The ACBM (autonomous conveying and bolting module) project is a joint CSIRO and JCOAL initiative with the aim of improving productivity in Australian longwall mines, and roadway development rates specifically. By decoupling bolting and cutting functions, CSIRO believes development rates can be dramatically improved.
In collaboration with several equipment manufacturers and operating mines, CSIRO has designed an automated coal conveying/bolting module (ACBM). The ACBM has been designed to sit between a continuous miner and a coal haulage machine. Its function will be to haul coal between these two machines while bolting the roof and ribs.
The fabrication of the main components of the machine’s frame has just been completed by equipment manufacturer Boart Longyear. By the end of March it is planned to power up the prototype unit for initial testing in Boart’s workshop.
The 12m long and 3.2m wide platform includes a 3 cubic metre hopper and a 30 tonne per minute conveyor. It also includes an autonomous roof-bolt system using 2m self-drilling bolts. The bolting system has been designed to place four bolts in 4.8 minutes, allowing a machine advance of 15m/hour with a 1.2m spacing.
Japanese manufacturer IHI has supplied the bolt feed mechanism which will be coupled with Hydramatic drill rigs. The drill rigs incorporate a new AS4240 compliant control system and were successfully tested in the Hydramatic workshop in late February. The drill rig itself incorporates a drill head that allows both water and the injection medium for the self-drilling bolt to pass through it.
These various components are currently being tested individually and linked up. Hydraulic hosing and electrics are still being connected.
By the end of March Boart hopes to be able to demonstrate the conveyor running and the hydraulics for lifting and swinging the boom. It is also hoped that by then the bolt-feed mechanism will be working and will be feeding a bolt from the on-board bolting cassette into the roof bolting drill rig.
A prototype ACBM is scheduled to go into production at a mine site later this year.
