Complexity
easy to master
Automation
Automation in the highest level is our aim to provide to the customer. We want the highest production capacity based on high level longwall automation combined with the highest reliability of the system. Of course all this is ending with a system which is not only failsafe but also is providing the safest working surrounding for your personnel.
Tiefenbach is providing automation performance in all aspects of the longwall PRS control. Connected to the intelligent mining data from all aspects like shearer, Proximity detection, roof support data, Tiefenbach is your partner in most advanced operations.
Intelligent systems
Tiefenbach is providing automation performance in all aspects of the longwall PRS control. Connected to the intelligent mining data from all aspects like shearer, Proximity detection, roof support data, Tiefenbach is your partner in most advanced operations.
Remote operation/Safety
Tiefenbach offers state-of-the-art remote control solutions for powered roof supports—from the surface via Face Remote Client or on-site with a wireless remote. Our patented technology ensures maximum safety, precise operation, and optimal visibility of shield movements.
Proximity detection
Personal tracking is one of the important tasks in a fully automated face. Because of the special conditions underground (a lot of steel and herewith many reflections of radio waves for example) are the reason why it is very difficult to detect people exactly. But only in this case it is possible to create safety zones around the miners and on the other hand ensure production.
The TCS Personnel Proximity Detection System is high reliable and redundant for personnel and material. Unlimited tags can be used as well as it is a redundant node system with no degradation in case of single failures.
The tags and the shield nodes working on basis UWB are compliant acc. to IEEE802.15.4-2011 and are communicating on a RF band of 6GHz. Faster than one measurement per second so that it can be used for high data throughput applications. This is important to ensure detecting several persons standing near to each other (high tag densities). The TCS Personnel Proximity Detection System is designed as low current application. This means long battery uptime. Because of the used technique it is possible to detect persons with an accuracy of +/- 25 cm (stationary) and of +/- 50 cm (moving).
The integrated multi colour and multi mode signal-light helps underground to indicate the status of each roof support.
Additionally an inclination sensor and optional a beeper can be integrated.
The benefit of this solution is that the SCUs can create safety zones directly without time delay by transmitting such information via the gate end PCs or the MCU.
Additional to this the local transmitter are able to create radio networks so that information about located persons can be shared by radio up to the MCU too. That means the system is built up in a redundant manner.
Camera system
The CoalCam is a camera system designed for monitoring hazardous areas. One field of application is monitoring the face area underground as the potential danger for the operating personnel is very high in the immediate vicinity of the mining machine.
The CoalCam can transmit the pictures and/or data collected to a station in the entry via radio. A camera module transmits its data packages via WLAN to a so called “Gateway” using the least possible number of intermediate stations.
In a „Longwall Monitoring“ application the Gateway is the last camera module before the interface between face and entry. It does not only serve as camera but also as a central collection point for all data to be transmitted. From the Gateway the data is sent to the MCU located in the entry.
Depending on the distance between Gateway and MCU, the ambient conditions, and the radio extension possible in space the two transmission options WLAN or fiber optics are available.
From the MCU, the data is transmitted via a fiber optic cable to a PC at the surface.
Analysing, Reporting and Processing data
The VisuMx server is the heart of the Tiefenbach Control Systems software family. Mostly working in the background, it collects all the data from the face and processes it to the other programs. It’s the main communication platform between the face and the control room on the surface.
Control systems
We specialize in the development and manufacture of products for use under extreme conditions. The experience we have accumulated over many years and our know-how enable us to design individual as well as system solutions for the automated face support in underground mines.