New Design Concepts For Electric Mining Shovels

With increased stripping ratios and with dwindling ore content, the mining fraternity is increasingly turning to larger and larger equipment for profitable open pit operations. The availability of higher horsepower prime movers and increased-capacity electric transmissions using either wheel-mounted or axle-mounted traction motors makes a reality of single-axle, rear dump trucks having 150 to 250 ton capacity. The size of electric loading shovels is inherently geared to the size of haulage equipment. To work effectively with this new generation of trucks, the Harnischfeger Corporation has introduced its P&H Model 2800 with a capacity of 20 to 25 cu yd and a working weight of nearly 1,500,000 lb. The Model 2800, depicted in Figure 1 loading a 200 ton truck, has many new electric and mechanical features designed to give excellent production and low cost operation. Chief among the new features is the ELECTROTORQUE control system. Electrotorque is a completely static, solid state electronic system supplying controlled power both to the armatures and to the fields of the d-c shovel drive motors. It eliminates many major electrical rotating machines and their attendant maintenance. The system was developed jointly by ASEA of Sweden and Harnischfeger Corp.