An Erector Transporter For The Installation And Removal Of Specialized Mining Equipment Underground

An erector transporter (ET) has been designed and built to lift, carry and erect heavy machinery components, in particular the components of a 7.6 m diameter tunnel boring machine (TBM), within the access tunnels of a submarine coal mine in Eastern Canada. The ET is capable of manoeuvring within a 7.6 m tunnel while precisely positioning components as large as 6 m in diameter and weighing up to 27 tonnes each. The unit can negotiate 20% grades while carrying loads of 30 tonnes. The major design features, verification tests and performance trial results are presented. The versatility of the ET is such that many other applications are possible.