Mobile Sizer with Pivotable Load Bucket for Underground Mining
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Solution Overview
Problem
In underground hard-rock mining, existing block caving processes are limited by the need for large, immovable crusher assemblies and infrastructure that restricts space and is susceptible to damage from secondary blasting, while also requiring inefficient transportation of ore to centralized dump points.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sizer system with drive treads, a pivotably coupled load bucket, and cylindrical rollers for on-site material sizing and crushing, allowing for movement along the mine floor and positioning near draw-bells for efficient material processing and transfer to a discharge conveyor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large immovable crusher assemblies are used, then ore processing capability is provided, but space requirements increase and susceptibility to blasting damage worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from stationary crusher assemblies to a mobile sizing system that can move along the mine floor. The mobile sizer with drive treads allows the crushing equipment to be relocated away from high-risk blasting zones while maintaining processing capability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the centralized crushing operation into distributed mobile sizing units. Instead of one large immovable crusher, the system uses multiple mobile sizers that can be positioned independently near draw-bells, reducing both the footprint of individual units and their exposure to blasting damage
2Productivity
If centralized dump points are used, then ore collection is achieved, but transportation time and handling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobility as a new dimension to the sizing operation. By mounting sizers on mobile platforms with drive treads, the system can move in the spatial dimension along the mine floor to position itself near draw-bells, eliminating the need for long-distance tramming and reducing transportation time
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile sizer acts as an intermediary between the draw-bell and the final conveyor system. It receives material directly from the draw-bell via the load bucket and performs sizing in place, eliminating the intermediate transportation step to centralized dump points and improving overall productivity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The mobile sizer system enhances production rates by eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure, reducing handling time, and minimizing tram time, while maintaining or improving ore processing efficiency and reducing the risk of damage from secondary blasting.
Implementation Method 1
drive treads
Implementation Method 2
drive treads
Implementation Method 3
The load bucket is pivotably swung to transfer removed material to the sizer portion
Implementation Method 4
cylindrical rollers for on-site material sizing and crushing
Implementation Method 5
cylindrical rollers for on-site material sizing and crushing
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile sizer for an underground mining system includes drive treads, a sizer portion mounted on the drive treads, and a load bucket pivotably coupled to the sizer portion. The load bucket is sumped to remove material from the mine and pivotably swung to transfer removed material to the sizer portion.