Development of Longwall Shearers’ Haulage Systems as an Alternative to the Eicotrack System Used Nowadays

Longwall shearers’ haulage system of the Eicotrack type, used most often nowadays, is presented in this article. Its disadvantages, causing problems with a correct operation of mechanized longwall shearer systems, are discussed. The concept of the innovative Flextrack, which should reduce the occurrence of the disadvantages mentioned above, is described. A course and research results, connected with rig tests of the Flextrack haulage system functionality, are presented. Measurement results of wear and stresses, obtained for the Eicotrack and Flextrack haulage systems, are compared and presented. Based on an analysis of the obtained results, a modified version of the Komtrack haulage system was suggested and manufactured. This haulage system was tested in the field conditions, similar to underground conditions in a mine coal longwall. The obtained results confirmed its full functionality and lack of problems experienced in the case of the Eicotrack and Flextrack systems. At present, the Komtrack system is tested in a coal longwall in Piast coal mine, where comparative tests with the Eicotrack system are conducted. The big part of the results presented in this article was developed as part of the research project KOMTRACK jointly implemented by KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Łukasiewicz Research Network—Cracow Institute of Technology, Specodlew Innovative Foundry Company and Polish Mining Group Inc., co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (Contract No. POIR.04.01.04-00-0068/17).