Holton automates its longwall

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Coal Age; (United States)

OSTI ID:5951401

Brezovec, D

Westmoreland Coal Co.'s underground mines in Virginia are putting automated longwalls to work, and have in the process boosted productivity from 16 to 20 clean tons per man-day in the last five years. The longwall face that was installed at Westmoreland's Holton mine on Aug.28, 1985, theoretically could operate with only three workers at the face, the shearer operator, a mechanic and the headgate operator. Advancing the shields and the face conveyor, a job that now occupies four workers on most longwall faces, would be accomplished entirely by remote control. The automated roof support advance system relies on a microprocessor located next to the stageloader. The microprocessor is programmed to coordinate the movement of the shields and face conveyor as the shearer passes. The article describes that a sensor-activated disc located at the end of the shearer's haulage motor shaft counts the rotations of the shearer and relays information on how far the shearer has moved and in what direction to the microprocessor through the trailing cable. The computer defines the location of the shearer and issues commands through a data transmission line that connects the microprocessor to control units located on the shields. The shields and face conveyor move in a sequence programmed into the microprocessor.

• OSTI ID: 5951401
• Journal Information: Coal Age; (United States), Journal Name: Coal Age; (United States) Vol. 92:7; ISSN COLAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012031 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Strata Mechanics & Control-- (1987-)
012034* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Underground Mining-- Automation
Monitoring
& Control-- (1987-)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
AUTOMATION
COAL MINES
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONVEYORS
CUTTER LOADERS
CUTTING MACHINES
DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
HAULAGE EQUIPMENT
HUMAN FACTORS ENGINEERING
LOADERS
LONGWALL MINING
MACHINE PARTS
MAN-MACHINE SYSTEMS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
MINE HAULAGE
MINERS
MINES
MINING
MINING EQUIPMENT
MOTORS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
REMOTE CONTROL
SHAFTS
SHEARER LOADERS
SHIELDS
STRATA CONTROL
SUPPORTS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
UNDERGROUND MINING