Abstract: A softwall mining method and device. Each of a plurality of mining devices comprise a supporting portion, an earth moving portion and a coupling mechanism for advancing the earth moving portion into a mining face, and for advancing the supporting portion toward the earth moving portion. Supporting portions of the devices are locked together to anchor movement of the earth moving portions, and earth moving portions of the devices are separately locked together to anchor the movement of the supporting portions.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus is provided for size reduction and separation of soil clods mixed with a root crop. The method includes the steps of feeding the mixture along an enclosed operative path, manipulating the mixture so as to change the shape of the conveyed mass and break up the soil clods sufficiently to reduce the size and separating the clods from the crop. The manipulation preferably takes the form of shifting the clods longitudinally and laterally with respect to each other. The operative path is preferably serpentine in shape with the clods/crop expanding along the outside of bends and contracting along the inside of bends. The serpentine path is oriented in a substantially vertical direction and may provide differential speeds along the boundaries of the path. The optimum mixture is approximately 50% soil clods at the entry end, with the range being between 35% and 65%.