Coal caving cycle

摘要

A coal caving system (1) including a plurality of shields (3) with canopies (6) which are selectively operated to allow coal to cave onto a rear conveyor (37). In one aspect, the invention provides a shield control method including controlling the shield (3) to automatically open a door (6) associated with a rear canopy of the shield (3) responsive to a position of a shearer of the system.

主权项

1. A method of operating a coal caving system which includes a plurality of shields, each with a rear canopy and a caving door, a front and rear conveyor extending beneath the shields, and a shearer to cut a web of coal along the front conveyor in a first and second pass, the method comprising operating the rear canopies in a first and second cycle associated with the first and second pass of the shearer and varying the volume of coal caving onto the rear conveyor during the second cycle, dependent upon the coal delivered to the front conveyor by the shearer during the first cycle.