Abstract: A conveyor and guide assembly comprises a conveyor and a plough guide attached to one side of the conveyor. The conveyor comprises a plurality of conveyor sections joined end-to-end, and the guide comprises a plurality of guide sections positioned end-to-end. Each guide section is associated with, and extends substantially along, a corresponding conveyor section. The guide section has a generally L-shaped guide plate and a ramp-like cover plate which define therebetween upper and lower chain ducts for receiving a plough drive chain. Each section of the cover plate is curved over at the top towards the guide plate thereby delimiting the upper portion of the upper chain duct. Each adjacent pair of cover plate sections overlap in a first zone which extends over at least the curved-over portions thereof. Each pair of adjacent sections of the guide plate overlap in a second zone which adjoins said first zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to an advance mechanism for a roof support assembly constituted by a plurality of roof support units positioned side-by-side along, for example, a longwall face of a mineral mining working. The advance mechanism comprises a pair of hydraulic advance rams and a pair of resilient, generally parallel guide rods. The guide rods are interconnected at one end by means of a head-piece which is attachable to a conveyor extending along the longwall face. The other end of each guide rod is attached to a respective slide piece which is slidably guided on a respective guide rail which is attached to a floor girder of a roof support unit. The hydraulic advance rams are each pivotally attached to one of the slide pieces and to one of said floor girders. The guide rods are provided, adjacent said one end, with outwardly projecting alignment members each of which co-operates with one of said floor girders to align an associated roof support unit during its advance.

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: A mine roof support unit comprises a floor sill, a roof cap, a goaf shield and hydraulic props supporting the roof cap above the floor sill. The goaf shield is pivotably connected to both the floor sill and the roof cap. The floor sill is provided with at least one auxiliary prop which is arranged to contact and support the roof cap only when the hydraulic props have been retracted by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to an advance mechanism for a roof support assembly constituted by a plurality of roof support units positioned side-by-side along, for example, a longwall face of a mineral mining working. The advance mechanism comprises a pair of hydraulic advance rams and a pair of resilient, generally parallel guide rods. The guide rods are interconnected at one end by means of a head-piece which is attachable to a conveyor extending along the longwall face. The other end of each guide rod is attached to a respective slide piece which is slidably guided on a respective guide rail which is attached to a floor girder of a roof support unit. The hydraulic advance rams are each pivotally attached to one of the slide pieces and to one of said floor girders. The guide rods are provided, adjacent said one end, with outwardly projecting alignment members each of which co-operates with one of said floor girders to align an associated roof support unit during its advance.