Abstract: An extensible grain auger includes a casing defined by co-axial telescoping sections, with an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end of the casing, a pair of inter-connected auger tubes rotatably mounted in the casing, the flight of one tube being threadable into the auger flight of the other tube; and an extension tube and screw assembly rotatably mounted in the auger tubes, the extension tube extending out of the casing at one end and the screw being connected to a nut in the tube and to the other end of the casing, so that one casing section can be extended and retracted relative to the other casing section.

Abstract: A hook plow apparatus for use in longwall mining and particularly adapted for use in conjunction with a fixed arch shield mining system having rails mounted along the length of the shield. The apparatus includes a power transmission frame mounted for movement along the rails, a plow mounting body connected to the frame, upper and lower vertically extendable ranging plow blocks mounted on the plow mounting body and having plow blades thereon, means for propelling the frame, the mounting body and the ranging plow blocks along the rails, and means for extending the mounting body and the ranging plow blocks vertically and laterally toward the mine wall relative to the to the power transmission frame.

Abstract: In the underground mining of friable mineral deposits such as bituminous sands, method and apparatus are disclosed in which a working crosscut in the mineral deposit, is established, connecting two parallel operating tunnels, the front wall of the crosscut being unsupported and forming the mining wall, the roof and rear wall of the working crosscut being supported by a novel mining shield comprising a plurality of forwardly inclined, base supported arch members positioned in adjacent abutting relationship and each independently advanceable towards the mining wall. A conventional mining machine is employed under the mining shield in the working crosscut, operating across the full width of the mining wall. As the mining machine removes a cut, apparatus upon the mining machine advances individual mining arch sections forwardly into the mining face the depth of the cut, leaving the backs unsupported and free to collapse behind the advancing mining shield.

Abstract: A propulsion motor is disclosed for use in propelling the mining machine used in a fixed arch shield mining system wherein the mining machine is movably supported by the shield. The propulsion motor comprises a power transfer means secured to the mining machine and being shiftable from a non-cutting position to a cutting position. The power transfer means includes a drive arrangement having portions engageable with certain of the arches of the mining shield for propelling the mining machine.