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 19.01.2011
PAUS Mining Vehicles for the Konrad mine - activities making progress
Konrad mine near Salzgitter (Germany): the transformation of the former ore mine to a nuclear waste deposit is making progress and shall be finished until 2014. Several mining machines are used for the site development. But transporting the vehicles weighing up to 40 tons to the underground site is a great challenge for man and machine: the haulage shaft is far too small to bring the machines down as whole units; consequently, single components of the vehicles are let down to 1200 m below the earth’s surface by means of the haulage cage.
Already in 2008 / 2009, the German manufacturer Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH could gain several orders for the supply of more than 20 mining vehicles to the Konrad mine, in particular dump trucks, LHD-loaders and machines for gallery protection.
Probably due to the many years of experience in the production of mining machines that meet special requirements and due to its great flexibility, Hermann Paus Maschinenfabrik GmbH won the Europe-wide invitation to tender. Paus was in the position to meet best the great constructional demands – low construction method combined with heavy payloads.
The machines were designed on the basis of existing vehicle types and were adapted to the operational conditions of the Konrad mine. The maximum dimensions for the transport through the mine shaft are 3.2 m x 1 m x 1.8 m (length x width x height), whereas the longest vehicle supplied by Paus has a total length of almost 13 m. These dimensions required for the shaft transport have been taken into account for development and assembly of the machines, and the weld seams were prepared accordingly.
After final acceptance by the customer had taken place in the factory, the vehicles were disassembled and transported to the Konrad mine where the components were finally let down the narrow shaft to the underground site. Re-assembly of the machines in the Konrad mine has started by midyear 2010.
The Paus Dump Trucks PMKT 15.000 are predestined for the economic operation in underground mines: the dump trucks have a high transport capacity of 15 m³ and provide a payload of 30 tons.
A special advantage is the vehicle height. The machine with a height of 2.10 m is working in old mine galleries that had not been widened out. For the new and higher galleries, the cabin can be elevated by 40 cm.
PMKT series trucks have two fully equipped driver`s stands. When reversing with unloaded vehicle, the driver has free view across the bucket on the road in front of him. When the bucket is loaded, the driver may easily and quickly turn his seat to the opposite driver’s stand and leave the tunnel in forward direction. Consequently, turning manoeuvres in the narrow mine are no longer necessary.
The Paus LHD-Loaders PFL 30 and 60 with payloads from 5.5 tons and 15 tons respectively are working in the Konrad mine, too. The LHD-Loader PFL 30 is available with a quick change system for bucket and fork tine. The LHD-Loader PFL 60 with a basic height of 2.10 m is equipped with a cabin that is adjustable in height – just like the PMKT 15.000.
Both types are equipped with hydrodynamic drive unit and water-cooled engine. The excellent quality of the machines is completed by using Kessler axles.
The mine also decided for two slinger belt trucks. This technology was already developed about 25 years ago and is since then being used in many appliccations mainly for backfilling. The bucket features a push wall inside that moves the material backward to dump. Being used with a fast running slinger belt placed below the bucket at the rear end, the material is accelerated and being thrown on to the stope.
The slinger unit can be adjusted horizontally and vertically to control where the material is going. Depending on gravel fraction, distances of up to 55 m can be achieved.
Konrad mine will use this technology to completly close the gaps between stored waste material and the gallery roof to avoid any openings left.
Both machines were again designed with a maximum height of 2.5 m and feature a capacity of 12 m³ which can be slingered in approximately 10 -15 min.
By winning this order for the Konrad mine, Paus proves its expertise in developing and manufacturing complex mining machines and is certainly prepared for further projects involving great and special requirements.
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