The new 7LS7 has been developed specifically for the Chinese market, with some of the world’s largest deposits of thick seam coal. Some Chinese operations are currently mining at maximum heights of 5.5m (the current range of Joy’s 7LS6 model) but leaving coal behind. The new 7LS7 shearer will be able to cut coal at a height up to 6.4 m, making it the OEM’s biggest machine to date.
The original concept was developed from Joy’s 6LS6 shearer which cuts trona in Wyoming, but following multiple iterations has since evolved into a new machine, said Joy’s vice president global engineering Mike Adamczyk.
Some key features include the placement of the ranging arm cylinders on top of the machine to aid pan loading and coal clearance from the face. The 200 kW Lumpbreaker has been redesigned to improve efficiency and for ease of fitting the shearer to the 1250mm panline.
This shearer is available with Joy’s latest generation JNA control system, which allow for comprehensive diagnostic displays in multiple languages. Each ranging arm’s cutting power has increased to 850kW, and Joy’s OPTIDRIVE and AC traction motors have also been upgraded by 45% from the 7LS6 model. With a total installed power of 2260kW and a mass of 132 tonnes, this is an awesome machine.
Adamczyk said Joy has already tendered on the 7LS7 and is expecting this new model to play an important part of Joy’s future business in thick seam longwall mining.
