FUNDAMENTALS

PERSONNEL AND MATERIAL TRANSPORT

 

Specialised Vehicles

  
 

Specialised Vehicles

Where there once was a tendency to try and design machines to do everything, these were often only moderately successful ("jack of all trades, master of none") and there is now a tendency for designing specialized machines for particular work. Where this means limited use for short periods there is a tendency for such machines to be owned by hire companies or to be shared between groups of mines. This increases the need for good planning and scheduling, but can be more efficient overall.

This specialization is particularly the case for machines used to transport longwall equipment, some of which tends to be large and odd shaped. Longwall shearer and longwall support transporters are usually specially designed for that purpose, and most mines would only require such machines for 4-5 weeks a year or thereabouts.

To enable large equipment to be moved frequently some equipment is self propelled (e.g. longwall transformers) Some bulky equipment is designed to take bolt-on wheels or to be suitable for skid transport (e.g. LTU sections) so that only a towing capability is required - the unit itself in effect becoming a "trailer".

The use of large diameter pipes for gas drainage systems has led to the development of special vehicles or trailers able to carry and lift the pipes into place. In the main these have been local developments by individual mines.

If there is a need to move normally self propelled vehicles which operate on trailing cables (e.g. continuous miners or shuttle cars) over a long distance, there are two options typically utilised:

  • Set-up a series of power outlets along the route so that trailing cables can be dragged from one to the next to power up equipment as the move progresses

  • Use a diesel powered, trailer mounted generator set, known as a "power tram" with a short cable connection. A tractor is normally used to tow the power tram rather than attach it to the item being relocated in case it needs to be shunted off the transport road.