System for controlling speed of travel in a longwall shearer

摘要

A shearer system (100) for removing material along a mineable distance relative to a mining environment (102) includes a rail assembly (114) to support movement of a shearer carriage (104) thereon. The system (100) further includes a haulage motor (112) structured and arranged to move the shearer carriage (104) along the rail assembly (114). The system (100) has a rotatably driven cutter (106) that is positionable relative to the shearer carriage (104). The system (100) further includes an actuator (108) supported by the shearer carriage (104) for changing a cutting height of the cutter (106). The system (100) further includes a controller (120) that can control a velocity of the shearer carriage (104) based on a translation speed of the cutter (106), a maximum speed of the shearer carriage (104), a current cutter height, and a desired cutter height. Optionally, the controller (120) can further control the velocity of the shearer carriage (104) based on a predetermined stopping distance of the shearer carriage (104).