Abstract: A mining vehicle with an improved tailgate design for raising the tailgate above or lowering the tailgate below the mining vehicle depending on operating conditions. The tailgate is comprised of a tailgate door and at least one side bracket which is coupled to the mining vehicle via a respective pivot point. At least one forward hydraulic cylinder is pivotally coupled at a first end to the at least one side bracket and the second end pivotally coupled to the vehicle at a respective first attachment point. The tailgate is further comprised of at least one pivot point hydraulic cylinder, having a first end pivotally coupled to the tailgate door and a second end coupled to the vehicle, such that the tailgate can be raised above or lowered below the mining vehicle as desired.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pivoted lifting device having a main support frame selectively pivotable about a horizontal axis and engagement arms connected to the main support frame by a pivot pin. The engagement arms include an engagement surface. The pivoted lifting device allows the entire engagement surface to contact an article prior to the article being moved from an at rest position. The invention includes hydraulically actuated spring biased shaft having an unlocked position and also a locked position wherein it is located adjacent the engagement arms to lock the engagement arms in an upright position.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically maintaining the drill steel on its proper path during drilling. The drill is mounted at the end of an extendable boom, the extension of which can be controlled hydraulically. The orientation of the drill steel with respect to the boom is also controlled hydraulically. The boom can be elevated by a hydraulic system to drive the drill steel into the strata above. The position of the drill is calculated by a controller by means of several sensors. The controller then controls the extension of the boom and boom angle as well as the orientation of the drill with respect to the boom in order to maintain the drill steel in the proper position throughout the drilling process.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pivoted lifting device having a main support frame selectively pivotable about a horizontal axis and engagement arms connected to the main support frame by a pivot pin. The engagement arms include an engagement surface. The pivoted lifting device allows the entire engagement surface to contact an article prior to the article being moved from an at rest position.

Abstract: An industrial solid tire for heavy-load, off-road use having a cast polyurethane tire thereon is produced by a batch method. The tire is a heat cured polyurethane produced from a dispersion of a prepolymer, a curative and an amount of a silicone dispersing and lubricant agent. The amount of silicone is between 1.0 and 4.0 parts per hundred of the prepolymer. A method for manufacturing the tire is included.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a movable load support used for supporting the roof in underground excavations. The load support includes a primary roof support carried on a base frame and an auxiliary roof support also carried on said base frame but laterally disposed from the primary roof support. The auxiliary roof support is longitudinally and laterally moveable with respect to the primary roof support to successively provide roof support to adjacent areas of the roof.

Abstract: A wheel for a relatively slow vehicle used in industrial applications and incorporating a solid tire formed of dense elastomer material such as cast polyurethane, having a relatively large radial depth, for example six inches, a relatively large width, for example twelve inches, and a deep slot extending circumferentially around the tire and dividing the tire into sections separated by the slot with the ratio of the depth of the slot to the lateral width of each section being in the range of 0.65 to 1.75. The tire is bonded to the wheel rim and includes sidewalls containing concave surfaces terminating in relatively thin lips bonded to the outer edges of the rim, keeping stress in the edge of the tire relatively low which helps reduce tire failures from beginning in the edges of the tire along the rim edges.