Abstract: A mine roof support includes a ground engaging base section, a roof engageable canopy, and hydraulic props for raising and lowering the canopy relative to the base section. An advancing mechanism is provided for advancing the roof support towards the mine face, and a base lifting mechanism is provided for raising one end of the roof support prior to advancing the support towards the mine face. The base lifting mechanism includes a lifting ram mounted with respect to the base section for slidable movement between an upper operative position in which the ram can be extended to lift the one end of the roof support clear of the ground and a lower position in which the canopy can assume a position relative to the base section lower than would be possible with the lifting ram in its upper operative position.

Abstract: A mine roof support comprises a ground engageable base section, a canopy, a shield section pivotally connected at one end to one end of the canopy and at the other end to one or more members connected to the base section, and hydraulic props for raising and lowering the canopy relative to the base section. An opening is provided in the canopy and a door is mounted with respect to the canopy for pivotable movement between a first position in which it closes or substantially closes the opening in the canopy and a second position in which it is inclined downwards away from said one end and towards the other end of the canopy for guiding material which in use falls through the opening towards a conveyor located adjacent to a mine face being worked.