New Waterford in Cape Breton Region, Nova Scotia — The Atlantic Provinces (North America)

Armoured Face Conveyor

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 21, 2019

1. Armoured Face Conveyor Marker

Inscription. The armoured face conveyor (AFC) is a very large and robust piece of coal mining equipment that was installed along the full length of an underground longwall face. The coal cutting machine or shearer rode on top of the AFC where it deposited cut coal. It typically had a large electric motor/gearbox arrangement at each end of the longwall face that was used to pull around a series of steel flight bars fixed to a chain which delivered cut coal to a second conveyor located at the bottom of the longwall.

A typical longwall AFC used at Devco was rated at 1500 tonnes per hour capacity, was 700 feet in length, with individual AFC pans being 5 feet in length and weighing approximately 1 tonne. The AFC was advanced or pushed by a series of hydraulic rams that were attached to the longwall roof supports.

Erected by Colliery Lands Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 46° 15.121′ N, 60° 5.914′ W. Marker is in New Waterford, Nova Scotia, in Cape Breton Region. It can be reached from the intersection of Ellsworth Avenue

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(Nova Scotia Route 28) and James Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located along the mining heritage trail within Colliery Lands Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3696 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford NS B1H 2H6, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island.

It is also in the Maritimes

and in Atlantic Canada.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

and Acadia.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Joy (a few steps from this marker); Anderton Shearer Loader (within shouting distance of this marker); William Davis (within shouting distance of this marker); Earl Leadbeater (within shouting distance of this marker); New Waterford World War Monument (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Standing The Gaff (approx. 0.7 kilometers away); Miner's Monument (approx. 0.7 kilometers

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 21, 2019

2. Armoured Face Conveyor Marker

away); New Victoria Veterans Who Died Overseas (approx. 2.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Waterford.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Colliery Lands Park

Also see . . . Armoured Face Conveyor or AFC. Essentially an AFC is a one-sided trough scraper conveyor, the second side of the trough being formed by the coal face. Cut coal falls into this trough which has an endless chain with scraper flights attached running along the base plate and returning below the base plate in an enclosed lower section or "race". The coal is dragged along the base plate by the flights. (Submitted on June 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Armoured Face Conveyor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 21, 2019

3. Armoured Face Conveyor

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 23, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.