Angled Linepan Loading Surface for AFC Compaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In longwall mining, armoured face conveyor (AFC) linepans for low and medium seam applications face issues with material compaction and horizon control due to poor loading characteristics, leading to delays in production.
Innovation Solution
A new profile for the front casting of the linepan with an angled loading surface, creating a larger loading aperture between the cutting machine arm and the AFC, allowing easier material flow and improving loading characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a vertical face (90 degree face) is used for the linepan front casting, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but material loading characteristics are poor and compaction occurs between the face side of the pan and the cut face
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the face-side rail from a vertical face (90 degrees) to an angled loading surface (45 degrees). This parameter change creates a loading aperture between the cutting machine arm and the AFC, improving material loading characteristics and preventing compaction while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Device complexity
If a vertical face (90 degree face) is used for the linepan front casting, then the structural design is simpler, but horizon control problems occur and vertical steering problems arise causing production delays
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the geometric parameter of the face-side rail from vertical to angled (45 degrees), which improves horizon control and prevents vertical steering problems that cause production delays, while adding only moderate complexity to the structural design.
3Volume of moving object
If the loading aperture is small (between cutting machine arm and top of AFC linepan), then the linepan profile is compact, but the cutting machine cannot load cut material effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the angle parameter of the face-side rail from vertical to 45 degrees, which increases the loading aperture size and improves material loading ease, while maintaining a compact linepan profile suitable for low and medium seam applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A longwall mining machine and a linepan section, the linepan section may include a face-side rail, a gob-side rail opposite the face-side rail, and a conveyor pan between the face-side rail and the gob-side rail. The face-side rail may have a generally horizontal top surface at a top surface height and with a top surface width, an angled loading surface extending toward the mining face and the ground surface and arranged at an oblique angle relative to the top surface, the loading surface being at a loading height and with a loading surface width, the loading surface width being at least about 25 percent of the total width, and a material cavity defined in the face surface below the loading surface and recessed toward a gob-side.