Abstract: A mineral mining installation has a plough guided for movement along a scraper-chain conveyor. Roof supports are connected to the conveyor with the aid of shifting mechanisms which employ boom-type guide linkages designed to co-operate with a compact controller to adjust the tilt of the conveyor and the cutting horizon of the plough. The controller employs a plate-like guide block guided for up and down motion at the goaf side of the conveyor. An hydraulic piston and cylinder unit is disposed alongside the goal side of the conveyor and pivots a cranked lever to raise or lower the guide block. The guide block is coupled to a headpiece of an associated one of the boom linkages so that the motion of the guide block is transferred to the headpiece.

Abstract: A plough guide is composed of sections built onto the runs of channelling of a scraper chain conveyor. Behind a covering comprising covering hoods pivotable on joints, there are chain guide channels for the plough chain separated by spacers. Underneath each covering hood there is a robust guide beam which forms part of a lower guide for the plough. Each guide beam of solid rolled section is provided at each of its two ends with a recess into which is welded a stout bearing plate which on a level with the spacers. The bearing plates are equipped with open journal bearings for hinge pins positioned at the foot of the covering hood. The hinge pins are integral with hinge pieces, which are welded into recesses at the two ends of the covering hood.

Abstract: A cutter bit assembly for a mining or tunnelling machine has a cutter shank detachably fitted into a socket of a holder. To secure the shank in position a piston is displaced to cause pressure fluid to flow into a working chamber and act on a piston at one end of a rod-like securing element. The element is forced against a surface of the shank to urge the shank about a pivot and this in turn thrusts rear support surfaces of the cutter and the holder together. To release the cutter the pressure fluid is relieved and spring force displaces the securing element away from the shank. In this released condition, the cutter can be swivelled about the pivot and withdrawn from the socket.

Abstract: The pans of a scraper-chain conveyor have a plough guide at one side. The pans are connected together at said one side with the aid of coupling pieces engaged in pockets in the side walls of the pans. Each coupling piece is pivotably fitted to a plate-like securing element which serves as a handle to enable the coupling piece to be inserted into or removed from the pockets. The securing element can be swung down into further pockets formed in the plough guide to lock the coupling piece in place.

Abstract: A coal wining plough in a longwall working employs adjustable floor cutters mounted on curved carriers displaced in guideways on the body of the plough. Wedges abut on the upper ends of the carriers and are moved by hydraulic piston and cylinder units to set the position of the floor cutters and define the cutting level adopted by the plough. The units are operated with the aid of valves which respond to an electronic control device. Command signals from a remote control station are transmitted as by a radio to the plough to set up the electronic control device. Sensors on the plough provide electrical signals representing the position of the interface between the coal face and the floor and these signals are transmitted back to the control station. In a control sequence the plough runs along the seam and the sensor(s) provide signals relayed to the control station which also receives signals representing the distance moved by and/or the position of the plough.

Abstract: A floor cutter for a plough has a component provided with cutting edges fixed by welding to a main body locating in a holder. The components are connected together with step-like surfaces chamfered at the external faces of the components to faciliate the welding. Superimposed support surfaces extend more or less normally to other surfaces and permit adjustment of the position of the components during welding to vary the set cutting depth.

Abstract: To firmly connect an upper trough-like component of a scraper-chain conveyor to a lower component use is made of arch-like locking pieces which fit on a side plate of the lower component which overlaps the side wall of the upper component. The upper regions of the locking pieces having inwardly projecting noses which fit into apertures in the side plate and side wall. Sockets are formed in projections on the side plate to receive the heads of screw-threaded securing elements which locate in recesses in the locking pieces and project through holes in side walls thereof. The securing elements adopt an inclined disposition and when nuts are tightened on their shanks the locking pieces tend to force and hold the upper component down on the lower component.

Abstract: A cutter-bit assembly employs an arcuate wedge to secure a cutter-bit within a pocket of a holder. The wedge fits into a tapered gap between complementary curved surfaces of the holder and the cutter-bit shank. A projecting insert carried by the shank mates with a serrated portion on the wedge. Contact is established between the wedge and the curved surfaces of the holder and the shank over outer regions separated by non-contacting clearances.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation employs a scraper-chain conveyor constructed from individual pans joined end-to-end and a plough having a drive plate running beneath the conveyor and on a skid bed formed as a sub-frame structure on the floor of the working. The drive plate is connected via guide means to the haulage run of a chain in a lower guide passage at the side of the conveyor opposite to the plough. An upper guide passage accommodates the return run of the chain. The passages are defined by a guide structure fitted to the side walls of the pans and includes detachable covers which can be removed for access purposes. At least some of the covers are linked with the sub-frame structure with the aid of tongue-and-groove connections.

Abstract: A floor cutter bit for a coal plough has a body carrying a pair of hard metal plates which define a coal face cutting edge and a floor cutting edge. A hard metal pin locates between the plates and receives end zones of the plates within recesses.

Abstract: A cutter-bit assembly employs an arcuate wedge 16 to secure a cutter-bit 2 within a pocket 4 of a holder 1. An additional deformable insert or resilient backing piece 18 is also located in an arcuate gap between the cutter-bit shank and a curved surface of the holder. The insert or backing piece co-operates with teeth 19 to lock the wedge in position.

Abstract: A coal plough has an elongate plough body which is provided with cutters at each end. The plough body is supported at each of its two ends, by a flat narrow skid on a plate of a plough guide. The skids constitute wear-resistant members and are connected to the plough body in a readily replaceable manner. The skids are so shaped that they guide the plough in the lower zone of the plough guide, and establish connection between the plough and the plough drive chain.

Abstract: A guide for mineral mining machines is composed of assemblies each secured to the mineral face side of a conveyor. The assemblies have angle plates secured to the side walls and structures formed with spacers separating upper and lower passages for a drive chain. Covers are detachably and pivotably mounted to the structures. The covers can be secured in a closed position covering the upper passage or swung outwardly to an open position on push-in hinge joints formed at their lower regions by interengaging components of the covers and the structures. The hinge joints have complementary projections and recesses which interengage when the covers are closed.

Abstract: A guide for mineral winning machines is composed of assemblies secured to the mineral face side of a conveyor. The assemblies have angle plates secured to the side walls of the conveyor pans and structures, integral or otherwise, which provide spacers at least partly defining elongate upper and lower passages for accomodating a drive chain. Covers are detachably and pivotably mounted to the structures to close off the upper passage. The covers are provided with substantial flat upper surfaces which serves to support and guide a machine. An upper guide rail formed by ribs at the edges of the upper surfaces and a lower guide rail formed by webs or web plates on the structures serve to locate with guide means of a plough supported on the inclined walls of the angle plates and driven by the drive chain. Where the flat support surfaces are not needed, or otherwise in case of need, the covers can be removed or replaced by covers of different design.

Abstract: A mineral mining plough for use in asymmetric ploughing, and movable to and fro alongside a conveyor, has a plough body provided with cutter means at its two ends. A first cutter means is arranged to win material when the plough is on the uphill run (that is to say when the plough moves in the opposite direction as the conveyor). A second cutter means is arranged to win material when the plough is on the downhill run. The second cutter means is mounted on the plough body for vertical movement relative to the plough body. This enables the second cutter means to be swung out of its working position (on the downhill run) to lie in a rest position (on the uphill run) in which it is in the path of travel of the first cutter means. This vertical movement of the second cutter means results in a plough of shorter length than known asymmetric ploughs.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation for winning material in a mineral mining working comprises a plough and a plough guide. The plough has a plough body movable along the plough guide, and the plough body is provided with a carrier for floor cutters. The carrier is mounted on the plough body for movement relative thereto and is supported and guided on a surface of the plough guide.

Abstract: Mining apparatus comprises a longwall conveyor and tensioning means for tensioning the conveyor in its longitudinal direction. The tensioning means is constituted by a plurality of hydraulic tensioning rams, each of which is mounted, in use, by means of pivot joints at each end thereof directly between the conveyor and a respective roof support unit of a roof support assembly. Each tensioning ram extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor. The tensioning rams are positioned in two groups, one in each end zone of the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the position of a mineral mining machine such as a plough, movable along guide means such as a scraper-chain conveyor with a guide on one side. The apparatus employs piston and cylinder units coupled between the guide means and connecting devices pivoted to the guide means. A ball-and-socket joint is provided between each of the units and the associated connecting device.Elongate beams are interconnected at one end and are mounted via a head piece and a swivel joint to each connecting device. These beams are pivoted and guided at their other ends on roof support structures so that the units can operate to tilt the guide means about the pivot axes between the connecting devices and the guide means to thereby control the position of the machine.

Abstract: A conventional form of scraper-chain conveyor with a series of channel sections each having a floor disposed between sigma-shaped side walls has upstanding spill plates, C-shaped covers and hollow spacer bars attached to the goaf side of each channel section. These components define upper and lower guide channels for a drive chain circulated along the goaf side of the conveyor which is connected through a sword plate to a machine guided for movement along the conveyor. To prevent gases from building up beneath the conveyor vents are provided in the goaf side wall of the channel sections and these vents communicate with the external V-shaped grooves in the side walls.Vents are also provided in the spill plates to establish communication between the V-shaped grooves and the upper chain guide channel. The covers are then spaced apart to form apertures allowing any gas which reaches the upper channel to pass to the surroundings.