shearer
Quick Summary
A shearer is a machine used in coal mining to cut coal from the working face. It typically has revolving disks with picks that cut a slice of coal as the machine moves along a conveyor. This method, known as longwall mining, significantly reduces the labor required for coal extraction compared to older methods. The shearer is a key piece of equipment in modern, mechanized mining operations, allowing for more efficient and productive extraction of coal.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
coal miningOrigins of longwall mining…simple continuous machine called the shearer was introduced. Pulled along the face astride the conveyor, the shearer bore a series of disks fitted with picks on their perimeters and mounted on a shaft perpendicular to the face. The revolving disks cut a slice from the coal face as the machine…
Read More…simple continuous machine called the shearer was introduced. Pulled along the face astride the conveyor, the shearer bore a series of disks fitted with picks on their perimeters and mounted on a shaft perpendicular to the face. The revolving disks cut a slice from the coal face as the machine…
Read More- coal miningLongwall mining
…by continuous longwall miners called shearers or plows (see photograph). The roof is supported by mechanized, self-advancing supports called longwall shields, which form a protective steel canopy under which the face conveyor, workers, and shearer operate. In combination with shields and conveyors, longwall shearers or plows create a truly continuous…
Read More…by continuous longwall miners called shearers or plows (see photograph). The roof is supported by mechanized, self-advancing supports called longwall shields, which form a protective steel canopy under which the face conveyor, workers, and shearer operate. In combination with shields and conveyors, longwall shearers or plows create a truly continuous…
Read More