This is an abridged version of the original published story. Many case history articles are condensed after publishing for handout sheet purposes.

Mining Technologies of Ashland, Kentucky are equipment engineers and manufacturers as well as contract miners. They have developed a unique high wall mining technology based on a continuous mining machine and portable 40'long belt conveyors. The operation starts from a launch vehicle positioned in lateral fashion to the high wall. Penetration into coal seams is at a rate as high as 5 feet per minute. Each 40 feet in mine depth, another portable conveyor section is added on. This sequence continues until the hole is 1,200'deep. The cross-section of individual holes may be as large as 11'-6" wide and from 4' to 14' high. The low profile envelope of the Van der Graaf drum motor, drive pulley allows more complete coal excavation than the space consuming, older, shaft-mount type drives. Payback to the miners is very fast considering a new hole may be completed every 4-5 hours. The combination of this unique mining technology with the low profile conveyor construction allows mining with the removal of a minimum amount of overburden and coal seams of less thickness may be profitably harvested. Coal mine conditions are abrasive and harsh on power transmission equipment. Van der Graaf seal design protects vital bearing surfaces from the damaging dust. An appropriate analogy could be: the safest place is inside the eye of the hurricane. The dependability factor is an unexpected bonus. The Van der Graaf drum motor pulleys on this project were also required to meet MSHA specifications.

P.O. Box 22666 -- Highland Station

Memphis, TN 38122 USA

Tel(901)324-2821

Email: info@aimarket.com