Most modern shearers are controlled by a remote control unit so that the machine can be operated from a safe working position. The remote control unit for DBT Electra 3000 shearer consists of a set of keypads to operate the machine and a series of LED’s to indicate the position […]

Power is connected to the shearer via Bretby Cable Handler housed in a channel mounted along the goaf side of the AFC. The bretbly cable handler from DBT Electra 3000 shearer can be seen in the photograph opposite

Cowls are fitted to the ranging arm and can rotate 360o around the shearer drum. The function of the cowls is to improve in cleaning up the coal face and assist with dust suppression. The ability of the cowls to be rotated enables them to be positioned according to which […]

A shearer pulls itself along the face by using a sprocket to engage with the haulage system which is fixed to the length of the AFC. The haulage track of a shearer can be seen in the photo on the left. Generally the shearer traction system is powered hydraulically. There […]

The picture opposite shows the ranging arm from a Joy shearer. The purpose of the ranging arm is to enable cutting of coal from coal seams which are thicker than the drum diameter. The position of the ranging arm is controlled by the shearer operator. The raising and lowering of […]

SHEARER SPECS Mine Shearer Manufac turer Shearer Power (kW) Shearer Drum Dia (MG/TG,) (m) Extracted Thickness and Cutting Method Drum Type Dust Supression System ANGUS PLACE  JOY 720 2.0/2.0 3.2, Bi Di Conv BFF+Conical point attack picks APPIN JOY 1122 2.1/2.1 2.9, Bi di Conv BFF+Conical point attack picks ASHTON […]

Current shearer drums are of two types, the conventional pick-flushing drums and extraction drums. With the conventional wet system, the water is sprayed through sprays mounted on the top of the cutter drum vanes. The sprays can be located in front of the cutter pick, known as pick face flushing […]

The coal shearer is the only type of power loader that is used in Australia. There are currently four manufacturer’s of shearers in Australian, these being : DBT, Joy Global, Eickhoff, Mitsui Miiki. A typical shearer can be as long as 15 m and weigh in excess of 90 tonnes. The travelling […]