Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a plow guide assembly for guiding a mining plow. The plow guide assembly may comprise a base member including a first guide beam for guideing the mining plow and extending along a first axis, and a second guide beam spaced apart the first guide beam for defining a service clearance therebetween, and extending along a second axis axially aligned to the first axis. The plow guide assembly may further comprise an insert element insertable into the service clearance and having a third guide beam extending along a third axis. In an assembled state of the insert element, the third axis is axially aligned to the first and second axes.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing slack in a chain conveyor driven between a first sprocket and a second sprocket, the first sprocket and the second sprocket rotating in a first direction. The method includes: locking the second sprocket to prevent rotation of the second sprocket in a second direction opposite the first direction; operating the first sprocket in the second direction to position a slack portion between the first sprocket and the second sprocket; and removing at least one chain link from the slack portion.

Abstract: A system for guiding movement of a chassis of a mining machine along a rack includes a shoe and a fluid line for receiving fluid from a fluid source. The shoe is configured to be coupled to the chassis and slidably engage the rack. The shoe is configured to extend at least partially around the rack. The shoe includes a first end, a second end, an inner surface, and an outer surface. At least a portion of the inner surface is configured to be positioned adjacent the rack. The fluid line includes an outlet positioned proximate the shoe for dispensing the fluid at an interface between the shoe and the rack.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.

Abstract: A method and device for machining materials includes a tool drum having tool shafts that support machining tools that can be driven in rotation. A drive element rotates the tool shafts and the tool drum relative to each other, and a drum carrier can be moved relative to the material by using a movement device. A control device varies the speed of the relative movement between the tool carrier and material and the rotational speed of the tool drum. To avoid critical operating points, one measuring sensor measures the natural translational vibration and/or another measuring sensor determines the rotational vibrations of the tool drum. The control device has a vibration analysis module, by which a vibration spectrum can be determined, and at least one controller module, by which drive parameters can be controlled as a function of the vibrations determined by the analysis module.

Abstract: A conveyor belt section (10) capable of bending vertically and horizontally includes a base (12) and side walls (14, 16) extending anguiarly from opposing sides of the base (12) to form a channel (18), wherein the belt section (10) is corrugated with at least two alternating peaks (20) and troughs (22) extending continuously across the side walls (14, 16) and base (12).

Abstract: The method for mounting a ranging arm on a body of a longwall shearer loader characterized by the fact that the shearer's ranging arm (7) is pivotally connected through the eyes (9) and at least one pin (3) with the eyes of the articulated joint (6) located from the side wall side in the bottom part of the shearer's body (5) outside of the chain conveyor (11). The axis of the pin or pins (3) is situated below the axis of the motor (12) of the shearer's ranging arm (7). The hydraulic cylinder (4) is pivotally connected with the eyes (8) of the shearer's ranging arm (7) located between the eyes of the articulated joint (6) with a pin (2), the axis of which is situated above the axis of the motor (12) of the shearer's arm (7). The hydraulic cylinder (4) is pivotally connected with the shearer's body (5) with a pin (1), the axis of which is situated below the axis of the motor (12) of the shearer's arm (7) and below the axis of the feed drive shaft (10).

Abstract: A replaceable guide piece (10) for an extraction or coal plough (100) is provided. The replaceable guide piece (10) includes a generally U-shaped guide piece body (12) configured to be inserted into a guide claw (14) of the plough (100). A single recess (22) is formed in a central portion of a guide piece body (12) to extend at an angle (?) from an upper side of guide piece body (12) to a side surface of the same. A locking mechanism (24) is configured to engage with the single recess (22) to prevent movement of the guide piece (10) in the longitudinal direction after insertion of the guide piece (10) into the guide claw.

Abstract: An armored face conveyor includes a plurality of line pans positioned adjacent to one another, a plurality of flight bars, and a connecting member. Each line pan includes a race having an outer race face and an inner race face. The plurality of flight bars extend laterally across the line pans and are received by the race. Each flight bar includes an end having an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface. The connecting member extends through the plurality of flight-bars and couples the flight-bars to one another. Lateral movement of any one of the flight-bars that causes the upper guide surface to contact the outer race face substantially simultaneously causes the lower guide surface to contact the inner race face.

Abstract: A chain link assembly, a cable chain assembly and a mining system. The cable handler individual links may include an enclosed section for the fiber optic cable separate from other services for the machine. A flexible material or other structure may assemble the fiber optic cable in the cable handler in a manner in which it “snakes” about the centerline to provide ample slack in the fiber optic cable to, for example, prevent over tension.

Abstract: A rack and pinion arrangement includes rack and pinion rods having a carrier bar, a guide bar and inner rack and pinion teeth for interaction with a driving sprocket. An end tooth at both ends of the each rack and pinion rod has a change in radius of curvature, and the tooth profile of the inner rack and pinion teeth has a change in radius of curvature. The change in radius of curvature of the end teeth is lower than the change in radius of the inner rack and pinion teeth. The end tooth head of the end teeth is lower than the tooth heads of the inner rack and pinion teeth. The end tooth in the region of the change in radius of curvature has a greater tooth width than the inner rack and pinion teeth in the region of the change in radius of curvature.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a mining machine. The drive assembly includes one-and-only-one sprocket and a housing coupled to the mining machine. The housing includes a shoe and at least partially receives the sprocket. The drive assembly also includes a motor and a drive shaft that couples the sprocket and the motor. The drive shaft rotates the sprocket and defines a longitudinal axis. The housing rotates relative to the mining machine about the longitudinal axis and in a face-to-gob direction.

Abstract: An armored face conveyor includes a plurality of line pans positioned adjacent to one another, a plurality of flight bars, and a connecting member. Each line pan includes a race having an outer race face and an inner race face. The plurality of flight bars extend laterally across the line pans and are received by the race. Each flight bar includes an end having an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface. The connecting member extends through the plurality of flight-bars and couples the flight-bars to one another. Lateral movement of any one of the flight-bars that causes the upper guide surface to contact the outer race face substantially simultaneously causes the lower guide surface to contact the inner race face.

Abstract: A guide assembly for a longwall shearer. The shearer includes an arm having an arm end and a cutting drum rotatably coupled to the arm end. The cutting drum rotates about a drum axis and engages a mine wall, and the cutting drum has a rear extent arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the drum axis. The guide assembly includes a guide member coupled to the arm and operable to guide material won from the mine wall. The guide member has a guide surface extending in a direction non-parallel to the plane and non-parallel to the drum axis. The guide member guides material along the guide surface away from the cutting drum.

Abstract: A longwall mining machine and a linepan section, the linepan section may include a face-side rail, a gob-side rail opposite the face-side rail, and a conveyor pan between the face-side rail and the gob-side rail. The face-side rail may have a generally horizontal top surface at a top surface height and with a top surface width, an angled loading surface extending toward the mining face and the ground surface and arranged at an oblique angle relative to the top surface, the loading surface being at a loading height and with a loading surface width, the loading surface width being at least about 25 percent of the total width, and a material cavity defined in the face surface below the loading surface and recessed toward a gob-side.

Abstract: A mining machine for mining along a mining face includes a longwall shearer, a product removal system for removing product cut by the longwall shearer, and a drive system for moving the longwall shearer along a rack extending along the mining face. The drive system including a housing coupled to the longwall shearer, a motor, and a sprocket at least partially positioned within the housing and drivingly connected to the motor. The sprocket is engaged with the rack and moves the longwall shearer along the rack. A shoe maintains the sprocket in engagement with the rack. The housing is configured to rotate relative to the longwall shearer such that the drive system adjusts for vertical height variations and horizontal variations of the rack.

Abstract: A side shifting conveyor is provided for a surface mining operation. The conveyor generally includes conveyor sections and conveyor translation devices. Each conveyor translation device includes a drive operable to move the associated at least one conveyor section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveyor further includes a controller operatively coupled to each drive for controlling operation of the drive and coordinating movement of the conveyor sections. A method for moving a conveyor in a surface mine generally includes sensing that a surface miner operable to deposit material onto the conveyor sections has moved beyond one of the conveyor sections, fixing a position relative to the surface mine of a conveyor translation device associated with one of the conveyor sections, and operating the conveyor translation device to move one of the conveyor sections in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A dust scrubber for a mining shearer machine is adapted to be mounted behind the rear surface of the shearer arm, on the opposite side of the arm to the mine surface being cut, so as to extract airborne particulates. The scrubber may be mounted to the shearer via a compensation mechanism such as a double hinge and link arrangement which maintains relatively static position and/or orientation of the scrubber despite the pivoting of the shearer arm in operation.

Abstract: A longwall shearer is positioned adjacent a face conveyor for transporting material that is cut from a mining face. The longwall shearer includes a chassis, an arm pivotably coupled to the chassis, a cutting drum for engaging the mining face, and a lump breaker for engaging material on the face conveyor. The chassis includes a first end and a second end, and the chassis is movable in at least a first direction that is generally parallel to the mining face. The cutting drum is rotatably supported on the arm. The lump breaker is pivotably coupled to the chassis about an axis, and the lump breaker includes at least one tooth for breaking apart the cut material.

Abstract: A chain link assembly, a cable chain assembly and a mining system. The cable handler individual links may include an enclosed section for the fiber optic cable separate from other services for the machine. A flexible material or other structure may assemble the fiber optic cable in the cable handler in a manner in which it “snakes” about the centerline to provide ample slack in the fiber optic cable to, for example, prevent over tension.

Abstract: A ploughing device for mining, with a ploughing tool having a plurality of plough bodies being interconnected by means of detachable coupling members, and with a longwall conveyor forming a plough guiding means, wherein at least one ploughing body is provided with pivotable cutter carriers. In order to have a ploughing device for mining different seam thicknesses in an efficient manner even and with low number of spare parts to be stored, the ploughing tool has three plough bodies, one forming a central ploughing body, at the end of which are connected a first and second lateral ploughing body by means of a first and second coupling members, wherein the coupling members in each case consist of a toggle bolt with toggle shaft and toggle heads being insertable on open-edged toggle pockets on the bodies.

Abstract: A longwall mining machine and a linepan section, the linepan section may include a face-side rail, a gob-side rail opposite the face-side rail, and a conveyor pan between the face-side rail and the gob-side rail. The face-side rail may have a generally horizontal top surface at a top surface height and with a top surface width, an angled loading surface extending toward the mining face and the ground surface and arranged at an oblique angle relative to the top surface, the loading surface being at a loading height and with a loading surface width, the loading surface width being at least about 25 percent of the total width, and a material cavity defined in the face surface below the loading surface and recessed toward a gob-side.

Abstract: A dust scrubber (30, 130) for a mining shearer machine (12) is adapted to be mounted behind the rear surface of the shearer arm (18), on the opposite side of the arm to the mine surface being cut, so as to extract airborne particulates. The scrubber may be mounted to the shearer via a compensation mechanism such as a double hinge (160, 162) and link (164) arrangement which maintains relatively static position and/or orientation of the scrubber despite the pivoting of the shearer arm in operation.

Abstract: An armored face conveyor includes a plurality of line pans positioned adjacent to one another, a plurality of flight bars, and a connecting member. Each line pan includes a race having an outer race face and an inner race face. The plurality of flight bars extend laterally across the line pans and are received by the race. Each flight bar includes an end having an upper guide surface and a lower guide surface. The connecting member extends through the plurality of flight-bars and couples the flight-bars to one another. Lateral movement of any one of the flight-bars that causes the upper guide surface to contact the outer race face substantially simultaneously causes the lower guide surface to contact the inner race face.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.

Abstract: A guide assembly for a longwall shearer. The shearer includes an arm having an arm end and a cutting drum rotatably coupled to the arm end. The cutting drum rotates about a drum axis and engages a mine wall, and the cutting drum has a rear extent arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the drum axis. The guide assembly includes a guide member coupled to the arm and operable to guide material won from the mine wall. The guide member has a guide surface extending in a direction non-parallel to the plane and non-parallel to the drum axis. The guide member guides material along the guide surface away from the cutting drum.

Abstract: A mining machine for mining along a mining face includes a longwall shearer, a product removal system for removing product cut by the longwall shearer, and a drive system for moving the longwall shearer along a rack extending along the mining face. The drive system including a housing coupled to the longwall shearer, a motor, and a sprocket at least partially positioned within the housing and drivingly connected to the motor. The sprocket is engaged with the rack and moves the longwall shearer along the rack. A shoe maintains the sprocket in engagement with the rack. The housing is configured to rotate relative to the longwall shearer such that the drive system adjusts for vertical height variations and horizontal variations of the rack.

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 surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.

Abstract: A surface mining system removes material from a surface mining block that has a substantially vertical and laterally extending mining face. The surface mining system generally includes a miner moveable in a lateral direction along the mining face, a face conveyor extending along the mining face, and conveyor translation devices associated with the face conveyor and operable to move the face conveyor toward the mining face as material is removed. The miner includes a rotating cutting member mounted to an end of a vertically ranging cutting arm and operable to remove material from the mining block. The face conveyor includes a discharge portion and is operable to convey material removed from the mining block toward the discharge portion. Each conveyor translation device includes a secured configuration substantially fixed with respect to the mining face and an unsecured configuration moveable with respect to the mining face.

Abstract: A disclosed rack bar system utilizes a forged or cast clog with integral lugs that accept a retainer plate. The plain rack bar pins cannot pass fully through the clog and are held in place by a plate retainer. The retainer is simply secured by a spring pin, or is held in place by gravity.

Abstract: A rack bar haulage system forms part of a drive system for moving the mining machine along a conveyor including a plurality of conveyor pans. The pans are arranged end to end, and the rack bar haulage system includes a plurality of rack bars, each rack bar end including a pillar portion extending downwardly. One rack bar is adapted to be mounted adjacent an end of a line pan, and another rack bar is adapted to be mounted adjacent the adjacent end of the adjacent line pan. The haulage system also includes a chain-link, the chain-link surrounding and engaging the two adjacent pillar portions on the ends of the one rack bar and the adjacent other rack bar. The chain-link is adapted to extend over the adjacent ends of the line pans. The haulage system also includes a clog for receiving the rack bar, the clog including an extension that engages the chain-link and traps the chain link between the extension and the rack bar.

Abstract: Longwall equipment for mechanical extraction, especially in underground coal mining, including a face conveyor disposed along a longwall face, a disc shearer loader that includes a machine body that rests, and is guided, upon the face conveyor and includes two shearing discs pivotably disposed thereon, with the machine body extending over the face conveyor and forming a portal that prescribes a maximum loading cross-section of the face conveyor, a lifting mechanism mounted on the machine body for guiding it on the face conveyor in a vertically adjustable manner and for variably adjusting the portal cross-section, a drive element height-adjustably disposed on the machine body and engaging an abutment fixedly disposed on the face conveyor, and shield support units that include top canopies that project toward the disc shearer loader.

Abstract: A shearer loader for underground mining, the shear loader comprising a shearer loader body, at least one cutting drum fastened to a supporting arm joined to the loader body, a first drive motor for moving the shearer loader and a second drive motor for moving the cutting drums, a cooling water circuit for cooling the first and second drive motors, the cooling water circuit including an inlet and a return line, a spray system including at least one spray water circuit, the spray system including a feed line fluidly connecting a common water connection to the cutting drums, the spray system further including a valve in the feed line for switching the spray water circuits on and off, a control valve connected between the feed line of the spray water circuit and the return line of the cooling water circuit, the control valve allowing selective flow from the cooling water circuit to be directed to the cutting drums.

Abstract: A conveyor pan for use with a shearer with a skid-type shoe in a longwall mining operation, the conveyor pan including a side member having a surface adapted to be engaged by the shearer skid-type shoe, the surface being formed by a piece of the side member that extends horizontally for the length of the side member. The piece has a first end and a second end, each piece end having a top, a rear, a front and an edge. The first end edge and the second end edge are each formed by each edge being between 45 degrees removed from a vertical plane extending at 90 degrees to the horizontal plane formed by the side member surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to guide shoe for a shearer loader, in particular for a shearer-loader drive assembly, comprising at least one base wall 51, comprising a guide projection 72, on the base-wall side, for engaging under a rack drive of a rack drive arrangement, and comprising a guide surface 74 for engaging behind the rack drive. To achieve shorter downtime periods in the case of repairs to the shearer-loader drive assembly due to wear, and in order to reduce their susceptibility to wear, the guide projection and the guide surface are realized on wear inserts 70 that are movably and, preferably, replaceably fastened, or fastenable, to the guide shoe 50. Movement of the wear inserts could be limited by pivot limiting strips or inhibited by clamping strips.

Abstract: A conveyor pan for use with a shearer with a skid-type shoe in a longwall mining operation, the conveyor pan including a side member having a surface adapted to be engaged by the shearer skid-type shoe, the surface being formed by a piece of the side member that extends horizontally for the length of the side member. The piece has a first end and a second end, each piece end having a top, a rear, a front and an edge. The first end edge and the second end edge are each formed by each edge being between 45 degrees removed from a vertical plane extending at 90 degrees to the horizontal plane formed by the side member surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor segment for use in a train of conveyor segments for high wall mining, comprising: conveyor means for transporting mined material from and to opposite adjacent conveyor segments in a train of conveyor segments (1), and a transmission for transmitting power from and to opposite adjacent conveyor segments in a train of conveyor segments. The invention further relates to driving means (31). Moreover, the invention relates to an assembly of a conveyor segment and driving means, and to a train of conveyor segments. Further, the invention relates to a launching platform (30), and to a method for high wall mining.

Abstract: The subject matter of the present invention relates to a plow guide for a chain-pulled plow for use in underground mining operations, with plow guide troughs 20 and 50 having multiple parts and being connectable to one another by means of coupling elements so as to be tension-proof and angularly movable. Each plow guide trough has a center piece 21 and 51 with superposed chain guide channels 10C, 10B, 10D, to both sides of which center piece an end piece, 22,23 and 52,53 is joined by welding, which end piece is a single-piece casting with superposed chain channel sections that are separated by a sliding spacer piece that is cast on. To make available a high-performance Gleithobel system with a high tool life, cast-on holding pockets 24,25 and 54, 55—which are open on the working face side—for toggle connections with toggles 1 as coupling organs are disposed on end pieces 22,23 and 52, 53. (FIG.

Abstract: The extraction machine for underground ore extraction operations, with extraction of the extraction product by blasting has an advancing support equipment (11) and a face conveyor (18) coupled to it as well as at least one boring device (26) for the production of shot holes (23) and a loading device (27) to supply the face conveyor (18) with the blast rock loosened by blasting, whereby the boring device (26) and the loading device (27) are assigned to a common boring and loading machine (24), which can be driven along the face conveyor (18) at right angles to the direction of mining in the direction towards the rock face (20) running parallel to the direction of mining, or away from this.

Abstract: A conveyor pan assembly, and a corresponding conveyor line, for an armored face conveyor is provided wherein each pan assembly has a replaceable upper deck plate fabricated of wear-resistant steel. A lower support plate of mild steel is mechanically attached, such as by structural welds, to spaced tabs projecting inwardly from opposed parallel sidewalls. The lateral edges of the deck plate mate with grooves formed in the adjacent sidewalls above the projecting tabs. One or more slots formed in the underside of the support plate receive structural welds that assist in holding the deck plate in place. No structural welds holding the upper deck plate in place are exposed to wear created by the flights, coal or other aggregate material moving along the conveyor feed path. The sidewalls remain separated by the lower support plate when the deck plate is removed during replacement.

Abstract: A guide arrangement for a drum-type cutting machine is composed of a guide block cooperating with a guide rail and articulated at the lower end of a vertical guide arm of the cutting machine. The guide block has a pocket defined by lateral walls which receives the guide arm. A transverse bolt extends through the pocket in the guide block and is received snugly by a bore in the guide arm. One of the end regions of the bolt forms a pivot journal head with curved surfaces which is received in a pivot journal socket in one of the lateral walls of the pocket in the guide block. The other end of the transverse bolt fits with lateral play in a horizontal guide of the other lateral wall of the guide block. The inner surfaces of the lateral walls incline relative to a horizontal plane to permit the guide arm to cant about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A longwall coal cutter and loader for longwall mining operations has a machine body drivable along a longwall conveyor in the longitudinal direction of the longwall surface, and at least two cutting rollers complementing or overlapping each other with their cutting sections. In order to improve the transverse transport of the mined material onto the longwall conveyor, to optimize the arrangement of the cutting tools on the cutting rollers in view of the cutting action, a horizontal roller is provided for cutting free the roof. The horizontal roller has a rotary axle extending parallel with the roof and cooperates with a vertical roller for cutting free the sill, the vertical roller having a rotary axle extending perpendicular to the sill. The horizontal roller is arranged above the vertical roller and leads the vertical roller in the direction of travel in the mining operation.

Abstract: In the driving and guide arrangement according to the invention, the drive chain in a chain channel bounded by a guide rail and a rear wall is supported only on series of spaced, narrow support elements at least some of which may form connecting plates welded between the rear wall and the guide rail. As the narrow support elements are spaced apart from one another, fines getting into the chain channel from above readily drop between them, and emerge freely through face side and gob-side discharge openings in the chain channel. Caking of fines in the chain channel is largely prevented in the arrangements, which are fabricated as welded constructions and are therefore particularly economical to produce.

Abstract: In the drive system according to the invention for a cutting machine which can be moved along a chain conveyor and has a pin drive chain arranged in a chain receptacle of the chain conveyor, the pin drive chain is attached at each of its two ends to a hydraulic tensioning cylinder device, with the aid of which the chain slackness which forms in the pin drive chain can be compensated. At the same time, holding devices, such as end stops, are provided in the region of the tensioning cylinder devices, which holding devices support or fix the chain section of the pin drive chain which is respectively under tensile loading.

Abstract: A modular pan assembly for a longwall mine face conveyor includes an elongated deck plate flanked by a pair of parallel, elongated side rails to define the conveyor system feed path. Beveled longitudinal edges of the deck plate mesh into corresponding channels along inside surfaces of the side rails. Apertures penetrate side rails from outside surfaces into the floor of respective channels. The assembly is secured by welds between the side rails and the deck plate within the apertures and along a lower side rail channel wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of a mining system including a continuous miner, a tramming conveyor and a load-out vehicle operatively connected to the tramming conveyor. The apparatus includes a master computer processor on the continuous miner and at least one slave computer processor under the direction of the master computer processor for controlling elements of the mining system other than the continuous miner. A pair of parallel data communication highways connect the master computer processor and the slave computer processor and the functional status of the data communication highways is monitored. A radio communication path is provided between the master computer processor and the mining system. The master computer processor operates the mining system in an automatic mining mode of operation when both data communication highways are functional and operates the mining system in a reverse mode of operation if either data communication highway fails to function.

Abstract: A mineral winning installation employs a shearer which is moved along a scraper-chain conveyor compound of individual pans mounted end-to-end. the shearer extends over the conveyor and is guided by guides provided at both sides of the conveyor. The body of the shearer has a driven chain wheel which meshes with an open-link chain serving as a rack abutment and laid on a bed alongside the side walls of the conveyor pans adjacent the mineral face. The side walls of the pans have upper and lower flanges which have strip-like projections directly outwardly from the pans. The chain is retained by the strip-like projections of the upper flanges of the pan side walls which overlap one side of the horizontal links and detachably hold-down strips which overlap the other side of the horizontal links. the hold-down strips are mounted for swivelling to release the chain links are detachably mounted to the support bars fixed to the support members.

Abstract: A long-wall mining machine has an operating chain entraining conveyor flights or mining tools and displaceable in a trough which can be provided with rows of sensors of an inductive proximity type responding to the chain and the tools and generating measurement pulse trains which are compared with setpoint pulse trains to signal functional parameters of chain operation. The sag of the chain is determined by a row of sensors and in response to the sag a chain-tension unit can be controlled.

Abstract: A drive gear and guide arrangement for a mining machine such as a disk shearer which operates above a chain scraper conveyor. The guide arrangement includes a guide rail arranged on a trough section of the chain scraper conveyor and extends along side of the chain scraper conveyor forming a chain duct for a drive gear chain which moves the mining machine along the conveyor. The guide rail includes a profile lug which engages over the horizontal chain links of the drive gear chain and holds the chain links on a chain support in the chain duct. The guide rails also includes a rolled profile which forms a sealing strip that closes off the chain duct of the drive gear chain on the side of the conveyor. The chain duct includes opening on the storing side which are designed to discharge fine materials which enter the trough section.