Electrically driven underground conveyors in coal mines, and their economic advantages

The different kinds of electrically driven conveyors which are used underground for carrying the coal from the face to the haulage road are first described. The different classes, viz.shaker conveyors, belt conveyors, and scraper conveyors, and, in association with these, gate-end loaders and similar apparatus, are considered in turn. The special advantages of using conveyors and loaders in groups are discussed and the difficulties to be overcome in using such combinations are described; special stress is laid on the switching arrangements necessary to enable full advantage to be taken of such grouping. The special points to be attended to in the design of electrical motors to be used for driving this class of apparatus are indicated. The economic advantages of electrical conveying are then discussed; and examples of typical results obtained, showing the savings gained by the new methods, are given