IM 2017 April | Page 27

TM

TM

FUTURE MINING AND UNDERGROUND AUTOMATION

improves comfort, and allows a greater percentage of the workforce to operate equipment.

As the diagram shows, Teleop is a one to one system. One control station operates one driving machine( LHD, truck, etc.). Then with the Auto upgrade, the machine has automatic control of speed, steering and braking.

The Multi upgrade allows numerous machines( any type) to be accessed from the control station. Only one machine can be operated at a time.

Finally, the AutoX upgrade allows numerous machines( any type) to be accessed from the control station. Multiple machines can be operated simultaneously. Any driving machines have automatic control of speed, steering and braking. Hard-Line has just opened its new US Operations office in Utah.

Caterpillar of course, through its extensive MineStar offering has Command for Underground to improve safety and utilisation with line-of-site remote control loading, remote and guidance operation and semi-autonomous operation. It reports a 44 % cycle time improvement and summarises the benefits as: n Relocate operators to a safe, comfortable location underground or on the surface n Enable control of multiple machines from a single Remote Operator Station n Eliminate exposure to noise, dust and other hazards n Prevent collision damage with tunnel wall n Optimise shift changes n Return to work quickly after a blast n Improve operator comfort, retention n Monitor operators through video n Configure zones to regulate speed n Continue operation through seismic events.

In surface mining, Fleet has resulted in such benefits as: n Assignment + 19 % tonnes n Shift Change + 10-25 % tonnes n Fuelling-13% in time n + 9 hours per shift n Tyre life + 1,500 hours.

Great things are anticipated from the new MineStar Fleet Underground in equipment scheduling, material movement, fuel use, cycle times and more.

The Cat ® Rock Straight System is a fully mechanised longwall system designed for continuous mining of flat and tabular deposits and reefs of hard rock minerals. The system combines the use of a hard rock shearer that uses Cat Activated Undercutting Technology, which is specifically designed for the extraction of bedded hard rock deposits. A low-profile hard rock chain conveyor and hard rock hydraulic roof supports complete the system, which delivers simultaneous cutting, loading and hauling— controlled by the proven Cat longwall automation system

Conveyor haulage

Conveyors underground are a great way to automate haulage but“ this movement [ can ] suffer lots of problems, including carryback, spillage, dust, and belt wander. Many of these issues are created at the transfer points where the belts are loaded.” Richard Shields, Martin Engineering, examined this in a presentation to this year’ s SME Annual Conference, Improving Conveyor Transfer Point Performance In Hard Rock Mines.

A copper mine application has demonstrated the advantages, and durability of Martin

Engineering’ s high-speed roller impact cradles. One application was on copper ore, crushed to- 19 mm; the daily load or throughput was 100,000 t that moved through the chute and landed onto the belt.

ABSOLUTE MATERIAL FLOW

CONTROL

Coralynne & Associates + 27( 011) 849 3142