Abstract: A conveyor cart for a mining machine is made from readily available components, including conventional golf cart components, and has a maximum height of 20 inches or less (e.g. about 18 inches) so that it can be effectively utilized with a continuous miner for mining ultra thin coal seams. A chassis has side rails with front and rear ends and cross pieces extending between the side rails. A first coupling mechanism, such as an eye bolt, is mounted adjacent the front end, and a second coupling mechanism, such as a pintle hook, mounted adjacent the rear end. A single axle containing a pair of inflatable golf cart wheels extends between the side rails and may be driven by a conventional golf cart transmission and an AC motor. An endless conveyor belt is mounted so that it has a top portion for conveying mined material from the continuous mining machine to the mine mouth, and a bottom portion beneath the top portion, the conveyor belt powered by an electric motor mounted to the chassis.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine is provided for mining ultra thin coal seams, e.g. seams having a thickness of about 24 inches or less. A chassis supported by crawler tracks has a substantially horizontal axis powered cutter head mounted to its front and a conveyor extending from a gathering head toward the rear of the chassis. The conveyor includes a conveyor chain driven by at least one motor near the rear of the chassis for driving a sprocket. The gathering head includes a pair of counter-rotating discs with upstanding vanes and a deck having a maximum angle of about 10.degree. with respect to the dimension of elongation of the chassis. A small diameter idler sprocket for the conveyor chain is mounted beneath the deck, and a small diameter drive sprocket is provided for the cutting chain of the cutting head.

Abstract: A mining machine uses front cutters (barrel cutters) to cut into an area to be mined defining a first profile, and then expands rear cutters on the sides to cut a second, larger, profile during out-cutting. Cutter chains and drums of the rear cutter initially move cut material (e.g., coal) forward, and then through openings in the side frame of the machine onto a first, lowest, conveyance surface over which an endless conveyor chain with flights moves. A second conveyance surface above the first conveyance surface is also traversed by the chain with the flights to move material from the front cutters. A reversible motor powers the chains so that cut material is moved over the second conveyance surface during in-cutting, and over the first conveyance surface during out-cutting. The rear cutters are a sufficient distance above the mined floor formed during in-cutting that cut material tends to move onto (rather than under) the first conveyance surface.

Abstract: A spiral conveyor section assembly for a mining machine includes a spiral conveyor mounted by a shaft for rotation about an axis, the shaft having first and second free ends each adapted to be connected to another shaft. A motor, gearing, and like power device effects rotation of the shaft about its axis. The power device is mounted directly in association with the spiral conveyor between the ends of the shaft. The power device has at least about 1/4-3/4 horsepower for each foot of spiral conveyor (e.g. about 32-36 inches in diameter). A second (or more) spiral conveyor can be provided mounted parallel to the first, with the power device effecting rotation of both, toward each other. A guard is mounted in association with each inner portion of the spiral section to prevent mined material from being flung from one spiral to the other. It is possible to convey mined material 1,000 feet or more utilizing spiral conveyor sections connected end to end.

Abstract: A mining machine and method allow coal or the like to be mined substantially as quickly during out cutting as in cutting. A front cutter is mounted at the front of the frame, and a first conveyor, which preferably comprises a chain conveyer, conveys cut coal from the front of the frame to the rear and ultimately out of the area being mined. A second conveyor is mounted in back of the front cutter for conveying cut coal from adjacent the rear of the frame towards the front, and ultimately to be deposited on the first conveyor. A rear cutter is located to the rear of the second conveyor for cutting material during out cutting to be moved to the second conveyor as the machine moves rearwardly. The rear cutter is movable from a first inoperative position within the volume cut by the front cutter, to a second, operative position outside the volume cut by the front cutter.

Abstract: A mining machine is utilized for making original generally horizontal bores in coal steams, and for enlarging preexisting bores. A single cutting head is mounted for rotation about a first horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of the horizontal bore, and is pivotal about a second horizontal axis, parallel to the first axis, to change its cutting, vertical position within the bore. A non-rotatable body member, with side wall supports, is mounted posteriorly of the cutting head, and includes a conveyor mechanism and a power mechanism operatively connected to it. The machine can be sumped into a bore and then the cutting head rotated about the second axis to change the vertical position thereof, and then moved rearwardly, any cut material being continuously conveyed to the bore mouth by the conveyor mechanism.

Abstract: A cutting drum for a mining machine that requires only a single supporting arm, and single interior motor for rotation of the cutting drum. The drum has two body portions which are spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive the supporting arm along the axis of the drum. A cutting chain is operatively connected by sprocket teeth to each of the body portions, one of the body portions being driven by a shaft of the interior motor through reduction planetary gears. Only a single stage reduction need be provided. One of the body portions may be formed so that it is longitudinally reciprocal along the axis of the drum to vary the cutting height or width.

Abstract: A mining machine that may be used in place of an auger miner that is much more energy efficient in transporting mined material from the cutting site to the mouth of the mine. The machine includes a non-rotatable body member with stabilizers, at least one rotatable pilot cutting head mounted in front of the body member and a shaft operatively connected to the cutting head for rotation thereof, and a conveyor assembly mounted behind the pilot head in operative association with the body member. The conveyor assembly includes a scoop disposed posteriorly of the cutting head and having a bottom portion abutting the floor and extending posteriorly therefrom at an angle of about 14.degree. or less, and having side members that funnel toward each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming bores and coal seams and the like and enlarging preexisting bores. A mining machine includes a nonrotatable body member, a conveyor in line with the body member, a pilot head, and a pair of wing cutters mounted to the body member for pivotal movement with respect to the body member. Structure is provided for moving coal or the like cut by the wing cutters during out-cutting toward the sides of the bore, the structure including a pair of shields, one associated with each wing cutter and disposed between the wing cutter and the body member and pilot head, and a generally conical member coaxial with the shaft for rotation of the pilot head. Stabilization of the body member, etc., within the bore is provided by a pair of wheel sets spaced along the length of the conveyor, and a pair of right angle guide members vertically displaced from the wheel structure of one the wheel sets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming bores in coal seams and the like and enlarging pre-existing bores. A mining machine includes a non-rotatable body member, a conveyor, such as an auger, in line with the body member, and a pair of wing cutters mounted on the body member for pivotal movement with respect thereto. The wing cutters are movable from a first position wherein they are generally in line with the body member and conveyor, to a second position wherein they are disposed outwardly with respect to the body member. The wing cutters will be in their first position during movement into a bore, and will be moved to and latched in a second position during movement out of the bore. A pilot cutting head in front of the body member may also be provided. The wing cutters may comprise rotatable drums driven by cutting chains, and the drums are normally powered to rotate outwardly from the body member, in directions opposite to each other.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine particularly adapted for low overhead coal seams having a relatively small diameter cutterhead of the non-oscillating or fixed head type driven by chains that also cut coal and convey it rearwardly to a gathering head mounted on the front of the machine. The gathering head carries a pair of counter-rotating discs having vanes cooperating with conveyor fences for sweeping and discharging coal to a conventional conveyor mounted on the machine chassis.