MODEL TESTS OF LONGWALL SHEARER WITH STRING FEED SYSTEM

Abstract

This article concerns model tests of longwall shearer with string feed system. The introduction outlined the problem of exploitation of thin seams, in particular hard coal seams, and briefly described the construction and operation technology of a single-unit shearer with a string feed system for their exploitation. The problem of modeling of longwall machines with such a feed system was presented, as well as the author’s physical and mathematical model of a longwall unitary shearer. Then, for the assumed parameters, model tests were carried out on the dynamics of the longwall shearer together with the string feed system. Comprehensive dynamic tests were carried out for the wall height range from 1.0 m to 1.6 m, length from 180 m to 300 m and taking into account four dimensions of the applied chain. As a result, a number of information was obtained concerning the kinematics of the longwall shearer, its feed along the wall, as well as translations and rotation in relation to particular axes and loadings of particular construction nodes. The most important part are the results of model tests, which together with their interpretation enable verification and optimization of the construction as well as the selection of power of feeder drives and shearer body.