ADDCAR Systems

Hence, ADDCAR is developing a narrow bench machine to address this market need/opportunity. The overall machine length will be radically reduced from 90 to 45 feet. The time-tested fundamentals of the ADDCAR technologies are preserved-just arranged more compactly and in parallel rather than in a linear manner. The central module of the ADDCAR Broad Bench system is the launch vehicle. This is the main structure of the highwall system, housing the electrical and hydraulic systems, hosting the operator's compartment and other control functions, launching the miner into the seam and supporting the coal handling systems. First, the launch vehicle is lined up perpendicular to the coal seam at the desired location. A crawler-mounted continuous miner presses into the highwall, cutting the coal and feeding it onto the unique ADDCAR conveyor cars, which are placed at the back of the production line as the miner advances. This method of extending the production string means uninterrupted coal flow. The conveyor cars feed the coal car-to-car without use of an auger, which can increase fines. When it reaches the last conveyor car, the coal dumps off onto a final conveyor, which sends it to a stacking conveyor in back of the vehicle. The miner can drive an entry up to 1,000 into the wall. Support equipment includes a stacker conveyor and wheel loader with forklift attachment. The deck crew remains under an FOPS canopy; and operators work in climate-controlled compartments. This Narrow Bench System has particular appeal in trench mining applications as well. The two major benefits are: (1) the reduced length allows for highwall mining in conjunction with advancing the box cut because there is space for the rock and coal trucks to pass behind the launch vehicle and (2) the overall volume of rock to be removed is less.