One focus of International Mining’s December issue is coal clearance and the use of mobile machines. Bucyrus says its rubber-tyre diesel vehicles “are differentiated from other vehicles in underground coal mining” because they are “unique in being able to offer either wet bath or dry scrubber exhaust systems.”The engine and exhaust packages have been designed and configured specifically for Bucyrus diesel product range and through combining low emission engines and the wet and dry exhaust packages so Bucyrus can offer class setting emissions, power and performance that helps address mine ventilation concerns in dissipating diesel particulate emissions (DPM). Both the Bucyrus designed and manufactured dry and wet exhaust systems cool and clean the exhaust gas before it mixes with mine ventilation air and use a catalytic converter to regenerate the exhaust gas and reduce emissions.
The exhaust system is monitored by the Bucyrus DCS electronic shutdown system which prevents the machine from being operated in an unsafe condition such as low water level, or from high exhaust system temperatures. A gauge in the operator’s compartment indicates when the filter requires changing.
Exhaust systems and the unique feature of Bucyrus cooling system configuration of horizontal radiators are shared across the product line along with control and shutdown systems. This facilitates the reduction of line items required to be held in mine stores.
These vehicles have a commonality of parts across shared platforms. Major components are common with other units in the Bucyrus product line. For example the transmission, exhaust system, engine package, hydraulic manifold, Posistop brake units, cooling system components, shutdown system and operator station layout are the same for the FBL-10 LHD/Utility vehicle, MH-40 Shield Hauler and FBR-15 Coal Hauler.
The operator compartment design and control layout is similar across all the product line, with operators already trained on one Bucyrus model quickly learning to use others in the range. Operator controls are within easy reach and lift and winch operations are joystick controlled. Pilot controlled vehicles with dials and gauges and the electronic controlled machines with its optional LCD instrument cluster are clearly visible and switchgear is within easy reach requiring minimal movement. Demanding working conditions require that the operator is comfortable for the length of the shift so suspension seats and restraint systems have been selected to assist in fatigue management and increase safety.
An option on electronic controlled diesel-powered vehicles is a digital dashboard. Taking inspiration from 21st Century automotive design the instrument cluster has been kept functional and practical yet offers unparalleled whole machine monitoring from engine and performance characteristics to issue control management diagnostic capabilities using a flameproof high resolution colour 150 mm LCD display with IQAN technology.
Bucyrus’s in-house designed DCS (Diesel Control System) checks and monitors engine and exhaust temperatures, pressures, fluid and gas levels to ensure safe and legal operation of the equipment and the safety of operators and equipment. The monitoring is continuous and if a situation occurs that is outside the operating parameters of the system the engine will shutdown and can be data logged through the fault retrieval screen for use by mine managers and maintenance personnel.