Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A mobile sizer for an underground mining system includes drive treads, a sizer portion mounted on the drive treads, and a load bucket pivotably coupled to the sizer portion. The load bucket is sumped to remove material from the mine and pivotably swung to transfer removed material to the sizer portion.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A material extraction system for an underground mine includes an elevated haulage conveyor extending between first and second ends of a roadway entry. The haulage conveyor is cantilevered from a mine wall and conveys material toward either end of the roadway entry. The system also includes a crusher including a drive operable to move the crusher along the roadway entry. The system further includes a bridge conveyor including a first end adjacent the crusher and receiving material from the crusher, and a second end adjacent the elevated haulage conveyor and positioned for depositing material onto the elevated haulage conveyor. The bridge conveyor is moveable with the crusher along the roadway entry. The system also includes a loader moveable along the roadway entry and into and out of material collection entries to collect material therefrom and transport the material to the crusher.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided that connects to an overhead power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The overhead power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the overhead power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Abstract: A continuous material extraction system for a mine. The mine includes a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell. The system generally includes a conveyor extending along the roadway entry, roadway rails extending along the roadway entry, and a material collector moveable along the roadway rails. The material collector is operable to crush material and deposit crushed material onto the conveyor. The system also includes a loading machine that is moveable along the rails and from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell and transferring material removed from the draw bell to the material collector. A bridge conveyor extends between the loading machine and the material collector.

Abstract: A material extraction system is provided for an underground mine. The mine includes a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell. The system generally includes a loader movable from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell, a sizer coupled to the loader for sizing the removed material, a material collector operable to collect the sized material, and a shuttle car operable to receive the collected material from the material collector. The material collector has a loading end and a discharge end, and material transport device extending therebetween. The shuttle car is movable along the roadway entry for transferring the collected material so as to facilitate a substantially continuous extraction of the material.

Abstract: A light for attachment to mining equipment. The light comprises a base, a plurality of PC boards coupled to the base, each of the plurality of PC boards including spaced apart LEDs, a heat sink in thermodynamic communication with the plurality of PC boards, a clear potting material encasing the plurality of PC boards, and a clear cover sealingly attached to the base and overlying the plurality of PC boards, the heat sink, and the potting material.

Abstract: A material extraction system for an underground mine includes a mobile sizer for sizing removed material, an elevated bunker operable to collect the sized material, and a shuttle car operable to receive the collected material from the elevated bunker. The shuttle car is positioned substantially below the elevated bunker for receiving the collected material from the elevated bunker.

Abstract: A mobile sizer for an underground mining system includes drive treads, a sizer portion mounted on the drive treads, and a load bucket pivotably coupled to the sizer portion. The load bucket is sumped to remove material from the mine and pivotably swung to transfer removed material to the sizer portion.

Abstract: A side shifting conveyor is provided for a surface mining operation. The conveyor generally includes conveyor sections and conveyor translation devices. Each conveyor translation device includes a drive operable to move the associated at least one conveyor section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The conveyor further includes a controller operatively coupled to each drive for controlling operation of the drive and coordinating movement of the conveyor sections. A method for moving a conveyor in a surface mine generally includes sensing that a surface miner operable to deposit material onto the conveyor sections has moved beyond one of the conveyor sections, fixing a position relative to the surface mine of a conveyor translation device associated with one of the conveyor sections, and operating the conveyor translation device to move one of the conveyor sections in a direction substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

Abstract: A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.

Abstract: A surface mining system for removing material from a mining face generally includes a conveyor extending substantially parallel to the mining face, a miner supported by and moveable along the conveyor, and a conveyor translation device associated with the conveyor and operable to move the conveyor and the miner toward the mining face. A method for advancing a surface mining longwall system generally includes moving the longwall shearer along a face conveyor, operating load translation devices to move the face conveyor and the longwall shearer toward the mining face, resetting a first group of load translation devices, and then resetting a second group of load translation devices. A load translation device generally includes an actuator, a ground drilling device coupled to and moveable with a portion of the actuator, and a frame coupled to and moveable with another portion of the actuator.

Abstract: A surface mining system removes material from a surface mining block that has a substantially vertical and laterally extending mining face. The surface mining system generally includes a miner moveable in a lateral direction along the mining face, a face conveyor extending along the mining face, and conveyor translation devices associated with the face conveyor and operable to move the face conveyor toward the mining face as material is removed. The miner includes a rotating cutting member mounted to an end of a vertically ranging cutting arm and operable to remove material from the mining block. The face conveyor includes a discharge portion and is operable to convey material removed from the mining block toward the discharge portion. Each conveyor translation device includes a secured configuration substantially fixed with respect to the mining face and an unsecured configuration moveable with respect to the mining face.

Abstract: A joystick comprising a housing, a ball supported and held within the housing, and a joystick handle attached to the ball. The joystick also includes a first device held within the housing, and a second device held within the housing. The joystick also includes a first engagement shaft extending from the first device to the ball, the first engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball, and a second engagement shaft extending from the second device to the ball, the second engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball.