Abstract: A cutting machine including a base, a cutter movably mounted on the base, and a drive for moving the cutter reciprocably along the base to carry out a cutting operation. The cutter height relative to the base is alterable by a ram and the base includes a controller for controlling the height of the cutter to set a desired height of the cutter relative to the base as the cutter passes the controller.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in driving a mining machine into a driveway extending laterally from a mine roadway comprises a chain of axially extending push rods for engaging the mining machine, each push rod being coupled to an adjacent push rod by a connection which allows relative pivotal movement of the push rods, and feeder apparatus comprising a first thrust mechanism acting in the direction of the driveway and arranged to apply force to that part of the chain aligned with the driveway, and a second thrust mechanism acting in the direction of the roadway and arranged to apply force to that part of the chain aligned along the roadway, and a control device for operating the first and second thrust mechanisms together.

Abstract: A mining machine comprises two cutting units each including a rotatable cutting head having cutting faces directed forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the direction of movement of the machine, and an elongated housing incorporating a drive mechanism for the cutting head extending along the axis of rotation of the cutting head, the cutting units being mounted side-by-side with the cutting heads adjacent each other, each housing being movable about a vertical axis towards the end of the housing remote from the cutting head and about a transverse horizontal axis between the vertical axis and the cutting head, means for moving the cutting units about the said axes, the housings of the two cutting units being mounted on a common horizontal slideway, and the slideway defining the transfer horizontal axis about which the cutting units may be pivoted.