Atlas Copco releases new blasthole mining product

Atlas Copco has released the Pit Viper 311 large range rotary blasthole drill, strengthening the company’s Pit Viper blasthole drill product line.

The PV-311 has the capability to chew through drill patterns by drilling 228 – 311 mm holes with a clean hole single pass depth of 19.8 m.

Lower drilling costs

The Pit Viper 311 was first introduced at MINExpo 2012, and includes new and innovative designs that help to lower the cost of drilling.

Atlas Copco’s proven Rig Control Systen (RCS) gives the PV-311 a strong technology foundation to bring serviceability and drilling accuracy to the mining process.

Heightened productivity

Productivity is heightened through improved tramming, feed and retract speeds, in addition to reducing the time to perform non-drilling added functions of the machine, such as setting up.

Atlas Copco has reduced the amount of downtime for preventive maintenance by up to 50% with the introduction of the remote filter rack and ground level service interface where all fluids can be filled or drained, and provisions for live sampling.

World-class cabin

The PV-311 package also incorporates a world-class cabin with improved operator visibility and comfort.

Drive train options with both Tier 4 and Tier 2 diesel engine alternatives are offered with the Pit Viper 311. The tower is structurally similar to the Pit Viper 351, however is deeper to accommodate larger sheaves for either single-pass or multi-pass applications, which means longer cable life. Atlas Copco incorporated full tower access with a ladder, harness, safety lines and tower infill, including a ladder that provides access to decking in the tower above the rod changer when the tower is horizontal.

Pit Viper options

Atlas Copco offers a number of options for the Pit Viper 311, including an automatic hydraulic clutch designed to decrease fuel consumption during non-drilling operations. In addition to standard safety and interlock features, the unit’s Rig Control System supports auto-level, auto-drilling, GPS hole navigation and wireless remote tramming.

A multi-pass version of the Pit Viper 311 known as the Pit Viper 316 will be released later in 2014. The Pit Viper 316 will drill to a depth of 90 m using a five-rod carousel with 50 ft drill pipe.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/product-news/04032014/atlas_copco_new_blasthole_mining_product_19/