|
|
|
|
 |
PERSONNEL AND MATERIAL TRANSPORT |
||
 |
General |
||
PERSONNEL AND MATERIAL TRANSPORT
General
At one time, rail transport was almost universally used in Australian coal mines for the transport of personnel and materials, but has now been almost totally replaced by the use of rubber tyred, free steered vehicles, mostly diesel powered. Rail transport persists in mines which have drift or inclined shaft access and in some mines where mine workings are extensive and travel distances underground large and usually where the rail system has been in place since inception of the mine. Where rail transport is still used in drifts or inclined shafts it typically extends only to the pit bottom area and then transfers to a rubber tyred system. Where long distances are involved, rail transport has advantages in being able to transport relatively large loads rapidly, with a minimum of labour, however these systems still rely on rubber tyred, free steered vehicles to distribute materials and equipment in the face area Rail transport is typically limited to gradients of 1:16 to prevent loss of control of the haulage vehicle.
The main benefit of a free steered rubber tyred vehicle system is its flexibility, as such vehicles are able to transport materials and equipment to almost any location in the mine, given that roadways are in reasonable condition (and albeit at a relatively higher maintenance cost for vehicles and sometimes roadways). A rail system will always need some other arrangement to bridge the gap between rail end and the working face. Rubber tyred vehicles can negotiate grades as steep as 1:5 over short distances, but care is needed to match braking capability of the vehicle with loads being carried and grades being negotiated in the mine. Grades can also seriously affect the stability of machines, particularly articulated machines.