Control technology for roof drill operators

摘要

The roof drill operator productivity can be enhancedby the introduction of control technology. The operators controlstation can be improved by considering human factors such ashandle forces and control location. The smaller electrical controlscan be located much easier than the traditional hands on valves.The operators control can be improved by using processors withprogrammable subroutines that assist the operator in the decisionmaking process. For example to increase feed rate –to slowrotation- to avoid clogged steels-etc. the overall affect is toimprove drilling and bolting consistency.The control system uses a dedicated processor packaged as anintrinsically safe control station. The roof drill operator is assistedin the drilling and bolting by a closed loop feedback system. Theprocessor monitors the drilling parameters such as feed force, feedrate, rotation torque, RPM, drill position, and vacuum condition.Based on the drilling parameters the processor executes pre-determined condition statements intended to enhance drilling. Thedrill operator has an active display to alert him to the real timemachine status. For example if the feed were to slow or delay dueto a high vacuum level the display would show“high vacuum”.The dedicated processor is available on the arm feed stylemachines. The prototype machines used programmable logiccontrollers to develop machines used programmable logiccontrollers to develop the feedback relations. The ability to recorddrilling parameters was extremely helpful in this developmentproject. The extended use of the recording feature will aidoperators in mapping the mine roofs. Interpreting the recordeddrilling parameters can reveal a void in the top or hard competentdrilling. The prototype machines also showed the importance ofvacuum monitoring. This feature is extremely valuable in softer materials.The benefits of the control system range from efficient use ofthe consumable bolting materials to uniform operator performance.