Abstract: A force measuring unit for measuring a force applied to an individual chain link of a chain strand is used in underground mining applications. The force measuring unit may include a housing having a first end configured to be contacted by a first chain link leg and a second end configured to be contacted by a second chain link leg, and a distance measuring device accommodated within the housing and configured to measure an actual distance between the first chain link leg and the second chain link leg. The distance measuring device may include a first unit part configured to be contacted by the first chain link leg and a second unit part configured to be contacted by the second chain link leg.

Abstract: A course measuring device for measuring a course of a longwall mining installation along a longwall face is disclosed. The course measuring device may have a first segment extending along a first axis. The course measuring device may also have a second segment extending along a second axis. The second segment may be movably connected to the first segment. The course measuring device may have a course measuring unit for measuring a spacial relationship between the first axis and the second axis. The course measuring device may also be adapted to move along the longwall mining installation.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the operational safety of mobile machines in mining operations by utilizing RFID technology includes a transmitting unit at the mobile machine, a receiving unit, and a non-machine-related RFID transponder which can be activated by the transmitting unit and in the case of activation is contactlessly detected. A reference transponder and a control unit for actuating the transmitting unit and evaluating transponder signals in measuring cycles is provided. To improve the energy requirement of the method and system, the reference transponder may be mounted on the mobile machine at a defined distance, stored in the control unit, from the transmitting unit. The signal field strength L of the transmitter signal of the transmitting unit may be changed in dependence on the response signal of the reference transponder in a calibration cycle (KCB) for eliminating the environmental influences.

Abstract: A force measuring unit for measuring a force applied to an individual chain link of a chain strand is used in underground mining applications. The force measuring unit may include a housing having a first end configured to be contacted by a first chain link leg and a second end configured to be contacted by a second chain link leg, and a distance measuring device accommodated within the housing and configured to measure an actual distance between the first chain link leg and the second chain link leg. The distance measuring device may include a first unit part configured to be contacted by the first chain link leg and a second unit part configured to be contacted by the second chain link leg.

Abstract: A method and a longwall face extraction installation have a device for locating persons and/or mobile machines in mine caverns using RFID technology. Base stations are arranged in a distributed manner along the mine cavern to be monitored and have a transmitter and a receiver. At least one RFID transponder is associated with the person or machine to be located, which has stored identification data, can be activated using the base station and can be read in a contactless manner using the base station. In order to provide a method for locating persons and a longwall face extraction installation, in particular for coal mining, which make it possible to effectively use RFID technology, the transmitters of adjacently positioned base stations along a region of the mine cavern to be monitored successively emit their transmission wave in order to activate an RFID transponder.

Abstract: A sensor device and a method for the geoelectrical prospecting of the location, the (stratographic) arrangement, and the course of raw mineral deposits and of the adjoining rock delimiting these deposits, particularly in the continuous working of the mineral deposits, having a sensor head whose front surface forms the sensor measuring surface, and at least one electrode. The sensor head can make contact with a ground surface, and a central electrode and a plurality of outer electrodes distributed geometrically uniformly around the central electrode are arranged on the sensor measuring surface, the central electrode and the outer electrodes being electrically conductive and electrically separated from one another.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the position and/or location of plant components of a mining extracting plant, which includes at least one face conveyor, a shield-type support system having a plurality of shield-type support frames and an extracting machine, the position/location of at least one plant component is determined by an evaluation system including a detection unit. To determine the location/position of at least one plant component even in the case of a dynamic mineral mining process, the detection unit includes an image sensor, by way of which at least four object points, which are at a predetermined spacing to each other and are detectable within the optical wavelength range, of at least one measuring object associated with one of the plant components, are detected and the position/location of the plant component can be determined from the projection of the object points detected by the image sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the operational safety of mobile machines in mining operations by utilizing RFID technology includes a transmitting unit at the mobile machine, a receiving unit, and a non-machine-related RFID transponder which can be activated by the transmitting unit and in the case of activation is contactlessly detected. A reference transponder and a control unit for actuating the transmitting unit and evaluating transponder signals in measuring cycles is provided. To improve the energy requirement of the method and system, the reference transponder may be mounted on the mobile machine at a defined distance, stored in the control unit, from the transmitting unit. The signal field strength L of the transmitter signal of the transmitting unit may be changed in dependence on the response signal of the reference transponder in a calibration cycle (KCB) for eliminating the environmental influences.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position and/or situation of installation components of a mineral mining installation which has as installation components at least one face conveyor for removing mined material, one shield-type support for keeping a face open, pushing devices for pushing the face conveyor and the shield-type support in active operation, an extracting machine which can be moved along the face conveyor, and a drift conveyor, the position and situation of at least one installation component being determined by a measuring system having a detection unit with measurement sensor and the detection unit decoupled from the movement of the extracting machine, can be or is moved to and fro between two points of the guiding system along at least one installation component at the face such as, e.g. the face conveyor, by a separate guiding system 21; a mining installation relating to the same.

Abstract: An appliance for optical signal transmission using optical waveguides in explosion-hazard areas, in particular in underground mining, includes an optical transmitter, having an optical output interface for connection of an optical waveguide transmission path and having a device for limiting the light power. An arrangement for bi-directional optical signal transmission is also provided. In order to provide an appliance for optical signal transmission as well as an arrangement for bi-directional optical signal transmission in explosion-hazard areas, complying with the requirements for intrinsically safe operation of the transmission medium when separating or decoupling the transmission medium, the device for limiting the light power is a passive optical component which is connected in the optical signal path between the optical transmitter and the optical output interface.

Abstract: A method and a longwall face extraction installation have a device for locating persons and/or mobile machines in mine caverns using RFID technology. Base stations are arranged in a distributed manner along the mine cavern to be monitored and have a transmitter and a receiver. At least one RFID transponder is associated with the person or machine to be located, which has stored identification data, can be activated using the base station and can be read in a contactless manner using the base station. In order to provide a method for locating persons and a longwall face extraction installation, in particular for coal mining, which make it possible to effectively use RFID technology, the transmitters of adjacently positioned base stations along a region of the mine cavern to be monitored successively emit their transmission wave in order to activate an RFID transponder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction system for mineral extraction, having a machine frame which is movable along a conveying device and which for each direction of travel, on its front side that, in operation, lies facing a working face, has hewing tools for the minerals to be won, and having a sensor system, disposed on the machine frame, for mineral/host rock recognition. In order to provide an extraction system which can be provided with or used with an improved sensor system, a retaining box for the sensor device is fastened in projecting arrangement to the front side of the machine frame, the retaining box preferably containing a georadar as the sensor system.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the position and/or location of plant components of a mining extracting plant, which includes at least one face conveyor, a shield-type support system having a plurality of shield-type support frames and an extracting machine, the position/location of at least one plant component is determined by an evaluation system including a detection unit. To determine the location/position of at least one plant component even in the case of a dynamic mineral mining process, the detection unit includes an image sensor, by way of which at least four object points, which are at a predetermined spacing to each other and are detectable within the optical wavelength range, of at least one measuring object associated with one of the plant components, are detected and the position/location of the plant component can be determined from the projection of the object points detected by the image sensor.

Abstract: A sensor device and a method for the geoelectrical prospecting of the location, the (stratographic) arrangement, and the course of raw mineral deposits and of the adjoining rock delimiting these deposits, particularly in the continuous working of the mineral deposits, having a sensor head whose front surface forms the sensor measuring surface, and at least one electrode. The sensor head can make contact with a ground surface, and a central electrode and a plurality of outer electrodes distributed geometrically uniformly around the central electrode are arranged on the sensor measuring surface, the central electrode and the outer electrodes being electrically conductive and electrically separated from one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position and/or situation of installation components of a mineral mining installation which has as installation components at least one face conveyor for removing mined material, one shield-type support for keeping a face open, pushing devices for pushing the face conveyor and the shield-type support in active operation, an extracting machine which can be moved along the face conveyor, and a drift conveyor, the position and situation of at least one installation component being determined by a measuring system having a detection unit with measurement sensor and the detection unit decoupled from the movement of the extracting machine, can be or is moved to and fro between two points of the guiding system along at least one installation component at the face such as, e.g. the face conveyor, by a separate guiding system 21; a mining installation relating to the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extraction system for mineral extraction, having a machine frame which is movable along a conveying device and which for each direction of travel, on its front side that, in operation, lies facing a working face, has hewing tools for the minerals to be won, and having a sensor system, disposed on the machine frame, for mineral/host rock recognition. In order to provide an extraction system which can be provided with or used with an improved sensor system, a retaining box for the sensor device is fastened in projecting arrangement to the front side of the machine frame, the retaining box preferably containing a georadar as the sensor system.