Abstract: A mining machine includes a material dislodging mechanism and a cascading conveyor system extending rearwardly on a mobile frame. The cascading conveyor system includes a fixed, main conveyor and a discharge conveyor underlying the main conveyor and pivotally connected to a stabilizer shoe of the machine for lateral swinging movement 90.degree. on either side of the longitudinal axis of the mining machine. The fixed conveyor and the discharge conveyor are in linear alignment in a first mode of operation. The discharge conveyor is also vertically pivotal on the stabilizer shoe to permit lateral and vertical displacement of the discharge conveyor relative to the main conveyor in a second mode of operation. A dust collecting system includes a longitudinal duct extending beneath the fixed, main conveyor with dual inlets extending above the tracks of the mining machine rearwardly of the dislodging mechanism.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum assembly is rotatably mounted transversely on the front of the boom member of a continuous miner. The drum assembly comprises a pair of independently operable drum sections. Each drum section is driven through an input shaft connected to a motor. The drum sections may be connected by a coupler to form a unitary drum assembly which may be operated by only one of the motors. Torque is transmitted from the input shafts to a bevel gear rotatably supported in the drum section. The bevel gear is nonrotatably connected to a sun gear which in turn drives a plurality of planetary gears connected to a cylindrical planetary cage with a bore defining an inner surface. The cage is connected to a cylindrical inner housing on its outer surface and to an output shaft on its inner surface through a cylindrical shear coupler. A puller shaft is provided to remove the output shaft and the shear coupler.

Abstract: A self-propelled continuous mining machine which includes a mobile frame assembly having a material dislodging device, and a conveying system. A dust collecting system is positioned on the mobile frame assembly for inducing a flow of air through a duct system. As material is dislodged from a mine face, the dust collecting system draws airborne dust created by the dislodging device through the duct system and into the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly. The duct system has two sets of vertical walls each connected to and spaced by a horizontal wall with one set of vertical walls fitting channel-like into the other set of vertical walls. The duct assembly has a gasket, seal or other means of preventing airborne dust from escaping through the two sets of vertical walls. The duct assembly is expandable to increase the capacity of the duct system.

Abstract: A drill boom is connected at its rear end portion to a mobile body and supports at its front end portion a drill pot for rotating a drill steel. The drill boom raises the drill pot along a predetermined straight-line path to advance the rotating drill steel into the mine roof to form a bore hole for insertion of a roof bolt assembly. An operator's compartment is slidably mounted on the front end of the mobile body laterally of the drill boom. A hydraulic cylinder positioned on the mobile body raises the operator's compartment along a plane aligned with the plane of movement of the drill pot. A protective canopy overlies and is movable with the operator's compartment. A drill steel guide is secured to the canopy and includes movable guide portions that extend into surrounding relation with the drill steel. The drill steel guide is elevated with the canopy to a position adjacent the mine roof.