Abstract: A support rail for a swing gear assembly having a thrust rail coupled to a swing gear includes a substantially horizontal first surface configured to be coupled to the swing gear such that the first surface engages a substantially horizontal top face of the swing gear, and a substantially vertical second surface intersecting the substantially horizontal first surface such that the second surface is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. The second surface is configured to engage a substantially vertical face of the thrust rail when the first surface is coupled to the swing gear. The first surface and the second surface are configured to inhibit a rotation of the thrust rail relative to the swing gear by engaging the top face of the swing gear and the vertical face of the thrust rail simultaneously.

Abstract: A support rail for a swing gear includes a first flange having a first surface configured to engage a substantially horizontal top face of the swing gear, a second flange positioned opposite the first flange, and a column portion intersecting the first flange and the second flange such that the column portion is approximately perpendicular to the first and second flanges. The column portion includes a second surface configured to engage a substantially vertical inner surface of the swing gear. The first surface and the second surface are configured to substantially inhibit a rotation of the support rail relative to the swing gear by engaging the top face and the inner surface simultaneously.

Abstract: A slide shoe installs on an undercarriage frame assembly of an excavating machine to prevent contact by the lugs of track links when the track buckles. The slide shoe is connected at a top surface to a mounting bar extending between side plates of the frame assembly. The slide shoe may include a front bottom beveled surface extending forward from a bottom surface to a front surface and a rear bottom beveled surface extending rearward from the bottom surface, with the beveled surfaces oriented at upward angles with respect to a line parallel to the bottom surface. A rear upper beveled surface extends rearward from the top surface and is oriented at a downward angle with respect to a line parallel to the top surface and intersects the rear bottom beveled surface at a rear tip of the slide shoe.

Abstract: A support rail for a swing gear includes a first flange having a first surface configured to engage a substantially horizontal top face of the swing gear, a second flange positioned opposite the first flange, and a column portion intersecting the first flange and the second flange such that the column portion is approximately perpendicular to the first and second flanges. The column portion includes a second surface configured to engage a substantially vertical inner surface of the swing gear. The first surface and the second surface are configured to substantially inhibit a rotation of the support rail relative to the swing gear by engaging the top face and the inner surface simultaneously.

Abstract: A support rail for a swing gear assembly having a thrust rail coupled to a swing gear includes a substantially horizontal first surface configured to be coupled to the swing gear such that the first surface engages a substantially horizontal top face of the swing gear, and a substantially vertical second surface intersecting the substantially horizontal first surface such that the second surface is substantially perpendicular to the first surface. The second surface is configured to engage a substantially vertical face of the thrust rail when the first surface is coupled to the swing gear. The first surface and the second surface are configured to inhibit a rotation of the thrust rail relative to the swing gear by engaging the top face of the swing gear and the vertical face of the thrust rail simultaneously.

Abstract: A crowd machinery guard system for a mining shovel is provided. The crowd machinery guard system includes a mounting bracket assembly coupled to the front of the mining shovel frame. The crowd machinery guard system also includes at least one support leg rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket assembly, and an impact plate assembly coupled to the support leg. The impact plate assembly includes an impact plate configured to receive dipper impacts, at least one support leg bracket coupled to the impact plate, and at least one cushion subassembly including a dampening portion. The crowd machinery guard system is configured to absorb and distribute the force of dipper impacts.

Abstract: A slide shoe installs on an undercarriage frame assembly of an excavating machine to prevent contact by the lugs of track links when the track buckles. The slide shoe is connected at a top surface to a mounting bar extending between side plates of the frame assembly. The slide shoe may include a front bottom beveled surface extending forward from a bottom surface to a front surface and a rear bottom beveled surface extending rearward from the bottom surface, with the beveled surfaces oriented at upward angles with respect to a line parallel to the bottom surface. A rear upper beveled surface extends rearward from the top surface and is oriented at a downward angle with respect to a line parallel to the top surface and intersects the rear bottom beveled surface at a rear tip of the slide shoe.

Abstract: A crowd machinery guard system for a mining shovel is provided. The crowd machinery guard system includes a mounting bracket assembly coupled to the front of the mining shovel frame. The crowd machinery guard system also includes at least one support leg rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket assembly, and an impact plate assembly coupled to the support leg. The impact plate assembly includes an impact plate configured to receive dipper impacts, at least one support leg bracket coupled to the impact plate, and at least one cushion subassembly including a dampening portion. The crowd machinery guard system is configured to absorb and distribute the force of dipper impacts.

Abstract: A crowd control mechanism for a power shovel includes an extendible dipper handle having an extended position and a retracted position. A double acting hydraulic cylinder having a an extendible ram has one of the cylinder and the ram fixed to the dipper handle and the other of the cylinder and the ram is stationary relative to the dipper handle. At least one of the cylinder and the ram have at least one of a blind end port and a rod end port, and at least one of the cylinder and the ram have the other of the blind end port and the rod end port, wherein hydraulic fluid flowing into the cylinder through the blind end port urges the ram toward an extended position to extend the dipper handle, and hydraulic fluid flowing into the rod end port urges the ram toward a retracted position to retract the dipper handle. Hydraulic fluid flowing into and out of the cylinder is controlled by one or more pilot operated poppet valves.