Abstract: A liquid discharge control system is provided for nozzles on a shearer or cutter drum for a drum-type shearer loader or heading or drifting machine used in underground mining. In addition to liquid discharge nozzles are distributed about the periphery of the cutter drum there is also provided cutting tools which are distributed about the periphery of the cutter drum. A liquid supply line delivers pressurized water to a valve for each nozzle or a group of nozzles. The valves are operated to control the discharge of water from only those nozzles or group of nozzles which are opposite the mineral face operated on by the cutting tools. The nozzles spray high-pressure jets of water to assist the cutting operation of the tools, to control dust or for suppressing sparks. Electrical control signals are produced to open and close the valves. The control signals are delivered from a microrprocessor which is triggered during rotation of the drum by output signals from one or more initiators.

Abstract: Disclosure is made of a power unit wherein a housing is made split along its longitudinal axis. A tubular elastic vessel is internally coaxially accommodated in the housing. Disposed between the expandable portions of the housing are expanding inserts trapezoidal in section, bearing by their larger bases against the tubular elastic vessel and by the sides, against the inner walls of the housing portions. For delivery of a working medium into the space of the elastic vessel provision is made for two pipe unions, each of which is installed for longitudinal movement in a holder having a flange disposed in a circular recess made on the inner surface of the housing. An electric element surrounding the elastic vessel is installed in the same circular recess. Each of the elastic vessel ends is disposed between the pipe union and the holder.

Abstract: A circular heading machine for excavating tunnels by advancing a machine in stepwise fashion and erecting tunnel supports, having an elongate machine body at the forward end on which a forwardly directed cutter boom is mounted. Rams advance the machine body in stepwise fashion acting against grippers and a profile ring limits peripheral movement of the cutter boom to form an accurate profile. A gathering apron is provided at the forward extremity of the machine body. The cutter boom is mounted on a sliding carriage longitudinally movable on and independently of the machine body and a hood overlies the apron. A cage structure extends rearwardly from the hood structure and surrounds the body cutter and sliding carriage and tunnel support erecting members are provided externally of the cage structure, directly behind the hood structure. The hood is a semi-circular member supported by hydraulic rams for height adjustment.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting ores from the sea bed, comprising a surface ship (1) supplying the power required for the operation of the under-water assembly and for storing the ore, a relay unit (30) connected to the ship (1) by a conduit (3, 4) for raising the ore and including ore storage, sorting and intermediate washing facilities and means for raising the ore, and vehicles (50) for travelling along the sea bottom (2) and each comprising a propulsion system and an ore pick up, washing and treating system. The apparatus also comprises an intermediate under-water station (20) interposed between the surface ship (1) and the relay unit (30) and immersed at a predetermined depth below the level of the water, so as to be always unaffected by the swell. The invention is applicable to the picking up of polymetallic nodules at great depth.

Abstract: A cutting tool for a mining machine of the type used for cutting soft materials such as coal. The cutting tool has a holding lug 10 and a cylindrical pin 18 located in a socket in the holding lug and presenting a cutting edge or surface in the form of an abrasive compact 26. The pin 18 is secured in the socket by means of a non-metallic adhesive or soft solder and a body 38 located in a cavity formed by co-operating and aligned grooves 32, 34 formed in contacting surfaces of the pin and a side of the socket. The body 38 in the cavity serves to restrain the pin against rotational movement in the socket.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for working deposits by the open-cast working process with a self-propelled chassis, with a cutting cylinder mounted vertically adjustably thereon to cut away the deposit to a given depth, and with a loading apparatus for the material cut away, in which one or more photosensors I and II are provided at the height of the cut-away surface of the deposit, which react to the light reflected by the deposit and contact the vertical adjustment of the cutting cylinder. The sensors preferably consist of a phototransmitter and a photoreceiver which are arranged juxtaposed and preferably operate with a light wavelength in the infra-red range.

Abstract: A stud for use in a mining pick is disclosed which has a tip consisting of a polycrystalline diamond composite and a body having a carrying surface on which the tip is mounted, the carrying surface being inclined to the axis of the body by an angle of between 45.degree. and 65.degree.. In an embodiment of the invention, the stud is received within a pocket and the head of a mining pick, the axis of the pocket in the head axis of the mining pick being substantially coincident, and the mining pick having a shank adapted to be received within the box of a mining machine. The stud may be provided with side extensions adjacent to the composite to protect the material of the mining pick body.

Abstract: A coolant system for mining bits which are rotatably mounted in blocks secured to mining machines of the type utilizing a large rotating wheel or continuous power-driven chains. The mounting blocks for the bits have a coolant passage leading to a bore in the block. Within the bore is a coolant dispensing sleeve which has a central passage to receive the shank of a mining bit. The sleeve has one or more axially disposed spray nozzles which receive coolant under pressure from the coolant passage in the block and from an annular passage formed between the block and the sleeve.

Abstract: An endless chain in which there is one row of a plurality of H-shaped link elements across the width of the chain and an adjacent row of similar elements, the legs of the Hs of adjacent rows being interdigitated and provided with aligned openings which receive a connecting pin. This arrangement is continued along the length of the chain to whatever extent is desired. Bit carrying lugs are mounted on the H-shaped link elements so as to establish any bit pattern desired. The H-shaped link elements may be provided with bit carrying lugs that are skewed with respect to the direction of chain travel so as to make the chain more efficient. Such link elements may also be provided with load bearing lugs at their sides so as to give increased support for the chain.

Abstract: A method of excavating a tunnel in bedrock, including the steps of boring an outer peripheral slot in the bedrock, boring a plurality of horizontal slots in a bedrock section surrounded by the outer peripheral slot such that the bedrock section is divided into a plurality of bedrock portions by the horizontal slots, boring a plurality of vertical slots in one of the bedrock portions such that the one of the bedrock portions is divided into a plurality of bedrock blocks by the vertical slots, removing the bedrock blocks from the bedrock so as to define a working space, and providing an excavator in the working space such that the remaining ones of the bedrock portions are sequentially excavated by the excavator.

Abstract: A motor powered, drum equipped, manually operable shingle removal tool for use by roofing contractors, home improvement companies and the like. A rigid, steel frame mechanically supports a conventional internal combustion engine linked through appropriate belts and pulleys to a front-mounted rotary drum. A plurality of rigid cutting teeth disposed about the outer surface of the cylindrical drum are adapted to forcibly contact the shingles to be removed. A lower sled which guides the tool along the roof surface may be selectively adjusted to facilitate proper elevation of the rotary drum above the shingle surface at a suitable height for optimum operation. The cutting teeth of the drum may be adjustably positioned relative to the outer surface of the drum to compensate for adjustment of the sled. A selectively adjustable elongated handle coupled to the rear of the machine frame directly above a pair of caster wheels facilitate maneuvering of the tool.

Abstract: A cementing system using a tubular member 43 coupled to a string of tubing 14 where upper and lower tubular liner wiper plugs (20, 21) are independently attached to and separately releasable from the tubular member. The upper tubular liner wiper plug 20 has outer liner wiper seal members, an outer latching mechanism (95) and an inner latching mechanism (52). A fluid bypass (59) is located in the liner wiper plug (20) below the wiper seal members with a check valve structure for bypassing fluid from below the seal members to the bore (45) of the tubular member in response to a pressure differential. A second check valve structure (46) is provided in the tubular member to provide a fluid bypass from the exterior of the tubular member above the seal members to the interior of the tubular member in response to a pressure differential.

Abstract: A technique for fragmenting rock or other relatively hard and/or compact material without the use of explosives is disclosed herein. In accordance with this technique, an elongated, blind opening is provided in the rock or other material to be fragmented and a pulse of water having a relatively high peak pressure and a relatively rapid rise time is directed into the elongated opening without the use of explosives to produce the pulse, whereby to produce a shock wave in the rock or other material sufficient to fragment it. In an actual embodiment, this explosion free pulse of water has a peak pressure of about 80,000 psi and a rise time of about one millisecond.

Abstract: Apparatus usable in power-operated floor stripping apparatus that includes a frame, a drive carried on the frame, wheels supporting the frame, a handle to guide the frame, and a cutting blade carried by a head which is pivotally mounted to the frame, the apparatus comprising a lightweight rugged connecting element having a first tubular part and a second tubular part, those parts having spaced, parallel axes, the second tubular part pivotally connected to the head. The connecting element includes two parallel and spaced legs extending between the first and second tubular parts and integrally merging with the sides thereof at locations spaced from the opposite ends thereof. First webs on each leg have edges tangent with the tubular parts, and they define planes intersecting thickened lugs on the head, and also eccentrics on a drive shaft. Second webs on the legs intersect the first web at enlarged areas of the legs.

Abstract: A cutting machine includes a universally swivellable cutting arm (6) having rotatably supported on its free end at least one cutting head (10, 11). A backwardly conveying screw conveyor (8, 9) is connected with the cutting arm (6) at both sides of the cutting arm (6). Each has its front end (12) located within the area of the cutting head (10, 11). The conveyor screws (8, 9) are surrounded by a housing which is open at the side turned away from the cutting arm (6). These conveyor screws (8, 9) take up the heap of debris during horizontal lateral movement and backwardly convey the material from the mine face (21) to a removal means (26) being arranged, for example, on the loading ramp (25).

Abstract: The rotor of a cutter for removal of ore from mine faces has several external material removing bits which are mounted in holders at the exterior of the rotor, and the holders have sockets for discrete spray nozzles which discharge streams of highly pressurized water against the mine face and/or against the bits. The nozzles receive water from discrete conduits whose discharge ends are threadedly connected with the respective nozzles and whose intake ends are connected to the outlets of manifolds which are installed in the interior of the rotor. The conduits extend from the outlets of the respective manifolds and through holes which are provided therefor in the rotor. The sockets in the holders receive spherical joints which allow for changes in orientation of the nozzles with reference to the adjacent bits.

Abstract: A crawler track mounted mining machine having a frame and an adjustable jib carrying an endless cutting chain having cutters and loading flights mounted on the frame. A bridge on the frame and spaced arms having one end pivotally connected to the bridge and the other end supporting a front plate upon which the jib is adjustably mounted by a rotatable bearing supporting a cross member which carries hinges pivotally supporting the jib. Hydraulic rams extend between the cross member and the jib to rotate the jib between a vertical position and a horizontal position and a hydraulic ram extends between the rotatable bearing and the front plate to rotate the front plate and the jib in a horizontal plane between a position perpendicular to the crawler tracks and a position parallel to the crawler tracks. Hydraulic rams extend between the bridge and the arms to raise and lower the arms and the jib relative to the frame.

Abstract: A rock breaker tool for use with earth working apparatus is disclosed. The tool includes a ripper tooth employed with a hammer and anvil arrangement located above the upper portion of the tooth. The present invention is so constructed as to minimize the transfer of force directly from the hammer to the hydraulic cylinders of the earth working apparatus. The invention may be employed with various types of earth working apparatus, including backhoes, bulldozers and ripper buckets.

Abstract: A loading mechanism operating on a loading apron of a tunnel and gallery excavator or the like comprises an eccentric-carrying crank disk, a crank lever, a shear rake, and a link. The eccentric-carrying crank disk is rotatable about its axis in a single direction of rotation, and the crank lever is connected to an eccentric pivot on the eccentric-carrying crank disk. The crank lever is pivotally connected by a lever arm to the link, which is attached pivotally to the apron behind the eccentric-carrying crank disk with respect to the forward direction of travel of the tunnel and gallery excavator. The shear rake is constructed as a bent lever with a raking arm and a controlling arm and at the vertex of the angle formed between the raking arm and the shear rake is mounted on the eccentric pivot with a vertex joint.

Abstract: A drift advancing or a partial-cut mining machine (1) comprises a cutting arm (11) being swivellable in a height direction around an axis (10). The front end of the cutting arm (11) is equipped with guides (26) transversely extending relative to the longitudinal axis (38) of the cutting arm (11) and having shiftably supported thereon a carrier (27) for the cutting heads (28, 29). The cutting heads (28, 29) are rotatably supported on the carrier (27) for rotation around vertical axes (46). The distance (a) between the axes of rotation (46) is, as measured in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis (38) of the cutting arm, at most equal to half the width (b) of the drift face.