Abstract: A mobile mining machine having an elevatable conveyor boom with a vertically deflectible end section. The end section of the boom is connected to the main section of the boom by a pivoted connection to provide relative vertical tilting movement. Stacks of leaf springs fastened flatwise to upper and lower surfaces of the boom side rails at the pivoted connection normally hold the end section in a working position aligned with the main section but enable vertical deflection of the end section when an abnormal and possibly destructive force is applied to the end of the boom.

Abstract: The machine includes two half-frames vertically arranged side by side, with two parallel vertical shafts respectively supported by the two half-frames. A separate turret is pivotally supported around each of the shafts, each turret having a cutting head which can rotate around a horizontal axis and which is equipped with tools for excavating. The two half-frames are slidably movable horizontally in relation to one another, with a control member connected between the half-frames for controlling the relative movement, the two half-frames being selectively positionable on the gallery floor by said relative movement, one half-frame being movable while the other half-frame remains fixed in position.

Abstract: A self-propelled machine for cutting and moving earth as from a mine face in a shaft or earth from a bank or other natural terrain and having a prime mover vehicle for advancing pairs of conveyor chain sprockets that support and power chain-mounted cutters and scoops. Preferably a separate power source other than the mover vehicle drives the conveyor chain sprockets. Belt conveyors receive earth from the scoops and discharge it away from the machine. The conveyor chains not only are powered separately from the vehicle but travel in a path across the advance of the vehicle. Cutter blades on the forward chain each have a plurality of replaceable teeth on the blade outboard of the foremost chain of the pair. The vehicle or prime mover may be a crawler tractor or other powered apparatus to which the earth-moving apparatus is attached for spatial adjustment with respect to the work.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system includes an excavating and wheel assembly at the front thereof and a plurality of conveyors for conveying the material from the excavating wheel assembly upward and rearwardly. The excavating wheel assembly includes a pair of excavating wheels with a total width wider than the overall width of the following portions of the system. A supporting and housing apparatus extends between the excavating wheels and rotatably supports the same from the front of the vehicle. A power plant is provided and a drive shaft extends down along the supporting and housing means between the two excavating wheels. Gearing is provided in the interior of the wheels and is connected to the drive shaft for powering the excavating wheels. Apparatus is provided for raising and lowering excavation height of the excavation wheel assembly to thereby vary the grade of the excavation.

Abstract: Crawler track means are mounted on and adapted to carry the frame of the machine and have a tread having a rear end. A loader is mounted on and protrudes forwardly beyond the forward end of said frame and has a scooping lip which has the configuration of an arrowhead and is formed with forward edges defining a plane. The loader is forwardly and downwardly inclined toward the scooping lip and is adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the frame and crawler track means and adapted to assume a lowermost position. When the loader is in said lowermost position, said plane defined by said forward edges of said scooping lip is tangent to said crawler track means behind the center of the length of said crawler track means and spaced from said tread before the center of the length of said crawler track means.

Abstract: An underground mining apparatus and more particularly an underground mining apparatus having a disintegrating head portion thereof carried by an improved pivotal linkage arrangement.

Abstract: A mining machine of the type wherein the rotary mining head comprises at least one rotatable support carrying a plurality of cutter drums. The support is rotatably driven through a gear box including gearing connected to the support by a plurality of drive shafts, thereby providing the mining head with substantially increased power and torque, for the employed diameter of drive shaft, while also providing other described advantages. Each of the drive shafts is connected to the gearing through a clutch whereby the load is divided between the drive shafts and the shafts are automatically disconnected from the gearing in the event that the mining head encounters high resistance to its driven rotation.

Abstract: An excavator for excavating a tunnel is provided which has a body provided with gathering and transporting means for the materials excavated by the excavator for discharging the same. The excavator comprises a horizontally and vertically swingable boom mounted on the body and actuated by a cylinder-piston assembly interconnected between the body and the boom. A vertically tiltable excavating cutter is tiltably mounted on the forward end portion of the boom with or without a vertically swingable bracket actuated by a cylinder-piston assembly which is interposed between the cutter and the boom. An impact motor is adapted to intermittently actuating the cutter. An extensible and retractable boom actuated by a cylinder-piston assembly may be interposed between the bracket and the horizontally and vertically swingable boom.

Abstract: Hydraulic underground mining system adapted to operate through a small diameter well bore and into a subterranean body and including a mining capsule carried on the lower end of an elongate support structure. The mining capsule includes a liquid jet nozzle at its upper end for forming a laterally directed jet stream to impact material in the ore body and to pulp the same into a slurry. An orifice having a grate for preventing entry of excessively large material is positioned below the jet so that freshly pulped slurry flows into the orifice, the latter being connected to an elongate positive displacement pump mounted below the orifice. Suitable hydraulic power means are provided for operating the pump and for progressively moving the jet stream .[. .]. .Iadd.through .Iaddend.at least a portion of an arc. Fixed liquid jets are also provided at the pump inlet for flushing and priming and to the lowermost portion of the capsule and to facilitate movement of the apparatus in the well bore.