TROUBLE-FREE OPERATION OF THE CONVEYORS OF STAKHANOVITE

Comrade BASHKIRTSEVA AT THE LENINSK MINE OF KUZBASS

PROSKURIN V. V.
Postgraduate student

Trouble-free and uninterrupted operation of conveyors creates the necessary conditions ensuring increased productivity among a number of leading skilled mine workers. Breakdowns and interruptions in the operation of conveyors serving longwalls cause delays in the execution, or a complete cessation, of the work of loaders; they create unfavorable conditions for the work of coal cutters, timbermen, and timber-delivery workers; they disrupt the regular undercutting of the face by the cutting machine; and they disturb the schedule of the cyclic work of the longwall. As can be seen, breakdowns of transport mechanisms disrupt the normal course of the coal-mining process in longwalls, cause idle time for the working shift, and upset fulfillment of the coal-output plan for the section. Hence it becomes clear what enormous importance the trouble-free operation of conveyors has, and what responsibility the conveyor operator bears before her shift.

The published conditions of the All-Union socialist competition named after the Third Stalin Five-Year Plan for workers of the coal industry (see the newspaper Industriya of 24/III 1940, No. 69) cover all the principal skilled occupations of mine workers. These conditions of socialist competition gave a new impetus to an even greater increase in labor productivity, to the full implementation of the cyclic schedule, to the trouble-free operation of mechanisms, to the servicing of a larger number of drives by one motor operator, and to the creation of cultured working conditions in the mines.

One example of the trouble-free operation of mechanisms and of their exemplary condition is the work of the Stakhanovite motor operator Bashkirtseva Natalya. Comrade Bashkirtseva works in section No. 10 of the S. M. Kirov Mine of the “Leninugol” trust in Kuzbass. Having worked at the mine since 1937, Bashkirtseva during this interval has not allowed a single breakdown of the mechanisms she services. These successes were repeatedly recognized by the mine administration with bonuses, and the People’s Commissar awarded Comrade Bashkirtseva a commendation certificate of the NKUP.

At present Comrade Bashkirtseva services two conveyors: a belt conveyor 150 m long, installed in the 1st conveyor drift at the Maierovsky seam, and an oscillating conveyor feeding coal from the 1st conveyor drift to the main haulageway. Both conveyors serve longwall No. 24 with a daily output of 350–400 tons. Coal is issued from the longwall over two shifts per day.

Bashkirtseva structures her working day as follows: after receiving the work order from the mine foreman, she takes lubricating materials and tools and proceeds to the workplace. Without stopping the operation of the conveyors, Comrade Bashkirtseva first of all inspects the condition of the oscillating conveyor. Moving along the line of trough sections from the main haulageway toward the 1st conveyor drift, Comrade Bashkirtseva pays the most serious attention to the tightness of the bolted connection of the trough sections. She knows,

that loosening of the bolts leads to rupture of the joint, and the latter—to downtime or an accident. Comrade Bashkirtseva, having a wrench with her, immediately, while inspecting the shaking conveyor, tightly screws down the nuts and locknuts of the loosened connecting bolts. In case nuts are lost, she has spares with her, 4–6 pieces. Further along the way she inspects the condition of the support timbering, the cable laying, and the places where the supports are lagged. Cleaning the lagging places of the supports, which takes little time, is carried out by her herself during the inspection; as for lagging places requiring considerable time for cleaning, the duty motorwoman is informed. As a rule, the flexible cable must be suspended from a post, but often, for various reasons, it can be seen either sagging greatly or even lying on the ground. Here the cable is clearly in danger of being abraded by the reciprocating motion of the conveyor troughs. Comrade Bashkirtseva, having a small number of nails with her, nails the brackets to the posts and suspends the cable. When inspecting the drive, special attention is paid to the condition of the electrical wiring and grounding. Then the loosened bolts connecting the drive mechanism are tightened, and the condition of the props strengthening the drive is checked. Next the inspection of the belt conveyor continues. Comrade Bashkirtseva, moving along the 1st conveyor roadway along the belt conveyor, pays attention to the condition of the belt, the correctness of its travel, the condition of the rollers, the places of lagging, and the general condition of the working in the area of the belt conveyor’s operation. Along the way she eliminates minor faults. She returns on the other side of the conveyor, i.e. she makes a second inspection of the condition of the transport. When inspecting the drive, attention is paid to the condition of the electrical wiring, grounding, and to the serviceability of the motor and drive. The inspection is finished. Comrade Bashkirtseva asks the duty motorwoman about all the abnormalities he has noticed in the operation of the mechanisms during the shift, so that during her duty she may strengthen supervision of the weak points of the conveyors. If during the inspection defects are noticed that threaten to put the conveyors out of service, this is reported to the duty electrical fitter, and together with him measures are taken for the quickest elimination of these defects. After inspection of both drives and elimination of faults, lubrication is poured in and the shift is accepted. Usually the inspection of the mechanisms before accepting the shift takes 12–15 min. Consequently, before accepting the shift, Comrade Bashkirtseva makes sure of the serviceability of the mechanisms and, in addition, arms herself with knowledge of the weak points that were revealed during the previous shift.

During the shift, Comrade Bashkirtseva is mainly near the drive of the belt conveyor. Here she carefully watches the operation of the motor, the drive, the direction of motion of the belt, its condition, and the load being transported. The drive of the shaking conveyor, having remote control, is located 15 m from the drive of the belt conveyor. The noiseless operation of the belt conveyor gives her the opportunity to listen to the operation of the shaking conveyor. In the event that abnormal operation of either conveyor is discovered, their motors are immediately switched off, the fault is determined, and measures are taken to eliminate it. Only after the causes that brought about the abnormal operation of the conveyor have been eliminated is the transportation of coal continued.

During the shift, every minute of downtime caused by the absence of empty cars or of a load is used by Comrade Bashkirtseva for inspection and minor running repair of the conveyors. Comrade Bashkirtseva, when inspecting the conveyors, always has with her a small supply of nuts, locknuts, bolts, nails, a bracket, a knife, and open-end and socket wrenches. Without waiting for the duty electrical fitter, she tightens loosened bolted

…of the grate connections, fastens the brackets to the posts, suspends the flexible cable on them, eliminates misalignment of the supporting rollers, and tightens all bolts that have become loose. Having tools available enables her to tighten a connecting bolt in the shortest possible time (1/2–1 min.), rather than lose 10–15 min. searching for a mechanic or for tools, as usually happens with motor operators who allow mechanisms to stand idle.

According to our observations, the table below characterizes the speed at which routine repairs are carried out and the total duration of conveyor stoppages per shift, depending on the motor operator.

Through her minor repairs, Comrade Bashkirtseva prevents the following possible accidents:

1. Breakage of the oscillating conveyor at the bolted joints of the grates.
2. Mechanical damage to the cable.
3. Stripping of the flexible cable, with all the consequences arising from this.
4. Breakage of the belt or premature wear.
5. Breakage of gear transmissions.

Consequently, the prevention of accidents is the basic condition for accident-free operation of mechanisms. Comrade Bashkirtseva N. strictly adheres to this rule.

At the end of the shift, Comrade Bashkirtseva cleans the belt and rollers of dirt, cleans the lubrication points, checks the condition of the belt, grates, and bolted joints. Any defects noticed are eliminated, and the conveyors are handed over to the motor operator of the next shift in complete order and in operation.

The success of Comrade Bashkirtseva N.’s accident-free work is achieved as a result of her detailed knowledge of the conveyors she services, knowledge of their weak points, careful observation of them during operation, and, most importantly, as a result of the timely prevention of possible breakdowns or malfunctions.