Concept of Preventive Maintenance in the Operation of Mining Transportation Machines

Abstract

The origin of the problem arises from numerous limitations existing in the operation of wheeled mining machines including: loaders, drilling vehicles, storage vehicles, etc. It should be mentioned mainly operational and environmental limitations and requirements, such as: ensuring the efficiency and continuity of the mining process, spoil disposal, closed operation system with limited human and technical resources, difficult environmental conditions (high temperature and humidity, high dustiness or muddiness, limited space). In those difficult conditions, the maintenance according to periodic strategy seems to be inadequate as work and degradation processes are variable. The more appropriate approach is to operate according to the state, wherein monitoring of diagnostic parameters would allow setting a reasonable service time. The example of a bolt joint is one of many elements of these machines subject to ageing, for which preventive maintenance according to the state is the most appropriate. Paper describes most important failures occurring in operation and propose the use of modern information systems to gather, transmit and archive diagnostic parameters. It has been assumed that data will be sent periodically, but with high intensity, e.g. every day after the end of the work shift in the machine parking space, via wireless (e.g. RFID, Bluetooth) while passing the machine through a specific gate. The data acquired for each machine as a function of time and work time will allow determining the trend line of the change of the tested parameter and predict the appropriate time of maintenance.