Abstract: Device for collecting forage bales found on the ground, wherein it includes first means (17) of traction of bales (19) and dragging means (2) of said first traction means (17) mounted on a first chassis (1) of a frame in such a way that they define a first section (“A”) of ascent of the bales, means (16) of traction of the bales and means (4) of dragging those means (16) of traction mounted on a second chassis (3) of the frame so that they define a second section (“B”) of ascent of the bales coming from the first section (“A”) of ascent, the first chassis (1) being joined to the second chassis (3) in such a way that it is capable of rotating around a rotating axle (“Y”) due to the effect of the force of the impact with the bales, the first means (17) approaching the ground, and the device comprising a set (8) of shock absorbers of the turning movement of the first chassis (1).

Abstract: A material (e.g., proppant) handling system includes a storage container, a mechanical conveyor system, and a pneumatic conveyor system. The mechanical conveyor system is configured to convey material from an unloading station to a conveyor system discharge and into an inlet of the storage container (e.g., at an elevation that is higher than the unloading station). The pneumatic delivery system is configured to deliver material from the storage container to an off-system destination (e.g., a silo or the like), pneumatically. In a typical implementation, the storage container, the mechanical conveyor system, and the pneumatic conveyor system are all on, or connected to, or supported by one common chassis.

Abstract: A swing auger towable by a tractor features a main auger, and a feed auger pivotally coupled to the main auger and reaching transversely outward therefrom. One or more additional conveyors each are positioned alongside the tractor with the discharge of the conveyor(s) feeding into the feed auger, and with the conveyor hopper positioned longitudinally forward of the tractor under the bottom discharge of the trailer or other source receptacle. A stabilizing device for the main auger doubles as a lift arm for elevating the conveyor in a transport position, and may be installed with a tandem axle that compensates for angular frame variation in the working position of the main auger. Alternatively, a novel auger frame is pivotally coupled to the inlet end of the main auger, remains at a consistent angle regardless of the main auger's position, and is equipped with a hitch connector and rear stabilizer arms.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified push beams for insertion and use in a series of push beams or segments during highwall mining operations to capture residual coal or “fines” that might otherwise be left behind. A first modified beam or recovery beam is provided to divert residual coal on the floor of the mine to the sides, and/or a second modified beam captures the residual coal on the sides of the mine, which may include the coal diverted by the first modified beam, through a side entry system comprising side channel(s) with side auger(s) to combine this captured residual coal with the bulk flow of mined material in a main channel of the recovery beam that is continuous among the series of beams or segments. Methods are also provided for the operation of the modified beams and their insertion into the series of beams of a highwall miner.

Abstract: The present invention provides modified push beams for insertion and use in a series of push beams or segments during highwall mining operations to capture residual coal or “fines” that might otherwise be left behind. A first modified beam or recovery beam is provided to divert residual coal on the floor of the mine to the sides, and/or a second modified beam captures the residual coal on the sides of the mine, which may include the coal diverted by the first modified beam, through a side entry system comprising side channel(s) with side auger(s) to combine this captured residual coal with the bulk flow of mined material in a main channel of the recovery beam that is continuous among the series of beams or segments. Methods are also provided for the operation of the modified beams and their insertion into the series of beams of a highwall miner.

Abstract: The conveyor according to the invention provides a supporting device for goods containers positioned in the rear part of an inclined surface of the conveyor. The supporting device provides a supporting surface that can be moved vertically and horizontally with respect to the ground in order to adapt to the different types and sizes of the containers to be supported.

Abstract: A floor and bucket protection device and method of making the device, which includes a steel frame attachable to a bucket on a front end loader, a plurality of steel-reinforced rubber pads laminated on a steel frame between fiber-reinforced end pads, whereby the steel-reinforcing rubber pads include steel strands that strengthen the rubber pads thereby reducing the rate of wear of the pads and preventing tearing and chunking of the pads. The steel-reinforced rubber pads are die-cut from passenger and light-truck recycled steel-belted tires and the individual steel strands are adapted to extend from the pads along the wear surface engaging the ground as the rubber pads wear down and provide a sweeping and cleaning action along the floor.

Abstract: A cargo pick-up member for transferring bulk material into an elevator of an unloading trunk of a ship unloader includes a screw pipe, a cutter head connected to the screw pipe, and a coupling sleeve attached to the screw pipe. The coupling sleeve includes a pivoting drive for pivoting the coupling sleeve with respect to the screw pipe. A baffle plate is detachably connected to the rotatable coupling sleeve via a height adjustable mount. The baffle plate includes a semi-circular portion surrounding a part of the cutter head and two outer legs extending from the semi-circular portion opening in the shape of a V from ends of the semi-circular portion for accommodating bulk material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading overburden and ore into rock trucks that includes pushing the material onto an oscillating feed table that then feeds the material onto an inclined conveyor having an endless belt made of a series of overlapping rigid flights.

Abstract: A mobile mining machine for cutting a tunnel in rock has a wheel-like cutterhead assembly supported by a pitch boom assembly that causes movement of the cutterhead assembly in the vertical plane. A swing boom assembly supports the pitch boom assembly and is supported by the base frame of the mobile mining machine. The swing boom assembly causes movement of the cutterhead assembly and the pitch boom assembly in the horizontal plane. During mining, a fixed front support and a fixed rear support anchor the mobile mining machine in the tunnel with front and rear crawlers raised from the tunnel floor. During re-gripping, the front and rear crawlers are lowered to support the mobile mining machine and the fixed front support and fixed rear support remain in contact with the tunnel floor. During tramming, the front and rear supports are raised for transportation of the mobile mining machine on the crawler.

Abstract: A coal-cutting machine (1) having an all-round swivelling jib boom (6), on which cutting implements (17) are rotatably supported, and a loading platform (3) comprising a loading platform which can swivel about an axis (4) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine. The loading platform (3) is angularly, rigidly connected to the swing gear (5) for the swivelling of the jib boom (6) in a horizontal direction and is supported on the machine frame (1) so as to swivel, together with the swing gear (5), about the axis (4) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine. As a result of this construction which a particularly low overall height is made possible while safely preventing a collision between the jib boom (6) and the loading platform (3).

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a pipeline padding machine which comprises a first rearwardly inclined conveyor mounted on a vehicle adapted to be moved along a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over a row of spoil which has been removed from the ditch, and a scoop on the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and deliverying it onto the first conveyor as the vehicle moves over the row of spoil. The first conveyor is arranged to move the spoil rearwardly and thus onto a second screen at its rearward end having means for moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass it in a rearward direction. A second conveyor mounted on the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes it and moving the spoil toward one end of the second conveyor, and a third conveyor is mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving that spoil into the ditch and over the pipeline.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine is provided which includes a frame assembly having a material dislodging head mounted on one end of the frame. Ground engaging traction treads or wheels propel the machine within a mine to advance the dislodging head into a mine face to dislodge material therefrom. The mining machine also includes roof support apparatus capable of assuming a free-standing position separated from the mining machine to install supports in the roof above the mining machine as the mining machine continuously advances. The roof support apparatus includes a transverse beam having a pair of end portions extending outwardly from the sides of the frame assembly. Connected to the ends of the transverse beam are a pair of support assemblies each including apparatus for lifting the roof support apparatus vertically off the mining machine and initially supporting the mine roof.

Abstract: A bunker system for accommodating and further transporting materials from surface mines includes a bunker device being provided adjacent a terrace wall. The bunker device comprises a platform and an endless conveyor for transporting the material; side walls bounding and together surrounding the platform to form, with the platform, an upwardly open storage area for accommodating and holding the materials. A niche, having niche walls, is provided in the terrace wall. Some of the side walls form part of the bunker device and are disposed on the platform adjacent the endless conveyor and some of the side walls are constituted by the niche walls.

Abstract: A machine for use in mining or tunnelling has a chassis supporting a mobile arm provided with rotary cutters. A shovel beneath the arm serves to transfer material onto a pair of conveyors mounted alongside the machine chassis. This shovel is supported for vertical pivoting displacement on a beam which is itself linked via a central pivot joint to the machine chassis. Piston and cylinder units effect tilting and vertical adjustment in the shovel position.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a mobile body and an endless conveyor for conveying rearwardly on the body the material dislodged by the mining machine. A gathering platform extends forwardly from the conveyor. Oscillating gathering arms positioned laterally of the receiving end of the conveyor on the gathering platform feed the dislodged material rearwardly on the gathering platform. A plow-like forward edge portion extends transversely across the front of the gathering platform and opposite side portions extend rearwardly from the forward edge portion. Deflector plates are pivotally mounted on the gathering platform adjacent the opposite side portions at the gathering platform forward edge portion to deflect the loose material deposited on the mine floor along the mine wall onto the gathering platform. The deflector plates are biased laterally outwardly from the forward edge portion toward stops mounted on the gathering platform which limit their outward pivotal movement.

Abstract: A gantry scraper for the clearing of dumps which can function in closed buildings and can clear substantially the entire area under the scraper. A vertically swingable scraping jib is provided in combination with a tensioned clearing rope or the like which extends upwardly and at an angle to the adjacent beam of the scraper jib, which clearing rope contacts bulk material beyond the end of the jib and knocks the material down to where it is accessible by the jib.

Abstract: An improved raisin harvester including a front fork for sliding under a raisin laden tray, a draper web situated above the fork for engaging the trays and sliding them along the fork to a conveyor mechanism having a tray receiving end located at the upper end of the fork, running shoes extending downward from the conveyor mechanism, a wheeled chassis having a frame to which an assembly including all of the foregoing is pivotally attached, a shaker mechanism attached to the frame so as to be situated under the discharge end of the conveyor mechanism, a hydraulic jack for adjusting the tilt of the fork, conveyor and draper web assembly, a hydraulic power system for driving the conveyor, draper web, shaker tray and hydraulic jack, a tow bar for attaching the harvester to a tractor or other motive implement which pulls the harvester, and a trailer hitch to which a carriage for raisin receiving receptacles may be attached.

Abstract: A loading and conveying machine has crawler treads and a frame extending forwardly thereof. A conveyor extends from the front to the rear of the machine. An apron is pivotally mounted at the front of the frame and receives material from a loading implement and deposits it onto the conveyor. The front end of the conveyor is pivotally mounted to the apron and arcuately moves about the apron pivot axis when the apron is raised or lowered. The axis of apron-conveyor pivotal mount is removed from the center of rotation of the front end of the conveyor and spaced rearwardly and downwardly therefrom. The distance between the rear apron edge and the axis of apron-conveyor pivotal mount is greater than the distance between the said edge and the center of rotation of the front end of the conveyor. The axis of apron-conveyor pivotal mount is disposed in a transverse vertical plane which is positioned between the rear apron edge and the center of rotation of the front end return portion of the conveyor.

Abstract: A mining machine that may be used in place of an auger miner that is much more energy efficient in transporting mined material from the cutting site to the mouth of the mine. The machine includes a non-rotatable body member with stabilizers, at least one rotatable pilot cutting head mounted in front of the body member and a shaft operatively connected to the cutting head for rotation thereof, and a conveyor assembly mounted behind the pilot head in operative association with the body member. The conveyor assembly includes a scoop disposed posteriorly of the cutting head and having a bottom portion abutting the floor and extending posteriorly therefrom at an angle of about 14.degree. or less, and having side members that funnel toward each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for loading bulk matter, such as fertilizer, said apparatus being characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a container mounted on an axle provided with wheels at its ends and on the other hand a cylindrical sleeve inclined with respect to the vertical whose lower end plungers into said container, said sleeve containing an Archimedean screw of diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of said sleeve and being able to open longitudinally to give access to said screw, while said latter is removably mounted inside said sleeve.

Abstract: A loading and conveying machine has crawler treads and a frame extending forwardly thereof. A conveyor extends from the front to the rear of the machine. An apron is pivotally mounted at the front of the frame and receives material from a loading implement and deposits it onto the conveyor. The front end of the conveyor is pivotally mounted to the apron and arcuately moves about the apron pivot axis when the apron is raised or lowered. The joined conveyor and apron may also be adjusted together by vertically moving the apron pivot axis. The midsection of the conveyor is articulated so that the conveyor framework is separated into front and rear segments which are independently movable relative to each other and to the machine frame.

Abstract: A loading and conveying machine has crawler treads and a frame extending substantially forwardly thereof. A conveyor is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and extends rearwardly from ahead of the frame to the back of the machine. An apron is pivotally mounted at the front of the frame and receives material from a loading implement and deposits it onto the conveyor. The machine has an approach angle providing a space defined by a ground plane and a forwardly and upwardly inclined plane tangential to the arc described by the front of the treads and extending through the lower front frame corner. The apron is angularly adjustable, and furthermore, the apron pivot is vertically shiftable to thereby change the apron attitude so that it can be wholly positioned above the inclined approach plane without obstruction by the conveyor.