Kevin_Williams
New member
Tom, in the early 70's while fluorspar mining at Redburn mine, Rookhope. For stope cleaning a two drum scraper was used, firstly we pulled it up the stope's access ladder-way. We made it simple by rigging the tail rope over a pulley that we fixed to the top of the stope ladder-way and returned the rope directly to the scraper unit. We then closed the tail brake band so that the unit was able to pull itself up to the top of the stope with its own air power. We had to do this steadily as we moved up ourselves so we could keep the brake band under control. For stope cleaning we would pass the tail rope through a pulley at the far end of the stope and attach it to the back of the scraper hoe with the pulling rope attached to the front of the hoe to enable the filled hoe to be pulled to the scraper unit. For speed in setting the scraping operation up quickly we sometimes wedged a timber into the rock pile in the stope where we could attach the return pulley onto it.
When emptying the stope, the practice of controlling the momentum of the hoe ensured it was easy to place it right at the far end of the stope.
The access ladder-way was usually positioned between two box-holes on the sub level where a wagon was used to empty the box which was filled by the stope?s slushier operation. The full wagon was moved to a dump hole where it was transferred down the ore pass. Trammers on the main 17 fathom level then pulled the transfer pass to fill a train of ore wagons that would be transported back to the shaft for hoisting.
I did use a three drum unit in a wide stope while I was there where there were two tail ropes that enables the hoe to be positioned towards the sides of the stope.
The action of pulling on a brake band lever does operate that drum which pulls the rope. The direction of movement depends on whether the rope is a tail or a pull one.
In England I also experienced 3 drum air slushers in operation from the late 1970?s to 1989 at Geevor Mine. More recently I?ve used an electric 3 drum slusher at South Crofty Mine which for a while we loaded directly into a scooptram!!
On another note, I notice the pictures showing several scrapers in operation do not have any safety features. The Chinese one go's part ways there with the rope roller guides. Should any rope snap there is no protection on any drum shown. The slushers/scrapers I have used in Cornwall all have the necessary guides that would probably comply with current mining and other safety legislation.
When emptying the stope, the practice of controlling the momentum of the hoe ensured it was easy to place it right at the far end of the stope.
The access ladder-way was usually positioned between two box-holes on the sub level where a wagon was used to empty the box which was filled by the stope?s slushier operation. The full wagon was moved to a dump hole where it was transferred down the ore pass. Trammers on the main 17 fathom level then pulled the transfer pass to fill a train of ore wagons that would be transported back to the shaft for hoisting.
I did use a three drum unit in a wide stope while I was there where there were two tail ropes that enables the hoe to be positioned towards the sides of the stope.
The action of pulling on a brake band lever does operate that drum which pulls the rope. The direction of movement depends on whether the rope is a tail or a pull one.
In England I also experienced 3 drum air slushers in operation from the late 1970?s to 1989 at Geevor Mine. More recently I?ve used an electric 3 drum slusher at South Crofty Mine which for a while we loaded directly into a scooptram!!
On another note, I notice the pictures showing several scrapers in operation do not have any safety features. The Chinese one go's part ways there with the rope roller guides. Should any rope snap there is no protection on any drum shown. The slushers/scrapers I have used in Cornwall all have the necessary guides that would probably comply with current mining and other safety legislation.
