Abstract: A mining machine uses front cutters (barrel cutters) to cut into an area to be mined defining a first profile, and then expands rear cutters on the sides to cut a second, larger, profile during out-cutting. Cutter chains and drums of the rear cutter initially move cut material (e.g., coal) forward, and then through openings in the side frame of the machine onto a first, lowest, conveyance surface over which an endless conveyor chain with flights moves. A second conveyance surface above the first conveyance surface is also traversed by the chain with the flights to move material from the front cutters. A reversible motor powers the chains so that cut material is moved over the second conveyance surface during in-cutting, and over the first conveyance surface during out-cutting. The rear cutters are a sufficient distance above the mined floor formed during in-cutting that cut material tends to move onto (rather than under) the first conveyance surface.

Abstract: Mined material, such as coal, is transported in a curvilinear path. An endless conveyor belt is mounted by a string of wheeled cars having upper and lower sets of rollers. The cars are positioned at a sharp turn connecting first and second paths extending between a mine bore and a remote area. The cars positioned at the sharp turn reorient the conveyor belt from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical position and back to a generally horizontal position. The mined material is moved off the conveyor belt before reorientation, at a location between the sharp turn and the mine bore. The cars have first and second sets of wheels with the frames pivotally connected between the wheels, for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axes of the wheels. Coupling elements connecting the cars together provide a universal joint action.

Abstract: A self-propelled conveyor includes a number of auger sections each section including at least one spiral mounted on a shaft, a housing surrounding the spiral and having two end terminations, and structure for driving of one spiral by driving an adjacent spiral whether or not the shaft of the spirals are in line with each other. The driving structure can comprise axially and radially extending projections from each adjacent shaft providing a lost motion connection between the shafts, or a universal joint. More than one auger may be mounted in each housing section, with a common drive shaft for the augers connected by a universal connection to a similar drive shaft for an adjacent auger section. The end terminations of the housing allow relative pivotal movement between adjacent housing sections at least in a horizontal plane, and comprise inter-engaging cylindrical section elements allowing relative rotational movement between adjacent housing sections of at least about 15.degree..

Abstract: A spiral conveyor section assembly for a mining machine includes a spiral conveyor mounted by a shaft for rotation about an axis, the shaft having first and second free ends each adapted to be connected to another shaft. A motor, gearing, and like power device effects rotation of the shaft about its axis. The power device is mounted directly in association with the spiral conveyor between the ends of the shaft. The power device has at least about 1/4-3/4 horsepower for each foot of spiral conveyor (e.g. about 32-36 inches in diameter). A second (or more) spiral conveyor can be provided mounted parallel to the first, with the power device effecting rotation of both, toward each other. A guard is mounted in association with each inner portion of the spiral section to prevent mined material from being flung from one spiral to the other. It is possible to convey mined material 1,000 feet or more utilizing spiral conveyor sections connected end to end.

Abstract: Conveyor belt supporting modules associated with an endless conveyor belt assembly for conveying mined material from a mine bore to the mouth of the bore allows for necessary length of conveyor belt to be fed into the mine, and convey material from the mine, as the bore lengthens so that the conveyor belt always extends from adjacent the cutting site to the bore mouth. Each module has a carriage frame with a number of conveyor belt supporting return rollers extending between the frame sides, and a number of conveyor belt supporting trough roller sets mounted above the return rollers and spaced from each other from the front to the rear along the frame. The carriages have axles and wheels to allow movement into a bore, and they are connected together by couplers. The supporting trough roller sets are mounted for pivotal movement on a frame side to expose the return rollers so that the endless belt can be laid in place simply and quickly.

Abstract: A mining machine and method allow coal or the like to be mined substantially as quickly during out cutting as in cutting. A front cutter is mounted at the front of the frame, and a first conveyor, which preferably comprises a chain conveyer, conveys cut coal from the front of the frame to the rear and ultimately out of the area being mined. A second conveyor is mounted in back of the front cutter for conveying cut coal from adjacent the rear of the frame towards the front, and ultimately to be deposited on the first conveyor. A rear cutter is located to the rear of the second conveyor for cutting material during out cutting to be moved to the second conveyor as the machine moves rearwardly. The rear cutter is movable from a first inoperative position within the volume cut by the front cutter, to a second, operative position outside the volume cut by the front cutter.

Abstract: A miner, and method of mining, are provided for pitch seam mining of coal. The cutting heads powered from a power source at the mouth of the seam are introduced into the seam with a desired angle of inclination, and a chain conveyor with conveying elements extending between two spaced loops of chain conveys the cut coal from the seam to the mouth. Bucket conveyors, or drag flight conveyors, are preferred. The bucket conveyor can be used for pitch seam mining where the angle of inclination is about 15.degree.-80.degree. from the horizontal, and the drag conveyor can be utilized where the angle of inclination is about 15.degree.-35.degree. from the horizontal. A pair of powered shafts extend from the cutter power source to the cutting heads, and support the chains via sprockets, guides, and the like.

Abstract: A mining machine is utilized for making original generally horizontal bores in coal steams, and for enlarging preexisting bores. A single cutting head is mounted for rotation about a first horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the dimension of elongation of the horizontal bore, and is pivotal about a second horizontal axis, parallel to the first axis, to change its cutting, vertical position within the bore. A non-rotatable body member, with side wall supports, is mounted posteriorly of the cutting head, and includes a conveyor mechanism and a power mechanism operatively connected to it. The machine can be sumped into a bore and then the cutting head rotated about the second axis to change the vertical position thereof, and then moved rearwardly, any cut material being continuously conveyed to the bore mouth by the conveyor mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mining a desired geological strata, such as a coal seam, from surrounding undesired geological strata. A bore is formed in the coal seam in a first direction, and while progressively penetrating the coal seam with a mining machine, the distance of the mining machine from the undesired strata in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is effectively measured. The measuring is accomplished by generating chips by boring upwardly through the coal seam toward and into the undesired strata, and reflecting light off of the chips, the difference in reflectivity between the chips from the coal and from the undesired stratum serving to indicate when the undesired stratum has been reached. The distance of upward movement of the drill from a reference until the reflectivity of the undesired stratum is detected is measured, or the thickness of the coal seam above the machine is measured, and the mining machine is controlled based upon such measurements.

Abstract: A cutting drum for a mining machine that requires only a single supporting arm, and single interior motor for rotation of the cutting drum. The drum has two body portions which are spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive the supporting arm along the axis of the drum. A cutting chain is operatively connected by sprocket teeth to each of the body portions, one of the body portions being driven by a shaft of the interior motor through reduction planetary gears. Only a single stage reduction need be provided. One of the body portions may be formed so that it is longitudinally reciprocal along the axis of the drum to vary the cutting height or width.

Abstract: A mining machine that may be used in place of an auger miner that is much more energy efficient in transporting mined material from the cutting site to the mouth of the mine. The machine includes a non-rotatable body member with stabilizers, at least one rotatable pilot cutting head mounted in front of the body member and a shaft operatively connected to the cutting head for rotation thereof, and a conveyor assembly mounted behind the pilot head in operative association with the body member. The conveyor assembly includes a scoop disposed posteriorly of the cutting head and having a bottom portion abutting the floor and extending posteriorly therefrom at an angle of about 14.degree. or less, and having side members that funnel toward each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming bores and coal seams and the like and enlarging preexisting bores. A mining machine includes a nonrotatable body member, a conveyor in line with the body member, a pilot head, and a pair of wing cutters mounted to the body member for pivotal movement with respect to the body member. Structure is provided for moving coal or the like cut by the wing cutters during out-cutting toward the sides of the bore, the structure including a pair of shields, one associated with each wing cutter and disposed between the wing cutter and the body member and pilot head, and a generally conical member coaxial with the shaft for rotation of the pilot head. Stabilization of the body member, etc., within the bore is provided by a pair of wheel sets spaced along the length of the conveyor, and a pair of right angle guide members vertically displaced from the wheel structure of one the wheel sets.

Abstract: A miner especially adapted for high-production mining of low-coal seams (24-36 inches thick) while providing maximum miner safety and complying with applicable federal safety regulations. One or more cutting heads rotatable about the vertical axes are provided along with electric motors for rotating the heads. The heads are mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement along the cutting face, and hydraulic cylinders, or the like, are provided for reciprocating the heads so that they move toward each other during shearing. A paddle-type conveyor continuously (even during sumping) conveys the cut coal away from the coal face, substantially perpendicular thereto through the formed tunnel. Hydraulic rams associated with roof-supporting and anchoring means are provided for sumping the cutting heads. A curtain assembly or the like contains the dust generated during cutting to a confined area adjacent the cutting face, and an exhaust fan or fans continuously draws the dust away from the confined area.