Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for excavating material from a mining or reclamation operation, and is generally considered useful in open cast mining operations. The apparatus has a first conveyor and a second conveyor attached to a chassis. The first conveyor is fitted with a material remover such as a excavator bucket on a first end. Material discharges from the first conveyor onto a second conveyor which is generally longitudinally aligned with the first conveyor and has a material receiving point located elevationally below the discharge point of the first conveyor. The first conveyor is moved in a forward direction by a crowder which consists of motion generally along the coincident longitudinal axes of the two conveyors. The first end of the first conveyor which is fitted with the excavating bucket is elevationally moved by virtue of a boom and cable configuration.

Abstract: An articulated apparatus including a first section having first and second ends, and a length between the first and second ends; a second section having first and second ends, and a length between the first and second ends; a joint connecting the second end of the first section to the first end of the second section for pivotal movement about a first axis; and a cylinder/piston assembly having a piston connected to the first section and movable with the first conveyor section, and having a cylinder mounted to the second section and movable with the second section, the piston being slidably received in the cylinder, and a transmitter and a receiver capable of determining the location of the piston in the cylinder, the transmitter and receiver being located within the cylinder.

Abstract: An earthen material excavator includes, a) a base undercarriage comprising running gear to move the excavator over the ground; b) a slewing platform; c) a plurality of booms operatively connected to one another, one of the booms being operatively connected with the slewing platform; and d) a digging bucket apparatus mounted to another of the booms, the bucket apparatus including, i) a rigid digging assembly having a fore earth working end and an aft non-earth-working end, the digging assembly comprising an internal throat positioned between the assembly fore and aft ends; and ii) a substantially rigid earthen material container removably mounted relative to the aft end of the rigid digging assembly, the rigid earthen container being mounted in communication with the throat to receive earthen material transferred from the rigid digging assembly through the throat.

Abstract: A header adjusting system for a hillside combine harvester includes a master hydraulic cylinder assembly and a slave hydraulic cylinder assembly. The master hydraulic cylinder assembly is slaved to movement of the wheels relative to the combine frame. The slave hydraulic cylinder assembly is slaved to extension and retraction of the master hydraulic cylinder assembly. The slave hydraulic cylinder assembly causes the header to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the harvester in order to follow the contour of the ground. A header trimming mechanism is also provided to enable direct operator control of some of the pivoting action of the header about the longitudinal axis. A leveling system for a hillside combine harvester includes a cable and a biased, moveable reference pulley associated therewith.

Abstract: A preferred mineral jig apparatus includes a jig tank having a laterally oriented piston and cylinder assembly mounted therewithin. The piston and cylinder assembly defines two compartments, with reciprocating motion of the piston causing pulsating action of the water within the two respective compartments. The piston and cylinder assembly includes a cylinder, a piston assembly and a piston rod connected to the piston assembly. The piston rod includes an internal channel to convey make-up water to the tank from an external water source. The piston rod is supported for lateral reciprocating motion by at least two downwardly hanging leaf springs. The piston assembly comprises a pair of separated piston plates oriented transversely relative to the cylinder. The separated piston plates defining a space therebetween as well as a separation distance between the piston plates. The piston rod is connected to one of the piston plates.

Abstract: A floating dredge and hydraulic dredging apparatus for mining underwater mineral bearing deposits is disclosed. The dredge includes an overburden excavator and an ore excavator mounted to a pontoon for removing overburden and ore material, respectively. Processors on the pontoon receive material from the excavators. Dredging control components coordinate the operation of the ore and overburden excavators to efficiently remove and mine the desired material.

Abstract: An excavating apparatus for breaking and removing material away from an upright face of material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotary cutting head mounted between the fore ends of a pair of boom arms. The boom arms are pivotally mounted relative to the front end of a vehicular portion of the apparatus. A shroud partially surrounds the cutting head for confining material cut from the face. The shroud includes an edge shoe portion for engaging the face and is pivotally mounted at the fore-end of the boom arms. The shroud is adapted for selective rearward pivotal movement as the boom arms are swung upwardly for maintaining the edge shoe portion against the face. A position adjustable, pivotal breaker bar is provided along the cutting head for selectively sizing material being removed from the upright face being excavated. In the preferred embodiment, the breaker bar is pivotally mounted relative to the shroud.

Abstract: Excavating apparatus and methods for breaking and removing material away from an upright face of material are disclosed. The apparatus employs a rotary cutter for dislodging material from the face. A collector pan extends transversely across the front end of the apparatus. The cutter is elevationally movable relative to the collector pan in both longitudinal and elevational directions above and below the collector pan front edge, and btween positions located longitudinally outward and rearward of the collector pan front transverse edge. A combination grading and collecting device is mounted at an elevational positon below the collector pan front transverse edge. It functions to both gather material dislodged by the cutter and to form surfaces over which the apparatus travels.

Abstract: A mechanical drive mechanism is designed for imparting pivotal motion to the frame arm or walking beam of a mineral jig. Rotary cam action is employed to mechanically pivot the walking beam or frame arm which supports a cone and flexible diaphragm at one end for imparting jigging action to the jig bed. Adjustment features are preferably provided to enable the amplitude of the reciprocating motion imparted to the diaphragm and cone to be selectively varied. In the preferred embodiment, the cam is constructed to be pivotal when at rest for enabling the amplitude of the camming action, and correspondingly the pivot stroke, to be varied.

Abstract: An excavating apparatus for breaking and removing material away from an upright face of material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotary cutting head mounted between the fore ends of a pair of boom arms. The boom arms are pivotally mounted relative to the front end of a vehicular portion of the apparatus. A shroud partially surrounds the cutting head for confining material cut from the face. The shroud includes an edge shoe portion for engaging the face and is pivotally mounted at the fore-end of the boom arms. The shroud is adapted for selective rearward pivotal movement as the boom arms are swung upwardly for maintaining the edge shoe portion against the face.