Abstract: A mineral mining installation comprises a longwall conveyor, and a plurality of roof support units positioned side-by-side along the goaf side of the conveyor. The roof support units are positioned to define an access area between the conveyor and the roof support units. A plurality of hydraulic bracing rams act on the conveyor to brace the conveyor longitudinally. Each of the bracing rams is pivotally attached to a floor sill of a respective roof support unit. The hydraulic bracing rams are positioned at the goaf-side edge portion of the access area. The bracing forces are transmitted from the bracing rams to the conveyor via respective transverse arms attached to the bracing rams and to the conveyor.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation comprises a longwall conveyor, a plough movable to and fro along a guide fixed to the face side of the longwall conveyor, and a drive station at one end of the longwall conveyor. The drive station includes a drive frame supporting drive means for driving the longwall conveyor. A support beam is provided at the goaf side of the drive station. The support beam extends substantially parallel to the drive frame. A floor plate extends beneath the drive frame. The goaf-side end portion of the floor plate is supported on the support beam by means of a lifting device, whereby the goaf-side end portion of the floor plate can be moved up and down relative to the support beam by the lifting device.

Abstract: A longwall mineral mining installation comprises a scraper-chain conveyor having a scraper assembly, a first straight conveyor portion extending along the longwall working, a second straight conveyor portion extending along a roadway positioned at one end of the longwall working, and a curved conveyor section connecting the two straight conveyor portions. A guide assembly is provided for guiding the scraper assembly around the curved conveyor section. A guide is fixed to the face side of the first straight conveyor portion, and a winning machine is reciprocable along the guide. A drive station is mounted on the goaf side of the first straight conveyor portion in the region of the curved conveyor section. A drive sprocket is rotatably mounted on the face side of the first straight conveyor portion in said region. The drive sprocket drives the winning machine via a drive chain. A drive shaft drivably connects the drive station and the drive sprocket.

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.