Abstract: A shovel including a dipper for gathering material from a bank. The shovel further includes a hoist motor operating control for operating a hoist motor, a speed sensor for monitoring the hoist motor speed, a torque sensor for monitoring the hoist motor torque, and a mechanism communicating with a crowd motor control, the torque sensor and the speed sensor for moving a dipper handle toward a boom when the hoist motor speed is below a low-speed value while under high torque, and for permitting movement of the dipper away from the boom when the hoist motor speed is above the low-speed value or not under high torque.

Abstract: A shovel including a dipper for gathering material from a bank. The shovel further includes a hoist motor operating control for operating a hoist motor, a speed sensor for monitoring the hoist motor speed, a torque sensor for monitoring the hoist motor torque, and a mechanism communicating with a crowd motor control, the torque sensor and the speed sensor for moving a dipper handle toward a boom when the hoist motor speed is below a low-speed value while under high torque, and for permitting movement of the dipper away from the boom when the hoist motor speed is above the low-speed value or not under high torque.

Abstract: A drill comprising a frame supported for movement over the ground in a forward propel direction and a rearward propel direction, a mast mounted on the frame in a generally vertical position, and a drill head moveable up and down the mast. The drill head is selectively engageable with the upper end of a drill pipe so that the drill pipe is raised and lowered out of and into the ground when the drill head moves up and down the mast. The drill further includes a crawler drive for moving the drill in the forward propel direction, a motor for moving the drill head to cause drilling, and an operator's cab positioned on the frame adjacent the mast. The cab includes a first console and a second console spaced from the first console, controls on the first console for operating the forward propel drive, and controls on the second console for operating the drill head motor.

Abstract: A power shovel including a frame, a boom mounted on the frame, a crowd drive mechanism mounted on the boom, and a dipper handle supported by the crowd mechanism. A dipper is connected to the handle for movement therewith, the dipper defining material receiving and material discharging openings with substantially identical areas. The dipper includes a generally planar back wall, a generally planar front wall, the front wall being opposite and substantially parallel to the back wall, generally trapezoidal and substantially parallel side walls connecting the back wall and the front wall, and a lip arranged along an upper edge of the front wall. A lip angle of the dipper is between three and five degrees, and a tooth angle is between 46 and 50 degrees.

Abstract: A dragline comprising a main housing including a generally horizontal platform, a boom extending forwardly from the main housing, a bucket suspended from the boom, a winding drum mounted on the platform for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, a fairlead mechanism mounted on the platform forward of the drum, the fairlead mechanism including an upper sheave mounted on a generally C-shaped upper bracket for rotation relative thereto about a generally horizontal upper axis, the upper bracket opening rearwardly and being mounted on the platform for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and a lower sheave mounted on a generally C-shaped lower bracket for rotation relative thereto about a generally horizontal lower axis rearward and below the upper axis, the lower bracket being substantially identical to the upper bracket, opening forwardly and being mounted on the platform for pivotal movement about the generally vertical axis, such that the vertical axis extends between the upper and lower shea

Abstract: A bolting system for securing a first weldment including two spaced apart wall members, and a cross member connected to and extending between the wall members, to a second weldment including a wall member adjacent and in face to face contact with one of the first weldment wall members. The bolting system comprises a first plurality of least two openings in the one of second weldment wall member and the adjacent first weldment wall member, and a second opening in the other of the spaced apart first weldment wall members. The first plurality of openings are larger than the second opening. The bolting system further includes a rod bolt dowel in a tight fit in the first plurality of openings, the rod bolt dowel having an enlarged end which will not pass through the first plurality of openings, and having an opening through its center aligned with the second opening.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle which employs hollow structural members to store and cool hydraulic fluid used by the vehicle or by equipment located thereon. The preferred form of the invention provides an apparatus for installing bolts into a mine entry said apparatus including: a frame having a forward end, a rearward end and lateral sides, said frame defining a generally horizontal work area; at least one drive for propelling said frame within said entry; at least one bolting rig attached to said frame; a deck member attached to said frame and covering said frame for supporting an operator thereon; and a return oil tank incorporated into said frame to receive return hydraulic oil from said bolting rig or rigs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a storage pod for storing equipment and parts for use in underground mining operations, said storage pod being self supporting and removable from a transport or operational vehicle whereupon said pod is carried in use, said pod comprising a generally rectilinear body which forms an open topped upper compartment having a front wall, a rear wall, side walls and a floor, and a lower compartment located below said floor, said lower compartment being divided into a series of elongated storage slots, said slots being accessible from the front and/or rear of the pod. The invention also provides an underground mining machine in assembly with a pod of the type described above, the vehicle and pod having cooperating locking formations thereon for releasably locking the pod the vehicle for the duration of a mining operation and adapted to allow removal of the pod from the vehicle and replacement thereof with another pod as and when required in use.

Abstract: A belt drive including a first belt sheave having a center, the first belt sheave having a center, the first belt sheave being pivotally mounted on a member, and a motor base pivotally connected at one end to the member. The belt drive further includes a motor mounted on the other end of the motor base, and a second belt sheave rotatable by the motor. A belt is trained around the first and the second belt sheaves. The belt also includes an adjusting mechanism extending between the motor base and the member for fixing the position of the motor base relative to the member and for fixing the center to center distance between the first and the second belt sheaves. The adjusting mechanism comprises a cylinder assembly including a cylinder housing and a piston rod extending from the housing and being extendable from and retractable into the housing, with the housing being connected to the member and the piston rod being connected to the motor base.

Abstract: A blasthole drill including a deck wrench for holding a drill pipe section to facilitate the unthreading of an adjoining drill pipe section from an overall drill pipe string. The deck wrench includes an engagement surface which is selectively engageable with an engagement surface of a drill pipe section to substantially prevent rotation of the drill pipe section in either direction about its longitudinal axis. The deck wrench is engageable with an upper drill pipe section so that a joint between the upper drill pipe section and a rotary head can be tightened when the rotary head is rotated in one direction. The deck wrench is engageable with a lower drill pipe section so that a joint between the lower drill pipe section and the upper drill pipe section can be broken when the rotary head is rotated in an opposite direction. The joint between the rotary head and the upper drill pipe section, once tightened, should be stronger than the joint between the upper drill pipe section and the lower drill pipe section.

Abstract: A method of making an illuminate, multicolored panel, comprising the steps of fixing together an opaque layer to a clear layer to form a panel, etching a well into the opaque layer of the panel, and depositing tinted translucent material into the well.

Abstract: A power mining shovel including a drive train drivingly connected to ground-engaging device, the drive train including a drive train shaft, and a disc brake apparatus operably connected to the drive train shaft for selectively preventing rotation of the drive train shaft, the disc brake apparatus including a brake hub mounted on the drive train shaft for rotation therewith, the brake hub including an outer member rotatable about the axis, the outer member including an inner wall defining a generally cylindrical bore centered on the axis, the inner wall having therein a plurality of recesses, the brake hub also including an inner member rotatable about the axis, the inner member including internal splines engaging the drive train shaft to prevent relative rotation of the inner member and the drive train shaft, the inner member being located in the bore of the outer member and having a generally cylindrical outer wall, the outer wall having therein a like plurality of recesses, each of the recesses in the outer

Abstract: A hoisting machine including a device supported from a structure, the device holding the material to be lifted, the structure being movable to locate the device in respective loaded and unloading positions, and apparatus for measuring the quantity of material delivered by the device, the apparatus comprising means to determine the position of the device with respect to a selected location in the structure at a plurality of intervals during the movement of the device, means to provide a processable position signal indicative of the determined position of the device, means to determine the load at a selected location within the structure where the load is related to the weight of the device and device contents at the intervals during the movement of the device, means to produce a processable load signal indicative of the determined load at the location, and processing means to receive the position and load signals for a plurality of interval determinations and calculate therefrom a number of weight determinatio

Abstract: A mining machine that has a chassis that defines an operator area thereon and has a mining assembly attached thereto. A vertically extending shield assembly is supported on the chassis to prevent material that is dislodged during the mining process from inadvertently entering the operator area. The shield assembly may be selectively vertically extendable and may be equipped with a ventilation duct assembly to withdraw dust and gases away from the operator area. The mining machine may be equipped with a mining assembly that extends the entire width of the chassis and that can be advanced forwardly of the chassis and swung down across the seam face during mining. The present invention may also be equipped with a quick disconnect assembly for detachably mounting the mining assembly or other mining implement to the mining machine.

Abstract: An elongatable conveyor belt capable of traversing horizontal curves during its conveying run while still allowing for retention of the material to be conveyed thereon, the conveying belt being made of a stretchable or elongatable elastomeric material and including an upper layer of transverse reinforcing cords and a substantially heavier lower layer of transverse reinforcing cords disposed at opposing angles relative to the transverse axis of the conveyor belt. The belt also includes an internal stretch limiter such as an angularly woven fabric in the central region of the belt.

Abstract: A blasthole drill includes a drill pipe seal to seal an opening around a drill pipe which extends through a drill deck in order to substantially prevent drilled ground material, such as dust and rock chips, from escaping into the atmosphere. The seal comprises a pliable membrane which is capable of sealing the opening around the drill pipe and which also allows the drill pipe to be positioned in variable drilling positions while still providing the necessary sealing arrangement. First and second flexible seal flaps are connected to the drill deck in an overlapping fashion. The seal flaps are separable to allow the drill pipe to pass therethrough, but otherwise remain overlapped. The flexible seal flaps substantially seal the opening around the drill pipe in any operable position of the drill pipe. To increase the sealing effectiveness, additional pairs of similar seal flaps may be added.

Abstract: An articulated train such as a coal haulage system includes first, second, third and fourth vehicles pivotally pinned to one another in end-to-end relationship. In the improvement, the train includes a steering system having first mechanism for selectively securing the second and third vehicles in aligned relationship and second mechanism for selectively securing the third and fourth vehicles in aligned relationship. Turn control mechanism unlocks the first mechanism when the first vehicle turns through a predetermined angle. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second mechanism includes an actuator and a hydraulic valve which coacts with such actuator. The steering system locks those vehicles following the first vehicle in an aligned (i.e.

Abstract: A rod storage and transport apparatus comprising a roof bolter including a tool. The apparatus includes a rotatable holding carousel adjacent the tool and adapted to hold a plurality of rods therein. The apparatus also includes an extending and retracting transport mechanism cooperating with the carousel to move one rod at a time between the carousel and the tool, so that the tool can use the one rod to perform a mine operation. The carousel has a generally elongated shape and is able to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the shape. This permits the carousel to position the one rod held by the carousel adjacent the transport mechanism, so that the transport mechanism can transport the one rod to the tool, or position the carousel to receive a rod transported by the transport mechanism from the tool. The transport mechanism when fully retracted is substantially within a cylinder generated by the rotation of one of the rods about the longitudinal axis of the carousel.

Abstract: A drill comprising a frame supported for movement over the ground, a mast pivotally mounted on the frame, a drill head moveable up and down the mast, the drill head being selectively engageable with the upper end of a drill pipe so that the drill pipe is raised and lowered out of and into the ground when the drill head moves up and down the mast, an elongated flexible member, such as a power line or an air hose, extending between the frame and the drill head, and a device for taking up any slack in the elongated member as the drill head moves up and down the mast.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in the operation and construction of roof bolters or roof bolt installation apparatus. The improvements comprise a roof bolter constructed so that the critical moving parts of its timber jack, feed frame, feed carrier and rotational unit are comprised of a rod and sleeve construction. Such construction allowing the protection of surfaces. The construction also includes feature of a spaced apart rod and sleeve construction which allows motive power units to be housed within the confines of the timber jack and feed carrier. The spaced apart arrangement also provides stability to the roof bolter.