Retractable Slide Plate for Longwall Shear Technician Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof support extensions in longwall mining interfere with mining machinery and occupy excessive space, particularly in thin coal seams, and do not effectively protect technicians from falling rock and debris without contacting the mine roof.
Innovation Solution
A slide plate apparatus secured to the underside of a shield canopy, which can be extended to protect technicians from falling debris without contacting the mine roof, utilizing a base plate with guides and a hydraulic actuator to minimize interference with the mining equipment and optimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hinged, rotatable extension on a shield canopy is used to protect technicians, then protection from falling rock and debris is improved, but the extension interferes with the drum and increases the thickness of the extension machinery below the shield canopy
Solution Approach 1:
The extension is divided into multiple segments that can be collapsed into each other, reducing the overall volume when not in use while maintaining full extension length when needed for protection
Solution Approach 2:
The extension utilizes vertical space by extending upward from the shield canopy rather than horizontally, allowing the drum to pass underneath with minimal clearance while still providing overhead protection
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an extension that extends from within a shield canopy is used, then protection from falling rock and debris is improved, but the shield canopy becomes thicker and leaves less space for the drum underneath
Solution Approach 1:
The extension mechanism is nested within the shield canopy structure, with the extension collapsing into the canopy when retracted, minimizing the increase in canopy thickness while maintaining full extension capability when needed
3Object-affected harmful factors
If roof support extensions are used to protect against falling rock and debris, then technician protection is improved, but the extensions assume too much space in thin coal seams
Solution Approach 1:
The extension transitions from a static, fixed-length structure to a dynamic, telescopic structure that can extend and retract, occupying minimal space during normal mining operations and only extending when technician protection is required
Solution Approach 2:
The extension mechanism uses the shield canopy's own structural strength to support the extended position, eliminating the need for additional support structures that would increase space requirements
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 slide plate apparatus provides effective protection from falling rock and debris while minimizing interference with the mining machinery and reducing space requirements, allowing for efficient operation in constrained mining environments.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic actuator to minimize interference with the mining equipment
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for protecting a person servicing a longwall shear such changing bits on a drum, embodiments relating to a base plate to be secured to an underside of a shield canopy and a slide plate movably connected to the underside of the base plate such that the slide plate can advance out from the shield canopy to allow a person to service a longwall shear while being protected by the slide plate from falling rock and other debris, and the slide plate can then retract back under the shield canopy.