safety and comfort in off-highway applications . Unlike the RokLUME 280N SMART , the SMART Modular Worklight series are built-in modules . These work light modules are fully integrated into the cab roof and thus better protected from external influences . They also
58 International Mining | NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2022