scholarly journals Operational Tests of a Modular Installation and Transport Assembly of Steel Arch Support in Underground Excavations

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 343-354
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Krauze ◽  
Kamil Mucha ◽  
Tomasz Wydro ◽  
Andrzej Kutnik ◽  
Waldemar Hałas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Innovative Solution ◽  
The Face ◽  
Continuous Mining ◽  
Range Of Functions ◽  
Arch Support ◽  
Roof Support

Abstract The roof support, especially the ŁP yielding steel arch support, is transported and assembled in the face with the use of auxiliary machines. This activity in Polish underground mines causes numerous problems, which until present have not been solved. Currently, transport and assembly are carried out manually, while the roadheader and suspended rail are used only to a small extent. Therefore, the modular installation and transport assembly was developed jointly by FAMA Sp. z o. o. and AGH University of Science and Technology. The solution in question enables performing a number of functions (including transport and assembly of all kinds of support arches), which are not available in currently manufactured equipment. The proposed manipulator solves numerous problems occurring during the installation of the steel arch support in an underground mining excavation and significantly improves the process of drilling galleries. This innovative solution considerably differs from the existing ones, and its greatest advantage is versatility with regard to the cross-section and equipment of the roadway, as well as a wide range of functions. In addition, it can also be used for reloading works. The modular installation and transport assembly together with a platform, a temporary mechanized roof support and a mining machine, make up a mechanizes roadheader complex, which enables continuous mining, loading and installing the permanent support in underground workings.

Evaluation of Mining Activities Using a Scenario Interview Approach

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (15) ◽  
pp. 1108-1112
Author(s):  
Fred Turin ◽  
Lisa Steiner ◽  
Kim Cornelius
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Underground Coal Mining ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Safe Work ◽  
Mining Conditions ◽  
Continuous Mining ◽  
Machine Operator ◽  
Scenario Approach

NIOSH researchers have been examining underground coal mining activities in order to evaluate work crew hazards. In 1994 a continuous mining machine operator was killed by falling roof during extended cut mining. Many aspects of the incident were used by NIOSH researchers to develop a scenario interview. The goal was to provide a realistic framework for acquiring frank and detailed insights. The interview consists of two sections. The first describes the underground mining conditions. The second recounts the fatal incident. Each section is supplemented by a diagram and a set of questions addressing relevant safety issues. The interview was administered at three mines that actively take extended cuts. Researchers found the scenario approach to be an effective interview tool as well as an effective hazard awareness and safe work practices training platform.

Development and Evaluation of a Urethane Jacketed Tail Roller for Continuous Mining Machines

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam K. Smith ◽  
David S. Yantek ◽  
J. Shawn Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Conveyor System ◽  
Continuous Mining ◽  
Enhance Wear Resistance ◽  
Steel Sleeve

Occupational noise-induced hearing loss continues to be one of the most pervasive health problems in the mining industry, despite over 25 years of regulation. One of the loudest pieces of equipment used in underground mining is the continuous mining machine. Noise sample data collected by the Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that 42% of noise overexposures between 2000 and 2005 involved continuous mining machine operators. Previously conducted field and laboratory tests have determined that the continuous mining machine conveyor system is a dominant noise source. Loud impacts occur as the conveyor chain flight bars, used to move the mined aggregate, traverse their path from the top to the underside of the conveyor deck. Various noise control treatments have been applied to abate noise caused by the conveyor system. A durable polyurethane coating has been developed for the conveyor flight bars, resulting in a time-weighted average reduction of 3 dB(A) for an eight-hour work shift. In an attempt to further reduce continuous mining machine operator overexposures, a similar urethane coating has been applied to the tail roller component of the conveyor system. Laboratory results showed a 2 dB(A) reduction in sound power levels, but the component failed during underground durability testing. An outer steel sleeve has been added to the urethane coating of the tail roller to enhance wear resistance during mining. The urethane jacketed tail roller is the latest effort, combined with previous noise treatments, to bring the continuous mining machine into compliance with federal noise regulations.

scholarly journals Powered Roof Support – Rock Strata Interactions on the Example of an Automated Coal Plough System

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Herezy ◽  
Dariusz Janik ◽  
Krzysztof Skrzypkowski
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Mining Institute ◽  
Support Pressure ◽  
Stability Factor ◽  
Pressure Data ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
The Face ◽  
Roof Support

Abstract The study summarises the operating characteristics of the powered roof support (shield) used in an automated plough system. Investigated longwall support units were controlled automatically or by section engineers and positioned in the ‘saw tooth’ configuration with respect to the longwall face (automatic mode) or linear to the face. Shield pressure data have been analysed in order to identify the impacts of particular factors on the pressure increase profiles. The analysis was supported by the Statistica software to determine the statistical significance of isolated factors. Equations governing the leg pressure at the given time instant were derived and the roof stability factor ‘g’ was obtained accordingly, recalling the maximal admissible roof displacement method recommended by the Central Mining Institute (Poland). In the current mining practice, its values are used in monitoring of strata behaviour as indicators of shield–strata interactions, particularly in the context of roof control in longwall mining. It is vital that the method used should be adapted to the actual conditions under which the longwall is operated. In the absence of such adaptations, there will be major discrepancies in results. The conclusions section summarises the current research problems addressed at the Department of Underground Mining, in which the support pressure data in longwall operations are used. The first aspect involves the delineation of deformations of a longwall main gate about 100 m ahead of the face. The second issue addressed involves the risk assessment of roof rock caving or rock sliding in the tail gate. Another aspect involves the standardisation of local conditions to support the methodology of interpreting shield–strata interactions in the context of work safety. These methods are being currently verified in situ.

Noise Source Identification on a Continuous Mining Machine

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo E. Camargo ◽  
Adam K. Smith ◽  
Peter G. Kovalchik ◽  
Rudy J. Matetic
Keyword(s):  
Noise Control ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Mine Safety ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Mining Equipment ◽  
Noise Sources ◽  
Continuous Mining

Noise Induced Hearing Loss is the most common occupational disease in the U.S. and of paramount importance in the mining industry. According to data for 2006 from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Continuous Miner operators accounted for 30.2% of underground mining equipment operators with noise doses exceeding the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). This figure becomes more significant considering that 49% of the 2006 national underground coal production was extracted using continuous mining methods. Thus, there is a clear need to reduce the sound radiated by Continuous Mining Machines. The first step towards efficient noise control of a Continuous Mining Machine requires identification of the various noise sources under controlled operating conditions. To this end, a 42-microphone phased array was used in conjunction with 4 reference microphones to sample the acoustic field of a machine in the Hemi-anechoic chamber of the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory. These data were processed using a frequency-domain beamforming algorithm to obtain acoustic maps of 5 sides of the machine. The focus of the test was on the conveyor noise since previous studies showed that operation of the conveyor is the most important contributor to the sound radiated by the machine. From the acoustic maps, the following potential areas for noise control were identified, and included: chain-tail-roller interaction, chain flight tip-side board interaction, and chain-upper deck interaction.

An Investigation of the Mechanics and Noise Associated with Coal Cutting

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Becker ◽  
G. R. Anderson ◽  
J. Kovac
Keyword(s):  
Underground Mining ◽  
Cutting Tools ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cutting Speed ◽  
Cutting Parameters ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Cutting Mechanics ◽  
Coal Cutting ◽  
Continuous Mining

The results of a laboratory investigation of coal cutting mechanics and noise are presented. These experiments were performed using a linear cutting apparatus that operates over a broad cutting speed range. The influence of several coal cutting parameters on the noise, force, productivity, and specific energy associated with linear cuts was ascertained. Some basic theoretical aspects of coal cutting mechanics and noise generation are discussed, and the results of the laboratory experiments are used to formulate analytical models of the coal cutting forces and noise. The analytical model for coal cutting noise is then generalized to account for the more important effects of rotary cutting. Based on the generalized model, an estimate of the sound pressure level at an operator’s position is made for a typical continuous mining machine. It is concluded that by employing linear rather than rotary cuts, using deeper depths of cut, slower cutting speeds, and more efficient cutting tools, it is possible to reduce the level of coal cutting noise, as well as provide benefits to other important areas of health and safety in underground mining.

Structure, Function and Interactions of Tau: Particular Focus on Potential Drug Targets for the Treatment of Tauopathies

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 325-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hojjat Borna ◽  
Kasim Assadoulahei ◽  
Gholamhossein Riazi ◽  
Asghar Beigi Harchegani ◽  
Alireza Shahriary
Keyword(s):  
Tau Protein ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Potential Drug ◽  
Microtubule Network ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Risk Factors ◽  
Range Of Functions ◽  
Potential Drug Targets

Background & Objective: Neurodegenrative diseases are among the most widespread lifethreatening disorders around the world in elderly ages. The common feature of a group of neurodegenerative disorders, called tauopathies, is an accumulation of microtubule associated protein tau inside the neurons. The exact mechanism underlying tauopathies is not well-understood but several factors such as traumatic brain injuries and genetics are considered as potential risk factors. Although tau protein is well-known for its key role in stabilizing and organization of axonal microtubule network, it bears a broad range of functions including DNA protection and participation in signaling pathways. Moreover, the flexible unfolded structure of tau facilitates modification of tau by a wide range of intracellular enzymes which in turn broadens tau function and interaction spectrum. The distinctive properties of tau protein concomitant with the crucial role of tau interaction partners in the progression of neurodegeneration suggest tau and its binding partners as potential drug targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusion: This review aims to give a detailed description of structure, functions and interactions of tau protein in order to provide insight into potential therapeutic targets for treatment of tauopathies.

scholarly journals Geological CO2 quantified by high-temporal resolution stable isotope monitoring in a salt mine

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander H. Frank ◽  
Robert van Geldern ◽  
Anssi Myrttinen ◽  
Martin Zimmer ◽  
Johannes A. C. Barth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Underground Mining ◽  
Stable Carbon Isotope ◽  
Underground Mines ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Salt Mine ◽  
Gas Migration ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Anthropogenic Contributions

AbstractThe relevance of CO2 emissions from geological sources to the atmospheric carbon budget is becoming increasingly recognized. Although geogenic gas migration along faults and in volcanic zones is generally well studied, short-term dynamics of diffusive geogenic CO2 emissions are mostly unknown. While geogenic CO2 is considered a challenging threat for underground mining operations, mines provide an extraordinary opportunity to observe geogenic degassing and dynamics close to its source. Stable carbon isotope monitoring of CO2 allows partitioning geogenic from anthropogenic contributions. High temporal-resolution enables the recognition of temporal and interdependent dynamics, easily missed by discrete sampling. Here, data is presented from an active underground salt mine in central Germany, collected on-site utilizing a field-deployed laser isotope spectrometer. Throughout the 34-day measurement period, total CO2 concentrations varied between 805 ppmV (5th percentile) and 1370 ppmV (95th percentile). With a 400-ppm atmospheric background concentration, an isotope mixing model allows the separation of geogenic (16–27%) from highly dynamic anthropogenic combustion-related contributions (21–54%). The geogenic fraction is inversely correlated to established CO2 concentrations that were driven by anthropogenic CO2 emissions within the mine. The described approach is applicable to other environments, including different types of underground mines, natural caves, and soils.

Effect of Operator Position on the Incidence of Continuous Mining Machine/Worker Collisions

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (20) ◽  
pp. 1416-1420
Author(s):  
John R. Bartels ◽  
Dean H. Ambrose ◽  
Sean Gallagher
Keyword(s):  
Response Times ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Mining Machine ◽  
Workplace Relationships ◽  
Continuous Miner ◽  
Work Posture ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Continuous Mining ◽  
Machine Speed ◽  
Machine Work

Remote operation of continuous miners has enhanced the health and safety of underground miners in many respects; however, numerous fatal and non-fatal continuous miner struck-by accidents have occurred when using remote controls. In an effort to prevent these injuries, NIOSH researchers at Pittsburgh Research Laboratory examined the workplace relationships between continuous miner operators and various tramming modes of the equipment using motion captured data, predicted operator response times, and field- of- view data to determine causes of operator-machine struck-by events in a virtual mine environment. Factors studied included machine speed, direction of escape, operator facing orientation relative to the machine, work posture, distance from machine, and operator anthropometry. Close proximity to the machine, high machine tramming speeds, a right-facing orientation and operator positioning near the tail all resulted in high risk of being struck. It is hoped that this data will provide an improved rationale for operator positioning for remotely operated continuous miners.

scholarly journals Role of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein in Diseases and Its Therapeutic Outlook

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2754
Author(s):  
Naila Qayyum ◽  
Muhammad Haseeb ◽  
Moon Suk Kim ◽  
Sangdun Choi
Keyword(s):  
Interacting Protein ◽  
Thioredoxin Interacting Protein ◽  
Signaling Complex ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Range Of Functions ◽  
Species Production ◽  
And Oxidative Stress ◽  
Significant Attention

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), widely known as thioredoxin-binding protein 2 (TBP2), is a major binding mediator in the thioredoxin (TXN) antioxidant system, which involves a reduction-oxidation (redox) signaling complex and is pivotal for the pathophysiology of some diseases. TXNIP increases reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress and thereby contributes to apoptosis. Recent studies indicate an evolving role of TXNIP in the pathogenesis of complex diseases such as metabolic disorders, neurological disorders, and inflammatory illnesses. In addition, TXNIP has gained significant attention due to its wide range of functions in energy metabolism, insulin sensitivity, improved insulin secretion, and also in the regulation of glucose and tumor suppressor activities in various cancers. This review aims to highlight the roles of TXNIP in the field of diabetology, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammation. TXNIP is found to be a promising novel therapeutic target in the current review, not only in the aforementioned diseases but also in prolonged microvascular and macrovascular diseases. Therefore, TXNIP inhibitors hold promise for preventing the growing incidence of complications in relevant diseases.

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