Hydraulic Lifts in Longwall Mining Equipment Using ULS-200 Solid-State Level Sensors
May 17, 2024
Hydraulic lift systems are used to raise and lower an arm on a shearer (also known as a power loader) to cut coal from the coal face. Reliable hydraulic oil level sensing is essential for maintaining continuous operation efficiently and safely.
Challenge
Hydraulic oil coating the prism on optical sensors causes inconsistent sensing of the critical fluid level, creating concerns over reliability. The sensor is unable to accurately detect fluid levels.
Optical type sensors used in these applications are subject to coating build-up and other reliability concerns due to the LED refraction technology used. The coating present on the prism can prevent repeatable detection of the hydraulic oil level, limiting the sensor’s accuracy.
Solution
Gems Sensors’ ULS-200 Advanced Level Sensor
Uniquely designed to minimize customer downtime, the rugged and compact ULS-200, equipped with a microcontroller, features no moving parts and reliably detects oil, water, and harsh chemicals. In addition to meeting IP67, Gems ULS-200 meets IP6K9K – a more stringent requirement for high-pressure/high-temperature washdowns. This high-rated IP standard alleviates customer concerns about moisture ingress in challenging outdoor environments. Gems’ ULS-200 comes pretested to industry-leading temperature (-40°F to 257°F/-40°C to 125°C), vibration (up to 2000 Hz per IEC 60068-2-64), and pressure (up to 300 PSIG/20.7 bar) standards, reducing your overall product testing requirements.
Features & Benefits
- No moving parts
- Durable sealed design – IP6k9k
- Ease of use – simple installation
- Wide temperature range
- Excellent in harsh environments