Abstract: A battery holder for containing an electric storage battery is transported by a lift unit on a mobile vehicle. The lift unit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end portion of the vehicle to move into surrounding relation with the battery holder positioned on the ground. The lift unit is pivoted upwardly to raise the battery holder to a preselected elevation within the minimal lateral and overhead clearance available in an underground mine. The lift unit includes a pair of lifting forks extending in spaced parallel relation from the vehicle within the lateral dimensions of the vehicle. The lifting forks have a configuration adapted to permit downward movement of the forks into engagement with the ground to pick up a battery holder positioned on the ground. The lifting forks extend laterally of the battery holder and engage the holder for vertical movement to an elevated position that does not exceed the uppermost position for transportation of the battery in areas of minimal overhead clearance.

Abstract: A mining machine is controlled by a fiber optic controlled remote control system that includes one or more fiber optic cables that extend from a remote control station through a hose supplying water to the mining machine. The fiber optic cables exit the water hose for connection to electrically operated equipment onboard the mining machine. Connectors having sealing glands with apertures therethrough allow for insertion of the cables into the water hose and exiting of the cables from the hose at the mining machine while preventing the escape of water from the hose at the points of insertion and exiting. The fiber optic cable is supported and positioned for movement in the hose to relieve tension on the cable when the hose is stretched.

Abstract: A battery holder for containing an electric storage battery is transported by a lift unit on a mobile vehicle. The lift unit is pivotally mounted at a rearward end portion of the vehicle to move into surrounding relation with the battery holder positioned on the ground. The lift unit is pivoted upwardly to raise the battery holder to a preselected elevation within the minimal lateral and overhead clearance available in an underground mine. The lift unit includes a pair of lifting forks extending in spaced parallel relation from the vehicle within the lateral dimensions of the vehicle. The lifting forks have a configuration adapted to permit downward movement of the forks into engagement with the ground to pick up a battery holder positioned on the ground. The lifting forks extend laterally of the battery holder and engage the holder for vertical movement to an elevated position that does not exceed the uppermost position for transportation of the battery in areas of minimal overhead clearance.

Abstract: An entry system for a longwall panel for the mining of coal and the like by a shearer-type cutter includes a single entryway developed by a boring type mining machine. Intake air and return air passageways are formed in the entryway by a mine stopping between the mine roof and floor to permit circulation of the air within the entryway as it is being developed. One of the passageways conveys the intake air into the entryway and the return air passageway serves to direct the dust laden air away from the mine face and receives conveyor apparatus for transporting the dislodged material out of the mine.

Abstract: A first duct system extends longitudinally on one side of a mining machine frame from an air inlet adjacent to a cutter drum carried on a boom rearwardly to an air outlet at the rearward end of the machine frame. A fan assembly is mounted on the machine frame adjacent the inlet and induces flow of dust laden air generated during the material dislodging operation into the first duct system. A scrubber and demister positioned in the first duct system upstream of the air outlet remove the dust particles from the airflow through the duct system for discharge of the airflow from the air outlet substantially free of dust particles. A second duct system is positioned parallel to the first duct system on the opposite side of the machine and extends rearwardly from an air inlet to a crossover point where a transverse duct connects the first and second duct systems.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a material dislodging mechanism and a cascading conveyor system extending rearwardly on a mobile frame. The cascading conveyor system includes a fixed, main conveyor and a discharge conveyor underlying the main conveyor and pivotally connected to a stabilizer shoe of the machine for lateral swinging movement 90.degree. on either side of the longitudinal axis of the mining machine. The fixed conveyor and the discharge conveyor are in linear alignment in a first mode of operation. The discharge conveyor is also vertically pivotal on the stabilizer shoe to permit lateral and vertical displacement of the discharge conveyor relative to the main conveyor in a second mode of operation. A dust collecting system includes a longitudinal duct extending beneath the fixed, main conveyor with dual inlets extending above the tracks of the mining machine rearwardly of the dislodging mechanism.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine is provided with dual ductwork having reversible fans. The ductwork extends longitudinally along each side of the continuous mining machine. Each fan is positioned in a duct at the rear end of the frame of the mining machine. A crossover duct connects in fluid communication with longitudinally extending ducts. The crossover duct includes pivotal gates positioned adjacent to the connection of the crossover duct to the longitudinal ducts. Each of the longitudinal ducts includes a pivotal gate positioned between the connection of the crossover duct to the duct and the fan positioned in the duct. By selecting which gates are opened and closed the flow of air through the ducts can be directed to either side of the mining machine.

Abstract: A cylindrical drum assembly is rotatably mounted transversely on the front of the boom member of a continuous miner. The drum assembly comprises a pair of independently operable drum sections. Each drum section is driven through an input shaft connected to a motor. The drum sections may be connected by a coupler to form a unitary drum assembly which may be operated by only one of the motors. Torque is transmitted from the input shafts to a bevel gear rotatably supported in the drum section. The bevel gear is nonrotatably connected to a sun gear which in turn drives a plurality of planetary gears connected to a cylindrical planetary cage with a bore defining an inner surface. The cage is connected to a cylindrical inner housing on its outer surface and to an output shaft on its inner surface through a cylindrical shear coupler. A puller shaft is provided to remove the output shaft and the shear coupler.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine has a drum assembly rotatably supported thereon generally transversely to the axis of the mining machine frame. The drum member has a cylindrical outer surface supporting cutter bits for sumping into the mine face. Between the cutter bits are radially extending vanes for moving the mined material around the cutter drum assembly and for dissipating gases from the area adjacent to the cutter drum assembly.

Abstract: A self-propelled continuous mining machine which includes a mobile frame assembly having a material dislodging device, and a conveying system. A dust collecting system is positioned on the mobile frame assembly for inducing a flow of air through a duct system. As material is dislodged from a mine face, the dust collecting system draws airborne dust created by the dislodging device through the duct system and into the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly. The duct system has two sets of vertical walls each connected to and spaced by a horizontal wall with one set of vertical walls fitting channel-like into the other set of vertical walls. The duct assembly has a gasket, seal or other means of preventing airborne dust from escaping through the two sets of vertical walls. The duct assembly is expandable to increase the capacity of the duct system.

Abstract: A self propelled continuous mining machine includes a mobile frame assembly having a first pivot point for a boom assembly or an end of a piston cylinder assembly and a second pivot point for pivotally connecting an end of a piston cylinder assembly or pivotally connecting an end portion of a lever member which may be interchangeably utilized to provide the continuous mining machine with boom assemblies of different cutting heights. The first pivot point is located at an elevation higher than the elevation of the second pivot point. This arrangement of interchangeable boom pivot points permits for low and high cutting height boom assemblies to be utilized with the same continuous mining machine.

Abstract: A self-propelled continuous mining machine includes a mobile frame assembly having a front end portion with a boom assembly pivotally retained thereon. A dust collecting system is positioned on the mobile frame assembly for inducing a flow of air through a hollow interior portion of the boom assembly. As a dislodging head removes material from a mine face, the dust collecting system draws airborne dust created by the dislodging head through a hollow interior of the boom assembly and into the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly. Two portions of the boom assembly are pivotally connected to portions of the collecting system mounted on the mobile frame assembly to provide pivoting joints to allow the collecting system to draw airborne dust through the boom assembly with the boom assembly in any preselected position relative to the mobile frame assembly.