Impact of Geometry of Toothed Segments of the Innovative KOMTRACK Longwall Shearer Haulage System on Load and Slip during the Travel of a Track Wheel

Krzysztof Kotwica, Grzegorz Stopka, Marek Kalita, Dominik Bałaga and Michał Siegmund
Additional contact information
Krzysztof Kotwica: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Grzegorz Stopka: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Marek Kalita: Division of Machines and Equipment, KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, Pszczyńska 37 Street, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
Dominik Bałaga: Division of Machines and Equipment, KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, Pszczyńska 37 Street, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland
Michał Siegmund: Division of Machines and Equipment, KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, Pszczyńska 37 Street, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-25

Abstract: Longwall shearers operating in the underground mine workings move along the longwall face along the conveyor troughs. The haulage system, which is made up of two kinematic pairs in the form of track wheels installed in shearer movers, cooperating with the toothed route built in the conveyor’s throughs, is responsible for moving the shearer. The currently used solutions of longwall shearers’ haulage systems do not ensure proper cooperation of the track wheels with toothed segments, which results in failures and breakdowns in the operation of the longwall systems, causing significant financial losses. Rigid solution of the gear components used is the reason. The solution of the flexible toothed segment, allowing it to adapt to the longitudinal and transverse curvature of the AFC (armored face conveyor) route during cooperation with the track wheel, was developed as part of the research project jointly implemented by KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Łukasiewicz Research Network–Cracow Institute of Technology, Specodlew Innovative Foundry Company and Polish Mining Group Inc., co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (contract no. POIR.04.01.04-00-0068/17). The general design and principle of operation of the suggested KOMTRACK system is given. The results of the comparative simulations and analyses are presented. The load and slip values during the cooperation of the track wheels with the standard and new suggested toothed segment were estimated. The effectiveness of cooperation in the shearer movement along a disturbed conveyor route was also compared.

Keywords: longwall shearer haulage system; toothed segment; toothed wheel; load; slippage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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