Date of Award
Spring 1974
Degree Type
Master's Essay - Restricted
Abstract
This paper describes a simulation of a machine designed to strip overburden* from coal deposits. These machines range in size from five million to thirty million pounds. The machines are equipped with electric drive motors which control four motions on the machine. These are propel, hoist, drag, and swing. The propel drive powers a mechanism which walks the machine from one location to another. When the machine is situated, the hoist, drag, and swing drives are used to pick up overburden and move it to a spoil pile. The machines are rated by bucket size. The rated sizes vary between 30 and 220 cu. yd. The payload for each cycle of the largest machine is· 220 cu. yds., which will weigh 650,000 pounds. The dumping radius for existing -machines varies between 250 and 400 feet. Total lift of the machine is approximately 400 feet.
* Overburden is the dirt and rocks covering the ore.
Recommended Citation
Jones, Byron M., "Digital Computer Simulation of a Dragline Mining Machine" (1974). Master's Essays (1922 - ). 42.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/essays/42