Abstract: Currently shearer is mainly driven by motor and frequency converter, and it is difficult to meet requirement of larger output torque when cutting complex coal seam at low speed. In view of the problem, performance of shearer driven by motor and hydraulic torque converter was analyzed. Reasonable matching between motor and hydraulic torque converter was analyzed and calculating model was developed. MG750/1860-WD type shearer was taken as an example for matching analysis, and results are as follows: driving mode of motor and hydraulic torque converter can realize stepless speed change of shearer traction within a certain speed range and cutting traction of shearer under different conditions; compared with frequency-convention traction, at the same cutting speed, cutting traction with hydraulic torque converter can increase output torque which increases with reducing of traction speed, and the maximum output torque of hydraulic torque converter greatly exceeds that of frequency converter; and under the condition of low speed cutting traction, cutting traction with hydraulic torque converter can increase output torque of walking wheel and increase traction capacity of shearer, which has important significance for cutting of thin seam and coal seam with large resistance.