C o a l A g e
A M c G r a w - H i l l P u b l i c a t i o n — E s t a b l i s h e d 1911
D EV O TED TO TH E OPERATING, TECHNICAL, AND B U SIN E SS PRO BLEM S OF TH E COAL MINING IN DU STRY
N e w Y o r k , A u gu st , 1 9 3 0
Vo l u m e 3 5 Nu m b e r 8
♦ >
The Door Is Open
S P E E D Y A G R E E M E N T on a new wage c ontract in the a n th ra cite industry reveals a s tatesm anlike appreciation of economic reali
ties which has n o t always blessed lab o r nego
tiations in the coal fields o f this and o th e r countries. T h a t the new a g re e m e n t would continue the existing basic rates of pay was a fo re g o n e conclusion. H o w s o e v e r much either p a r t y m ig h t have desired to change these levels, the situation in the industry was and is such t h a t n e ith e r side d a re d risk contest over t h a t issue.
T H E S A M E economic considerations which dicta te d this p r o m p t rem oval of any possible public apprehensio n o f an in te rru p tio n to the free flow of h a r d coal next winter, however, also d e m ands t h a t the new p eriod of peace w ritte n into the a g re e m e n t be fruitfu lly em
ployed. A truce which m erely g u arantees the p rese rv a tio n o f existing conditions until the sp rin g o f 1936 is n o t enough. T h e r e must be active co-operative effort to eliminate the d isa d v a n tag e s u n d e r which the industry now labors.
S O M E of these d isad van tag es are the h eri
tag e o f an era o f obsolete merchandising m ethods. G r e a t p rog re ss has been m ade in recent y e a rs to w a r d the correction of this situation, and the fu tu re holds promise of still g r e a t e r achievem ent— if the industry refuses to be satisfied w ith half-m easures and illusory victories. O t h e r and m o re serious disad v an
tages, again reflected in diminished sales vol
ume, a re inherent in high prod u ction costs.
A tta c k upon these l a t t e r handicaps can be m ade effective only t h ro u g h genuine co
operatio n between m an agem ent, union offi
cials, and men.
F O R T U N A T E L Y , the a g re e m e n t o f last m onth sets up m achinery by which these ends can be reached. R ep resen tatives o f the miners have openly set themselves against certain abuses long subject of com plaint by the o p e ra to rs . In return, m an a g e m e n t con
cedes the union a modified check-off. Still m ore p r e g n a n t with possibilities is the p r o vision f o r the creation of a p e rm a n e n t join t comm ittee o f six o p e ra to rs a n d six union officials with wide pow ers to w o rk fo r in
creased efficiency.
T H I S M A C H I N E R Y can carve the way to lower costs; it can give impetus to a f a r l a r g e r degree o f m echan ization th an n o w commonly th o u g h t o f in the a n th ra cite region. Renewal o f the old w age scale im
plies acceptance o f a belief t h a t costs can be reduced w ith o u t shrinking the semi-monthly pay check. T h i s belief m ust be justified by perfo rm an ce. U nless th ere is a continuous advance both in m erchandising and p ro d uc tion m ethods, the position o f the industry will g ro w worse, no t b e tte r. Peace no t con
structively employed can be as deadly as w ar.
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S a f e t y T h e F i r s t C o n sid e ra tio n
DAILY ACCOUNTING
+ Assures Positive Cost Control A t Indianola
By A LPH O N SE F. BROSKY
Associate Editor, Coal A ye
A
f T H E In d ia n o la m in e o f th e I n la n d C o llie rie s C o., s u b s id i a r y o f th e I n la n d S te e l C o., lo c a te d n e a r P itts b u r g h , P a ., is in sta lle d a c o n tin u o u s s y ste m o f c o s t-k e e p in g d e s ig n e d to fo llo w th e n a tu r a l d iv isio n s a n d su b d iv isio n s o f o p e ra tio n a n d o v e r-a ll' p ro c e sse s in coal m in in g . T h is c o n tin u ity o f a c c o u n tin g g iv es d a ily c o sts in th e p ro g re s s iv e d e v e lo p m e n t o f m o n th ly co sts. I t en a b le s th e m a n a g e m e n t to g r a s p th e sig n ific an c e o f c o s t tr e n d s a n d to c o r r e c t th e f a u lts th a t c a u s e n e e d le ss g r o w th o f e x p e n s e w h ile th e y a r e in th e m a k in g . B ra c k e tin g o f ite m s allo w s a p o sitiv e c o s t c o n tro l o f each m a jo r p ro c e ss o r ac
tiv ity w ith o u t s u b v e rtin g th e re la tio n o f o n e to a n o th e r . A f e a tu r e o f th e s y ste m is th e u s e o f tim e clocks in p la c e o f a tim e k e e p e r.
E r r o r s in th e d is trib u tio n o f co st ite m s, f o r w h ic h th e m e th o d s fo llo w e d a t m a n y p la n ts a r e n o to rio u s , h a v e b e e n re d u c e d to a m in im u m in th e I n d ia n o la sy ste m . A p r im e s o u rc e o f e r r o r in th e s y s te m g e n e ra lly fo llo w e d o c c u rs in e n te r in g la b o r c h a rg e s u n d e r g e n e r a l o c c u p a tio n s in s te a d o f specific jo b s . W h e r e la b o r is closely co n fin e d to th e w o r k f o r w h ic h it w as o rig in a lly e m p lo y ed , a d iv is io n alo n g th e s e lin e s m ig h t b e s a tis f a c to r y . S u c h w a s m o re th e c a se in e a rlie r d a y s o f m in in g , w h e n o p e r a tin g m e th o d s w e re less s u b je c t to c h a n g e , th a n n o w . I n b rin g in g a b o u t c h a n g e s in m e th o d s a n d p la n s , m o d e rn iz in g in flu e n ces c o n s ta n tly a lte r th e sc o p e o f in d i
v id u a l e m p lo y m e n t, m o s t d e c id e d ly d u r in g th e p e r io d s o f la r g e r e a d ju s t
m e n ts.
I N L A N D C O L L I K R I E S C O .
I N D I A f î O L A M I N I ?
. N a m e____________________________
P a y E n d i n g. O c c u p a t i o n—
B e C a r e fu l
D a l e I N OUT O v e r t i m e T o t a l
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The Clocks and This Card H ave Eliminated The Timekeeper and Time Books
H a ltin g ru n n in g tim e , a b sen c es o f d a y w o rk e rs , a n d c o n c e n tra tio n o f e ffo rts in sin g le d ire c tio n s in e m e r
g e n c y w o r k r e q u ir e a t le a st occasio n al s h if tin g o f m e n f ro m o n e jo b to a n o th e r. I t is m a n if e s t th a t u n d e r th e s e c irc u m sta n c e s la b o r c h a rg e s c a n n o t b e a c c u ra te ly c h a rg e d to o c c u p a tio n s. I f a fo re m a n s h if ts a m a n to a jo b o th e r th a n h is o w n f o r o n ly a few h o u r s h e m a y u n in te n tio n a lly o r d e lib e ra te ly
fa il to re c o rd th e d iv is io n o f tim e . T h e o m issio n c a n b e la id o n ly to th e c o s t-k e e p in g sy ste m , f o r a lo o se a c c o u n tin g s tr u c t u r e e n c o u ra g e s in a c c u ra c y in th e g a th e r in g o f b a s ic d a ta . A fu n d a m e n ta l o f th e I n d ia n o la c o s t-k e e p in g s y ste m is th e c h a rg in g o f la b o r to jo b s a n d n o t to o cc u p a tio n s.
T h is d iv is io n o f la b o r in to its ele
m e n ts is th e sole f a c to r w h ic h en a b le d a s p lit-u p o f th e a c c o u n ts in to th e
A u gu st, 1930
— C O A L A G E 459
I N L A N D C O L L I E R I E S C O M P A N Y
D A Y O R M O N T H M INE
C O ST O F COAL
R E P A I R S A N D M A I N T E N A N C E O P E R A T I N G
U N D E R G R O U N D
L a b o r I .»Sur
I. S H O R T W A L L M IN IN G C u t tin g b L o a d in g
P ic k L o a d in g J Y a rd a g e
f T im b e rin g
h S h o tfirin g
T O T A L 1 M A C H I N E M IN IN C a C u t tin g
b D rillin g UNDERGROUND o p e r a t i n g
A c c o u n t— (C o n H n g f d )
1 d r a i n a g e
K E F A ,K S » N P « A I M T E .V A .S f B
bW M * « r h l H
S h o o tin g
M a te r ia l d C o n v e y o r L o a d in g
t C a r T rim m in g
f T im b e rin g _ a P u m p «
_ b P ip » L ine«
_c C le a n in g
■1 P o w e r L ine s T O T A L
3. L O A D IN G M A C H I N E S a C u t tin g a n d L o a d in g b D rillin g c S h o o tin g il C o n re y o r»
e « at T r im m in g
— - a F ire k - B ï f h D im in g
— g-g‘p,fldRJf->- ' —II
! A id A V inn p —,-j I n m y ^ i yn
-— g . P i r e A p p j r j i u » T O T A L 3
1 . h a v l a g e______________
a M a in L in e L o com otive»
b G a t h e r in g L 'v o m tftiv e «
T r a c k s O P E R A T I N G
d W irin g a n j B o n d in g S U R F A C E
L a b o r A c c o u n t
g C le a n in g T ra c k » 10. T I P P L E
h G r a d in g a W e ig h in g
b D u m p in g P ic k in g T a b le
T O T A L " f J I n a p e c tlo n T abl.-
f R . R . C a r L o m lm g
H e a d in g » f M o to r» & Co I
g L a r r y à R ock D um p h B u ild in g R e p a i, T O T A L
ft. V E N T IL A T IO N
JT.O TAL U .V D E R G R O rrv T O T A L 10
b B r a ttic e a n d D oor» 11. H O IS T IN G
d C le a n in g Ai b S u p p ly H oU t
d T o p C a g e r e S h a f t» a n d G uide»
f S ig n a l» ____________
T O T A L 0
g XV I ra R o p e P r o v ia io n
12. S H O P
F o r e m e n & M echanic»
b S m ith in g c M a c h in e r y
T O T A L 12 13. L I G H T A N D P O W E R
a E le c . C u r r e n t P u r .
c S w itc h B o a rd » d T r a n » f o rm c r a
--- IPIAL13 .
14. H E A T I N G P L A N T a B oiler»_____________
b S t e a m L ine »
T O T A L 14
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T O T A L S U R F A C E
m a jo r b ra n c h e s o f m in e o p e ra tio n . R e a liz a tio n o f th e n ee d f d r a s y ste m o f th is k in d w a s a w a k e n e d b y ’ m e c h a n i
z a tio n , w h ic h w a s in itia te d a b o u t five y e a rs ago. T h e u r g e ca m e fro m th e n e c e s s ity f o r a co m p lete s e p a ra tio n o f th e c o sts o f m a c h in e lo a d in g fro m th o se o f h a n d lo a d in g . D e p e n d e n t r e q u ire m e n ts w e r e th a t th e c o sts be re n d e re d d a ily a n d th a t th e y b e d i
v id e d in to th e ir e le m e n ts f o r in te lli
g e n t s c ru tin y .
R e v isio n o f th e old sy stem o ffe re d n o s a tis f a c to r y so lu tio n o f th e p r o b lem . I t w a s d ec id e d , th e re fo r e , to a b a n d o n th e th e n c u r r e n t sy ste m a n d
to w o rk o u t a n e n tire ly n e w fo rm . A s d ev elo p ed , each o f th e m a in d iv is io n s is co m p lete w ith in its e lf a n d all a re a r r a n g e d to fo llo w th e se q u e n c e o f o p e ra tio n s, s ta r tin g a t th e w o rk in g face a n d e n d in g a t th e ra ilro a d ca r.
Jo b - a c c o u n ts a p p e a r a s su b d iv isio n s u n d e r th e m a in h ea d s. - • -
O n e f o rm se rv e s i n - th e c o m p ilin g o f b o th d a ily a n d m o n th ly c o sts, a s e p a r a te sh e e t b e in g u se d f o r each in d iv id u a l d a y a n d m o n th . T h is fo rm is p r in te d o n a sh e e t th a t is fo ld e d o n ce in to a fo u r-p a g e fo lio m e a s u r in g 9 x 1ljr in . A c c o u n ts c h a rg e a b le to th e u n d e rg r o u n d a p p e a r o n th e firs t a n d One Form, Consisting
o f These Pour Pages, S e r v e s in Compiling Both Daily and Monthly
Costs
T o t.!
460 C O A L A G E — Vol.35, No.H
se c o n d p a g e s ; th o se c h a rg e a b le to th e s u r f a c e a r e g r o u p e d 011 th e th ir d p ag e.
T h e f o u r th p a g e is d e v o te d to g e n era l e x p e n se a c c o u n ts, to a re c a p itu la tio n , a n d to p ro d u c tio n re c o rd s. E a c h ite m is sp lit a c ro ss th e p a g e in to a n o p e r a tin g e le m e n t a n d a re p a irs a n d m a in te n a n c e elem e n t, fo llo w e d b y co l
u m n s g iv e n to d a ily a n d c u m u la tiv e to ta ls. T h e f o rm e r a r e c a r rie d f o r w a rd each d a y in a r r iv in g a t th e m o n th ly co st to ta ls, w h ic h a r e tie d u p w ith th e to ta l p a y ro ll a t th e e n d o f th e m o n th .
B rie fly , th e p r o c e d u re s in a r r iv in g a t d a ily a n d m o n th ly c o sts a r e as f o llo w s : A d a ily co st is com p iled by ta k in g all f o re m e n ’s a b s tra c ts , d e b it
in g th e v a r io u s a c c o u n ts w ith th e a m o u n t o f la b o r a n d m a te ria ls used
R E P A I R S A N D M A I N T E N A N C E T o ta l C ost P e r T o n
T o ta l Cm( to D o te O p r.
TouT
C oat P e r T o n T o D a ta
L
fo r th e day . T h e s e tw o o p e ra tio n s p lu s o v e rh e a d e x p e n se s, d e p le tio n , d e p re c ia tio n , ta x e s , fire in s u ra n c e , a n d lia b ility in s u ra n c e g iv e a to ta l fro m w h ic h th e d a ily co st is c o m p u te d . T h e m o n th ly c o s t s h e e t is a r e c a p it
u la tio n o f th e d a ily co st sh e e ts f o r th e m o n th w ith a d ju s tm e n ts m a d e w h e re needed.
A ll w o rk e rs ab o v e a n d below g ro u n d ch eck in a n d o u t on S tro m - b e r g clocks. T h e c a rd s a r e d esig n e d to ta k e c a re o f la b o r on th e d e b it side o f th e le d g e r in c o n ju n c tio n w ith th e tim e tu r n e d in on th e fo re m a n a b s tra c ts . In th is c o n n e c tio n th e clock se rv e s m e re ly to ch eck th e tim e su b m itte d by th e fo re m e n ,' b u t th e c a rd s a r e u tiliz e d to r e c o rd all r a te a n d tim e d a ta c o v e rin g d ay w o rk e rs a n d m e n o n lo a d in g m a ch in es. A t th e e n d o f th e p a y p e rio d , th e to ta l tim e a n d ra te s on th e c a rd a r e fig u re d a n d th e e a rn in g s a r e p o ste d in th e p ay ro ll.
D a ily to n n a g e s a r e e n te re d o n th e tim e c a rd s o f m e n on lo a d in g m a c h in es only. P ro d u c tio n o f o th e r to n n a g e m e n — h a n d lo a d e rs a n d
G E N E R A L E X P E N S E S A cc o u n t
O P E R A T I N G R E P A I R S A N D M A I N T E N A N C E T o ta l
C oat P e r
T o ta l C o a t to D a te O p r.
T o ta l C o st P e r T o n T o D a te
l.a h o r M a te r ia l T o la l C » !
r»r
T.n L a b o r M a te r ia l T o ta l CmI
T*nPtt
16. M IN E O F F I C E a S u p e r v if 'n & A c c t'in jj b E n g in e e r in g c H o s p ita l d C lu b H o u se e B a th H o u se f L a b o r a to ry g T e le p h o n e ftT clci;iai< h h M isc e lla n i-o u t
T O T A L 16 IT. G E N E R A L O F F I C E it
F I X E D C H A R G E S a D ep letio n b D e p r e c ia tio n c T a x e s d F i r e I n s u ra n c e e L ia b ilit y I n s u ra n c e t B o iler In su ra n c e
T O T A L 17
T O T A L G E .V L E X P 'S
R E C A P I T U L A T I O N
T o ta l U n d e r g r o u n d E x p .
T o ta l S u r f a c e F .xpcnae
T o ta l G e n e ra l E x p e n s «
T O T A L C O S T
P F c D U C T ON |N ET TO N SI
P e r l e a d e r T o r IV G . M an R e m a rk *
S h o r t w a ll M in in g M achine M inin*
L o ad in g M a chine *
T O T A L T O N N A G E
--- rrrrxr R 0 CK
Ton a H o ia led ______
La it i r i f ro m T ip p le U r r i e t f , o n , S L a n i f i f t o n , s ul) P| y S h a f i T o ta l D ay« H o iM rd H o u r» H o is te J T o d a y
T o n » ShiiHK il T o d a y T o ta l M r n U n d e r g r o u n d
D aily A v e r a g e C oal
T o n * S h ip p e d T o D a te T o ta l M f n S u r f a c e
D aily A v e r a g e R ock
N o . H o u r* w ith o u t R . R . C-ais Muya Operated
I» jy a O p e r a t e d T o D a te
c u tte r s — is g o tte n by re c a p itu la tio n o f d a ily a c c o u n ts a n d ch eck ed by se m i-w e ek ly r e p o r ts m a d e by th e fo re m e n . T h e s e r e p o r ts sp e c ify w h e th e r th e to n n a g e w a s p ro d u c e d in w id e o r n a r ro w p laces o r by pick.
I n th e c o m p u ta tio n o f d a ily ac c o u n ts c o v e rin g c u tte r s a n d h a n d lo a d ers, c o n s e q u e n tly , a c o m p o site ra te m u s t be u sed , b ec au se a c tu a l r a te s a r e tw o o r th r e e in n u m b e r. W h ile th e s e c o sts a r e e s tim a te d o n ly in th e d aily b o o k k e e p in g , th e re s u lts ch eck w ith in o n e m ill o f th e a c tu a l c o s t p e r to n as d e te rm in e d f o r th e m o n th . T o ta l e a rn in g s o f all w o rk e rs a lik e a r e e n te re d o n th e c a rd a t th e e n d o f th e p a y p e rio d .
T h is sy ste m o f tim e clocks a n d c a rd s e lim in a te d th e tim e k e e p e r a n d th e c u s to m a ry m e th o d o f ch e ck in g m e n in a n d o u t o f th e p la n t. N o t o n ly d o es it g re a tly sim p lify th e w o rk b u t it p ro v id e s an a c c u ra te a n d q u ic k ch e ck on th e tim e tu r n e d in by th e fo re m e n . T o g e th e r w ith th e tim e k e e p e r, all office tim e b o o k s w e re e lim in a te d . T h e o n ly tim e books n o w u se d a r e th o se c a rrie d b y th e fo re m e n .
N o c o n fu s io n e n s u e s fro m th e use o f tim e clocks in th e ch e c k in g -in a n d c h e c k in g -o u t p ro ce ss. A f t e r a m a n h a s rec eiv e d o r te n d e re d h is lam p, h e p u n c h e s th e clock. S uffi
c ie n t tim e is a v a ila b le b e tw e e n tu r n s to av o id w a itin g .
A s tw o c a rd ra c k s a r e em p lo y ed , a q u ic k g la n ce a t th e c h e c k in g -o u t r a c k in th e m o r n in g te lls w h a t m e n d id n o t r e p o r t f o r w o rk . A c o m p an y ru le r e q u ir e s th é w o rk e rs to re p o r t th e re a so n f o r t h e i r a b se n c e to th e ir f o re m a n . A b se n c e o f o n e d a y w ith o u t re p o r tin g w ith a g o o d e x c u se su b je c ts th e g u i l t y p a r t y to a p e rio d o f com pany-im pose.d id le n e s s. T h e clocks a n d c a rd ’s g iv e ', a ch e ck o n c o n tra c t m e n w h o h a b itu a lly ■ le av e th e m in e e a rly w ith o u t a le g itim a te ex c u se , a n d s e rv e to c u rb th is p ro c liv ity . W h e n a m a n r e p o r ts f o r w o rk a n d fin d s a re d c a rd in h is p la ce o n th e ra c k in ste a d o f h is tim e c a rd , h e k n o w s he is n o t a llo w ed to go to w o rk . I n q u ir y w ill th e n re v e a l to h im th e n a tu r e o f h is o ffe n se a n d th e p e n a lty im p o sed .
G re a t s tr e s s is laid on a c c u ra c y in th e re n d e rin g o f th e fo re m a n a b s tra c ts . I f a m a n is d iv e rte d f ro m h is r e g u la r d u tie s to o n e o r m o re o th e r jo b s d u rin g th e d ay , an a c c u ra te d i
v isio n o f h is tim e m u s t be m a d e b e tw e e n th o se jo b s. T h is d e m a n d , m o re th a n a n y o th e r fa c to r, is ele v a tin g th e fo re m a n to a h ig h e r e x e c u tiv e p la n e. C lo sely -d iv id ed c o sts g iv e a
A ugust, 1930
— C O A L A G E 461
INLAND C O L L IE R IE S COM PANY
... 192.
W ORK PER FO R M ED TN... !...DEPA RTM EN T
No. N A M E O C C U P A T IO N R A T E D IS T R IB U T IO N AC CT. H R S. A m ount
— — —
,
TOTAL
...FOREMAN
Labor Costs Arc Charged to Specific Jobs
f o re m a n a n a c c u ra te m e a s u r e o f th e e x p e n s e in v o lv e d in th e d o in g o f a jo b . I n d a y s p a s t, m u c h o f th e v a lu e o f a fo re m a n w a s g a g e d b y h is a b il
ity to d e te r m in e e ith e r b y in tu itio n o r e x p e rie n c e w h a t c o s ts s h o u ld b e ; a n d a t b e s t h is c a lc u la tio n s w e r e m e re m e n ta l e s tim a te s.
I f su p p lie s a re n o t c h a rg e d to specific jo b s w h e n issu e d , th e ir c o sts m u s t b e s p re a d fro m lu m p su m s, a n d in d iv id u a l a c c o u n ts a r e m e a n in g le ss, even a s la b o r c o sts a r e v a lu e le ss w h e n d e b ite d to o c c u p a tio n s r a th e r th a n to p a r tic u la r jo b s. A t I n d ia n o la su p p lie s a r e h a n d le d in a s o m e w h a t s im ila r m a n n e r a s is th e tim e ; th a t is, th e y a r e c h a r g e d o ff c u rr e n tly . T h e m in e fo re m a n h a s ju r is d ic tio n o v e r s u p p lies u se d u n d e r g r o u n d ; d e p a rtm e n t f o re m e n o n th e s u r f a c e a r e v e s te d w ith th a t sa m e a u th o rity .
W h e n r e q u is itio n s a r e m a d e , d is p o s itio n o f th e c a lle d -f o r su p p lie s is specified. A c o p y o f th e re q u is itio n
is s e n t to th e office o n th e d a y th a t th e o r d e r is filled. A ll ite m s a r e c a r r ie d in s to r e s a n d re q u is itio n e d o u t, e x c e p t th o s e th a t g o in to im m e d ia te u se. T h e s e la tte r a r e c h a rg e d d ire c t.
L a r g e ite m s a re g e n e ra lly s p re a d o v e r o n e o r m o re m o n th s . L a r g e re p la c e m e n ts , su c h a s b a tte r ie s , r e q u ir e th e s e ttin g u p o f a m o n th ly c h a rg e f o r s e ttle m e n t on a p e r- to n b asis. I te m s f r o m s to r e s m u s t b e re q u is itio n e d o u t o n ly as n ee d e d a n d a r e c h a rg e d d aily .
' M a in te n a n c e c o s ts a r e c h a rg e d to th e d a y o n w h ic h th e y a r e in c u rre d , even th o u g h th e m in e b e idle. B u t r e p a ir c o sts s u s ta in e d o n id le d a y s u su a lly a r e c a r rie d o v e r to th e su c ce ed in g w o rk in g d a y o r d a y s , a s th e to n n a g e p ro d u c e d g e ts th e a d v a n ta g e o f th e re p a irs . A n im p o r ta n t a d v a n ta g e o f th e s y ste m is th a t it elim in a te s th e n e e d f o r s e p a r a te r e n d e r in g o f m a in te n a n c e a n d r e p a ir co sts.
D a ily p o w e r c h a rg e s a r e e s tim a te d
f ro m th e b ill o f th e p re c e d in g m o n th as a base. A c r e d it o r a d e b it is a p p lie d to th e d a y s re m a in in g in th e m o n th fo llo w in g r e c e ip t o f th e bill.
S a f e a r r iv a l a t m o n th ly c o s ts r e q u ir e s th e s te p p in g sto n e s m a d e a v a il
a b le in d a ily c o s t a c c o u n tin g . K e e p in g o f d a ily c o sts h a s b e e n a r g u e d a g a in s t b ec au se o f th e la b o r a n d th e r e d ta p e in v o lv e d . T h e e x c u s e is b a s e d m o re o n th e fa u lts o f a s y s te m th a n o n th o s e o f th e p rin c ip le . A t a n y ra te , d a ily c o s t-k e e p in g a t I n d ia n o la ta k e s th e tim e o f o n ly o n e m a n , w h o , in a d d itio n to h is m a jo r d u ty , k e e p s re c o rd s o f m a c h in e p e r fo rm a n c e s a n d sh ip p in g .
M o n d a y ’s c o s ts a r e a v a ila b le b y 11 a. m . T u e s d a y , w h ic h a c c o u n ts f o r th e n e c e s sity o f p u n c tu a lity in s c h e d u lin g d a ta b o th as to la b o r a n d m a te ria ls . A ll th e a c c o u n tin g is co m p le te d a t th e p la n t a n d m o n th ly a c c o u n ts a r e s e n t to th e h o m e office in v o u c h e r fo rm .
462 C O A L A G E —
Vol.35, N o.8CORRECT DRAFT GEAR DESIGN
4- Narrows Hazards in M in e Haulage
T
O s a f e g u a r d a g a in s t b re a k in g o f th e h a u la g e c h a in c o n s titu te d in a t r ip o f m in e c a rs , it is im p e r a tiv e th a t e v e ry lin k a n d p in jo in in g th e t r ip e le m e n ts b e o f u n if o rm c o m p o sitio n a n d o f a s tr e n g th g u a r a n te e d b y a g e n e r o u s f a c to r o f s a fe ty . T h e n e c e s sity f o r th is p re c a u tio n a ris e s f ro m th e s e v e re lo a d s to w h ich c o u p lin g s jo in in g m in e c a rs a n d locom o tiv e s a r e s u b je c te d in n o rm a l se rv ic e. F a ilu r e o f a co u p lin g , w h e th e r fr o m in h e r e n t w e a k n e ss, w e a r, in c o rr e c t u sa g e , o r a n y o th e r ca u se , e n d a n g e rs lives. I t m a y in c u r c o s tly p r o p e r ty lo ss b y a d u s t e x p lo sio n a n d , a t th e le ast, w ill r e q u ir e r e p a ir s to tra c k , tim b e rin g , a n d m in e c a rs.
A ll m in in g m e n w ill a g re e th a t c o n d itio n s m e t in m in e tr a n s p o r ta tio n a r e difficult, b u t fe w d is c e rn th e rea l sig n ific an c e o f th e c h a n g e s in th e s e c o n d itio n s. M in e h a u la g e is b u c k in g n a tu ra l la w s m o re a n d m o re as d e m a n d s u p o n it g ro w . A t b e st, r o a d b ed s a r e n o t u n if o rm ly solid, n o r tra c k s c o n s ta n tly level ; se v e re g ra d e s a r e lik e ly to b e e n c o u n te re d ; s h o rt- r a d iu s c u rv e s m u s t b e to le r a te d u n d e r c e rta in c o n d itio n s ; n u m e ro u s sw itc h e s a n d tu r n o u ts c a n n o t b e e lim in a te d . A n d w ith a l, th e lig h tin g is p o o r. N o t
Fig. 1— Details o f Coupling Pin ft
H r
"ET
f*° . Weld this
J2) Vo n o t sp o t w eld link to chain
^ ‘ ¿Weldedring anchor on cart
k~ 10’
w
I• __
. .>J 2% diam.
common coil chain, i v K"--- Slinks = 9 * ...->j
1— -i—N
Looste Coupling Pin
• l o f...
hole
\ÏX-Center punch m ark for id en tifica tio n
Center punch id en tifica tio n m a r k
l-< lï'Q jh re a d ' V U 7jr
5 .
S t e e l S p e c ific a tio n » C arbon 0.40-0.60 M anganese 0.4 0 - 0.60 P hosphorus 0.045m a x . S u lp h u r 0.05 m a x
5pec;an m * agonar n u > - ~ ^ Dr!IIT°rcofter i
By C E. W A T T S
Mechanical Engineer Berivind-W hite Coal Mining Co.
Windber, Pa.
all o f th e s e c o n d itio n s ca n b e a lte re d e x a c tly to fit c h a n g e s in th e fu n c tio n in g o f m o d e rn tr a n s p o r ta tio n .
P la in ly , m in e tr a n s p o r ta tio n is e m e rg in g as a n e w b e in g . T r i p s p ly th e tra c k s a t s h o r te r in te r v a ls ; th e y a r e lo n g e r, h e a v ie r, a n d a t tim e s a t ta in a sp e ed as h ig h a s 20 m iles p e r h o u r. T h is ra te o f tra v e l m a y be a s n a il’s p ace on th e s u rfa c e , b u t tin d e r- g ro u n d it g iv es a tr a in th e m o tio n o f a g ia n t th u n d e rin g d o w n th e tra c k . T h e s e ch a n g e s a n d a d v a n c e s in t r a n s p o rta tio n m e th o d s o f re c e n t y e a rs call f o r in c re a s in g a tte n tio n to th e detail o f t r ip co u p lin g s.
A re v ie w o f th e e x p e rie n c e o f th e W in d b e r d is tric t m in e s o f th e B e r- w in d - W h ite C oal M in in g C o., in c e n tr a l P e n n s y lv a n ia , sh o u ld be h e lp fu l to th o se fac ed w ith a p ro b le m in c a r a n d lo c o m o tiv e co u p lin g s. D u rin g th e la st five y e a rs th e c o m p a n y h a s r e placed so m e 8,000 1-to n w o o d en c a rs w ith 2-to n c a rs o f c o m p o site d esig n , eq u ip p ed w ith a n ti- f r ic tio n b e a rin g s.
C o n c u rr e n t w ith th is re p la c e m e n t o f e q u ip m e n t, g r a d e s a t m a n y p o in ts in th e h a u la g e sy ste m s w e re m od ified , ro a d b e d s w e re im p ro v e d , a n d m a n y
Fixed Coupling Pin
Steel S pecifications Drop fo rg e d
Carbon 0.17-0.25
Manganese 040 * 0.60
Phosphorus.not over 005 Sulphur, not over 0 05 5/1/ con .n o t o ver 0.03 Weight 16.5 lb.
B reaking strength 130,000lb.
Fig. 2— Coupling-Link Design
m iles o f lig h t-w e ig h t ra ils w e re re - laid w ith 7 0 - lb. steel. T h e s e a n d s im ila r im p ro v e m e n ts in th e t r a n s p o r ta tio n sy ste m a r e lo o k e d u p o n by th e m a n a g e m e n t a s a c o n tin u in g p ro ce ss.
T h e firs t lo t o f 8 0 0 c a rs o f n ew d e s ig n so o n d e m o n s tra te d p o in ts o f a d v a n ta g e a n d d is a d v a n ta g e in s e rv ice. A ll ite m s o f d e s ig n w e re c a r e fu lly c o n s id e re d a n d im p ro v e m e n ts m a d e p ro g re s s iv e ly to c a rs in all su c c e e d in g lo ts in sta lle d . T h e ite m o f co u p lin g p in s a n d lin k s ca m e in f o r a fu ll m e a s u re o f clo se e x a m in a tio n d u r in g th is ev o lu tio n o f d esig n .
I n th e p la n s a n d sp e cific atio n s c o v e rin g th e f irs t fe w lo ts o f c a rs, n o d e ta ils o f d e sig n a n d m a n u fa c tu r e f o r co u p lin g ele m e n ts w e re s tip u la te d . S u g g e stio n s w e re o f a g e n e ra l n a tu re . A f t e r th e c a rs c o n s titu tin g th e e a r lie r in sta lla tio n s h a d b ee n in se rv ic e a few y e a rs, it w as n o tic e d th a t m a n y o f th e p in s sh o w e d re a d ily a p p a r e n t e v i
d e n c e o f b e in g b e n t. I n a few in sta n c e s lin k fa ilu re h a d o c c u rre d . A ch e c k -u p disclosed th a t th e p in s w e re o f lo w a n d v a r y in g c a rb o n c o n te n t a n d th a t p ra c tic a lly all w e re m o re o r less b e n t. T h e links, d ro p -f o r g e d a n d o rig in a lly o f u n if o rm c ro ss-se c tio n ,
A ugust, 1930
— C O A L A G E 463
/'!<?. j —-fi<vnfts Of 1 i'Stiup Cold <1 Standard Pin in iVi'ii'cV Om<* I'm c
also w e re o f low a n d v a ry in g carl ion c o n t e n t ; th o v sh o w e d c o n s id e ra b le r e d u c tio n in th e c ro ss-se c tio n a l a r e a a t each e n d th r o u g h w e a r.
P e rio d ic a n n e a lin g o f lin k s w as c o n s id e re d , a n d d is c a rd e d , a s n o t being a s a tis f a c to r y so lu tio n to th e p ro b lem . A l>ent p in stra ig h te n e d m a y be ru in e d in th e p ro c e ss b y o v e r h e a tin g . A t th e le ast, it in v a ria b ly lo ses so m e o f its o rig in a l s tilln e s s . S o, a f t e r s tu d y a n d te stin g , th e p in s sh o w n in F ig . I a n d th e lin k in P ig . 2 (n o ta b le f o r its in c re a s e o f d ia m e te r a t e a c h e n d ) w e re a c c e p te d a s s ta n d a r d s f o r th e d is tric t. T h e y h a v e p ro v e d to lie o f s u ita b le size, w e ig h t, a n d s tr e n g th to w ith s ta n d su c c e ss
fu lly , an d w ith o u t d is to rtio n , a n y lo a d a p p lie d in n o rm a l se rv ic e.
T h e b e n d in g load o f th e p in w h e n
Fig. 4— This Draft (rear of i-0'< Carbon nS7<v/ .Oift' .V;),* H'iihstnnti Distortion
in o p e r a tin g p o sitio n is a p p ro x im a te ly eq u al to th e b re a k in g p o in t o f th e link, w h ic h is 180,000 lb. A s th e n o rm al d r a w b a r pull o f th e h e a v ie st lo c o m o tiv e in th e d is tric t is 18,000 lb., a fa c to r o f s a fe ty o f 10 is p ro v id e d .
W ith in th e p a s t tw o y e a rs, all p in s a n d lin k s n o t c o n fo rm in g w ith th e se s ta n d a r d s h a v e been rep la ce d . Tt is p la n n e d to d is c a rd th e lin k s w h e n the e n d s w e a r to a c ro ss-se c tio n eq u al to o r slig h tly less th a n th e c ro ss-se c tio n a l a r e a o f th e body. R e p la c e m e n t o f p in s w ill b e sim ila rly g o v e rn e d . T h is is c o n s id e re d to be th e c h e a p e st a n d s u r e s t w ay to m a in ta in sufficient a n d c o n tin u o u s ly u n if o rm s tr e n g th in th e e a r co u p lin g s.
F ig , 4 sh o w s a few o f th e o rig in a l lo w -c a rb o n p in s a n d lin k s. A lth o u g h th e y w e re f a irly to u g h a n d s tr o n g , th e y w e re n o t eq u a l to th e s tre s s e s im - p o se d u p o n th e m in se rv ic e . F ig . 3 illu s tra te s a n ew s ta n d a r d p in ta k e n fro m a c a r a f t e r o n e y e a r o f se rv ic e.
Its h e a d w a s c u t o ff a n d th e s te m w a s te s te d cold b y b e n d in g u n d e r a ste a m h a m m e r, w ith re s u lts a s sh o w n a t A . I n F ig . 6 is p r e s e n te d a n e w s ta n d a r d lin k w h ic h a lso w a s vested cold. F i r s t it w a s sto o d o n en d u n d e r a ste a m h a m m e r u n til d is to rte d to th e s h a p e illu s tra te d a t A . N e x t i t w a s sa w e d in tw o , o n e h a lf, B , b e in g f la t
te n e d d o w n o n its e lf, a n d th e o th e r h a lf, C, b e in g s tr a ig h te n e d u n d e r th e h a m m e r. I t s h o u ld Ix- n o te d th a t n o f ra c tu r e s o c c u rre d , in d ic a tin g th e to u g h n e s s o f th e steel o f w h ic h th e s e p a r ts a r e m a d e.
C a r c o u p lin g s s h o u ld b e o f th e s h o rte s t in sid e le n g th w h ich w ill allo w c o u p le d c a rs to p a s s f r e e ly a r o u n d c u r v e s o f m in im u m ra d iu s . T h e s h o r te r th e co u p lin g , th e less s e v e re a r e th e je r k s a n d j a r s to w h ic h t r a i n s a r e su b je c te d in s ta r t in g a n d s to p p in g .
~xr
V
. f a- 1 Carbon 040-0.60 Steel S p e c ific a tio n s \n a n g a n tS f0BO-<00
[Chrome 060 Fig. 5—Standard Locomotive Coupling Pin
F u r th e r m o r e , w ith th e s h o r t c o u p lin g th e re w ill be less sp illa g e o f coal f ro m h e a v ily to p p e d c a rs.
E q u a lly a s im p o rta n t a s th e d r a f t g e a r on c a rs is th e c o u p lin g p in f o r lo c o m o tiv e s, f o r th e lo a d o n a lo c o m o tiv e c o u p lin g p in is g r e a te r th a n th a t o n a n y p in e lse w h e re in a tr ip . A f t e r d u e te s tin g a n d e x p e rim e n tin g , B e rw in d c h o se a s a s ta n d a r d f o r th e W in d b e r d is tric t, a lo c o m o tiv e p in o f h e a t-tr e a te d allo y steel, o f th e d e sig n a n d sp e cific atio n s in d ic a te d in F ig . 5.
O n th e h e a d o f th is p in , a p la c e is p ro v id e d w h e re th e d a te o f in d u c tio n in to se rv ic e is s ta m p e d . T h e p u r p o s e o f d a tin g th e p in is to sy s te m a tiz e th e re p la c e m e n t o f th e m a f t e r a p e rio d o f se rv ic e d e te r m in e d a s lo g ic al b y e x p e rie n c e . T h is p ra c tic e w ill elim in a te th e d a n g e rs o f p in fa ilu re fro m w e a r a n d c ry s ta lliz a tio n .
S in c e th e s e n ew s ta n d a r d s w e re ad o p te d , n o w re c k s c a u se d b y fa ilu re o f p in s o r lin k s h a v e o c c u rre d . T h e ste e l sp e c ific a tio n s a r e b e lie v e d to b e a b o u t rig h t, a n d u n le ss, o r u n til, th e lin k s a n d p in s m a d e a c c o rd in g t o th e p r e s e n t s ta n d a r d s p ro v e in c a p a b le o f su c c e ssfu lly h o ld in g u p in se rv ic e, th e s e s ta n d a r d s w ill b e c o n tin u e d in th e d is tric t.
Fin. 6— Distortion W ithout Rupture in a Standard L ink by Testing Cold
ARCWALL-TYPE MACHINES
+ Loading Coal
In M id -W e s t M in e s
U
P u n til a b o u t tw o y e a rs ag o a c tiv itie s in m e ch a n ize d lo a d in g w e r e c o n fin e d m a in ly to th e o p e r a tio n o f la rg e m obile m ach in es a n d v a r io u s ty p e s o f fac e a n d se ctio n a l conveyors.* B u t th e s e d evices h a v e n o t h a d th e lo a d in g field to th e m se lv e s sin c e th a t tim e , f o r th e p la n tin g o f p it- c a r lo a d e rs h a s sh o w n p h e n o m e n a l g r o w th . N o w o th e r in te re s ts a r e in th e field, p la n n in g to c u ltiv a te it w ith m a c h in e s o f a n ew ty p e w h ic h g a th e r s coal a s do th e la rg e m o b ile u n its . T h e s e a r e o f less w e ig h t th a n th e la rg e m o b ile ty p e b u t h e a v ie r th a n p it- c a r lo a d e rs. W ith th is n ew ty p e in th e field, it ca n be sa id th a t m e c h a n iz e d lo a d in g e q u ip m e n t h a s e n te r e d in to its f o u r th p h a se o f d iv e rsific a tio n .
O n e o f th e s e c o m p a ra tiv e ly n ew m a ch in e s is th e Je ffre y ' 4 4 -C lo a d er.
T h is m a c h in e is r e a lly n e w o n ly in re fin e m e n ts o f d e sig n , h o w e v e r, be
in g b a s e d o n th e p rin c ip le o f coal g a th e r in g in c o rp o r a te d in th e old H a m ilto n lo a d e r. T h e la tte r w a s first in tro d u c e d b y th e J e f f re y c o m p a n y in 1913, .in th e d a y s w h e n th e in d u s try w as n o t r e a d y f o r m e c h a n ic a l lo a d ing.
A s in d ic a te d in F ig . 1, th e m a ch in e is co m p o sed o f tw o m a in e le m e n ts : a d is c h a rg e c o n v e y o r w h ic h is p e r m a n e n tly s u p p o r te d o n a tr a c k tru c k a n d a lo a d in g c o n v e y o r w h ic h is c a r rie d o n a p o n y t r u c k w h ile th e m a c h in e is b e in g m o v e d f ro m p la ce to place. B o th th e s e c o n v e y o rs a re p iv o te d on th e ir re s p e c tiv e tr u c k s , fo r w h ich re a s o n th e m a c h in e c a n n e g o tia te c u rv e s o f s h o r t ra d iu s .
U p o n th e m a c h in e re a c h in g th e face, th e g a th e r in g c o n v e y o r is lif te d w ith a p o w e r -d r iv e n h o is t ro p e , th e p o n y tr u c k is re m o v e d , a n d th e f ro n t e n d o f th is c o n v e y o r is d r o p p e d to th e floor. T h e r e a r e n d o f th e g a th e r
in g c o n v e y o r is p in n e d to a n d o v e r
laps th e f r o n t e n d o f th e d is c h a rg e c o n v e y o r. I n g a t h e r in g coal th is f r o n t c o n v e y o r is s w u n g a b o u t th is p o in t o f p in n in g a s a c e n te r. M o v e m e n t o f th e m a c h in e in lo a d in g , b o th f o r s u m p in g in to a c u t a n d m o v e m e n t ac ro ss th e face, is ac co m p lish e d b y a p o w e r-w o u n d steel ro p e a tta c h e d to a ja c k .
A f t e r th e m a c h in e is su m p e d in, th e ro p e is led fro m th e p o w e r d ru m , is p asse d a r o u n d a s n a tc h b lock on th e ja c k p laced a t th e rib , a n d is finally a tta c h e d to a p o s t o n th e f ro n t en d o f th e g a th e rin g co n v e y o r. T h is ro p e se rv e s th e sa m e p u rp o s e as th e ro p e on a sh o rtw a ll c u tte r , p u llin g th e m a ch in e in to th e coal. T h e sw ee p o f th e g a th e r in g c o n v e y o r tra c e s a n a rc in e x a c tly th e fa sh io n o f a n a rc w a ll c u tte r a n d th e r e f o r e is ideal f o r lo a d in g in p laces p re p a re d b y th is ty p e o f c u tte r.
W h e n lo a d in g in a s q u a re d face c u t by a sh o rtw a ll th e e n tir e m a c h in e is m o v e d f o r w a r d a s th e g a th e r in g c o n v e y o r is s w u n g sid e w ise. T h is a llo w s th e f r o n t tip o f th e g a th e r in g ele m e n t to re a c h in to th e c o rn e rs . W i th th e tr a c k in th e c e n te r, th e m a c h in e w ill lo a d o u t coal in a 3 2 -ft.
ro o m . T h e g a th e r in g c o n v e y o r is o f th e p r o je c tin g - a r m ty p e . A s it is r e v e rsib le , it w ill lo a d w ith eq u al fa c ility w h e n s w u n g e ith e r to r ig h t o r to le ft. A f t e r th e m a c h in e fin ish es lo a d in g , n o c le a n u p by h a n d sh o v e l
in g is necessary', b u t th e lo a d in g o p e ra tio n c a n be sp e e d e d u p by fa c e m en w ith sh o v els. U s u a lly , a b o u t 75 p e r c e n t o f th e coal is lo a d e d m e chanically'.
S h o o tin g o f th e coal n e e d be no h e a v ie r th a n fo r h a n d lo a d in g . F o r b e st re s u lts , h o w e v e r, th e coal sh o u ld be sn u b b e d . T h e s h a p e o f th e g a t h e r in g c o n v e y o r en a b le s it to re a c h u n d e r a n d lo a d o u t a s n u b b in g cu t.
T h is is th e p ra c tic e fo llo w ed a t th e Though Only One Is Shown, Tivo Face Men Usually
A re Employed W ith T his Machine
A ugust, 1930 —
C O A L A G E 465
W e s tla n d ( P i t t s b u r g h d is t r ic t) m in e o f th e P itts b u r g h C o a l Co.
O n e o f th e s e u n its is in o p e ra tio n a t th e N o . IS m in e o f th e C o n so li
d a te d C o al Co. o f S t. L o u is , a t M t.
O liv e , 111. O n J u n e 11 th is lo a d e r p ro d u c e d 162 to n s in a s h if t. T h e p e r - s h if t a v e r a g e f o r th is m o n th w a s 152 to n s . F o r th e m o n th o f M a y , h o w e v e r, th e d a ily a v e ra g e w a s o n ly 137 to n s.
H e r e th e N o . 6 se am is b e in g m in e d , its th ic k n e s s a v e r a g in g 7^ ft.
A b o u t 14 in . f r o m th e flo o r o c c u rs th e c h a r a c te r is tic b lu e b a n d , w h ic h is a b o u t 1^ in . th ic k . A b o u t 4 in . o f b o tto m coal is le f t in p la c e a n d th e bed is c u t w ith s h o rtw a ll m a ch in e s.
I n a 2 0 - ft. p la c e f o u r s n u b b in g holes a r e d r ille d ; th e y a r e p la c e d 30 in.
a b o v e th e flo o r a n d c h a rg e d w ith p e r m issib le p o w d e r. T h e e n tir e b e n c h is lo a d e d o u t in o n e o p e ra tio n . M u c h o f th e s n u b b e d coal is p u lle d o u t fro m u n d e r th e c u t b e f o r e th e u p p e r b en c h is b la ste d . T o p h o le s, th r e e in n u m b er, a r e d r ille d a b o u t 12 in. f ro m th e r o o f a n d c h a rg e d w ith p e lle t p o w d e r.
A m p le o p p o r tu n ity is g iv e n th e lo a d in g c re w to re m o v e th e b lu e b a n d a n d o th e r im p u ritie s . T w o m e n a r e
s ta tio n e d a t th e f r o n t e n d o f th e m a ch in e. W h e n th e y e n c o u n te r a siz ab le p ie ce o f r e f u s e , th e y p itc h it to o n e sid e . T h e b u lk o f th e cle a n in g , h o w e v e r, is d o n e by a r e a r c o n v e y o r a t te n d a n t. B . F . M e y e r, d is tric t s u p e r in te n d e n t, a s s e r ts th a t th is o p p o r tu n ity f o r c le a n in g coal o f fe re d b y th e m a c h in e allo w s th e re m o v a l o f 2 to 2 i p e r c e n t o f r e fu s e . W i th o u t th is o p p o r tu n ity 5 to 5-i- p e r c e n t o f r e f u s e w o u ld h a v e to b e re m o v e d in th e tip p le in s te a d o f o n ly 3 p e r ce n t.
A m a c h in e o p e ra to r, a d r iv e r — c a rs a r e s h if te d b y a m u le — tw o m a c h in e m e n w h o c u t a n d d rill, one' tr a c k m a n , a n d o n e tim b e rm a n c o m p r is e th e r e m a in d e r o f th e w o rk in g cre w . S u p e rv is io n ta k e s o n e - f o u r th th e tim e o f a fo re m a n . T h e a tte n d a n c e o n th e m a c h in e c o n s e q u e n tly is 9\ m a n -s h ifts . T h e s e m e n p u t th e coal o n th e p a r tin g .
D e v e lo p m e n t b y lo a d in g m a c h in e s is m o re eco n o m ical w h e n e n trie s a r e d r iv e n w id e. I n th is m in e e n trie s a r e d r iv e n 20 to 22 f t. w id e w h e r e th e r o o f is s o u n d . T h e lo a d e r h a s b e e n w o rk in g in 22- f t. e n trie s in a b a tte r y o f f o u r p laces. S w itc h e s a r e la id in th e c ro s s c u ts a n d th e p la ce s a r e f a irly
Tabic I— T im e Consumed in Loading Out a Room in the Little B etty Mine
Loading Time Seconds ChangingCar Seconds
m è
¿ - S
"r
c
•€ oÇ Va; o
y
14 Ô 4 0
8 0 50
15 10
60 4 5
65 60
T 5 50
9 5 4 5 20*
130 50
155 80
240 55 35*
185 4 5
140 55
165 55
150 60
180 4 0
160 50
145 155*
115 4 5
170 4 5
2 6 5 4 5 30+
260 55
2 3 0 50
2 3 0 50
2 1 0 50
2 3 0 50
245 55 o *
195 T 5
2 4 0
O p e r a tin g m o v e s in a c c o rd a n c e w ith g ro u p in g i n -table
< - 26
§
L o a d in g o p e r a tio n s c o v e r e d b y th e fa b le w e re c o n d u c te d in r o o m G The m a c h in e w a s m o v e d to H
S h i f t i n g r o p e j a c k
S h e a r Din in f r o n t co n vey o r co u p lin g re p la ced ' T im e l o s t w a itin g fo r c a r s
clo sely tim b e re d . H o w e v e r, th e ro o f a t th e w o rk in g fa c e u s u a lly w ill s ta n d u n s u p p o r te d d u r in g th e ta k in g o f s e v e ra l c u ts, so tim b e r n e e d n o t be s e t in th e s e c to r d ev e lo p e d b y th e sw e e p o f th e f r o n t c o n v e y o r o f th e lo a d e r. A b o u t 12 to n s o f coal is m in e d f o r e v e ry p r o p set.
M r. M e y e r b eliev es th e u se o f a g a th e r in g lo c o m o tiv e b e h in d b u t o n e o f th e s e m a c h in e s is n o t econ o m ical a t th e p re s e n t r a te o f o u tp u t. A loco
m o tiv e w o u ld b e p ro fita b le w h e n s e rv in g tw o o f th e s e m a c h in e s if th e la tte r w e r e w o rk e d clo se to g e th e r . W h ile th e d r iv e r is w a itin g f o r a c a r to b e lo a d e d , h e p u ts in h is tim e b u ild in g th e lo ad .
S o m e id e a o f th e p o te n tia l lo a d in g c a p a c ity o f th is m a c h in e is g iv e n b y th e o p e r a tio n o f a u n it a t th e m in e o f th e L itt le B e tty M in in g C o., lo c a te d n e a r L in to n , I n d . T h o u g h a c a r w ith a c a p a c ity o f o n ly 1-| to n s is u s e d a t th is m in e , o n th e f o u r te e n th s h i f t o f o p e ra tio n th e m a c h in e lo a d e d 188 to n s . T h is o u tp u t r e q u ir e d th e s h i f t in g o f 123 c a rs.
N o . 4 b e d coal, 6 f t. th ic k , is m in e d . R o o m s a r e d r iv e n 2 0 0 ft.
lo n g a n d 2 6 ft. w id e o n 3 6 -ft. c e n te rs.
C u ts a r c m a d e 6 ft. d ee p , u s in g s h o r t
w all m a c h in e s. P la n s f o r f u tu r e o p e ra tio n call f o r d r iv in g th e ro o m s o n ly 2 4 ft. w id e on 3 4 - ft. c e n te rs , c u ttin g w ith a n a rc w a ll m a c h in e , th e b e lie f b e in g th a t a n a r c c u t w ill a d d efficiency to th e lo a d e r. R o o f c o n d i
tio n s a r e o n ly m o d e ra te ly g o o d . A s a ru le , th r e e ro w s o f p o s ts m u s t b e se t o n e a ch sid e o f th e tr a c k in ro o m s.
O n e c u t fr o m each o f th r e e to f o u r p la c e s u s u a lly g iv e s th e m a c h in e a d a y ’s to n n a g e , th e a v e ra g e y ie ld p e r p la c e b e in g a b o u t 4 0 to n s . T h e m a c h in e c re w c o n s ists o f th e fo llo w in g m e n : O n e o p e r a tiv e ; o n e h e l p e r ; o n e fa c e m a n ; o n e c o n v e y o r a t t e n d a n t ; o n e a t t e n d a n t ; o n e m o to r m a n ; tw o c u tte r s w h o d e v o te o n ly h a l f th e ir tim e to c u ttin g f o r th e lo a d e r ; o n e m a n ( e q u iv a le n t) f o r d rillin g , a n d b l a s t i n g ; o n e m a n w h o lay s tr a c k a n d t i m b e r s ; a n d o n e fo re m a n w h o d e v o te s a b o u t s ix h o u rs to th e o p e r a tio n o f th is m a c h in e . A lto g e th e r , th e r e f o re , a tte n d a n c e o n th e m a c h in e a m o u n ts to 8f m a n -s h ifts .
A s th e m a jo r d e m a n d s o f th e m a r k e ts a b s o rb in g th e p r o d u c t a r e f o r lu m p , th e coal is lig h tly sh o t. I n c o n seq u en c e, th e m a c h in e is u p a g a in s t n o ea sy lo a d in g jo b . H o w th is n e c e s s ity f o r lu m p coal effe c ts m a c h in e p e r f o rm a n c e is b e s t e x p la in e d b y r e f e r e n c e to T a b le I. I n c id e n ta lly , in t h e s tu d y f ro m w h ic h th is ta b le w a s
466 C O A L A G E —
Vol.35, N o.Sd e riv e d tim e w a s clo ck e d to th e n e a r e s t 5 -sec o n d in c re m e n t, a s 45 seco n d s w h e n th e a c tu a l tim e m ig h t h a v e been 43 o r 4 4 se co n d s. F a c ilitie s w e re n o t a v a ila b le to m a k e a to -th e -s e c o n d s tu d y . N e v e rth e le s s , th e re s u lts s h o u ld b e clo sely re p r e s e n ta tiv e o f th e a c tu a l o p e ra tio n .
I n th e lo w e r s k e tc h to th e r ig h t o f T a b le I a r e sh o w n th e ro o m , G, in w h ic h th e lo a d in g o p e r a tio n w as s tu d ie d a n d th e a d j o in in g ro o m , H , to w h ic h th e m a c h in e w a s su b se q u e n tly s h if te d . T w e lv e m in u te s w as c o n s u m e d f r o m th e tim e th e m a c h in e s to p p e d lo a d in g in ro o m G u n til it c o m m e n c e d lo a d in g in ro o m H . L o a d in g in ro o m G s ta r te d a t 1 1 :35 a.m . a n d e n d e d a t 1 :19 p .m ., a n e la p se o f 1 h o u r a n d 4 4 m in u te s . I n c le a n in g u p th is ro o m 4 2 to n s w as lo a d e d in to 2 8 c a rs.
I t w ill b e n o te d th a t w id e v a r ia tio n s a r e sh o w n in th e tim e ta k e n to lo a d in d iv id u a l c a rs. A s w ith m e c h a n ic a l lo a d in g in g e n e ra l, th e s e d i f fe re n c e s re fle c t difficu lties in c o n d i
tio n s a n d also in p r e p a ra tio n . I n th e u p p e r s k e tc h to th e r ig h t o f T a b le I
//////////////■//////////(///,
m w w / w / /
Fig. 1— L ike an Arcw all Cutter, the Loading Bar Sw ings in a H a lf Circle; Like a Shortwall Cutter,
I t Is Pulled by a Rope
s h if tin g th e fe e d r o p e a n d ja c k , th e a v e ra g e b e in g a b o u t 3 0 se co n d s.
A s th e ro o m in w h ic h o p e r a tio n o f th e m a c h in e w a s w itn e s s e d w a s in a r e in d ic a te d th e la rg e m o v e s m a d e o n ly 6 0 ft. c a r s w e re s h if te d f ro m th e b y th e m a c h in e . F i r s t , th e m a c h in e e n try . U s u a l p r a c tic e is to d riv e tw o w a s su m p e d in to th e m id d le o f th e
c u t a s f a r a s it w o u ld g o w ith o u t c r o w d in g a n d th e n fe d to th e rig h t, sw e e p in g o v e r a r e a A . A s th e coal in th is a r e a w a s loose, th e m a c h in e lo a d e d th e f irs t se v en c a rs a t th e a v e r-
c ro s s c u ts th r o u g h th e r ib o n e a ch sid e o f a ro o m a n d p ro v id e all f o u r w ith a sw itc h . T h e s e a r e sta g g e re d , so th a t th e in te rv a l b e tw e e n c ro s s c u ts is 75 f t. m a x im u m a n d 50 ft. m in im u m . T h is p ro v isio n a n d th e fa c t th a t c a rs
Table I I — Comparison o f Loading Results at Tzvo Mines in W hich Conditions A re Similar
Mine Little B e tt y ..
Ebbw V ale.. .
co 42.00 47.25
o c
I S
104 117
¡¡S *
O
° \ E :cg
« " O —»
C 3 g 0.404 0.403
.5 S
t . «
cj c
S
oH 0.55 0.51
e .ci O
1.5 2.25
V
H3 ci C K Î cnt->
C3 TS
O
£ O v-<
1*5 o
o ’ o G
£03
5
t e UCi C . O Ô S °
HCO
oc.
o6 H
to uo C , o
S
t£
a
* oc
S c-
V
c
c3
oo ec5
* o S?® .5 *3 C ^ 5 0 T 3 «
Ó «3
W Shift Feei
o CÎ * £ e a ® .*•2 e
m u
Ü ^
28 Loco 60 56.5 73.63 24.52 1.85 8.75
21 Mules 55 69.3 78.20 19.60 2.20 8.25
a g e r a te o f 8 4 2 / 7 se co n d s each, o r slig h tly b e t te r th a n a to n a m in u te . T h e f o u r th c a r w a s lo a d e d a t th e r a te o f 1^- to n s p e r m in u te .
B la s tin g le f t th e co al in th e le f t h a lf o f th e c u t tig h t e r th a n th a t in th e r ig h t h a lf. I n b e in g s w e p t to th e le f t o v e r th e a r e a B , th e r e f o r e , th e m a c h in e lo a d e d a t a m u c h re d u c e d ra te . T h is d e -a c c e le ra tio n in th e lo a d in g r a te o c c u r re d p r o g re s s iv e ly to th e b a c k o f th e c u t. Z o n e C r e p re s e n ts coal w h ich , th o u g h s ta n d in g , w as w o rk e d d o w n b y th e m a c h in e w ith th e a s s is ta n c e lo a n e d b y m e n w ith p ic k a n d b a r. Z o n e D r e p r e s e n ts tig h t coal a t th e b a c k o f th e c u t, w h ic h w a s b r o u g h t d o w n b y h a r d d ig g in g w ith p ic k a n d b a r . L ittle tim e w a s lo st in
a r e g a th e r e d b y a lo c o m o tiv e ( 5 - to n c a b le -re e l) m a k e o b v io u s th e re a so n w h y c a rs w e re s h if te d in a s little tim e a s 4 0 se co n d s, a s th e ta b le sh o w s, a n d in a b o u t 56.5 se co n d s o n a n a v e ra g e . T h is r a p id ity o f c a r c h a n g e in t u r n p a r tly e x p la in s w h y c o m p a ra tiv e ly la rg e to n n a g e s a r e g o tte n w h e n u s in g a sm a ll ca r.
C o n d itio n s so m e w h a t s im ila r to th o se in th e L ittle B e tty m in e a r e en c o u n te re d in th e m in e o f th e E b b w V a le C oal Co. a t S u lliv a n , In d ., w h e re o n e o f th e s e m a c h in e s is in o p e ra tio n . I n th e se c tio n in w h ich th is m a c h in e is in o p e ra tio n th e coal (G le n d o ra s e a m ) is 6 ft. th ic k . L o a d e d c a rs o f 2-^-ton c a p a c ity a r e p u lle d fro m th e m a c h in e b y a te a m o f
m u l e s ; e m p tie s a r e p u s h e d in In
l a n d . R o o f c o n d itio n s a r e o n ly f a ir a n d p la ce s m u s t b e w ell tim b e re d .
F o r th e la s t fifte e n d a y s o f o p e r a tio n o f th is m a c h in e th e a v e ra g e d a ily o u tp u t w a s 142 to n s . T h e m a x im u m o u tp u t p e r s h if t d u r in g th is p e rio d w a s 171 to n s . O n o n e o th e r s h if t 167 to n s w a s lo a d e d , a n d o n a n o th e r 165
to n s.
D iv is io n o f th e c re w is as f o llo w s : O n e m a c h in e o p e r a tiv e ; o n e h e l p e r ; o n e fa c e m a n ; o n e c o n v e y o r a tte n d a n t ; o n e m u le d r i v e r ; tw o c u tte r s w h o d e v o te h a lf th e ir tim e p r e p a rin g coal f o r th e lo a d e r ; o n e m a n w ho d rills a n d s n u b s ; o n e m a n w h o lays tr a c k a n d tim b e r s ; a n d o n e f o re m a n w h o d e v o te s o n e - f o u r th o f h is tim e to th e lo a d e r. A tte n d a n c e o n th is m a c h in e is 8^ m a n -s h ifts .
O b s e rv a tio n s , in c lu d in g a n a p p r o x i
m a te tim e s tu d y sim ila r to th a t fo r th e L ittle B e tty m in e, w e re m a d e c o v e rin g th e co m p le te lo a d in g cycle in a ro o m in th e E b b w V a le m in e . A s u m m a r y o f th e o b se rv e d r e s u lts a t E b b w V a le , in a c o m p a riso n w ith th e r e s u lts o b se rv e d a t L ittle B e tty , is p r e s e n te d in T a b le I I .
T a k in g all f a c to rs in to c o n s id e ra tio n , th e re s u lts ac h ie v e d a t th e s e tw o m in e s d u r in g th e o b se rv e d p e rio d s a r e f a ir ly eq u a l, b y a n d la rg e . W h a t a d v a n ta g e th e L ittle B e tty m in e g a in e d in th e sp e ed o f s h if tin g c a rs, it lo st in th e size o f its c a rs, c o m p a re d w ith th e o p e ra tio n a t th e E b b w V a le m in e. T h e re sp e c tiv e r a te s o f p r o d u c tio n in to n s p e r m in u te o f lo a d in g , in c lu d in g tim e f o r c a r s h if tin g a n d tim e lost, a r e v irtu a lly e q u a l as T a b le I I sh o w s.
A ug ust, 1930
— C O A L A G E 467
r .n i i M M IDLMT38000 LTWT 38000
MATERIALS-
Valier, W ith a Capacity of 7,000 Tons Is Producing About 5,000 Tons a Day A Roller Conveyor Serves a Useful
Purpose Handling Concrete Blocks
This Crane Takes 25 Props at a Pass; Enough to Fill a Timber Truck
Railroad Cars A rc Pulled Short Distance by an Automotive Two-Drum Hoist
A 4-Ton Tractor Docs the W ork of a Team o f Horses
