Abstract
A self-contained conveyor belt service machine was designed, developed, fabricated, and demonstrated for the Bureau of Mines. The machine is battery-powered, rubber-tired, and capable of handling, storing, and transporting conveyor belting, wire rope, and associated structures for sectional conveyor belts. While moving the tail section to its next position, the machine discharges the belting, wire rope, and belt structures. The belting is elevated and separated to provide for the insertion of the structures with minimum manual effort. A hydraulic system provides the power for steering, braking, winding or unwinding belting and wire rope, and to operate a load-bed conveyor, connection hitches, and external hydraulic tools. A pneumatic system is available to operate air- impact tools. The machine can function in coal seams as narrow as 48 in, double-wind conveyor belting 42 in wide and 400 ft long, load or unload 3/4-in wire rope on two separate reels, and be controlled by two operators. A complete belt move using this machine requires only four persons. Successful underground demonstrations were conducted in coal mines in West Virginia and Kentucky.