Abstract: A self-propelled mineral winning/detaching machine incorporating at least one electric motor and provided with electrical pick up means movable, in use, with said machine to pick up electrical energy from a stationary conductor.
Abstract: An electrical power supply conduit comprises an elongate electrical conductor located in the conduit, the latter preferably being pressurized with clean air or an inert gas and having an entry slot extending longitudinally, through which slot, in use, an electrical pick up e.g. a pantograph of an electrical machine may enter the conduit to gain access to the electrical conductor, with a flexible mechanical seal extending longitudinally of the conduit and normally closing the slot.
Abstract: An armoured flexible conveyor comprising pans connected together so that separation of the pans is prevented except when snaking-over to a new alignment adjacent a newly-cut mine face and except when the conveyor extends over humps and swillies in the mine floor, and a rigid plate secured along one side of each pan, said plate extending upwardly from said pan, adjacent pairs of pan ends being connected to each other, firstly by upper and lower joints between adjacent ends of said rigid plates, one of said joints being a universal joint and the other being a loose joint affording limited separation of said plates and pans at that joint, and secondly, by a loose joint at the other side of said pans also affording limited separation of said pans at said other side.