Abstract: A shearer drum for a mining machine used in underground mining is provided with cutter picks and nozzles on the periphery of the drum. The nozzles are subdivided into groups which extend substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the drum and each group of nozzles can, when disposed opposite the mine face, be connected by a controllable valve associated with the group to a line for supplying high-pressure liquid. An independent control valve and at least one cutter pick are associated with each nozzle group. The cutter pick is resiliently mounted and cutting pressure triggered by movement of the cutter pick into a mine face actuates the control valve and connects the nozzles to the high-press line.

Abstract: To maintain the lowest possible machine profile between the bottoms of the crawler treads and the top of the turret, the boom of the machine and boom lifting cylinders are cantilevered forwardly of the turret and depressed to lie as closely as possible to the underlying gathering head of the machine without clogging the throat of the machine and/or interfering with the operation of the gathering arms. The boom pivot and boom lift cylinders are disposed ahead of the crawler treads and the connections of the boom lift cylinders with the turret are forwardly of the highest part of the gathering head. This geometry renders it possible to significantly lower the elevation of the machine turret on which the boom is mounted for sluing or swinging movement and thus minimize the total height or profile of the mining machine.