Engineering & Mining Journal

MAR 2013

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NARROW VEIN Introduced in 2011, Atlas Copco's Boomer M1 L drill rig is designed for use in low- to-medium-height operations. Its articulated carrier simplifies tramming in narrow headings. wheel-drive, with an all-mechanical powertrain and load-sensing hydraulics. Turning to drills, MTI's Vein Runner II single-boom hydraulic rig is designed for drilling vertical, horizontal and angled holes in underground production headings. Equipped with a single hydraulic percussion drifter, it can be used to drill headings up to 5.5 x 5.1 m in size (18 ft by 16 ft 9 in.). Both Cummins and Deutz engines are available for moving the rig, which has a 107-m (250 ft)-capacity cable reel for the drilling power supply. With an overall length of 10.7 m (35 ft 3 in.), the Vein Runner has an inside turning radius of 3.1 m (10 ft). Two boom options are available, giving different face-coverage possibilities, as well as three different feed lengths. The company uses Montabert hydraulic drifters on its machines. Innovations Ahead E&MJ; asked Atlas Copco's product manager for face-drilling equipment, Peter Bray, for his views on some aspects of equipment that is suitable for narrow-vein applications. "Narrow-vein mining can be divided into two main areas," vertical/close to vertical and horizontal/close to horizontal ore deposits," he responded. "Both areas require equipment models that can physically operate in the drive sizes. "To meet this need for small size equipment, Atlas Copco has a range of face drilling, long-hole drilling, bolting and 36 E&MJ; • MARCH 2013 loading and haulage equipment suitable for both types of orebody," Bray said. "For the vertical type, some of the key machines are the Boomer T1 D face drill and Scooptram ST2 G loader, while for horizontal-type ore bodies, key machines include the Boomer M1 L, Scooptram ST7 LP loader and Minetruck MT2010 LP truck." The company launched the Boomer T1 D in 2010 as a replacement for the Boomer 104, which had been in production since the 1990s. Key features upgraded on the T1 D included a stronger frame with a lower center of gravity, a more powerful engine, an improved boom-suspension system to reduce stress on the machine, a more ergonomic operator's cab and improved serviceability. The single boom is designed to carry Atlas Copco's COP 1638, COP 1838 or COP 2238 hydraulic rock drills, with a hydraulically controlled drilling system that incorporates the company's Rotation Pressure Controlled Feed (RPCF) anti-jamming function. The on-board compressor supplies 11.7 liter/s (25 cfm) at 7 bar (100 psi). The Boomer M1 L, meanwhile, also carries either the COP 1638 or COP 1838 drills, but can operate in a minimum tramming height of 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in.). The machine uses the same compressor as the Boomer T1 D, with both rigs using hydrostatic steering and transmission systems. Asked how the technologies used have developed—given that narrow-vein opera- tions are often run by companies with lessextensive capital budgets—Bray noted that recent developments have focused on increasing productivity through the mechanization of equipment functions, and on improving the ruggedness of machines to meet the often challenging conditions encountered in narrow-vein mines. "What is important to remember, is that the capital cost of equipment is only one aspect of the total cost of ownership for a machine. Mines often forget to look beyond the purchase price, and may overlook equipment alternatives that could greatly benefit their operation," he said. Looking ahead, Bray suggested that technologies transferred from tunneling, such as electronic drill plans coupled with semi/full automation, have great potential to improve efficiencies and reduce wastage in narrow-vein mining. These systems can help reduce overbreak, the drill meters needed and the amount of explosives required, give improved fragmentation that simplifies loading and haulage, and generally cut drilling and mucking costs, he said. Where loading and hauling is concerned, there is great potential to make use of intelligent vehicle-operating systems that can cut fuel and tire consumption and increase productivity, with automation, object detection and steering assistance being just some of the areas that could benefit narrow vein and other mining operations, he added. www.e-mj.com

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