Development of a Hydraulic System for the Automatic Expansion of Powered Roof Support

Dawid Szurgacz, Beata Borska, Ryszard Diederichs and Sergey Zhironkin
Additional contact information
Dawid Szurgacz: Center of Hydraulics DOH Ltd., ul. Konstytucji 147, 41-906 Bytom, Poland
Beata Borska: KWK Ruda Ruch Halemba, ul. Halembska 160, 41-717 Ruda Śląska, Poland
Ryszard Diederichs: Center of Hydraulics DOH Ltd., ul. Konstytucji 147, 41-906 Bytom, Poland
Sergey Zhironkin: Department of Trade and Marketing, Siberian Federal University, 79 Svobodny Ave., 660041 Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: A mechanical support in a longwall complex requires proper supervision and control of operating parameters because it is responsible for the safety of machines and workers. Its main functions are to protect the excavation against the adverse effects of rock mass and to move it along with the operational progress of the shearer and the scraper conveyor. In the era of Industry 4.0 as well as green economy and sustainable development, the development of machines and devices included in the longwall complex is an important area of invention. When it comes to the mechanical support included in the longwall complex, the authors propose changes to the hydraulic control system. The main purpose of the work was to develop a system that can automatically expand the legs of the powered support. Tests were carried out under real conditions while equipping the support section with a prototypical hydraulic system and with a system monitoring the correct operation of the prototype. This article presents the development of a prototypical installation under real conditions for testing on a longwall. The innovative solution proposed by the authors consisted of introducing a prototypical double valve block into the hydraulic system of the housing, which enables the function of automatic section expansion. The authors proposed a solution aimed at shortening the work time of the powered-support-section operator. The research results made it possible to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed solution. This type of solution can be considered technical support in the process of coal mining in an underground mine. Analysis presented in this paper, along with results from research conducted and its conclusions, can be of practical help to enclosure users to improve reliability and achieve optimal performance.

Keywords: powered roof support; hydraulic leg; hydraulic system; work automation; tests under real conditions (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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