1202 UNDERGROUND MINING METHODS HANDBOOK
T
Fig. 4. Typical 18.1-t (20·st) telescoping dumper in the
full dumping position (courtesy of Wagner Mining Equip·
ment Co.).
BASIC TRUCK-SELECTION CRITERIA
.Two-Wheel vs. four-Wheel Drive
In selecting a truck for use in underground mining,
consideration must be given to whether two-wheel or
four-wheel drive is the most advantageous for the
particular situation.
Two-Wheel Drive: Trucks with two-wheel .drive are
.isable on level or near-level haulageways that have hard
surfaces; the surfaces may be wet but not slippery.
Trucks with two-wheel drive are usable on grades of up
to about 12% , provided that the surfaces arc dry an9
1
de od t acttolli.. gr(,1 tee12er than r .
wheel-"spm-out: if the surfaces are slippery, insuffi-
C!emty paciCed,Or not free of spillage.
For tip dumpers, the acquisition costs are not sub-
stantially lower for two-wheel drive trucks than for four-
wheel drive trucks. However, two-wheel drive may be
significantly lower than four-wheel drive for tclescop-
Fig. 5. Typical loading and dumping cycles for a telescop-
ing dumper. (1) Loading st<1rts with the telescopic bed in
the rear position, providing the minimum box size and
material loading to the rear of the truck. (2) As the load
accumulates, the telescopic bed is drawn forward, moving
the load toward the front of the box and allowing the
balance of the box to be filled. (3) During the dumping
cycle, the telescopic bed is moved toward the rear, forcing
about half the load out of the box. (4) Final phase of
dumping operation. A push plate ejects the remainder of
the load. May be accomplished as one continuous fast
ejection cycle or metered precisely by the operator to
achieve a regulated dump.
Approximately
3.2 rn ( 10.Sft),
:;:/,:.rr
Fig. 6. LHD unit with EOD bucket loading over the rear
of a truck .
ing or push-plate d umpers. Since two-wheel drive trucks
incur lower maintenance costs than four-wheel drive
trucks over the life of the vehicles, two-wheel drive may
be the better selection when job conditions relating to
tract ion are positive .
Four-Wheel Drive: Trucks with four-wheel drive
are usable on level or near-level haulageways that have
hard or soft surfaces; they have the advantage over two-
wheel drives on soft surfaces with high rolling resistance,
on loose surfaces with poor traction, and on wet and
slippery surfaces. On grades steeper than 12 % , four-
wheel drives have the advantage, particularly if the
surfaces are slippery or if there is any other adverse
effect on traction.
Where the potential need for four-wheel drive is
indicated, even marginally, the higher acquisition cost
should be ignored in the selection process. Maintenance
costs for the second axle, extra drivelines, associated
drive chains and sprockets, etc., may add substantially
to the maintenance costs over those that would be
incurred for two-wheel drive vehicles. However, the
extra costs usually arc more than offset by improved
performance in marginal or adverse operating condi-
tions.
Capacities
As of 1981, tip dumpers offered the widest selection
of capacities from the greatest number of manufac-
turers. Capacities ranged from about 45 to 36.3 t
(5 to 40 st), in designs featuring either two-wheel or four-
wheel drives. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the typical drive-
train layouts that are used on tip dumpers.
Telescoping and push-plate dumpers offered a nar-
rower range of capacities, typically from 9.1 to 22.7 t
( 10 to 25 st) , and these units were available from fewer
manufacturers. Fig. IO illustrates the typical drive-train
arrangement for a telescoping dumper. If the unit is a
two-wheel drive, the rear axle and its associated chains
0
and sprockets would be eliminated.
(_)
Fig. 7. Typical push·plate dumper (courtesy of Wagner
Mining Equipment Co.).
 LOADING AND HAULING
0
Planetary
Drive Axle
"Dead" Axle
Fig. 8. Drive ·tra i n layout for a ti p d u mper with two-
wheel d rive.
Summary
en there is the slightest doubt that operating
O .
'&
conditions can be satisfied with a two-wheel drive the
four-wheel drive should be selected. With a four-heel
drive, the rear axle always can be disconnected to re-
duce maintenance costs, but four-wheel drive capability
cannot be added to a truck designed for two-wheel
drive. A similar situation applies to the selection of
the type of truck . If a tip d umper can be accommo-
dated by the application, the telescoping and push-plate
tr.ucks shold be avoided because of their potentially
higher maintenance costs for the additional moving
parts and extra hydraulics. On the other hand tele-
sopin or push-plate dumpers offer the largest;apaci-
hes .with the lowest loading and dumping heights,
('··'''''\ makmg them strong contenders in the overall evalua-
tion .of the eonomics of a mining method and plan,
particularly smce they do not require an enlarged
chamber at the dumping point to accommodate a raised
box .
BASIC ECONOMICS
Although LHD units probably are the most eco-
nomical muck movers for short to medium distances at
some point of distance and cycle time, trackless trck
haulage usually gains the economic advantage. Further-
more, a some point of horizontal haulage distance, the
production costs with trackless trucks may be challenged
by track or conveyor systems. Similarly, at some point
of vertical distance, conveyors or hoisting equipment
F'\ may become more economical than trucks. The major
; considerations relating to the basic economics of truck
haulage are discussed briefly in the following paragraphs.
Envelope Size a nd Payload
Generally, the largest-capacity t ruck that will fit into
the mine haulageways with reasonable or regulated
Diesel
Planetary
Drive Axles
Fig. 9. Drive·trai n layout for a ti p dum per wi th fou r-
wheel d rive.
1203
Torque Converter
r Hydrostatic Pump
Fig. 10. Drive -tra i n layout for a telescopi ng du m per.
clearances is the one that is selected. Of ten, the extra
development required to accommodate the larger enve-
lope size of a truck is feasible, but such development
should be analyzed carefully in terms of the overall
economic gains and losses.
Loadi ng, Dum ping, and Ma neuvering
. The time required to accomplish the load ing, dump-
ing, and maneuvering functions has a considerable
impact on the overall prod uctivity of the mine and on
the cost per ton of material removed, especially when
compared to LHD cycle times for short to medium
haulage distances. The use of properly designed chutes
that deliver well-fragmented muck is the most eco-
?omi.cal way to load trucks, providing both short load-
1?g times ad excellent box filling. Loading with con-
tmuous mmers, gathering-arm loaders, front-end
loaders, or LHD units increases the overall costs sub-
stantially, and a careful
develop holding analysis
bin s and chutesofofthe
tencosts
is a required
worthwhileto
exercise.
Owni ng and Operating Costs
The cost of a truck may range from 30 to 50%
lower than the cost of an LHD unit that has only about
half _of the truck's payload capacity. Contributing fac-
tors m t.he lower cost of the truck include ( 1 ) a longer
useful life and depreciation period, (2) elimination of
the togh digging and loading part of the cycle with
otent1ally fewer repairs, (3) substantially longer tire
life, and (4) more favorable weight distribution over
the vehicle's wheel base. When compared to track or
conveyor systems, trucks may offer economic advan-
tages of lower acquisition and installation costs as well
as accelerated time frames for development ancl' moving
into prod uction .
Support Facilities
Caref ul consideration must be given to provid i ng
adeuate facilities for maintenance and repair of the
equipment by moderately sophisticated maintenance
personnel. The extent to which these facilities a nd per-
sonnel,, together .with . inventories of spare parts, must
be available on-site will be determined by the extent of
the af ter-sale support provided locally by the vehicle
manufacturer or the distributor.
ECO NOM IC COMPAR ISO N OF LH D VEH ICLES
A N D TR UCKS
LHD haulage has dominated the trackless move-
men t of underground muck for the last I 0 to 12 years,
but from 1976 to 198 1 , considera ble i n terest has de-
veloped in determining the poi nt of haulage distance at