On the Problem of the Large Tires Safe Operation

The issues of operating large tires in the conditions of mining enterprises do not lose their relevance, since the costs of their acquisition and maintenance are among the main expense items of the mining transport enterprises. Lack of control over the thermal state and pressure of the large tires in many cases leads to both significant economic damage in the event of a fire or explosion, and a threat to the life and health of the employees. It is required to take into account that a large tire is a multi-ton product that is constantly under high pressure. The combination of such properties of the tires under consideration as large weight and dimensions, high pressure, is in itself a potentially dangerous factor that requires increased attention. Therefore, it is vitally important for the employees working near large tires, especially dump truck drivers, to be confident in their technical serviceability. This can only be achieved through constant monitoring of their thermal state and pressure. Thermal destruction of the large tires is due to the fact that during operation, due to the deformation and internal friction of the tire carcass elements during rolling, excess heat generation occurs. At the same time, the main materials and adhesives used to produce tires are very sensitive to high temperatures. Excessive heat generation weakens and destroys the bonds between tire structural elements and causes restructuring of the rubber. Thermal failure of large tires can be a consequence of exceeding the standard performance indicator, as well as their operation at low pressure. Both of these factors equally require attention from the specialists in the operation department of a mining and transport enterprise. Since the large tires do not have obvious signs of their critical condition, it is not possible to detect the characteristic features of the onset of thermal destruction by visual inspection (rubber restructuring and delamination occurs in the inner layers of the tire). The article provides an example of improving the safety of operation of the large tires at one of the Kuzbass coal mining enterprises by introducing systems for monitoring the thermal state and internal pressure of tires. The measures taken and the results achieved are described.