02-05-2016, 10:56 AM
I kept well out of the way Lawrence, and I can shift pretty quick when I'm Frit. The problem really was that nothing was 'Automatic' for me, unlike the real Workers, so I kept a close eye on them and followed suit as far as possible.
Oddly, the most dodgy moment was entirely above board, and supposedly safe. We installed a job lot of automatic controls on a face as a trial. One part of that was the the so-called 'Face Straightness' Control - it's best to keep the Face as straight as possible 'cause everything works better and there's less wear etc. The Controller 'Knew' where the Shearer was and which way it was going, and also what shape the Face currently was. It adjusted the Push-over to keep the Face straight, and to keep the Snake the right distance behind. Theoretically no-one was allowed within ten Chocks of the Shearer apart from the Driver, and he was only there to keep an eye on things in case something didn't work - it makes a nasty mess if the Front Drum hits a Chock Canopy, and is not encouraged. The reason for keeping people away was that the Chocks could move unexpectedly, and there wasn't wasn't much room when they were fully pulled in. When they're under Manual Control the Chockers would make sure no-one was in the way. Anyway, there was a Pre-Start Alarm on each Chock which sounded before they moved. So far so good and clearly 'Safe'. The snag was that the Controller also kept tabs on the Hydraulic supply, and if there wasn't enough to push over all the required Chocks it would leave some behind and sort it out later. So there you were, ambling up the Face minding your own business, when suddenly an PSA would sound and the Chock you'd just stepped on to would lurch forward. This was often followed by a few more as the Controller caught up. There were definite moments of 'Where am I going to go now?'.
All good fun, but I was younger then.
Alan
Oddly, the most dodgy moment was entirely above board, and supposedly safe. We installed a job lot of automatic controls on a face as a trial. One part of that was the the so-called 'Face Straightness' Control - it's best to keep the Face as straight as possible 'cause everything works better and there's less wear etc. The Controller 'Knew' where the Shearer was and which way it was going, and also what shape the Face currently was. It adjusted the Push-over to keep the Face straight, and to keep the Snake the right distance behind. Theoretically no-one was allowed within ten Chocks of the Shearer apart from the Driver, and he was only there to keep an eye on things in case something didn't work - it makes a nasty mess if the Front Drum hits a Chock Canopy, and is not encouraged. The reason for keeping people away was that the Chocks could move unexpectedly, and there wasn't wasn't much room when they were fully pulled in. When they're under Manual Control the Chockers would make sure no-one was in the way. Anyway, there was a Pre-Start Alarm on each Chock which sounded before they moved. So far so good and clearly 'Safe'. The snag was that the Controller also kept tabs on the Hydraulic supply, and if there wasn't enough to push over all the required Chocks it would leave some behind and sort it out later. So there you were, ambling up the Face minding your own business, when suddenly an PSA would sound and the Chock you'd just stepped on to would lurch forward. This was often followed by a few more as the Controller caught up. There were definite moments of 'Where am I going to go now?'.
All good fun, but I was younger then.
Alan
