I worry about Damon daily. When he leaves to go to work - it is not your usual job. I'm pretty sure that most people do not quite understand just what it is that Damon does. He is a Heavy Equipment Operator on a crusher or to be more specific - he's the loader operator. Well, for those of you who might be the slightest bit interested - I have some pictures of Damon's office.
On Friday, Damon brought Logan, Lane and myself to the Hawkinsons Pit.I have seen all this equipment before; however, I'm always amazed at how large the process is.
This is Damon's Loader... he can carry 10 yards of dirt in his bucket.
Imagine this... a Bobcat can carry a 1/2 yard with one bucket! That's a lot of dirt! This loader doesn't have a steering wheel - it's all done with joy sticks.
Imagine this... a Bobcat can carry a 1/2 yard with one bucket! That's a lot of dirt! This loader doesn't have a steering wheel - it's all done with joy sticks.
This is the actual set up of the conveyor belts. If you can see the far back of this picture, where there is a conveyor pointing up to the sky, this is where the product ends up. 
The 'hopper' (on the opposite side of the pit) is where the dumping starts. This direction is where the dirt is dumped and it makes it way to the far end of the pit on conveyor belts. 
When Damon is not in the loader he operates the shovel. :) All of this fine dirt piles up around the 26 conveyors they have set up and require manual shoveling to keep from slowing the process down. If the dirt under the conveyors builds up - it can stop belts and production altogether. Also, the cords that are hanging off of this 1 piece of equipment are just a few of the cords that have to be pulled when moving to another pit. When Damon talks about 'pulling cords' I figured... what's the big deal? Ya, the cords a little larger than your household cords.
This is the side of the 'hill', 'cliff', 'mountain' that the loader digs out of... Of course, Damon is not allowed to tell me stories about his job because there are just some things a wife doesn't want to hear; however, I got a ear full of them on Friday with the boys. It just so happens that IF you don't pay attention to the wall that you are digging out of - it can collaspe on the loader. Nice. 
A view of the Hawkinson Pit...
A view of the Hawkinson Pit...
1 comment:
What an amazing "office" Damon works at each day! I really cannot imagine... Anthony's auntie and uncle will have to take him out there for a visit sometime. He would love seeing the big machines!
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