|
 RAG Coal - Eagle Butte Mine
Operatorless Loadout
Gillette, Wyoming
Roberts & Schaefer Company was requested to design a loadout system to cut lost-time accidents, keep truck cycle time low enough to stay under the shift-change, and gain access to the stoker coal market without increasing staff size at the mine. Of major consideration was to make loadout instruments and controls usable by the driver as there would be no plant operators in attendance. Safety was built in so that any instrument or sensor failure would shut down the lane.
The truck enters the facility through a gate, which recognizes the truck-tag, the driver then pulls through the bi-directional scale to capture truck empty weight (automatic), and proceeds to loadout. The bi-directional scale recognizes the truck RF tag and indicates to the driver when to proceed. Use of bi-directional scales is the most economic method to maintain accuracy and certify truck bill-of-landings.
Loadout Entrance: The truck pulls to the loadout entrance. The truck-tag is recognized as the truck approaches the loadout and traffic light signals "OK" for the truck to proceed.
Click Image For Details
To position the truck side-to-side within the loadout bay the driver lines up using the gunsight device. To position the truck lengthwise the driver uses the spotting light and mirrors. There is no more difficulty in judging depth of field using the truck's rear view mirror. The spotting mirror lights-up when the truck is in position. This gives the driver a discrete signal when properly positioned.
The driver hits a button, which lowers the scissored handrail wing access platforms to the hatch area. After the hatches have been opened, the truck driver runs the joysticks to position the XY spouts, and drop them into the hatches. The driver then presses the "load" button, and the computer loads the truck to the predetermined target weight. When loaded, the spouts react, and the driver locks down the hatches.
Platforms retract, and the driver pulls to the checkout scale. The truck pulls onto the scale (outgoing), the RF tag identifies the truck, and the ticket printer generates three tickets for the driver. The scale can operate in high dust, sub-zero conditions. Dust collection is applied as necessary.
|
