- Product Line

Technical Bulletin
VA Eimco Australia Pty Limited
ACN 070 973 330
Old Punt Road
Tomago NSW 2322
Australia
Phone +61 2 4985 2625
Fax +61 2 49852699

Bulletin Number: TB0302 Date: 16-4-2003

Subject: 936 Park Brake Automatic Operation Failure

Purpose

To inform operators and owners using Eimco 936 LHD’s, of a reported incident of an Eimco
936 LHD stopping in a greater distance than expected under Automatic Park Brake operation
while traveling down a mine drift.

Applicable to

Eimco 936 LHD.

Not Applicable to

Eimco 912, 913, 130, ED10, 912, 915, 921, 130HD LHD’s

Description of incident

An Eimco 936 unit was travelling down a drift when the engine stopped. The automatic brake
didn’t apply until a considerable period of time after the engine stopped, during which time the
vehicle accelerated down the drift. To the operator it appeared that the 936 was freewheeling
down the drift. No people were injured in the incident.

Description of Park Brake Operation

The Park Brake actuators on the Eimco 936 unit are spring applied with oil pressure removal.
During normal operation of the machine the oil pressure in the hydraulic circuit holds the
brakes in a released position. Once the auto brake valve is released the hydraulic brake
circuit is bled to a pressure that no longer resists the spring application of the brakes and the
park brake is applied. The signal source for the auto brake valve on an Eimco 936 unit is the
transmission pressure.

Normally the transmission pressure drops rapidly to a certain point when the engine stops,
then remains at that point for up to a couple of seconds before dropping to zero pressure. The
auto brake valve setting is normally higher than this point. However it would appear in some
cases that the valve setting is very close to this point, and so application of the park brake is
delayed until the pressure drops further. This appears to be the cause of the incident
described above.

VA Eimco Australia Pty Limited TB0302 – 936 Park Brake Automatic Page 1 of 2
A.C.N 070 973 330 Operation Failure
Old Punt Road, Tomago NSW 2324
PO Box 595 Raymond Terrace NSW 2324
Phone : +61 2 4985 2625 Fax : +61 2 4985 2699
During evaluation of this problem, another situation was discovered. It is possible for the
momentum of the machine to drive the transmission sufficiently fast to pump enough oil into
the torque converter to maintain transmission pressure. In consultation with the drivetrain
manufacturer it was determined this could happen if the turbine speed was high, as in the
case of a 936 machine with very low gear ratios and a high mass. In this case the engine will
be “driven” by the transmission and will not ‘shutdown’, even when the fuel supply is cut off or
drys up.

As all other Eimco units have higher gear ratios and less mass they are unlikely to reach the
turbine speed required to maintain transmission oil pressure and cause signal failure.

A further explanation for the long time for the park brake to apply lies with the auto brake
valve. Two types of auto brake valve are fitted to Eimco machines. All machines except the
936 are fitted with valve 119282 (referred to as Brake Accumulator Dump valve on the
schematic). This valve comprises a cartridge that looks like a plug fitted into a manifold block.
Operating pressure for this valve is 60 psi. The 936 is fitted with valve A2U900-594328. This
is also a cartridge valve fitted into a manifold block, but in this case it looks like a cartridge
valve and is adjustable. This valve should be set at 200 psi. The change was made to the 936
during testing for approval purposes, when it was found that valve 119282 gave too long a
delay on engine shutdown.

Action being taken

VA Eimco have tested a 936 and confirmed the behaviour stated above. We have also tested
a 130 and found that the park brake operated as expected.
VA Eimco are currently redesigning the automatic park brake circuit to operate off engine oil
pressure. This will cover all engine shutdowns that occur due to safety circuit operation. A
Technical Bulletin will be issued once an Eimco 936 LHD unit has been modified and
thoroughly tested. VA Eimco are aiming to complete this within the next month.
As no suitable signal source is available when the engine stops due to fuel starvation, the
automatic park brakes will not apply when the machine is running down a drift at high speed.
Extra precautions should be taken to ensure fuel levels are sufficient prior to travelling down
grades steeper than 1:10.

Recommendations

1) Operating procedures should be modified when driving 936’s down grades steeper than
1:10. These include:
st st nd
a) Machine to travel only in 1 gear high range, or 1 or 2 gear low range.
b) Prestart inspection should be carried out prior to driving down grade.
c) Water (coolant and makeup tank) and fuel levels should be checked and topped up if
required prior to driving down grade.
d) When heavy loads are being transported down grades, consideration should be given
to use of an additional machine to provide braking.

2) All drivers of 936’s should receive toolbox talks on the inability of the machine to
automatically stop on loss of fuel when travelling down grade. They should be reminded
that the brakes could still be applied via the foot pedal, manually operating the park brake,
or via the on/off switch on the dash. Talk should also include need for greater awareness
by drivers of engine stopping and the need to apply the park brake manually in this
situation.

3) All 936’s should be checked to ensure they have the correct auto brake valve (A2U900-
594328), and that the valve setting is correct.

VA Eimco Australia Pty Limited TB0302 – 936 Park Brake Automatic Page 2 of 2
A.C.N 070 973 330 Operation Failure
Old Punt Road, Tomago NSW 2324
PO Box 595 Raymond Terrace NSW 2324
Phone : +61 2 4985 2625 Fax : +61 2 4985 2699