K 312 LS + BTRL 1 = Success

STAŘÍČ The head title not very different from an equation tells almost everything to knowledgeable experts at Paskov Mine. The deployment of a new K 312 LS side-tipping loader in POP 2010 programme together with the proven and successfully deployed BTRL 1 drilling jumbo represents a huge help for the mine to meet its annual driveage plan.

“Technical and performance parameters of the new loader have been subject to check since last November by the development crew of Jaroslav Illek and it has to be emphasized that the results achieved are so far very favorable,” informed Václav Halfar, POP 2010 project manager at Staříč Site. When developing intake-air gateroad # 084 5253 for the future longwall panel # 084 271 in K 18/14/18 cross-section, P 28 weight class and steel arch span 0.5 meter, Illek’s crew achieves comparable results to the neighboring development crew of Zdeněk Jaroch at the return-air gateroad. However, this gateroad is developed in a small cross-section of K 12 using conventional D 1131 side-tipping loader.

“For better understanding, to get an idea and a benchmarking option, we can quote some technical parameters of the new K 312 LS loader,” continued Mr. Halfar. The machine is equipped with a 1.2 m³ side-tipping bucket, a 0.9m release telescopic boom and the maximum speed limit of up to 1.4 ms^-1. It can work in inclines of up to 22.5 degrees; its total weight is 14 tons with the length of 7.6 m, width and height of 1.6 m. It is of course connected to the auxiliary hydraulic equipment, such as turning lever, and can be operated both with mineral and HFC-type flame-resistant hydraulic oils.

Planned deliveries of POP 2010 development equipment sets will continue in the second quarter of this year,” emphasized Mr. Halfar. New BTRL 1 drilling jumbos and K 312 LS loaders will already be – based on the current experience and comments of development crews of chief foremen Illek, Grossinger, Hantschel and Kožuch’s maintenance crew – delivered with technical and performance parameters adjusted to Paskov Mine conditions.

As concerns K 312 LS loaders, there will be a change in its shape and the bucket volume will be increased to up to 1.4 m³. The rock spraying system inside and in front of the bucket shall be improved too. The bucket will reach farther – below the loader track level and to the gateroad roof too. The operator’s seat will also be adjusted to accommodate a more comfortable foot controls. In total, the tailor-made Paskov Mine loader should be much more powerful than any other loaders used so far.

“Our development crews will face very challenging tasks this year. They have to develop the longwall panels to be mined in 2009,” added the POP 2010 project manager. This applies in particular to the development works at the crucial longwall panel # 063 605 with gateroads in cross-section K16 to K18 and TH 36 steel arches for the new Bucyrus plow set of equipment  with shields ranging from 0.9 to 2.7 meter. Driveage plan to develop longwall panels for 2010 must be met too.

Despites the delay in planned deliveries of the new development equipment, Paskov Mine believes that the management of Development Works Department together with development crews will handle the formidable annual tasks.

Radek Lukša