Abstract: An implement system for a machine includes a boom housing a drive mechanism for a cutting implement, and having a plurality of oil outlet ports formed therein. A control mechanism is configured to receive data indicative of an expected change in location of the outlet ports relative to an oil fill line within the boom, and vary a pattern of incoming oil flow to limit entrainment of air in the oil.

Abstract: A rock feeder deflector device for a rock feeder used in underground mining applications. The rock feeder has a material transport portion for transporting rock material to a conveyor. The rock feeder deflector device comprises a mounting portion configured to be connected to the rock feeder; a guiding plate movably connected to the mounting portion; and a moving mechanism arranged between the mounting portion and the guiding plate. The moving mechanism is configured to move the guiding plate relative to the mounting portion between an operative position configured to guide rock material to the material transport portion and an inoperative position.

Abstract: A milling device for excavating mining materials is disclosed. The milling device comprises a milling drum rotatable about a drum axis; a first group of excavating heads arranged around a periphery of the milling drum and driven to rotate about a first rotational axis extending substantially radially to the drum axis; and a second group of excavating heads arranged around the periphery of the milling drum and rotatable about a second rotational axis extending substantially radially to the drum axis. The first group of excavating heads includes a plurality of first excavating tools configured to perform a first, cutting operation, and the second group of excavating heads includes a plurality of second excavating tools configured to perform a second excavating operation different from the first, cutting operation.

Abstract: A control system for controlling operation of a cutter motor and a cutter boom movement mechanism of a machine includes a sensor that measures an amount of load associated with the cutter motor. A controller determines whether the load on the cutter motor is different from a cutter motor load limit. If so, the controller is configured to adjust a velocity of the cutter boom movement mechanism relative to a tip velocity of a rotary cutting tool associated with the machine based on the difference between the measured cutter motor load and the cutter motor load limit until a torque error of the cutter motor reaches a particular value, for instance, zero. Moreover, the controller may also adjust a current speed of the cutter motor in driving the rotary cutting tool based on the adjusted velocity of the cutter boom movement mechanism.

Abstract: A milling depth compensation system for milling rock determines a target position of a machine, an initial position of the work surface, and a target pose of the machine based on the target position of the machine and the initial position of the work surface. An actual pose of the machine is determined and differences between the actual pose and the target pose are used to determine a dynamic milling path of a milling tool. The dynamic milling path includes movement of the milling tool along a first path, a second path, and a third path. Command signals are generated to move the milling tool along the dynamic milling path.

Abstract: A replaceable tool support is disclosed. The tool support may be configured to be mounted to a base member of a cutting head, which may be mountable to a tool drum used in hard rock mining applications. The tool support may have an annular body having a first end face side. The tool support may also have a plurality of cutting bit carriers disposed spaced apart from each other on the first end face side. In addition, the tool support may have a plurality of cutting bits. Each of the plurality of cutting bits may be rotatably supported by one of the plurality of cutting bit carriers.

Abstract: A machine includes a gathering head and a cutting implement, with the gathering head and cutting implement having overlapping ranges of motion such that adjusting of the gathering head and cutting implement is coordinated to avoid collision. A positioning system of the machine includes a control device configured to prevent miscoordination of the gathering head and cutting implement by controlling a position of the gathering head based upon a state of progress of the cutting implement in a cutting cycle.

Abstract: A milling device is disclosed. The milling device may have a shaft. The shaft may have a shaft axis (A). The milling device may also have a spindle drum rotatably mounted relative to the shaft axis (A) and rotatable about a spindle drum axis (B) coaxial to the shaft axis (A). Further, the milling device may have a plurality of tool spindles rotatably mounted in the spindle drum and rotatable about tool spindle axes (D). Each tool spindle axis (D) may be parallely arranged and spaced apart from the shaft axis (A) and may have a same distance to the shaft axis (A). The milling machine may also have a plurality of machining tools carried by the tool spindles. At least two of the plurality of machining tools may be positioned displaced from one another in a direction of the shaft axis (A).

Abstract: A site positioning system for an underground machine includes a first prism coupled with the underground machine, a second prism operatively coupled with the underground machine, a primary total station, and a reference prism may be in communication with the primary total station. A positioning controller is configured to control, responsive to receiving a High Accuracy Machine Position mode, the primary total station to monitor the first prism and the second prism and transmit a first prism position and a second prism position, respectively, to the positioning controller; control, responsive to receiving a Low Accuracy Machine Position mode, the primary total station to monitor the first prism and transmit the first prism position to the positioning controller; determine, responsive to receiving a Reference Prism Measurement mode, whether a reference prism measurement has been completed, and present positioning information for the machine based on one or more of the prism positions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cutting bit carrier for hard rock mining applications. Usually, replacing worn cutting bits may take much effort and may be time consuming. The present cutting bit carrier may comprise a first carrier member including a first supporting portion configured to contact a cutting bit shank of a cutting bit for supporting the cutting bit, and a second carrier member including a second supporting portion configured to contact the cutting bit shank of the cutting bit for supporting the cutting bit. The second carrier member may be detachably mountable to the first carrier member.

Abstract: A control method and system for avoiding collisions between components of a machine includes a controller that receives position signals from sensors associated with movable components of the machine. The controller determines the positional coordinate representations of the components within a coordinate system based upon the position signals and the outer dimensions of the respective components. If any of the components are within preset collision slowdown or shutdown zones within the coordinate system, then the speed of those components is restricted or the components are shutdown, respectively, in the direction of collision.

Abstract: An implement system for a machine includes a boom housing a drive mechanism for a cutting implement, and having a plurality of oil outlet ports formed therein. A control mechanism is configured to receive data indicative of an expected change in location of the outlet ports relative to an oil fill line within the boom, and vary a pattern of incoming oil flow to limit entrainment of air in the oil.

Abstract: A machine includes an undercarriage having propulsions devices such as continuous tracks and a cutter head disposed on a cutter boom that is slidably supported over the undercarriage. During operation, the cutter head is positioned proximate to the cutting surface and may be maneuvered through a predetermined set of operations to make a plurality of horizontal or vertical cuts while feeding the cutter head into the surface. Once the cutter boom is fully extended, the machine must be trammed to a new position using the continuous tracks to conduct the next predetermined set of operations. The machine may be configured to retract the cutter boom prior to tramming the machine to avoid damage to the cutter boom and/or cutting surface.

Abstract: A plow bit for a bit holder including a recess of a mining plow is disclosed. The plow bit also has a bit shank configured to be inserted into the recess of the bit holder. The bit shank has a front shank face, which is concave. The bit shank also has a rear shank face disposed on an opposite side of the bit shank with respect to the front shank face. The bit shank further has a first lateral shank face connected to the front shank face and the rear shank face. The first lateral shank face includes a first groove extending from the front shank face in direction of the rear shank face. The groove receives a securing pin.

Abstract: A hydraulic assembly for a mining system is disclosed. The hydraulic assembly may have at least one control valve for controlling a supply of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator of the mining system. The hydraulic assembly may also have at least one temperature sensor associated with the at least one control valve. The at least one temperature sensor may be configured to measure a temperature of the at least one control valve. In addition, the hydraulic assembly may have a control unit in communication with the at least one temperature sensor. The control unit may be configured to receive the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor. The control unit may also be configured to determine that a leakage has occurred in the at least one control valve based on the temperature.

Abstract: A material handling system for use in an underground mining comprises a conveyor. The conveyor transports material from a plurality of draw points along a first direction. At each draw point, a feeder is arranged. Each feeder is configured to load a predetermined amount of material per unit time onto the conveyor during a loading operation. A load calculating unit calculates a load distribution of the material on the conveyor. The calculation is based on a movement speed of the conveyor and an operating time of the plurality of feeders during which a loading operation is performed. Based on the calculated load distribution, the loading operation of the plurality of feeders is controlled to achieve a continuous coverage of conveyor without overloading the same.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mobile mining machine which may comprise a movable machine base frame, a rotatable tool drum and including excavating tools. The mobile mining machine may further comprise a cantilever unit including a front support arm part and a base part, and a pivotal device to pivot the cantilever unit. The mobile mining machine may further comprise a tilt device to tilt the cantilever unit and a rotary mechanism to rotate the support arm part and the tool drum. Thus, a mobile mining machine with which tunnels, galleries or shafts may be continuously driven in even in hard rock with a high mining output and low tool wear may be provided.

Abstract: A sensing device for a digital linear position sensor is disclosed. The sensing device may have a mounting device including a mounting surface. The sensing device may also have a plurality of resistors mounted on the mounting surface. The plurality of resistors may be electrically connected between a first voltage node (Uin) and a second voltage node (GND). Further, the sensing device may have a plurality of Hall switches mounted on the mounting surface at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction of the mounting device. Each of the plurality of Hall switches may be configured to adjust a total resistance of the plurality of resistors between the first voltage node (Uin) and the second voltage node (GND) upon actuation by an applied magnetic field.

Abstract: A method of controlling a shearer is disclosed. The shearer may be configured to travel along a longwall face to extract material with a first cutting drum and a second cutting drum. The method may include setting a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in a first travel direction (E). Further, the method may include determining a plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi) indicating a change of a position of the shearer resulting from advancing the shearer towards the longwall face. The method may also include determining a plurality of shearer orientations (Oi) along the longwall face. In addition, the method may include generating a second cutting profile to be approached by at least one of the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in a second travel direction (F) of the shearer.

Abstract: A force measuring unit for measuring a force applied to an individual chain link of a chain strand is used in underground mining applications. The force measuring unit may include a housing having a first end configured to be contacted by a first chain link leg and a second end configured to be contacted by a second chain link leg, and a distance measuring device accommodated within the housing and configured to measure an actual distance between the first chain link leg and the second chain link leg. The distance measuring device may include a first unit part configured to be contacted by the first chain link leg and a second unit part configured to be contacted by the second chain link leg.