Instrumented In-Mine Testing of the Bureau of Mines Low-RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) Deep-Cutting Continuous Mining Machine

摘要

The Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 established maximum airborne respirable dust exposure levels for underground coal mines. In an effort to provide the knowledge needed to achieve compliance without reducing productivity, the Bureau of Mines has sponsored research oriented toward improving mining machines. The work has consistently shown that a deep-cutting, low-rpm (revolutions per minute) continuous miner can reduce respirable dust levels without production penalties. To provide the design data by manufacturers to produce production versions of the deep-cutting machine, a prototype miner was instrumented and in-mine tests were conducted. The data acquisition system developed for the testing allowed real-time monitoring of selected machine parameters to include cutterhead bit forces, power levels, structural loads, and pressures.