CSA: Driving work forging ahead non-stop and fault-free

The new drifting machine employed at CSA Mine's heading has proven to be able to successfully cope with difficult conditions

KARVINÁ MINE – The new Swedish drifting machine set to work at CSA Works of Karviná Mine is „forging ahead“ at the #11 block of the 24th seam in a manner resembling the precision of a Swiss watch. This is where since the spring months of this year, Chief Foreman Zdeno Gardon's experienced tunneling gang under Section Supervisor Radim Neuwert has been operating the first technology acquired for the shaft within the framework of the POP 2010 program.

„A good, silent-running and mainly, safe and fault-free machine. We got started on 13 May and have not experienced any single mechanical breakdown ever since,“ so went the unisono voice of the miners who work the MR 340 X-Ex drifting machine on a stretch situated some three kilometers away from the „Armáda“ shaft. They are engaged in driving the entry roadway of the future #11431 working face. Having reached the 810-meter mark in the first September days they intend to complete the stretch during the 36th calendar week.

„We keep driving ahead in a non-stop mode. We have verified that the drifting machine, using the air/water jet technique to loosen the rock, is well adapted to the severe conditions encountered. This has been demonstrated mainly during the final stages of driving where the rock layer attacked is up to two and a half meters thick,“ the Section Supervisor said. Under the POP 2010 the #11431 working face being developed will also be fitted with new supports.

The members of Gardon's gang already are bracing up for a challenging reshuffling and transfer of the entire complex of drifting machinery to a new location – this is going to be an operating involving complete dismantling of the various mechanical assemblies, relocation to the new site, and re-assembling of all its components including the energy supply train. „As soon as this operation is completed we will start preparing for the second POP 2010,“ stated Section Supervisor Neuwert.

Karviná Mine should receive three more such drifting machines before the end of the year. The cutter assembly can wield a power of up to 200 kilowatt, thus enabling it to make short shrift even of rocks having up to 100 mPa compressive strength. People from Gardon's gang also had words of praise for the mechanical unit used to install TH type mine supports, which is an accessory of the new drifting machine. Setting the supports from the floor is a muscle-saving operation. The work of the complex is monitored by so many probes and sensors that the detection of one single per cent of methane is enough to bring the whole contraption to standstill.

(Radek Lukša)