Abstract: A gear box for a drive head of a conveyor comprises a casing 11 and a gear train contained within the casing 11 and including a plurality of shafts on which gear wheels are mounted, the shafts being rotatable about parallel axes and all the axes 16 being located in a common plane, with at least an output shaft having its axis of rotation off-set with respect to the common plane, whereby the at least one off-set axis is located above or below the common plane.

Abstract: A mine system comprises at least one mining machine 4 adapted to haul itself, in a reciprocable manner, along a mineral face 3, and a control box 17 housing means to control the various electrical elements of the machine(s) 4, the box 17 being located in a mine roadway 2 at one end of the mineral face 3 along which the machine(s) 4 is reciprocable, and the box 17 being electrically connected to a terminal box 15 housed in a body of the machine(s).

Abstract: A mining machine 1 of the shearer type comprises an elongate machine body 2 housing inter alia a power unit 11 for powering at least one rotary, mineral cutting head 10, and at least one haulage unit 12 mounted on the outside of the machine body. The haulage unit includes a variable speed motor 16, such as an electric AC motor. The motor is connected via speed reduction gearing 19 to a machine haulage sprocket 13 adapted to progressively engage rack bars 14 or a chain extending along the mineral face 5. A brake unit is also provided in the haulage unit. By locating one or more haulage units outside the machine body, the units can be located at appropriate locations, on either the goaf or face sides of the machine, or both sides, to suit particular operating conditions.

Abstract: A spiral vane shearer disc capable of manufacture by simpler techniques than those currently employed as an outer end of a drum, around the external periphery of which is welded a helical vane, provided at one end with a tire, the latter having a plurality of preformed, spaced apart, blind pockets, each adapted to receive a pick box. This construction eases the welding operation while gives improved transmission of loading from the picks to the disc.

Abstract: A joint for connecting together adjacent ends of individual elongate pans of an armoured scraper chain conveyor, has the adjacent conveyor pan ends provided on the outsides of their sidewalls with interengaging male and female formations, each formation being provided with one or more abutment surfaces forming part of a laterally open pocket connected to a laterally open channel, the pocket and channel of adjacent pan ends receiving a common, laterally inserted connector having a shank portion located within respective channels and at each end of the shank portion an enlarged head located within respective pockets so as to be engageable with an abutment surface of a respective pocket, and an aperture provided in the shank portion to receive a locating pin restrained from lateral displacement by engagement with a projection of one or other of the formations.