Pivotable Spray Arm for Mining Machine Dust Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mining machines, such as longwall shearer, generate dust and sparking during operation, posing risks of igniting flammable gases in mine environments due to the engagement of cutting drums with mine faces.
Innovation Solution
A fluid spray system is integrated into the mining machine, featuring a pivotable spray arm with multiple nozzles positioned adjacent to the cutting assemblies to emit a fluid spray, which helps in suppressing dust and reducing the risk of ignition by creating a protective curtain around the cutting drums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cutting drum engages with mine face to perform cutting operation, then productivity is improved, but dust and sparking are generated creating safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid spray system acts as an intermediary substance between the cutting drum and the mine face environment. The fluid spray creates a protective curtain that intercepts dust and sparks before they can disperse into the mine atmosphere, thereby maintaining cutting productivity while eliminating the harmful effects of dust and sparking.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid spray system creates a localized inert environment around the cutting drum by forming a protective curtain. This curtain prevents flammable gases from reaching the cutting area and prevents dust/springs from dispersing into the mine atmosphere, effectively creating a safe working zone during high-productivity cutting operations.
2Reliability
If fluid spray system is added to suppress dust and sparking, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray arm assembly serves multiple functions: it supports multiple nozzles for fluid delivery, provides structural positioning relative to the cutting drum, and acts as a mounting structure for the spray system components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate structural elements, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray arm is designed to be movable relative to the cutting drum, allowing dynamic adjustment of the spray curtain position. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to varying cutting conditions and maintain optimal spray coverage without requiring an overly complex fixed structure, thus improving safety with moderate complexity increase.
3Adaptability or versatility
If spray arm is made movable to cover different regions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray arm incorporates movable joints that allow it to rotate and pivot relative to the cutting drum and chassis. This dynamic structure enables the spray system to cover different regions around the cutting drum by simple rotational movement, providing adaptability to various cutting positions and mine face conditions without requiring a complex multi-degree-of-freedom mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray arm is divided into multiple segments connected by joints, allowing independent movement of each segment. This segmentation enables the spray system to reach different regions around the cutting drum through coordinated movement of individual segments, providing versatility while keeping each segment relatively simple in structure.
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 fluid spray system effectively reduces dust and sparking, enhancing safety by creating a controlled environment that minimizes the risk of igniting flammable gases, thereby improving operational safety and reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
The spray arm includes at least one spray nozzle for emitting a fluid spray in a region adjacent the cutting assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A mining machine includes a chassis, a cutting assembly coupled to the chassis, and a spray arm coupled to the chassis and positioned proximate the cutting assembly. The chassis includes a first end, a second end, and a chassis axis extending between the first end and the second end. The chassis is movable in a direction parallel to the chassis axis. The cutting assembly includes an arm and a rotatable cutting drum having a plurality of cutting elements. The spray arm includes a first portion, a second portion pivotably coupled to the first portion, and at least one spray nozzle for emitting a fluid spray in a region adjacent the cutting assembly. The first portion is coupled to the chassis and extends away from the chassis along a spray arm axis. The second portion is pivotable relative to the first portion about a wrist axis.