“The development of Longwall Associates' chain connectors has actually been in progress for some time now,” said Kevin Howden, engineering manager for Longwall Associates. “Our line of connectors are installed in three mines with severe geological conditions. Longwall Associates chain connectors have performed very impressively in these mines.”

Longwall Associates says it is the first company to address the corrosion and wear factors associated with chain connectors, consistent with today's applications and productivity requirements.

In developing the connectors, the company said its R&D team worked very closely with a client with very arduous mine conditions. This mine has experienced problems with premature failures in their chain connector operations, which the R&D identified.

The resultant highly innovative chain connectors are the outcome of testing of samples and a new design using new materials.

Longwall Associates believes it is the first company to address the corrosion and wear factors associated with chain connectors, consistent with today’s applications and productivity requirements. Longwall Associates developed the connectors to resist corrosion by integrating a nickel plated finish on the connectors. The team also decided to use high-wear alloy material called Tri-braze for the production of the connectors.

“In our production and maintenance of other equipment, such as pan lines, we have seen the Tri-braze material resist wear, radically. In order to achieve the outcome we wanted with our connectors, we decided to integrate that high wear alloy into our standard design,” said senior design engineer and export project manager, Dennis Heninger.

“We are thrilled with our new line of connectors, it is very exciting to be the first company in the industry to use alternative metals and design factors to address the current problems. We are dedicated to enabling our clients to reach their goals through the design and manufacture of innovative equipment, and our connectors demonstrate that.”

Other features include:

* Center post to inhibit bull-nose fatigue.

* Through drilled for center post and controlled breaking strength.

* Fabrication from proven wear resistant material, Tri-Braze.

* Forged Tri-Braze links, quenched and tempered for optimum hardness.

* Through hardened to 1480N/mm2 tensile, 1325N/mm2 yield.

* 450N hardness, 35ft-lbs.

* Reliable connectors combining durability and no maintenance.

* A user friendly locking mechanism.

* Tested to fatigue failure at over 100,000 cycles.

* Matched halves with unique identification system.

* Size and pitch identification on each connector.

The chain connectors are the second of several products Longwall Associates plans to introduce throughout 2001.