Abstract: The invention is concerned with underground mining equipment, primarily but not exclusively for the mining of coal by the system known as the "long wall system". Where a coal cutting machine is driven along the wall face by the use of a haulage chain anchored at opposite ends of the face, to avoid the problems associated with the establishment of slack chain behind the machine, take-up means is provided at at least the end of the working from which the machine undergoes a working traverse to remove material from the face. Control means is provided to render said take-up means operative, to take up the slack produced in the chain, during such a working traverse of the cutting machine, and to render the take-up means inoperative, to provide a substantially fixed anchorage on a return traverse of the machine. Preferably such take-up means is provided at both ends of the working.

Abstract: In a system for the supply of fluid under pressure to machinery of an underground mine working, lengths of fixed conduit are secured to parts of the conveyor assembly, prior to the assembly of said parts at the underground mine working. When the conveyor assembly has been assembled, the length of fixed conduits are interconnected, either by straight lengths of flexible conduit, or by branched lengths of flexible conduit, where take off for fluid under pressure is required for the machinery, for example a roof support unit.

Abstract: A cutting drum for a mining machine, for example a shearer drum comprising helical vanes, to which picks are secured at spaced intervals peripherally thereof. In conventional practice, housings for the picks are secured such as by welding directly to the shearer drum vane. In accordance with the invention, a mounting device is fixedly secured to the shearer drum vane, and the housing for the pick is releasably secured to the mounting device. This enables the pick housings to be readily removed from the shearer drum, in the event that one or more of the pick housings becomes damaged during operation of the machine.