Kombo Washer vs legacy three piece system
Kombo Washer
-
Faster installation and removal
-
Seals completely
-
Holds tight – won’t back off
-
Reusable and sustainable
-
Safer and future proof
Legacy three piece system
-
Slower installation and removal
-
Leaks frequently
-
Loosens during operation
-
Single use only
Kombo Washer benefits
Reduced planned downtime
The easy to handle one piece assembly and non-stick elastomer ensures efficient installation and removal every time – 10 seconds on, 10 seconds off. The non-leak design reduces the need to descale the mill before each reline event. In field use indicates 3 to 4 hours planned downtime saving on a 750 bolt mill reline event, driving profit improvement of $1m+ per annum in high value mining operations conducting 2 to 3 relines per year.
Reduced unplanned downtime
The patented design of the Kombo Washer seals damaged holes and imperfect mill surfaces as well as the thread of the bolt, stopping slurry fines from migrating up the thread and causing bolt fatigue and breakage. The collated nut design will never loosen during operation reducing the risk of disengaged wear plates. The non-leak design reduces the need to clean the mill deck for safety. The Kombo Washer may drive profit improvement in excess of $1m per annum in high value mining operations by reducing the number and length of unplanned downtime events in a year.
Improved mill safety
The one-piece design reduces physical risk to maintenance staff in terms of pinched fingers, muscle strain, cuts, and abrasions during the reline process. The non-leak design reduces the physical risk to operations staff due to slippery surfaces and eye splashes as well as improves equipment aesthetics with clean and dry surfaces.
Sustainable, cost effective and future proof
The Kombo Washer is the world’s first and only reusable mill liner fastening system. Engineered to be reused for 5+ reline events, it provides amortised cost savings and significant sustainability outcomes through the manufacturing, transport and recycling phases. Its future proofed design allows for robotic installation and removal.
Legacy system issues
Slower installation and removal
The common rubber gasket, cup washer and nyloc nut all consume time when being assembled individually on to the protruding bolt, approximately 12 seconds per assembly. It typically takes 15-20 seconds to remove the assembly (that is, if all goes to plan) – more often than not, the rubber gasket will stick to the surface of the mill and then subsequent removal of residue rubber will extend the removal process ever further.
Leaks frequently
The rudimentary design of the rubber gasket means it can only seal on the two interfering surfaces and does not completely seal around bolt threads; nor does it seal distorted bolt holes and irregular surface conditions. Such anomalies create leaks of slurry which can migrate up the thread, causing the nut and bolt to seize together which then results in the nut having to be cut off.
Loosens during operation
Conventional locknuts loosen during operation and rely heavily on the elastomer (nylon) to maintain a prevailing torque on the bolt. The loosening of the nut increases the potential for premature failure of the clamp pressure which in turn may result in failure of the bolted joint.
Single-use only
The pressured steel cup washer deforms under full tightening load. The seal degrades and sticks to the mill surface. The nyloc nuts are single-use only; the nylon distorts to the form of the thread and compression set and heat degrades the nylon and must be discarded after one use.