Abstract:
A drive system for driving an endless chain of a mineral mining installation employs one or more chain wheels each driven by an electric motor and gearing including planetary gearing. The planetary gearing has a ring gear which can be held stationary to permit drive to be transmitted. The ring gear is coupled through a clutch, reduction gearing and a braking device to another load-balancing electric motor. Load sensors in the reduction gearing disengage the clutch in the event of overloading. The ring gear is automatically held stationary by the braking device when the load-balancing motor is inoperative. When the motor is switched on the braking device is released to permit the motor to rotate the ring gear in one direction or the other at controlled speed to vary the transmission ratio and effect load balancing.
Abstract:
A mine system comprises at least one mining machine 4 adapted to haul itself, in a reciprocable manner, along a mineral face 3, and a control box 17 housing means to control the various electrical elements of the machine(s) 4, the box 17 being located in a mine roadway 2 at one end of the mineral face 3 along which the machine(s) 4 is reciprocable, and the box 17 being electrically connected to a terminal box 15 housed in a body of the machine(s).