Model test of helical angle effect on coal loading performance of shear drum

The work presented in this paper focuses on improving coal loading performance of shear drum. Employing the similarity theory, we carried out a dimensional analysis of the correlation parameters which influence coal loading performance of shear drum. On the basis of similarity criterion, proportional relationship between the model and the prototype was taken on the condition of taking 1/3 as the similarity coefficient. Besides taking 1600 mm drum as the prototype, four helical angle models of shearer drums (15°, 18°, 21°, 24°) were developed. Simultaneously, based on an established cutting test-bed, coal loading performance tests for the four drums were carried out at the same drum rotational and haulage speeds. After analyzing the data of coal-loading performance and torque, we concluded that: both the coal loading performance and torque vary along the track of the parabola with the opening side facing downwards; the best coal loading performance arises when the helical angle is at 19.3°, while the biggest torque arises at 22.1°; and the coal loading performance had nonlinear relationship with the torque.