Abstract: A winch drum tension isolation system includes a winch drum including an outwardly extending flange, the flange including a plurality of holes spaced along the flange. The winch drum tension isolation system also includes a locking mechanism positioned proximate the winch drum and including a locking member engageable with the flange. The locking member is movable between a first position, in which the locking member is received in one of the plurality of holes to prevent rotation of the winch drum, and a second position, in which the locking member is spaced apart from the flange to permit rotation of the winch drum.

Abstract: An industrial machine that includes a breaker motor having a rotational speed, a breaker shaft, a sensor, and a controller. The breaker shaft is mechanically coupled to an output of the breaker motor, and the breaker shaft includes a plurality of tools operable to crush a material. The sensor is configured to generate a signal related to a parameter of the breaker motor. The controller is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, determine a value for the parameter of the breaker motor based on the received signal, compare the value for the parameter of the breaker motor to a threshold value, and generate a control signal for modifying the rotational speed of the breaker motor based on the comparison of the value for the parameter of the breaker motor to the threshold value.

Abstract: A cutter head for a longwall shearer includes a drum, a vane, and a plurality of cutting bits. The drum includes a first end and a second end and defines an axis of rotation extending therebetween. The vane is connected to the drum and extends in a helical manner along at least a portion of the axis. The vane defines an edge surface extending along an outer perimeter of the vane. The cutting bits are secured to the vane edge surface. Each cutting bit includes a block and a bit coupled to the block. The block is secured to the edge surface and extends beyond the outer perimeter of the vane.

Abstract: A system and method of predicting motor failure based on relationships of motor pair characteristics, such as temperatures. A motor pair detection module receives temperatures for each motor of a motor pair over a predetermined window. The motor pair detection module determines whether at least one of the temperatures of the first motor and the second motor exceeds a temperature threshold during the predetermined time window. The motor pair detection module further determines whether the temperature of the first motor differed from the temperature of the second motor by at least a difference threshold for at least a percentage threshold of the predetermined time window. Based on the determinations, the motor pair temperature outputs an alarm signal to indicate a potential impending failure of one of the motors of the motor pair.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.

Abstract: An electrically powered mining vehicle including a frame rollingly supported on a surface for movement over the surface. An electric motor is coupled to the frame for proving power to the vehicle. A cable is electrically coupled to the electric motor for supplying electricity thereto and a cable management system is coupled to the frame and arranged to receive and payout the cable as the vehicle moves over the surface. A sheave bracket is coupled to the frame and arranged to direct the cable into the cable management system and includes a lower plate arranged substantially horizontally, a plurality of vertical rollers that are coupled to the lower plate and are arranged to guide the cable into the cable management system, and a horizontal roller that is coupled to the lower plate and arranged to elevate the cable above the lower plate.

Abstract: A longwall mining machine and a linepan section, the linepan section may include a face-side rail, a gob-side rail opposite the face-side rail, and a conveyor pan between the face-side rail and the gob-side rail. The face-side rail may have a generally horizontal top surface at a top surface height and with a top surface width, an angled loading surface extending toward the mining face and the ground surface and arranged at an oblique angle relative to the top surface, the loading surface being at a loading height and with a loading surface width, the loading surface width being at least about 25 percent of the total width, and a material cavity defined in the face surface below the loading surface and recessed toward a gob-side.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically operating a continuous mining machine. One method includes accessing at least one coordinate of a cutting face stored in a computer-readable medium, automatically operating a first actuator to position a platform a predetermined clearance distance from the at least one coordinate, the platform supporting a cutterhead, and automatically operating a second actuator to position an arm at a tramming position after positioning the platform the predetermined clearance distance from the at least one coordinate, the arm coupled to the platform and including the cutterhead.

Abstract: A continuous miner includes a mining portion, a support frame connected to the mining portion, and a discharge portion pivotally attached to the support frame. The discharge portion swings laterally relative to the support frame about a pivot axis. The continuous miner also includes a conveyor extending across the support frame and discharge portion. The conveyor moves mined material from the mining portion to the discharge portion. The conveyor includes a conveyor chain, a rear roller, and a front roller. The continuous miner also includes a conveyor drive system for driving the conveyor chain. The conveyor drive system is located on a bottom surface of the continuous miner and between the rear roller and the front roller.

Abstract: A drilling rig includes a base and a rotation unit for drilling a hole in a mine surface. The rotation unit is moveably coupled to the base. The drilling rig further includes a cable feed device for feeding a cable bolt into the hole created by the rotation unit. The cable feed device is moveably coupled to the base and includes a pair of wheels and a transmission. The cable bolt is received between the pair of wheels. The transmission is coupled between the rotation unit and at least one of the wheels to transmit power from the rotation unit to at least one of the wheels.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a boom, a cutter head, a valve, and an actuator. The boom defines an internal chamber and includes a first end coupled to a frame, a second end, and an opening in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The cutter head includes a plurality of cutting bits and is supported on the second end of the boom. The valve is coupled to the boom and is movable between a closed position in which the opening is covered and an open position in which the opening is at least partially uncovered. The actuator is coupled to the valve to selectively move the valve between the closed position and the opened position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically operating a continuous mining machine. One method includes performing an automated cutting operation without requiring manual interaction using a cutterhead included in an arm pivotably coupled to a movable platform and stopping the automated cutting operation without requiring manual interaction. Stopping the cutting operation includes (i) stopping at least one motor driving the cutterhead, (ii) operating a first actuator to retract the platform from a cutting face by a predetermined distance, and (iii) operating a second actuator to swing the arm to a predetermined tramming position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically operating a continuous mining machine. One method includes accessing at least one coordinate of a cutting face stored in a computer-readable medium, automatically operating at least one actuator to position a platform a predetermined starting distance from the at least one coordinate, the platform supporting a cutterhead, and automatically operating the at least one actuator to advance the platform toward the cutting face and beyond the at least one coordinate by a predetermined depth-of-cut to perform a cut of the cutting face with the cutterhead.

Abstract: A shearer mining machine generally includes a first chassis module, a second chassis module, one or more cleats, and means for securing each cleat on the first and second chassis modules. The first chassis module has a first mating surface and a first opening spaced from the first mating surface. The first opening is defined by a first wedge-shaped module wall positioned adjacent the first mating surface. The second chassis module has a second mating surface and a second opening spaced from the second mating surface. Each cleat includes a first projection, a second projection, and a bridge portion extending between the first projection and the second projection. The first projection is received by the first opening and includes a wedge-shaped cleat wall for engagement with the first wedge-shaped module wall. The means for securing apply a clamp force normal to the wedge-shaped cleat wall.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically operating a continuous mining machine. One method includes automatically operating at least one actuator to position a platform supporting a cutterhead at a predetermined starting position and automatically operating the at least one actuator to advance the platform toward a cutting face until the cutterhead contacts the cutting face and at least one indicator of a physical force between the cutterhead and the cutting face exceeds a predetermined value. The method also includes automatically saving at least one coordinate of the cutting face to a computer-readable medium, the at least one coordinate based on a parameter of the at least one actuator when the indicator exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: A mining machine for mining along a mining face includes a longwall shearer, a product removal system for removing product cut by the longwall shearer, and a drive system for moving the longwall shearer along a rack extending along the mining face. The drive system including a housing coupled to the longwall shearer, a motor, and a sprocket at least partially positioned within the housing and drivingly connected to the motor. The sprocket is engaged with the rack and moves the longwall shearer along the rack. A shoe maintains the sprocket in engagement with the rack. The housing is configured to rotate relative to the longwall shearer such that the drive system adjusts for vertical height variations and horizontal variations of the rack.

Abstract: A chain tension sensor for a chain conveyor, the conveyor including a frame and a chain having a plurality of flights. The tension sensor includes a reaction arm and a load sensing pin. The reaction arm includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a load pad. The first end is pivotably coupled to the frame by a pivot pin defining a pivot axis. The load pad is adjacent the conveyor chain and positioned to contact flights passing the load pad. The flights contacting the load pad exert a force on the reaction in a direction that is perpendicular to the pivot axis. The load sensing pin is coupled to the reaction arm such that the load sensing pin senses the force that is exerted by the flights.

Abstract: A side shifting conveyor is provided for a surface mining operation. The conveyor generally includes conveyor sections and conveyor translation devices. Each conveyor translation device includes a drive operable to move the associated at least one conveyor section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveyor further includes a controller operatively coupled to each drive for controlling operation of the drive and coordinating movement of the conveyor sections. A method for moving a conveyor in a surface mine generally includes sensing that a surface miner operable to deposit material onto the conveyor sections has moved beyond one of the conveyor sections, fixing a position relative to the surface mine of a conveyor translation device associated with one of the conveyor sections, and operating the conveyor translation device to move one of the conveyor sections in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A movable machine includes a frame, an electrical motor on the fame, a cable electrically connected to the motor and adapted to be connected to a source of power, and a sheave bracket assembly coupled to the frame. The sheave bracket assembly includes two mounting plates, two spaced apart sheaves rotatably mounted on the mounting plates, a hinged portion coupled to the mounting plates and pivotally coupled to the frame, and at least one biasing member located between the frame and the mounting plates that biases the mounting plates and sheaves toward a first position.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly including a bit holder having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a generally planar mounting surface between the forward and rearward portions. The forward portion defines a front aperture having an axis inclined relative to the mounting surface, and the rearward portion defines a rear aperture open to the front aperture. A cutting bit is mounted in the front aperture and includes a rearward end accessible through the rear aperture of the bit holder rearward portion.