Cable Crossover Pads — Polyurethane

Electrical cables running across the floor of underground mining roadways are at risk of damage every time a vehicle crosses the cable. Cable crossover pads provide a ramp profile that directs vehicle wheels over the cable without crushing it, protecting both the cable and the vehicle tyres.

Elastomers Queensland manufactures polyurethane cable crossover pads for underground coal and hard rock mining. FRAS certification is required for underground use. Our pads are available in standard cable channel profiles and in custom configurations for specific cable diameters and vehicle wheel widths.

Design and Function

An effective cable crossover pad performs two functions: it raises the vehicle wheel over the cable without transmitting load directly to the cable, and it provides enough ramp angle to be traversable at the speeds vehicles operate underground without causing instability.

The geometry of the ramp, the cable channel depth and width, and the hardness of the polyurethane all affect performance. Pads that are too soft deform under heavy vehicle loads and allow the cable to be crushed. Pads that are too hard transmit excessive shock to the cable during vehicle crossing. The correct balance depends on the cable diameter, the vehicle mass, and the crossing speed.

We manufacture cable crossover pads in standard and custom channel profiles. For high-traffic crossings where pad wear is accelerated, we offer harder-grade formulations that extend replacement intervals.