A NEW CONVEYER INSTALLATION

Conveyer systems have proved a very flexible and efficient means of transportation for a whole range of bulk materials, especially minerals. They are used for coal and materials transport, and, under certain conditions, as a means of transporting men swiftly and efficiently to and from their place of work.

Within the coal mining industry, the need to develop new seams often necessitates longer haulage roads. Consequently, the design of conveyer systems of higher capacity in terms of belt width and belt speed is of prime importance.

The conveyer has to be able to handle the worst loading conditions. The belt width has to be suitable for a variety of other loading conditions due to the possible loading rate combinations.

The Anderson Strathclyde conveyer installation meets these demands. The 15 long belt will bring coal from about 1 km below ground level, loading at a rate of 1.800 t/h from 11 different points, maximum delivery rate from the belt at surface will be 3,250 t/h. It is a high-speed conveyer belt, moving at 8.4 m/s or around 20 mile/h: this is about four times the speed of normal belt installation.

The high speed is to some extent determined by the main drift diameter – at a relatively small 4.7m (chosen for mining considerations) at a high speed belt is essential to get the necessary capacity out of mine.

One of the main novel features of the conveyer is the method of installing new lengths of belt. The belt may be extended progressively from length of about 3000 m to 15000 m. For this purpose, new reels of belt weigh around 40 t and a crane has been introduced to lift the reels and place them on the framework which then locates them beneath the conveyer.

When an extension is required, the end of the reel is unwrapped and moved on to the vulcanizing table. It is accurately aligned with the belt already on the conveyer and is vulcanized into place with the aid of the loop carriage and four clamps.