8.

5 Chute, charging hopper

Deep Mining General (steep formation)
Underground Mining Loading

germ.: Bunkerschurre, Ladekasten

span.:

tolva de buzon, cajon pare

cargar

TECHNICAL DATA:

Dimensions:

approx. 2 x 2 x 2 m

Extent of
Mechanization:

not mechanized

Form of Driving
Energy:

loading remedy using gravity

Mode of Operation:

intermittent

Other Opportunities:

pneumatic cylinders for opening

Operating Materials:

none

ECONOMICAL DATA:

Investment Cost:

if constructed with wood, very low cost

of material

Operating Cost:

none

CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION:

Operating Expenditures:

low ||| high

Maintenance Experience:

low ||| high

Deposit Requirements:

inclined or especially steep ore vein deposits, where

the vertical interval can be used for loading.
Particularly suitable in mines with roadways in
which daydrifting is placed under work facings.

Mining Requirements:

all mining methods that lead upwards and allow

partly material storage

Replaceable Equipment:

loader as overhead loader under chute

Regional Distribution:

widely known in medium-scale mining but

unknown in small scale mining

Experience of Operators:

very good ||| bad

Environmental Impacts:

low ||| very high

Suitability for Local

Production:

very good ||| bad

Under what Conditions:

simple wooden constructions

Lifespan:

very long ||| very short

Bibliography, Source: Stout, Fritsche, Armstrong

OPERATING PRINCIPLE:
The chutes that are placed under cavities caused by the extraction under dropholes or bunker, are designed to hold the material above the loading height of
mining cars. By opening the chute, the material falls into the mining car which is
loaded by gravity.
AREAS OF APPLICATION:
Material storage and loading of mining cars in haulage road.
REMARKS:
Sticky muck becomes a problem when it muds off and badly affects the transport
by gravity. To Increase the lifespan of chutes, the material storage should show a

certain minimum filling requirement, to avoid direct impact of material on the

feed gate.
SUITABILITY FOR SMALL-SCALE MINING:
Under suitable conditions (deposit geology, mining method), reloading can then
often be avoided and gravity can be used for loading purposes. Thus, chutes are
very suitable for application in small-scale mines which are low mechanized.

Fig.: Charging hopper. Source: Stout.

Fig.: Charging hopper. Source: Stout.

Fig.: Chutes with compressed air drive, left from below, Closing gate; right from
above, Closing gate. Source: Fritzsche

Fig.: Chute; left, longitudinal section; right, general view. Source: Armstrong

Fig.: Chute; left, side view; right, perspective view. Source: ITDG.