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

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 throug...

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Main Authors: Krzysztof Kotwica, Grzegorz Stopka, Marek Kalita, Dominik Bałaga, Michał Siegmund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2720
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author Krzysztof Kotwica
Grzegorz Stopka
Marek Kalita
Dominik Bałaga
Michał Siegmund
author_facet Krzysztof Kotwica
Grzegorz Stopka
Marek Kalita
Dominik Bałaga
Michał Siegmund
author_sort Krzysztof Kotwica
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-266b2097d4c04e599bf291c7bb8dd99a2023-11-21T18:58:51ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-05-01149272010.3390/en14092720Impact of Geometry of Toothed Segments of the Innovative KOMTRACK Longwall Shearer Haulage System on Load and Slip during the Travel of a Track WheelKrzysztof Kotwica0Grzegorz Stopka1Marek Kalita2Dominik Bałaga3Michał Siegmund4Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Kraków, PolandFaculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Mickiewicza 30 Av., 30-059 Kraków, PolandDivision of Machines and Equipment, KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, Pszczyńska 37 Street, 44-101 Gliwice, PolandDivision of Machines and Equipment, KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, Pszczyńska 37 Street, 44-101 Gliwice, PolandDivision of Machines and Equipment, KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, Pszczyńska 37 Street, 44-101 Gliwice, PolandLongwall 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2720longwall shearer haulage systemtoothed segmenttoothed wheelloadslippage
spellingShingle Krzysztof Kotwica
Grzegorz Stopka
Marek Kalita
Dominik Bałaga
Michał Siegmund
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
Energies
longwall shearer haulage system
toothed segment
toothed wheel
load
slippage
title 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
title_full 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
title_fullStr 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
title_full_unstemmed 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
title_short 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
title_sort 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
topic longwall shearer haulage system
toothed segment
toothed wheel
load
slippage
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/9/2720
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AT dominikbałaga impactofgeometryoftoothedsegmentsoftheinnovativekomtracklongwallshearerhaulagesystemonloadandslipduringthetravelofatrackwheel
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