Abstract: A mineral mining installation comprises a mechanical mining machine (such as a plough or a shearer) and a hydraulic winning machine. The hydraulic winning machine has a plurality of high-pressure nozzles and a high-pressure pump for supplying the nozzles with high-pressure water (or other hydraulic fluid). Means are provided for driving each of the two winning machines independently of the other along a mineral face. This permits the mechanical winning machine to operate at its optimum, high speed rate without interference from the slower moving hydraulic winning machine. The pump is preferably a multiple radial-piston pump powered by an electric motor. Both electric power and water may be supplied to the hydraulic winning machine via pick-up arms on the machine and supply channels extending along the face.

Abstract: A curved section and guide assembly is provided for a scraper-chain conveyor. The assembly comprises a curved conveyor section and a guide for guiding the scraper assembly of the conveyor round the curve. The curved conveyor section has a curved inner wall, a curved outer wall and a floor panel which define upper and lower runs for the scraper assembly which is constituted by a chain and a plurality of scrapers secured thereto. The guide is constituted by two pulley wheels which are independently rotatably mounted on a vertical axle extending upwardly from a base plate arranged beneath the pulley wheels. A cover plate is arranged above the pulley wheels. The pulley wheels extend through the inner wall of the curved conveyor section, both the base plate and the cover plate being attached to said inner wall. Both the floor panel and the cover plate extend towards the axle. The upper end of the axle is supported by a carrier plate which extends over the cover plate and is detachably connected thereto.

Abstract: Tunnel driving apparatus employs a hollow support tube positioned axially centrally inside a drive shield. An inner cutting machine is supported and positioned inside the support tube and serves to cut away a central region of a working face. Outer cutting machines are also supported by the support tube but on the exterior thereof. The outer cutting machines serve to cut away the outer region of the working face. The cutting machines may each have a pivotable arm carrying cutting drums and are supported and guided for axial and rotary motion relative to the support tube.

Abstract: A guide assembly for a curved conveyor section of a scraper-chain conveyor guides the scraper assembly from a first straight conveyor portion round the curved conveyor section to a second straight conveyor portion. This guiding is accomplished by a pair of independently rotatable pulley wheels. A further pair of independently rotatable pulley wheels are provided to guide the drive chain of a plough round the curved conveyor section. This enables the plough to be driven to and fro along the first straight conveyor portion by a drive station attached to the second straight conveyor portion adjacent to the guide assembly.

Abstract: A coupling device is provided for connection to a plurality of hydraulic conduits which are bunched together to form a multi-core duct. The coupling device has a casing which houses a plurality of plug pins, the plug pins each being connectible to a respective one of the conduits. A holder is provided for holding the plug pins, the holder being rotatably mounted in the casing. A connector, which is formed in two detachably interconnected parts, is also provided for connection to the coupling device.

Abstract: In a mine installation which employs a winning machine moved back and forth along a guide in a working and coupled via shifting rams to roof supports, the invention provides a hydraulic fluid supply conduit system for supplying the pressure fluid for operating the shifting rams and the props of the roof supports. The system employs a first conduit containing fluid at a pressure of 300 to 400 bars for setting the props of the roof supports, a second conduit containing fluid at a pressure of 100 to 200 bars for use as a robbing aid during retraction of the props, a third conduit containing fluid at a pressure of 100 to 200 bars for operating the shifting rams and a common fluid return conduit. The conduits are laid along the working and the first and the second or third conduits are fed by separate pumps in a heading or gallery while the third or second conduit is connected via a pressure-reducing valve to the pump feeding the first conduit.

Abstract: A duct section serves as part of a supply system for supplying electric power or a pressure medium to a mobile appliance and especially to a mining machine in a mine working where protection against explosion or fire is necessary. The duct section has a wall with a longitudinal slot therein and pick-up engages in the slot to collect the electric current or pressure medium. The slot is sealed with the aid of thin flexible sealing strips held flat against the inner and outer surfaces of the slotted wall. The pick-up is shaped to progressively deflect the strips away from the slotted wall to permit the passage of the pick-up and maintains the interior sealing with the aid of further seals slidable engaging with the slotted wall over the region where the strips are deflected.

Abstract: An L-shaped device constituting a side or barrier plate for attachment to the side wall of the channel section or pan of a longwall scraper-chain conveyor has connectors at the end regions of a main plate-like body beneath a welded-on upper flange. The connectors have an interengageable projection and recess and possess bores extending parallel to the main plate for receiving fixing bolts. A row of non-circular shaped apertures is provided in the main body and is aligned with the connectors. The row of apertures receive bolts used to secure the device to the channel section or pan. A pair of upstanding webs is fixed to the main body beneath the flange and serve to receive a mounting pin for mounting a guide or shifting ram for example.

Abstract: A mineral, e.g., coal, mining installation employs a winning machine, such as a plough, equipped with cutting means and which is moved back and forth along a mineral or coal face and along a scraper-chain conveyor as is known per se. Roof support units are arranged along the goaf side of the conveyor and employ roof bars projecting across the roof of the working towards the mineral face. Shifting rams are provided to alternately advance the conveyor and the roof support units as the winning work progresses. The roof bars of the units are pivotably connected to forwardly-projecting components which act as carriers for swinging nozzles emitting high-pressure water jets which impinge on the face to create a channel at the roof zone thereof. The position of the channel can be adjusted by pivoting the carriers with the aid of hydraulic devices.

Abstract: A releasable pivot joint for use in underground mining installations comprises first and second connecting members. The first connection member has a width which is greater than its thickness and a reduced portion that reduces its width to a core width. The second connection member is formed with a slot into which is inserted the reduced portion of the first connection member. The width of the slot is greater than the thickness and the core width of the first connection member. The length of the slot is greater than the width of the first connection member. The thickness of the second connection member is smaller than the core width of the first connection member. The width of the first connection member extends transversely of the length of the slot when the connection members are in the connected position.

Abstract: A conveyor is composed of a series of L-shaped sections arranged end-to-end to define a conveying floor surface with a side wall at one side opposite the mineral face so as to allow material to fall onto the floor surface. The side wall has a slot or gap therein through which extends entrainment devices capable of extending across the floor surface or being stowed inwards towards the side wall. Where the conveyor is constructed as a shuttle conveyor the entrainment devices are allowed to pivot automatically between these alternate positions as they are driven back and forth along the floor surface by a reciprocating traction means. The traction means runs outside the side wall and the devices are pivotably mounted to the traction means which preferably also performs a guide function.

Abstract: A roof support unit for use in a mineral mining working has a roof shield supported on a floor sill by means of at least two hydraulic props. A goaf shield is pivotally linked to both the roof shield and the floor sill. At least one of the hydraulic props is inclined towards the face-side of the unit and engages the roof shield. At least one of the hydraulic props is inclined towards the goaf-side of the unit and engages the roof shield.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation comprises a longwall structure, such as a conveyor or a winning installation, and a roof support assembly constituted by a plurality of roof support units positioned side-by-side. At least some of the roof support units are provided with hydraulic bracing rams for bracing the longwall structure longitudinally. Each bracing ram is pivotally connected between the longwall structure and the floor sill of a respective roof support unit. Each ram is connected to its floor sill by connection means constituted by a bracket slidably mounted on that floor sill for movement towards, and away from, the longwall structure. Means are provided for securing each of the brackets to its floor sill in any one of a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A knife shield comprises a plurality of elongate knives which are arranged side-by-side upon a common support frame, the knives defining a generally cylindrical shield. Each knife is supported on the frame for movement in its longitudinal direction. At least one pair of diametrically opposed knives are coupled together, in the manner of a trackrod, for conjoint movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shield. During this movement the knives of the coupled pair concerned remain substantially parallel. The movement of the knives is used for controlling the direction of advance of the shield.

Abstract: A method of winning material in a mineral mining working utilizes a mineral mining plough which is movable to and fro alongside a conveyor. The plough is provided with first cutter means arranged to win material lying in a first height range, and second cutter means arranged to win material lying in a second height range. The plough is driven on the downhill run with the cutter means so positioned that material is won to a greater depth over the first height range than over the second height range. The plough is then driven on the uphill run with the cutter means so positioned that material is won to a smaller depth over the first height range than over the second height range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mine roof support assembly for use in winning mineral material from a mineral mining working having a mineral face. The assembly comprises three roof support units positioned side-by-side along the face, and a goaf shield common to the three units. Each of the roof support units has a roof shield supported on a floor sill. The goaf shield is adjustable in height so as to extend from the floor to the roof of the working. Advance means are provided for advancing the roof support units towards the face, and further advance means are provided for advancing the goaf shield to follow up the advance of the roof support units. The further advance means acts between the goaf shield and the roof support units, and is such as to advance the goaf shield by a distance greater than the distance through which the advance means advances the roof support units.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing anode residue from the metallic projections of an anode used with an electrolytic melt comprising stripper jaws engageable about the projections and movable to and fro along the projections to break-off the anode residue thereon. In case of breakage of any of the projections, the stripper jaws carry sensors, conveniently inductive sensors, which provide a control signal should damage occur to the projections.

Abstract: A conveyor for use in mineral mining comprises a plurality of channel sections arranged end-to-end, and a guide disposed on one side of the channel sections for guiding a mining machine. The guide is constituted by a plurality of guide sections joined together by detachable connection means. Each guide section is attached to a respective channel section. The guide is provided with upper and lower channels separated by spacers, the channels receiving and guiding a chain for driving the mining machine. Each guide section is provided with a cover plate which is pivotally attached thereto for movement between a first position, in which it covers the guide channels, and a second position, in which the guide channels are accessible from said one side of the channel section. The detachable connection means associated with each adjacent pair of guide sections is constituted by recesses formed in adjacent spacers of that pair of guide sections, and a connector which mates with the recesses.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation comprises a conveyor, a guide arranged on the face side of the conveyor, a roof support assembly arranged on the goaf side of the conveyor, and apparatus for controlling the cutting horizon of a plough movable along the guide. The control apparatus has hydraulic ram means for pivoting the guide relative to the conveyor, and guide rod means for transferring the control forces to the roof support assembly.

Abstract: A coal plough which is movable to and fro in a mine working alongside a coal face, has floor-level cutters mounted on a carrier. The carrier is pivotable in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the coal face. The carrier is pivotable between a working position, in which it bears against a first stop, and a non-working position, in which it bears against a second stop. The cutters bear against the floor of the working when the carrier is in the working position and are lifted clear of the floor when the carrier is in the non-working position. The first stop defines the level of cut of the cutters, and the second stop limits the upward pivotal movement of the carrier. The first and second stops are provided on the plough.