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How do hydraulic shovels load coal and rock in open-pit mines?
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coal mining
Schematic diagram of an underground coal mine, showing surface facilities, access shafts, and room-and-pillar and longwall mining methods.
In open-pit coal mines, hydraulic shovels are widely utilized for loading coal and rock due to their efficient power transmission systems.
Unlike traditional cable-operated machines that rely on complex arrangements of clutches, gears, and shafts, hydraulic shovels use engine-driven pumps to provide pressure for rams and motors. This design offers several operational advantages:12
- Simplified Power Train: By eliminating numerous mechanical components, the system is more streamlined and easier to maintain.1
- Enhanced Performance: The hydraulic system provides superior crowding and breakout forces, which are essential for effectively digging into and loading hard materials like rock and coal.1
- Capacity: These machines are available with capacities exceeding 30 cubic metres, allowing them to be carefully matched with large, off-highway, end-dumping trucks that typically range from 35 to 250 tons.1
Once the material is excavated, the shovel deposits the load into these haul units for transport to stockpiles or processing areas.13