LOCOMOTIVE

Main Parts of Locomotives

1) Chasis:- Chasis is rigid

frame Work of steel
section.
2) Driving wheels, axles, springs &
brake blocks etc. mounted
below the Chases.
3) A power Unit: it may be a
diesel engine, an electric
motor, a battery or
compressed air.
4) Operator’s Cabin: Having
control
panel with brakes,
operating system, horn
etc.
5) Lights at both ends.
6) A screw brake for
emergency.
7) For large size locomotives an
Limitations/Applicability
air compression forofpower
Locomotives

1) brakes
Generally the gradient should be less than 1:100 but it can be used up
to a gradient of 1:25.
2) Where track is in settled ground.
3) Where roads/galleries are reasonably wide & high.
4) Where transport distance is large.
5) Where production is high.
6) In the intake airways where the air velocity is high enough to keep the
fire damp percentage below the danger limit
Locomotive Haulage:

In case of rope haulage the power to move the load is available from
external fixed motor to the haulage. While in case of locomotive haulage the
driving unit
e.locomotive is coupled to a train due to which more safety can be attained.
The locomotives are very flexible in nature & they can be used for men
transport also.

Types of Locomotive Haulages are:-

1) Diesel locomotive
2) Electric locomotive
1) Over head wire locomotive
2) Trolley wire locomotive
3) Electric battery locomotive
4) Compressed air locomotive

1) Diesel Locomotive: Diesel locomotive are commonly used in number of

mines. Their weight varies from 3 tonne to 15 tonne & power from 50kw to
75kw. The power unit is a diesel engine. The locomotives used in underground
coalmines have a power unit in a flame proof enclosure as a safe guard
against ignition of fire damp. In coal mines the diesel locomotives are not
allowed where the percentage of inflammable gases is more than 1.25% in
the general body of air.
Hence these are generally used in intake roadways. The exhaust of the diesel
engine includes oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide & small quantities of oxides
of sulphur & nitrogen & other aldehydes which smell badly &causes irritation
of the nose, throat & eyes. To remove these oxides & aldehydes the
locomotives are
fitted with exhaust conditioner

Advantages of Diesel Locomotives

1. Cheaper
2. Completely self-controlled
Disadvantages of Diesel Locomotives

1. Danger of fire in handling the diesel.

2. production of poisonous gasses
 3. Adds heats to the atmosphere.
4. More maintenance required.
5. More employees required.
Exhaust Conditioner & Flame Trap: The exhaust gases from the engine
strikes on the surface of the water in the chamber A. This traps hot particles
& washes out the sulphur oxides &aldehydes. The gases then rise through a
flame proof slag wool which is kept moist by water & thereafter pass through
second chamber.
Similar chamber B, where gases are further cooled & filtered before passing
through the flame trap. A flame arrester consists of a removable stainless
steel
plates 1/2mm apart. Finally gases are mixed with about 30 to 40 times their
volume of fresh air before entering in the atmosphere. In chamber A, a water
level indicator is installed in such a way that if water level falls below certain
level, the brakes are applied automatically. The exhaust conditioner should be
replaced by a clean set after every 24 hours.
fig nit

2) Electric Locomotives:

The electric locomotive is equipped with an electric motor which draws the
current from the overhead wires through a pantograph or through a long pole
which is kept pressed against the overhead conductor by spring tension. The
DC supply to overhead wires is 250 volts. These locomotives may be used in
degree I gassy mines. The overhead wires are suspended through insulators
over the track at a height more than 2 meter.

Advantages of Electric Locomotives

 1) More reliable
2) Light weight
3) Less maintenance
4) Good control
5) Small size
6) No exhaust gases

Disadvantages of Electric Locomotives

1. High initial investment

2. Danger of shock & fire
3. Derailment is major problem
types

3)Electric Battery Locomotives:

The power unit of an electric battery locomotive is a DC electric motor which

receives current from a storage battery carried in the locomotive itself. Such
locomotives are for light & medium duties. The batteries are of lead acid
type & each battery consists of a number of 2 volt cells & their no varies
from 40 to 70. The capacity of the battery to work is 8 hours & its charging
time is also 8 hour.

Advantages of Battery Locomotives

1) Less maintenance.
2) No poisonous gases.
3) No overheads wire’s problem.
4) Quite in operation.
Disadvantages of Battery Locomotives

1. Hydrogen gas is liberated.

2. Flame proofing is not possible.
3. Overheating of cell may cause sparking or fire.
4. Large cross section.
5. Expensive batteries & less life.
6. Special charging stations involve more cost.
4) Compressed Air Locomotive:

There are no compressed air locomotives in Indian coal mines. The source of
power used in air locomotive is compressed air cylinder, installed over the
locomotive. This cylinder supplies the required quantity of compressed air to
the locomotive. These locomotives are very safe, reliable & very useful in hot
& deep mines. Even though their working cost is very low, they are not used
in Indian coal mines due to their high cost of installation. These locomotives
are used for light duty work only.

Advantages of Compressed Air Locomotives

1) Very safe.
2) Very reliable.
3) Less maintenance required.
4) Cooling effect of air.

Disadvantages of Compressed Air Locomotives

5) High initial cost

6) Danger of pipe leakage.
7) Efficiency is less.

Super Elevation/Cant: On a curve, centrifugal action creates a tendency for the

train to leave the track &proceed along a line tangential to the curve. This
makes the wheel flanges very hard against the inner edge of the outer rail,
causing more wear on wheels & rails. To counter act this; the outer rail
should be raised above the inner one. This level difference between the inner
rail & outer rail is known as super elevation.

S.E. = AV2/g.r

meter. Where,

A = gauge
width in
meter.
 V = velocity in meter/sec.

g = acceleration due to gravity (9.8

meter/sec) r = radius of curve in meter.

Ideal Gradient: If the Tractive force required to haul the loaded trail down
the gradient is same as it is required to haul the empty train of the gradient
with the same velocity, this gradient is known as ideal gradient.

Let,

WL = Weight of loaded

train. WE = Weight of

empty train 1 in n = Ideal

gradient

 = coefficient of friction

Case I: When loaded train is

moving downward

GL = WL.g.1/n

FL = WL. g.

( TF = FL –

GL

TF = WL. g.
(- WL.g
1/n-----------
---------------
(I)

Case II: When

empty train is
moving upward

GE =
 As per the definition equation (I) = (II)

WL.g. (-WL.g.1/n = WE g + WE g

1/n WL -WE = WE.1/n + WL.1/n

((WL-WE) = 1/n (WE+WL)

n= (WL+WE)/ ((WL-WE)

Drawbar Pull: This is that part of the Tractive force which remains available
for pulling connected load, hence drawbar pull can be calculated after
deducting from the total Tractive force, the Tractive force required to haul
the locomotive itself.

TF=TM Wloco = kg

TF= TM Wloco. g =

N
TM= Coefficient of
adhesion

Force = mass X acceleration

(TF+GL+FL=mass X

acceleration.

C)Conveyor system of
haulage

1) Belt conveyor
2) Chain conveyor

1) Belt conveyor

The belt conveyor is basically an endless belt in a straight line stretched

between two drums, one driving the system and the other acting as a return
drum.
In coal mines and other mines of stratified deposits, where the underground
mineral if won by longwall method, the transport media which often consists
of conveyor.

Layout of face, gate and trunk conveyors in a coal mine

The system of transport by belt conveyor consists of the following:

1.A flat endless belt which moves continuously and carries at its top surface
the material to be conveyed.

2.The idlers which support the belt.

3.The structure of channel iron on which the idlers are mounted.

4.The tensioning arrangement for keeping the belt in proper tension.

5.The drums at the discharge and tail end over which the belt passes.

6.The drive head which comprises the electric motor, coupling, gearing and
snub pulleys
Arrangement of a belt
conveyor

Cross-section of belt for conveyor system

Selection of belt conveyor:

1. Amount of material to be conveyed

2. Continuity of operation needed

3. Size of lumps

4. Distance of transportation

5. Environmental allowance

6. Gradient

7. Method of coal winning, i.e. Longwall or Board and

Pillar
8. Capital
Available

Advantages:

1. A continuous supply of material.

2. Low operating cost than road transportation system.

3. High rate and speed of supply.

4. Bunding can be done to get fair grade.

5. More efficiency and low cost.

Limitations:

Belt conveyor:

6. Cannot be used for long distances

7. Required high one time capital

8. Lumps should not be of big size.

9. Place should be dry enough and air velocity should not be

high

10.Cannot be worked for high inclinations

Factors for designing of belt conveyor: above

1.The average tonnage (t/h), peak rate (t/min) and frequency of peak
rates.

2.Characteristics of the material i.e. density, maximum lump size, nature

of material-dry, wet, sticky, dusty, chemical action on belt.
3.Graphical layout of conveyor profile and motive power available (i.e.
electric motor).

4.Operating conditions - hours of working, climatic conditions etc.

5.Suitability of a belt conveyor & width and speed of belt

6.Belt shape.

7.Power and layout required.

Take- up arrangements (Tensioning device):

Tensioning of the belt is necessary to prevent excessive sagging of the belt or

belt in good contact with the driving drum.

1. Automatic take ups

2. Gravity take ups.

3. Take up pulley with counter weight.

4. Counter weighted loop take.

5. Counterweighted wheel mounted tail end pulley

6. Power take ups

7. Electric motorized winch and load cell loop take up.

8. Pneumatically operated take up

9. Hydraulically loop takes
up.

10. Rigid or manual take ups

11. Screw take up

12. Jack take up

13. Winch take up

Arrangement of a drive motor, loop take-up and tensioning weights on a

belt 6conveyor discharging downhill
Arrangement of a driving gear and loop take- up for a belt conveyor on
level or uphill

2) Chain conveyor
It is mostly used in the longwall face. The capacity of a commonly used scraper
chain conveyor is 30 to 40 tph on a level roadway, nearly 50 m long and the
drive motor is of 12- 15 KW. The main application of scraper chain conveyors
in underground is transportation at the face and adjoining short workings,
where they are ready to withstand mining condition. They are also used to
haul the coal along gate roads over short distances before it is feed to gate
belt conveyor. They are also used for transporting on inclines having an angle
of inclination exceeding 180 where belt conveyors are not used. They are also
used on the surface for conveying coal from shaft to bunker as well as in
screening and washing plants.

Scraper chain conveyor

Different parts:

1.Trough: These are stationary things usually 2m long, and consisting

of detachable section bolted together or joined by hooks,

2.Flights: An endless chain with flights moving in the troughs, which are
nearly 450 mm wide at top and 300 mm at bottom.

3.Chain (endless): The chain of endless character is installed there. The chain
consists of links and after 3-4 links a flight is provided so, that the flights
are 2- 2.5m apart.
4.Tensioning head: The return or, tail end of the conveyor with its totally
enclosed sprocket drum, is provided with telescopic trough by which the
tension of the chain can be adjusted through Sylvester chain

5.Drive: For enabling movement a power arrangement with driving

arrangement.

6.Angle iron frame: to support the troughs.

Types:

On the basis of flexibility—

1. Rigid chain conveyor

2. Flexible / armoured chain conveyor

On the basis of number of chains used—

3. Single chain conveyor

4. Double centered chain conveyor

5. Double outboard chain conveyor

6. Triple chain conveyor

Rigid chain conveyor: A rigid chain conveyor essentially consists of stationary

steel troughs, each usually 2m long, connected together end to end, and an
endless chain with flights moving in the troughs. Troughs supported on angle
iron frame work, slightly dished at one end. So, that the next one fixed in to
form a flush point. Adjacent troughs are secured together and to the frame
underway by both. This gives rigidity to conveyor. The return end is provided
with a tensioning
arrangement. The capacity is 30- 40 tph on a level roadway, nearly 50m long
and 15KW motor.

Armoured chain conveyor: Used generally on long wall faces, it can be

advanced without dismantling, with hydraulic rams. They can work with
lateral or, vertical undulations, and coal cutting machine and shearers can be
mounted on them.
Motor power varies between 30 to 185 KW.Pan width at top varies from 750
to 850 mm and pan length from 1.3 to 1.8 m. the vertical flexibility of pans is
3-40 and horizontal flexibility is 2-30.Limiting gradient with flights 1 in 1.5
and without
flights 1 in 3.Length may be upto 360 m and capacity is upto 100 tph.

Advantages:

1.Can convey uphill against relatively steep (1 in 3 or more) gradient as well

as of downhill gradient.

2.Much stronger and can be roughly handled.

3.Flexible so, as to dismantle, extended or shortened.

Disadvantages:

4. High initial cost.

5. High power consumption

6. Wear and tear more

7. Highly noisy

8. Producing high percentage of fine dust

D) Aerial ropeway

An aerial ropeway is an installation in which transportation of material or

men is effected by moving carriers pulled by ropes suspended above the
ground.

Types:

On the basis of number of ropes and the mode of transportation, the

ropeways are classified as:

1)Mono-cable Ropeway– the ropeway has a single running endless rope

which both support and moves the carriers.

2)Bi-cable Ropeway- the ropeway has two fixed track ropes along which
the carriers are hauled by an endless traction rope.

3)Twin-cable Ropeway- the ropeway has two pairs of track ropes to support
the carriers and one endless traction rope.

Applicability

Aerial ropeway provides the only economic means of long distance transport
over rough country, hilly and difficult terrain, even it can pass through the
congested areas, marshy lands, nallahs, rivers, forests and important
agricultural land.

Aerial ropeways have found wide application in:

1) Transporting and conveying bulk materials between two fixed pts.

2) Aerial dumping of load at any point along the line of route

3) Stocking of materials

4) Dumping of waste materials

5) Transporting of persons in mountainous regions

Advantages:

1) A relatively high transport capacity (upto 500 t/hr)

2) Regularity of service and immunity to all weathers

3) Ability to overcome natural obstructions (rivers, marshy ground etc.)

4) Inherent ability to keep the ground free for other purposes

5) Ability of negotiating steep gradient (70% and over)

6) Possibility of using automation

7) Minimum time lost in transportation

8) Low initial and operating cost and short time for return on capital

Disadvantages:

9)Fixed location of loading station

10)Susceptibility to damage by string winds.

11)The length of the line and transport capacity is limited by economic

and technical consideration.

Bi-cable Ropeway

It has following components:

1. Two track ropes or cables stretched at required tension

2. An endless traction rope for handling the loads,

3.Carriers suspended from the track ropes and hauled by the traction
rope

4.Machinery and other arrangements for loading and unloading

carriers, suspending the track ropes and driving the traction rope.

Bi-cable Ariel ropeway

Scope of applicability and Limitations

a.Bi-cable ropeways are suitable for capacities 100 to 400 t/hr.

b. lengths up to 6 km in one section of traction rope.

c.For capacities less than 100 t/hr. and distances less than 300 m, bi-
cable ropeway cannot provide the desirable economy.

Different

parts Ropes:
Track ropes:

1.Track ropes are usually locked coil ropes made of large size wires in
order to have longer life.

2.Locked coil ropes provide a smooth surface for the movement of carrier
wheel and the surface wear of it is relatively uniform.

3.The factor of safety for track rope during installation should be 3 and must
be withdrawn from service when it reduces to 2.5.

4. Average life of the rope is 5 to 7 years.

Traction rope: Traction ropes are Six-strand lang’s lay with fibre core. The
rope diameter varies from 12 to 46 mm. The factor of safety should be 5
during installation and ropes should be withdrawn when it comes down to
4.

Carriers: A carrier has the carriage, hanger, bucket and grip for traction rope.
Carriage runs on track rope with wheels, and it runs on the track rope, with
the help of wheels (20 – 30 cm/diameter) mounted on it. The number of
wheel is 2 for light loads and 4 for medium or heavy loads. The hanger is
suspended from carriage to make its axis vertical. The bucket is supported
by the hanger and grip on carriage. Three types of carriers are commonly
used namely rotating carrier,
bottom discharge carrier and fully enclosed bucket.

Carrier of Bi-Cable Ropeway

Trestles: The trestles for bi-cable ropeways provide support to both the track
and traction ropes. As well as giving necessary profile to the ropeway. The
track ropes rest on the saddles at the top crossbeam and the traction rope
on the sheaves at the cross beam below. Trestles are constructed either in
steel, reinforced concrete / timber. The height of the trestles is usually in the
shape of a truncated pyramid. The ht. of the trestles is usually 8 to 12 m on
level ground and spaced at intervals of 100-250 m. But in a mountainous
region, they must be as high as 100 m and spaced at 500 m or more. The
trestles should be erected on firm ground.

Steel trestles of a Bi-cable aerial

ropeway
Saddles: These are rolled steel section bent along their longitudinal central line
to allow rope curvature on the support. The upper part of the saddle is
grooved to accommodate and support the track rope. For safety against
unloading of the rope, the groove dia. should be 1.5 d and the depth of the
groove 0.8d, where d is the diameter of the rope.

Stations:

Loading station: Station where carriers are loaded are called loading station and
in bi-cable ropeway it is more complicated than mono cable ropeway. At the
loading stations, the track rope tensioning device is avoided and the end of it is
anchored instead. However the tensioning of the traction rope may be
incorporated. At the entry to station, the carrier leaves the track rope and rides
on the station rail and while leaving it, rides back on the rope. To facilitate
those, rope deflecting saddles are put at the transition point. The carriers
passes through the arrangement of releasing and gripping of the traction rope
movement of the carrier is controlled manually or by running chain at
automatic station.

Unloading station: It is the discharged end of the rope way. The unloading
station should be sufficiently high enough above the ground level to make
possible unloading by gravity.

Intermediate station: When a bi-cable ropeway has more than one section,
intermediate stations are provided where it passes from one section to
another. Arrangements are there for tensioning.

Angle station: When it is not possible to take a straight line route, angle
station are provided to change the direction of route. Here the track ropes
of adjacent arms terminate by means of anchorage or tensioning
arrangement.