Multi-Positional Shovel for Underground Mining Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing coal and rock debris from underground coal mine conveyor belt corridors are hazardous, costly, and time-consuming, as they rely on manual shoveling, which is inefficient and poses safety risks due to the high belt line elevation and accumulation of debris creating fire and explosive hazards.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile vehicle equipped with a boom assembly and shovel assembly that allows for multi-positional operation, enabling the vehicle to collect and transport debris from the corridor floor to the conveyor belt for removal, utilizing a combination of rotary and linear actuators for lateral and vertical movement of the shovel to facilitate efficient shoveling and dumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual shoveling is used to remove coal and rock debris from the corridor floor, then the debris can be removed, but the operation becomes hazardous, costly, and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual shoveling with an automated mechanical shoveling apparatus that includes a vehicle with a boom assembly and shovel assembly. The system uses hydraulic actuators to position and operate the shovel, automatically collecting debris from the corridor floor and transporting it to the belt line, thereby eliminating the need for manual labor and significantly improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoveling apparatus is designed to operate autonomously with the vehicle self-positioning using track propulsion and the boom assembly self-adjusting via hydraulic actuators. The system performs the complete shoveling operation without continuous human intervention, allowing the equipment to serve itself in the debris removal process.
2Reliability
If manual shoveling is used to remove debris from the corridor floor, then the debris can be removed, but the operation becomes hazardous due to fire and explosive risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual shoveling operations with an automated mechanical system that eliminates human exposure to hazardous environments. The mechanical apparatus collects and transports debris without human operators being present in the corridor, thereby removing the fire and explosive risks associated with manual labor in these conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical shoveling apparatus acts as an intermediary between the debris on the corridor floor and the belt line. Instead of humans directly handling debris in hazardous conditions, the machine serves as a mediator that transfers material safely, isolating human operators from harmful environments.
3Productivity
If manual shoveling is used to remove debris from the corridor floor, then the debris can be removed, but the operation becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive manual shoveling operations with a mechanical system that, while requiring initial investment, reduces ongoing operational costs by eliminating the need for continuous human labor. The automated apparatus can operate continuously without the same cost implications as manual operations, improving the cost-effectiveness of debris removal.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the shovel assembly is positioned into the belt line corridor, then debris can be collected and transported, but the vehicle structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the positioning system into segmented components: a vehicle platform, a boom assembly with multiple sections, and a shovel assembly. Each segment can move and adjust independently through hydraulic actuators, allowing complex positioning capabilities while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The boom assembly employs dynamic positioning through hydraulic actuators that can adjust the position and angle of the shovel assembly in real-time. This dynamic system allows the shovel to reach various positions within the corridor and onto the belt line, providing adaptability without requiring a permanently complex fixed structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoveling apparatus including a low profile vehicle, a boom assembly, and a shovel assembly for use in underground mining operations, and particularly useful in clearing coal and rock debris from a belt line corridor. The low profile vehicle includes an advanceable support that supports the boom assembly and laterally advances the boom assembly from the cab portion of the vehicle. The boom assembly includes a support structure, a rotary actuator and a linear actuator, to control lateral and vertical rotation of the support structure (and thus the shovel assembly) with respect to a ground surface. The shovel assembly includes a rotary actuator and a shovel, and in some embodiments a tilting mechanism, to control the lateral and in some cases vertical, rotation of the shovel with respect to the boom assembly.