Abstract: A method of mining a mineral in which a roof is supported by a plurality of mine roof supports of the kind specified, each advanceable by a force applied to a lower part thereof. During advance of the support an upper part thereof can be sufficiently retarded, by hydraulic jacks carried, by each of its adjacent supports, with respect to the advance of its lower part. This causes the support effectively to rotate and to raise the leading end of the lower part away from the ground on which it is advancing.

Abstract: This invention is conerned with conveyors using reciprocating flights to convey material along the length of the conveyor. The conveyor consists essentially of a bed of articulated plates, a track constraining a chain adjacent a first longitudinal edge of the bed, spaced flights attached to the chain and located to extend across the bed and means for reciprocating the chain along the track. The chain is preferably made of rigid members of substantially uniform cross-section and the flights are shaped bars having one end adapted to be pivotally attached to the chain and are reduced in their height towards their free ends with the trailing edges of each flight tapered downwardly towards their bottom surfaces and inclined towards the leading edges at their free ends which ends are chamfered.