Atlas Copco introduces reverse circulation kit for blasthole drills

Atlas Copco expanded its blasthole product offerings with the addition of a reverse circulation kit for the DM45/50 mid-range blasthole drill. According to Atlas Copco, the RC kit offers the added dimension of in-pit grade control.

A number of components are included with the optional kit, which can be retrofitted on drills currently in the field. A cyclone arm allows for sampling from the ground or platform level, with a vertical raise and lowering function. A cyclone rotation of 160 degrees provides safe access for cleaning, maintenance and attaching new sample hoses from ground level.

Some of the features of the cyclone assembly are a hydraulic upper-knife valve and pneumatic lower-knife valve for collecting and isolating the sample; a hydraulic hinge between the dump box and cone splitter that allows for easy cleaning, Atlas Copco says; and a fixed cone splitter with primary and duplicate sample chutes.

A 66-liter dump box, with a steep cone for limiting sample hang-up, is part of the sample collection feature. The primary and duplicate ports can be adjusted from 4 to 15 percent. The Reverse Circulation Carousel has four 4.5-in. rod cups and offers a 145-ft. maximum on-board capacity.