Mineral mining machine cutter driving mechanism having a load sensing device to regulate the haulage speed of the machine when the cutter driving mechanism is overloaded

摘要

A mineral mining machine having haulage drive mechanism and at least one cutter drive unit for cutting elements which may be at each end of the mining machine. The cutting elements are driven by an electric motor through a variable speed gear-train and the haulage mechanism is driven by a hydraulic motor through a gear-train. The invention provides for a torque sensing device associated with a part of each cutter drive mechanism to sense the power transmitted by the cutter gear-train and a power sensing device associated with the electric motor. The torque sensing devices are in the form of a mechanical or electrical transducer which provides a signal when the power transmitted by the cutter gear- trains exceed or tends to exceed the rated value of the cutter gears. The signal is transmitted to a hydraulic pump to control the output to the hydraulic motor and thereby effect reduction of the haulage speed. A signal from the power sensing device also controls the hydraulic pump to effect reduction of the haulage speed.