Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Lewis, E. V..
Proposed semiautomatic system forms concrete-foam wall along middle of coal-mine passage. Wall helps support roof and divides passage into two conduits needed for ventilation of coal face. Mobile mold and concrete-foam generator form sections of wall in place.
Ring nozzle helps to prevent choking of coal-slurry pipelines. Intended originally for use in coal mines, nozzle concept generally applicable to short-haul slurry pipelines where high-pressure water (or other slurry fluid) available. Extra water injected into flow near wall of slurry pipe to keep slurry particles from setting and blocking pipe.
Large, cumbersome pipes removed from trailer by one operator. Swiveltruck trailer carries conduit and unloads it. Vertical bins interconnected by web belts that elevate conduit sections for delivery by gravity to unloading point. Trailer loaded with slurry-pipe sections 6 inches (15.2 centimeters) in diameter, but bin width readily changed to hold other sizes. Simple adjustments in bin-partition and web-belt positions needed to adapt system to different conduit cross sections.
Proposed system offers safety and large return on investment. System, operating by year 2000, employs machines and processes based on proven principles. According to concept, line of parallel machines, connected in groups of four to service modules, attacks face of coal seam. High-pressure water jets and central auger on each machine break face. Jaws scoop up coal chunks, and auger grinds them and forces fragments into slurry-transport system. Slurry pumped through pipeline to point of use. Concept for highly automated coal-mining system increases productivity, makes mining safer, and protects health of mine workers.
Machine drills, crushes, and feeds coal - and seeks out extra-hard inclusions. Auger mounted on gimbal, located at its center of gravity for ease of maneuvering. Opposing hydraulic cylinders cooperate to point auger under control of microprocessor. Its diamond teeth break up coal seam, it crushes coal fed to it by mining machine jaws, and its screw action pushes crushed coal into slurry-forming chamber.
Concept for improved conventional pick-and-bucket mining machine offered as backup for hydrojet-jaw mining machine. Picks on chain dislodge coal and buckets on chain scoop it up. Depending on width cut, unit composed of only two end modules or end modules plus one, two, or three incremental modules. Folding curved shields protect sides of miner from falling coal and rock. Two side stabilizers - extendable hydraulic members - anchor miner against lateral drift. Unlike conventional machines, new version tilts cutters vertically and skews them horizontally to changing floor slopes and seam heights.
Jets also cool and clean cutting equipment. Modular pick-and-bucket miner suffers from disadvantage: Creates large quantities of potentially explosive coal dust. Dust clogs drive chain and other parts and must be removed by hand. Picks and bucket lips become overheated by friction and be resharpened or replaced frequently. Addition of oscillating and rotating water jets to pick-and-bucket machine keeps down dust, cools cutting edges, and flushes machine. Rotating jets wash dust away from drive chain. Oscillating jets cool cutting surfaces. Both types of jet wet airborne coal dust; it precipitates.
Paddles and water jets create uniform, continuous flow. Slurry-mixing chamber on hydrojet-jaw mining machine ensures uniform, continuously flowing slurry of coal particles in water. By mixing coal and water at high speed and keeping resulting slurry in constant motion, chamber prevents slurry from becoming dry semisolid that blocks flow. Also prevents coal particles from settling and caking in bends, corners, and other locations where flow changes in direction or speed.
Aft end of auger, like forward, face-piercing end, equipped with hard cutting bits such as diamonds. As auger breaks face, pulls broken coal lumps into jaws and forces them into hardened throat section. There, cutting bits chew up lumps: Clearance between throat and auger shaft sets maximum size for coal particles that pass through. Auger motion pushes coal particles into mixing chamber, where paddles combine them with water.
Service train follows group of mining machines, paying out utility lines as machines progress into coal face. Service train for four mining machines removes gases and coal and provides water and electricity. Flexible, coiling armored carriers protect cables and hoses. High coal production attained by arraying row of machines across face, working side by side.
Method employs curved shield on each side of mining machine. In stowed position, shield folded against roof-support columns on one side. In deployed position, shield raised and braced against coal-seam wall by hydraulic cylinder. Shield supports wall until roof and wall properly secured by bolting and cement coating.
Shield sections change their configuration to suit mining mode. Articulation cylinders raise rear shield to advance position, and locking cylinders hold it there. To change to retreat position articulation cylinders lower shield. Locking pins at edge of outermost shield plate latch shield to chock base. Shield accommodates roof heights ranging from 36 to 60 inches (0.9 to 1.52 meters).
Continuous-coal-mining machine maneuverable. Hydraulic coal excavator combined with chock, or roof-support structure, in self-contained unit that moves itself forward as it removes coal from seam. Unlike previous such units, new machine compact enough to be easily maneuverable; even makes small-radius right-angle turns.
Curtain-wall structure proposed for removing methane and airborne coal dust from hydrojet-jaw mining machines. Channel between curtain wall and mine wall forms closed exhaust passage. Through it, gas and dust continuously removed so high concentrations of these explosive materials not build up.