Aussie jetters & hydroblasters… the pressure is on!
This story is contributed by John Hales, Chief Engineer of Australian Pump Industries. John has worked with the Aussie development team to produce machines that are based on feedback from operators. The focus is on efficiency, reliability and safety!
Here John explains some of the great mining successes the company’s had in the last couple of years.
High pressure jetters
“It’s almost 26 years since a plumber walked into our factory at Castle Hill in Sydney and asked us if we could turn our pressure cleaners into machines that would clear blocked drains. The plumber explained they’d had a gut full of using Electric Eels, not just because of their weight and cumbersome nature but mainly because of the time it takes to clear a choke using the five or six sets of spirals. Not to mention, the filthy mess you get when you pull them back out of the drain” said Hales.
It was news to us, and we learned fast. We moved on with the production of what we called the Aussie Cobra. The Cobra is still a big seller but it’s a very different machine today than the first units we built.
The original Cobra had 4000 PSI maximum pressure, 20 litres per minute flow and was really a modification for jetting of our Aussie Ultra pressure cleaner. The Ultra had been on the market for a couple of years. It was a huge hit with customers as diverse as shipyards to brick cleaners. That was back when 4000 PSI machines were considered quite exotic.
Jetter success
Having that platform to work from, we modified the frame into a powder coated unit with integrated water tank and locations for a heavy duty hose reel with a 60 meter hose capacity. The super flexible high pressure drain cleaner hose really worked well clearing those chokes!
The product launch stunned plumbers and a big investment in media plumbing magazines, particularly the Master Plumbers, resulted in what amounted to a revolution. We found that nobody enjoyed using an Eel!
The early machines were trolley mounted to enable the plumber to wheel the machine off the back of his Ute. It wasn’t long before we saw plumbers with precious trade space for tool boxes and the like, mounting the machines permanently behind the cab. They were set up with a supply hose reel and a high pressure reel mounted in what we call now the “Stacker”.
Ute mounted Jetters, normally driven by Honda engines are now commonplace in the plumbing industry. We found that most plumbers who bought a Jetter didn’t really understand much about triplex pump technology. We set out to explain that with a document we call “Triplex Pump Technology”.
It explains exactly how the whole system works. We developed nozzles including a gadget called the Aussie Root Mulcher which chops up tree roots and clear blocked drains fast. The best thing is the plumber no longer got filthy doing the job, could get it done in 20 minutes, sometimes much less. That’s six hours less of struggling with an Eel that plumbers would never had to go through again.
Jetters for mines
It wasn’t Aussie’s idea to come up with a Jetter specifically for the mining industry. It started when we heard the story of a contractor who did the job at Cowell Creek mine in the Southern Riverina in 24 hours that would normally take two or three weeks to clear out pipe work in the processing plant.
He used our portable Aussie Mini Reel, now made with a stainless steel reel with a stainless steel handle, that enables easy access to hard-to-reach locations. The original idea was that it would be designed so that the operator could operate within 60 meters of the Jetter. To have another 60 meters on the Aussie Viper Mini Reel gave a new degree of flexibility and convenience.
It made us start thinking about the processes on mines all across Australia! The Jetters for mining are now being produced as a standard product on heavy duty trailers just like the one shown. That is one of many we’ve built now and its on the way to the Pilbara. The capability will lend a new convenience to clearing blocked drains, whether they be in the amenities areas or, in the processing plant pipework.
Imagine not having to dismantle pipework or to try clearing blockages with rods when you can do it in a matter of minutes with a flexible hose and nozzle that will go around gullies and even 90° elbows in the hands of a capable operator.
Designing the mining jetter
The first thing required was a diesel engine. A powerful reliable model KD 625 26 hp Kohler air cooled diesel engine driving our “Big Berty” Bertolini pump through a 2 to 1 reduction gearbox. We chose Bertolini pumps when we first started building pressure cleaners because of their reliability and features.
You’ll notice when you look at a Big Berty that it’s built like a tank and has a crankcase that is heavily “finned” to provide extra cooling for the crankcase oil. A cooler running pump means significantly longer life.
We also used heavy duty unloaders and built in a safety valve as a part of our Aussie “Safety Protection Kit” to protect both the machine and the operator from pressure spikes.
Our mobile heavy duty trailer mounts are hot dipped galvanised and equipped in line with Australia’s leading mining company’s requirements. The heavy duty rocker-roller axles are designed for the toughest environment. The trailer mount comes with a with a 200 litre water tank, low pressure reel to feed the tank, and stainless steel high pressure reel.
The idea was to provide the best possible machine we could. To quote our slogan, “we design and build machines as if we were going to use them ourselves”.
The high pressure gun kit is included, along with the Aussie Mini Reel with 60 metres of extra hose. It also comes with a safety plate to put over the drain and a Nozzle Box with a choice of nozzles. The operator’s manual gives loads of guidance but, it’s worth watching our videos on jetting, particularly our Safety Training Course.
Class A unit means the operators do not need to be trained by a registered RTO. They can base their safety training on our own free Safe Jetting program.
“We can see a time coming when every mine in the country will have a diesel drive Jetter for clearing blocked drains and clearing pipe work” said Hales.
Our Jetter can even be used it to wash down big plant with a choice of a 4,000 or 5000 PSI pressure rating.
Call us with your requirements, mines can get jetting now!
Aussie raptors, 500 Bar hydro blasters
Australian pump is not in the ultra high pressure cleaning business. There are specialists who are very good at that. Their machines may often go to pressures as high as 50,000 PSI. Australian Pump is more interested in building quality machines at fair prices.
Our Aussie Raptor 500 bar blasters (7300 PSI) are built on a production line process to keep costs down. It allows operators who would normally not purchase a machine with this level of capability to be able to take advantage of our volume. Operators can be trained in our free Safety Training Program at the same time.
Our Raptor series started out as a project for work boat and ship cleaning applications. Today we look back and find our machines operating in mines, steelworks, boat building applications and even being used by contractors for public swimming pool cleanup and even concrete demolition.
The first machines built was for a Turkish contractor who was removing concrete cancer from a dam on the Zambezi River. The machines they bought are driven by Kohler air cooled diesel engine with a gearbox driving the Bertolini pump at 1450 RPM.
The “Big Berty” pumps were ideal for the job and the Turkish contractor was ecstatic when operating the 500 bar machines with the heavy duty stainless steel turbo nozzle that boosts capacity to 12,000 psi effective working pressure. They wound up getting the job done in a super quick time. From there we moved to other jobs including a number of shipyards around the South Pacific and even steelworks in India.
The raptor story
Our inspiration came from Bertolini. We’ve been used to building large quantities of four and 5000 PSI machines on a production line basis when Bertolini introduced what they call their RA series. These were a range of 500 bar pumps that took us into another world when it came to high pressure cleaning.
It wasn’t until we tested the machines we built for the Turkish contractor that we realised just how lethal the Raptors could be. Using a stainless steel heavy duty turbo gun, we were able to bore holes through sandstone and slice up concrete. It was quite an experience for our team who weren’t used to that level of performance.
Safety is a primary requirement. Our Raptor range, now available in a number of configurations from 16 litre per minute 500 bar to 18 litre per minute 500 bar, then, to 21 litre per minute and 24 litre per minute. The 21 and 24 litre per machines are different configurations to the trolley mounted Raptor series. They are part of Aussie’s Extreme series.
The Raptors can be adapted for 500 bar grit blasting applications. For the lower flow units we use smaller air cooled diesel engines and build them into heavy duty four wheel stainless steel trolleys. The trolley design is part of our Aussie “Scud” concept and are ergonomic, solid and yet elegant in design. The Extreme range is driven by a Yanmar water cooled diesel drive and feature hot dipped galvanised frame in Mine Spec configuration.
The machines all operate with Aussie Safety Protection program, heavy duty unloader valve, safety valve and a first class operator manual and Aussie Safe Operator Training Program.
Very sharp prices are available for the mining industry, on Aussie’s machines in their “Mine Boss” configuration. We recommend going with the turbo kit and the grit blast kit as well for all mining or shipbuilding applications. Anything to do with steel preservation is a ready made job for Aussie Raptors!
Aussie safety first
Aussie stresses that these units need to be used by operators who are trained in their application. Under the new Safety Standards Class B machines, safety training needs to be carried out by registered RTO.
TAFEs around Australia are picking up Aussie’s FREE Safety Training Program and delivering it to not only apprentices but also seasoned and experienced technicians. Contractors like DSM run fleets of these big 21 or 24 litre per minute machines. They are powered by 3 or 4 cylinder TNV Yanmar water cooled diesel engine with some of the machines operating as far afield as mines in Mongolia. They represent good value for money and are built like tanks!
Interested in 500 bar machines? Aussie’s Buy Off the Plan for June can mean big cost savings!
Further information is available from aussiepumps.com.au or 02 8865 3500
