Marek Dudek

Nowadays designing of selected areas of mines underground workings can be effectively improved by numerical simulation. This, in fact, would result in the more reliable design process, significantly reduced designing costs and efforts, and improvement of the mines staff’s safety. Mine transportation of materials and people in underground workings is realized by use of mine railway system (on the main transportation routes), floor-mounted railway and suspended monorail (in a department transportation). Transportation is realized on tracks placed on the floor of working (floor-mounted rail transportation, using transportation platforms) or on rails suspended to roadway support (suspended rail transportation, using modular carrying sets (high-load beams)). The increasing size and weight of the transported machines and other equipment require planning the transportation system based on analyses of transportation routes as regards possibility of collision between transported loads and roadway support components, the equipment or other machines, that can be the obstacles or that can cause hazard during transportation, to select properly transportation machines. In case of improper selection, this may be the reason of hazard during transportation (dynamic impact of a mass of several tons). The developed method involves two-pronged generation of input data for collision analysis in a CAD software environment. Data regarding the route and constraints resulting from the dimensions of the roadway excavation are transferred in a CAD file format. Data regarding the overall dimensions of the means of transport (suspended monorail or floor-mounted railway) and simulation parameters are developed in a dedicated software environment in the form of a website. The methodological assumptions of the problem are presented, and its implementation into CAD software (AutoCAD) environment is given. Finally, an example of the application of the described method to analyze collision possibility during transportation operations, using floor-mounted railways and suspended monorails, during transportation of big-size load is given (transportation of longwall powered roof support). Developed software is used in Jastrzębska Coal Company S.A. as a Safe Trans Design, by the designers of transportation systems, during the verification of transport system designs, against safety criteria.

The article presents recommendations that should be followed by the manufacturers of underground mine suspended monorail transportation means (auxiliary mine transport equipment), used on inclinations up to 45 degrees, in the context of using the technical data contained in the instructions for their entry into the Safe Trans Design (STD) database. Safe Trans Design system was developed by KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology in 2013. At the same year it was implemented in the mines of Jastrzębska Coal Company (JSW S.A.). Its purpose is to help (assist) designers of suspended monorail transportation system to carry out traction calculations. These calculations are required in the process of preparing documentation for the transportation system. Technical data included in the database, should contain information for: suspended monorail locomotives, brake trolleys, modular carrying sets (high-load beams), sets of hoists, cabins, and benches for movement of people, containers, and special wagons. Examples of generalized input data for the selected components of the suspended transportation unit (passenger cabin and suspended locomotive), in the context of their use in traction calculations, are presented. An example of importing the graphical load-carrying characteristic for suspended monorail locomotive, using digitalization and the CAD system (AutoCAD), is also presented.

Nowadays designing of selected areas of mines underground workings can be effectively improved by the application of computer techniques: 3D scanning, computer simulations and Virtual Reality. This, in fact, would result in the more reliable design process, significantly reduced designing costs and efforts, and improvement of the mines staff’s safety. This scientific paper presents a method developed for redesigning of selected areas of mines underground workings in which auxiliary transport is carried out. The method combines 3D laser scanning technique with computer simulations carried out in a CAD/MBS system, in order to determine the location of potential collisions of the transported loads with the arch yielding support and the equipment. The obtained results, visualized using Virtual Reality, will form input data in the process of designing the selected area of the mines underground workings. Finally, an example of the application of the described method during transportation of big-size load is given.

Mine transportation of materials in underground mine workings is realized by mine underground railways as well as by suspended monorails or floor-mounted railway. Transportation is realized on tracks placed on the floor of working or on rails suspended to roadway support. Each transport operation must be preceded by a transport design project, made in accordance with obligatory legislation. A part of the project are traction calculations. Their implementation in a computer program allows for minimization of the possibility of errors during the configuration of suspended queues and conducting traction calculations, which consequently leads to improve the level of safety. The article discusses the modular Safe Trans Design system, supporting the design of auxiliary mine transportation. The system has been implemented in the mines of JSW S.A. The assumptions and structure of the system as well as algorithms of operation of the ‘configurator of transportation sets’ and ‘assessment and reporting module’ are presented. The method of creating an auxiliary mine transportation system project is presented. Safe Trans Design system is used in planning, organizational and training activities implemented as part of transport safety management in mining plants. Developed methods can be easily adapted to other legislations of hard coal producers’ countries, where suspended monorails are used in underground auxiliary mining transportation systems.

A concept of use of CAD systems in testing collision of underground transportation means is presented. Reasons for undertaking this problem are given with end users identified. The concept of the system for collision analyses of transported loads is described. Examples of collision analysis during transportation of powered roof support are given. Presented system is designed to aid planning, organizational and training activities undertaken in management of transportation safety in mines. It will be also possible to use software resources, developed within the system as the didactic material as regards safe transportation process, which include hazards to the employees working in the area of transportation operations. Developed prototype of a system for testing the collision of underground transportation means was positively assessed by employees of the Coal Company, JSC - industrial partner of KOMAG. This prototype is continuously improved and adapted for commercial implementation in the selected coal mines.