Bucketwheel Excavators And Their Potential In The Mineral Industry

Since they were first introduced in the United States in 1964, rail mounted bucket wheel stacker-reclaimers have gained wide acceptance by the coal burning power plant group. Other installations include those in phosphate and steel mill ore storage areas. First Installation in the U.S.A. Three basic types of bucketwheels for handling stored bulk materials are now being used in the U.S. Bucketwheel stacker-reclaimers came into use in the U.S.A. in 1964 at the Chalk Point power station built by the Potomac Electric Power Co. It was decided, after serious study, to install the first slewing-boom, rail mounted bucketwheel stacker-reclaimer at this installation. It was designed with a separately counter- weighted wheel boom because the fixed counterweight of the European designed bucketwheel made it possible for the machine to overturn backwards if the wheel rested on the ground due to a possible failure of the luffing system.