Abstract: In order to drift underground roads, tunnelling machines are used that have a rotatively driven boring head base body, a rigid first bit and rail heads that can radially sweep around axes of rotation between the working point in a conductor shaft and gallery faces by means of thrusting piston gears that carry at least one roller boring tool. In order to improve the coordination between an opening of the conductor shaft and under cutting, which are carried out simultaneously, a first bit. (2) is designed as a ring borer (2) that breaks out a drilling core (3) through slits of an annular cavity (4). The ring borer (2) has two parallel arms (6) spaced apart from a central axis (5) that carry boring tools (7) articulated on a cross-beam (10) of a carrying frame (9) that has an advancing device (11).

Abstract: A cutter machine has cutter heads or rollers rotatably mounted on a pivoting cutter arm. It also has a loading ramp and a conveyor running in a direction towards the work face of the cutter machine to take up and convey away cut material. The cutter arm is mounted on a sliding carriage which is displaceable along guides running in the longitudinal direction of the machine. The carriage is configured as a self-supporting box profile in a clear cross-section space of which a removal conveyor is mounted so that it may slide. For this reason, the cutter machine is particularly well-suited for use in small seam heights and for particularly low constructional design. It may nonetheless be used satisfactorily for operating reliably over a variable tunnel width.

Abstract: A system for supporting the drive of an excavating type underground advancing machine is provided to lighten the operator's burden so that an unskilled operator can perform operation comparable to that of the skilled operator. In this system for supporting the drive, output signals from a group of first sensors (12a) for measuring magnitude of operation of a rocking actuator (10) for orientation control and an output signal from a second sensor (12b) for measuring cutter torque pressure are input into an automatic measurement portion (14). These signals are adjusted in an automatic adjustment portion (15) and input to a fuzzy control portion. The rocking magnitude of an excavating cutter is calculated in a rocking magnitude control aiding system portion (16a) in response to the adjusted signal from the group of the first sensors.

Abstract: A drill head for drilling a tunnel in rock or soil comprises a rotatable drill bit assembly and a cylindrical protecting tube. The bit assembly comprises a bit holder and a cylindrical drill bit. The bit assembly has a cylindrical surface which forms a continuous cylindrical lap joint with the protecting tube. The bit assembly also has at least one opening for removing, through the bit assembly, drill cuttings from the face of the drill bit. In use, the lap joint allows rotation of the drill bit assembly relative to the protecting tube and prevents access of the drill cuttings to the outside of the drill head.

Abstract: Tunnel boring machine whose driving shaft (4) adjacent to the boring head (6) is journalled in a bearing (12) which is intended to take up only radial forces. Shaft (4) is at its other end journalled in bearings (13,14) which take up both radial and axial forces.

Abstract: Mining apparatus in which a cutting wheel supporting a plurality of roller-cutters rotates about a horizontal axis and is supported on a slewing boom for cutting a tunnel with a flat floor and roof and elliptical walls as it slews across a mining face. The slewing boom is supported on a main beam assembly, the front end of which rests on powered crawler tracks and the rear end of which passes through a gripper assembly which may be clamped between the floor and roof of the tunnel, and against which the main beam assembly may be urged forward for engaging the roller-cutters with the mining face. A preload crawler is urged against the roof of the tunnel above the powered crawler tracks to locate the main beam assembly rigidly relative to the tunnel such that the roller-cutters may cut the rock in the mining face with minimal loss of cutting force due to vibration.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine includes a cutterhead having a plurality of cutting units and being rotatable on a machine frame. Two sets of three anchor shoes float relative to the frame and are disposed circumferentially, with the anchor shoes of the two sets alternating on the frame. The two sets of three anchor shoes allow continuous advance of the tunnel boring machine. Connection between the two sets of anchor shoes and the frame is provided by two sets of three thrust cylinder bipods. One set of three thrust cylinder bipods is connected to each set of three floating anchor shoes, with one bipod attached to each anchor shoe. All of the anchor shoes in each set are interconnected by three pairs of floating gripper cylinders, with each pair of gripper cylinders longitudinally spaced on the two anchor shoes that they connect. Each of the two sets of three anchor shoes is sequentially gripped and ungripped with the tunnel wall by the attached gripper cylinders and independently of the other set of anchor shoes.

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 gantry-type mobile mining machine includes a cutterwheel having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the tunnel work face and carried by a boom assembly pivotally movable about an axis also substantially parallel to the tunnel work face and to the cutterwheel axis of rotation. A rotation assembly supports the boom assembly and cutterwheel and causes rotation of the cutterwheel and the boom assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to the tunnel work face and to the cutterwheel axis of rotation, so that radial motion of the cutterwheel is possible in any desired direction generally parallel to the tunnel work face. A traverse assembly supported on a frame causes traverse movement of the cutterwheel, boom assembly and rotation assembly on the frame. Thrust cylinders thrust forward as a unit the cutterwheel, boom assembly and rotation assembly relative to the frame. A holding assembly secures the frame in the tunnel during thrusting by the thrust cylinders.

Abstract: An articulated shield tunneling machine suitable for excavation along a curvature with an articulated shield having front and rear shield sections. In contrast to the conventional apparatus which suffers from various disadvantages such as interference between the front ends of shield jacks with front shield section and necessity for expensive strong construction of shield jacks, the articulated shield tunneling machine of the present invention has trunnions (10) to which the shield jacks (7) are connected, and the trunnions (10) are connected to front portions of the rear shield section (1b) for pivotal movement in the radial direction of the articulated shield (1). Each trunnion (10) can have therein an elastic member which urges the front end of the shield jack (7) towards the center of the articulated shield (1).

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine having increased thrust capability is disclosed. The machine includes a rotatable cutter head for cutting material away from the face of the tunnel and a drive shaft and motor for rotating the cutter head in a cutting state of operation. A bearing assembly is also provided for facilitating rotation of the cutter head during the cutting state of operation. Thrust cylinders are also provided for generating forward thrust. The machine also includes first and second structures for defining a fluid pressurizable cavity between the cutter head and the thrust cylinders which transmit forward thrust to the cutter head when the cavity is sufficiently pressurized. In addition, the machine includes a pressurizing system for pressurizing the cavity.

Abstract: A tunnel support machine for use in a tunnel forming system wherein the tunnel support machine follows a tunnel-driving machine during the driving operation. Through the operation of the tunnel support machine, a preferably inaccessible tunnel cavity formed by the tunnel-driving machine is supported by a profiled ribbon which is continuously fed to the tunnel support machine and continuously spirally wound thereby into a support tube which lines and reinforces the tunnel cavity. Supply and discharge lines extending rearwardly from the tunnel-driving machine generally in the central area of the tunnel cavity connect to longitudinally extending bores provided in a stationary cylindrical part of a rotary bushing of the tunnel support machine.

Abstract: A shield excavator excavates a shaft. Then, the excavator is caused to swing to change its posture and excavate a tunnel. Thus, the shaft and the tunnel is continuously excavated by the single machine.

Abstract: Tunnel boring machine comprising a transmission housing (11) which during boring is fixed relative to the tunnel. The boring head (15) is axially displaceable relative to an outgoing shaft (14) of the transmission housing while transferring torque from the outgoing shaft to the boring head. A number of fluid cylinders (16) are arranged between the transmission housing and a bearing housing (19,30) for the boring head in order to press the boring head against a tunnel front.

Abstract: A tunneling machine body carrying a rotary cutterhead can be advanced continuously by exerting advancing thrust force on it, first by top and bottom jack bipods reacting from top and bottom anchor shoes, respectively, in anchored condition against the tunnel wall and alternately by side jack bipods exerting advancing force on the tunneling machine body and reacting from side anchor shoes set in anchored condition against the tunnel wall. The anchor shoes are floating relative to the tunneling machine body and connected to it only by the bipods producing the thrust for advancing the tunneling machine body. The top and bottom anchor shoes are directly connected by two pairs of upright fluid-pressure shoe-setting jacks extending chordwise between such shoes. The side anchor shoes are directly connected by two pairs of transverse fluid-pressure shoe-setting jacks extending chordwise between such shoes.

Abstract: A tunneling machine body carrying a rotary cutterhead can be advanced continuously by exerting advancing thrust forces on it, first by top and bottom bipods reacting from top and bottom anchor shoes, respectively, in anchored condition against the tunnel wall and alternately by side bipods exerting advancing force on the tunneling machine body and reacting from side anchor shoes set in anchored condition against the tunnel wall. The anchor shoes are floating relative to the tunneling machine body and connected to it only by the bipods producing the thrust for advancing the tunneling machine body. The top and bottom anchor shoes are directly connected by two pairs of upright fluid-pressure shoe-setting jacks extending chordwise between such shoes. The side anchor shoes are directly connected by two pairs of transverse fluid-pressure shoe-setting jacks extending chordwise between such shoes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for underground tunneling. It has a working tube which can be driven in the drilling direction and a digging unit mounted therein, and it has a cutterhead which can be shifted back and forth and radially of the axis of the apparatus. When the cutterhead is not deflected radially, the entire digging unit has a substantially smaller cross section than corresponds to the internal cross section of the working tube. A scoop disposed on the floor of the working tube and provided with a shovel-like mouth at its front end serves for the simple and cost-effective removal of the earth loosened by the cutterhead. The scoop is at first urged forward out of the working tube by means of a drive mechanism in order to shovel up loosened earth, and then it is withdrawn rearwardly out of the working tube, emptied, and run back again into the working tube.

Abstract: Telescopic tunnel boring machine including a front shield (10) and a rear shield (16) with a cutting head (14) at the forward end of the front shield. Rearwardly extending shutters can be moved out hydraulically by auxillary cylinders (54) from the rear end of the rear shield to bridge the gap (34) between this rear end and tunnel lining elements (32). Additionally expandable cuffs (70) and (72) may be provided on the front and rear shields respectively behind the cutting head (14) and radial tunnel wall grippers (20).

Abstract: A conveyor system for use with a continuous mining machine in a straight line shaft includes a plurality of cable support members equally spaced along the length of the conveyor within the mine shaft and an adjustable conveyor belt storage device located externally of the shaft for adjusting the length of the conveyor belt within the shaft. Each of the support members is connected to a pair of cables at equally spaced locations, and a power operated winch unit is mounted externally of the mine shaft for paying out and retracting the cables and the support members attached thereto. The winch unit and the conveyor belt storage unit are mounted on a common platform. A first plurality of hydraulic jacks is provided for leveling the platform on uneven terrain and a second plurality of hydraulic jacks is mounted on the platform for engagement with the face of the mine on opposite sides of the shaft to align the conveyor belt in the shaft and to assist in withdrawal of the supports from the shaft.

Abstract: A security screen having two rams to operate the screen which are located against the panel of the screen, the rams being connected at one of their ends substantially symmetrically relating to the center of the screen at or adjacent the top thereof and, at their other ends, substantially symmetrically relative to the screen to a structure beneath or beside the screen, the connections being such as to permit at least a degree of rotation of the rams relative to the panel and the structure, the arrangement being such that, as the rams are extended, the outward component of forces of the rams are substantially equal and opposite, the resultant being an upward component which can drive the screen upwardly rapidly.

Abstract: A self-propelled mining vehicle is disclosed which is self supporting above the floor of a mine tunnel. The vehicle is adapted to be supported above the floor of the mine tunnel such that conventional rock removing vehicles are operable therebeneath. The vehicle has an elongated carrier or frame having a mining apparatus mounted at one end. Four transverse bracing cap assemblies are included, and are adapted to engage side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the carrier above the tunnel floor. Four suspension links extend downwardly from each cap assembly for suspending the carrier beneath the cap assemblies. The suspension links are longitudinally movable with respect to the carrier and cap assemblies for causing movement of the carrier and cap assemblies relative to one another. With such a construction, the vehicle is able to hold its position above a mine tunnel floor without contacting the floor.

Abstract: A tunnel excavator has a substantially tubular shield having rotatably mounted on one end a motor-driven cutting disk rotatably carrying a multiplicity of roller cutters. The shield is comprised of a head section having front anchors in addition to the cutting disk, an inner section telescopically nested in the head section and constrained to only axial displacement relative to the same, and a tail section having rear anchors and coupled to the inner section for both bending and rolling movements relative to the same. Hydraulic push jacks act between the head and tail shield sections for advancing the shield. A pair of hydraulically independent antirolling jacks are connected between the inner and tail shield sections so as to enable the tail shield section, which is anchored during excavation, to bear against the rolling of the head shield section.

Abstract: The advancing system for a coal winning machine comprises a guide installed along a face conveyor, and an advancing mechanism connected with the machine. The advancing mechanism is accommodated in a separate housing and has at least two successively communicating pairs of advancing hydraulic cylinders with slides hinged to each of said cylinders. The guide is provided with rack-type engagement elements and secured to the end heads of the face conveyor. Each one of the slides has grips for holding on the guide, and a hydraulic cylinder. Each hydraulic cylinder of the slides is connected to its fixing bar the latter being installed with a provision for being arranged and fixed between the engagement elements of the guide.

Abstract: A drilling machine for drilling descending large boreholes in earth or rock tructures, comprises an elongated drill pipe driven by a drive machine positioned outside a borehole being drilled, a drill head connected to said pipe and a support device for a drill head. A fluid-supplying device having a descending conduit, supplying fluid from the fluid supplying device to the drill head, is further provided in the drilling machine. A sluice charged with the mixture of the material drilled and the fluid is arranged in the drill head and driven by the drillpipe. The support device is secured in the machine against rotation.

Abstract: To modify a given profile of an adit, tunnel, gallery or the like, particularly a circular profile so as to give it the shape of a vault, a sequence of individual recesses are made in the longitudinal direction in the wall of the adit by a boring head advanced in the direction of its axis of rotation and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the adit. The recesses preferably overlap one another. Apparatus for implementing the method comprises a heading device for moving in the direction of the wall of the adit a boring head provided at its front end with tools.

Abstract: A circular heading machine for excavating tunnels by advancing a machine in stepwise fashion and erecting tunnel supports, having an elongate machine body at the forward end on which a forwardly directed cutter boom is mounted. Rams advance the machine body in stepwise fashion acting against grippers and a profile ring limits peripheral movement of the cutter boom to form an accurate profile. A gathering apron is provided at the forward extremity of the machine body. The cutter boom is mounted on a sliding carriage longitudinally movable on and independently of the machine body and a hood overlies the apron. A cage structure extends rearwardly from the hood structure and surrounds the body cutter and sliding carriage and tunnel support erecting members are provided externally of the cage structure, directly behind the hood structure. The hood is a semi-circular member supported by hydraulic rams for height adjustment.

Abstract: A shield tunneling machine comprises a shield body provided with a tubular head portion and a tubular tail portion disposed behind the head portion. The head portion and tail portion are interconnected by a plurality of thrusting jacks for moving both portions to and away from each other. In the shield body are arranged a cutter head for excavating the face, a mechanism for rotating the cutter head and a plurality of position-maintaining mechanisms making the natural ground a reaction body to advance the shield body and having press bodies capable of projecting outward of the shield body. The machine, during the excavation has the head portion advanced relative to the tail portion by the thrusting jack and the tail portion next attracted to the head portion by the thrusting jack.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine for boring a curvilinear tunnel in earthen strata is described.

Abstract: A tunneling machine of the type having a leading shield, a trailing shield, an annular form connected to the trailing shield by respective cylinder units for the emplacement of the concrete behind the machine and cylinder units for relatively advancing the leading and trailing shields, is also equipped with a telescoping shield assembly with its own set of cylinder units so that the concrete emplacement can be decoupled from the advance of the cutting head on the leading shield.

Abstract: A shield machine for enlarging a portion of an existing tunnel includes an inner and outer double cylinder shaped shield machine body with a cylindrical outer shield portion and a cylindrical inner guide portion designed to be driven in an axial direction of an existing tunnel and along an outer circumferential surface of primary assembly segments lining the existing tunnel. Jack members are provided for pushing forward the shield machine body by receiving a reaction from a reaction member such as secondary assembly segments lining a constructed enlarged tunnel. A scraper member is positioned adjacent to the inner guide portion for removing a back-filling agent on the outer surface of the primary assembly segments.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a mining machine with an adjustable hood-scoop assembly. The machine provides a means to remove coal from the face of a seam and extract the removed coal to a position removed from the mining area utilizing a vacuum system. The instant mining machine encloses the total face of the mine seam and acts to remove all solid and gaseous material from the mining area. Use of this apparatus in the mining of coal will provide better insurance for a healthy methane-free environment for the miner. The hood-scoop assembly is constructed to provide both horizontal and vertical moving plates so as to encompass totally the area contacted by the coal removal means, such as a multitude of air hammers. The machine is both braced and made mobile by means of vertical hydraulic jacks. Hydraulic cylinder means on the hood-scoop assembly are provided with specific trackways to insure four-way movement of the adjustable plates as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine including the following elements: (a) a full face rotary cutterhead; (b) a cutterhead support on which the cutterhead is mounted; (c) a gripper system carried by a gripper support frame for reacting thrust, steering, roll correction, and torque forces; (d) a conveyor system for transporting muck from behind the rotary cutterhead to a dump point rearwardly of the machine; (e) primary propel cylinders for advancing the cutterhead which are mounted between the gripper support frame and the cutterhead support, the primary propel cylinders consisting of a series of at least three pairs of double acting hydraulic cylinders arranged annularly in equally spaced apart locations and in a series of V-shaped configurations between the gripper support frame and the cutterhead support, each such pair of primary propel cylinders having an included angle between the cylinders of about 15.degree. and 60.degree.

Abstract: A first mobile mining machine for cutting mining tunnels in hard rock, which includes a horizontally swinging wheel-like cutterhead assembly mounted on a crawler and base frame assembly. The cutterhead assembly consists of a transverse horizontal axis wheel-like drum on which are multiple peripherally mounted rolling cutter units.A second mobile mining machine for cutting mining tunnels in hard rock, which includes a horizontally swinging and vertically ranging wheel-like cutterhead assembly mounted on a crawler and base frame assembly. The cutterhead assembly consists of a transverse horizontal axis wheel-like drum on which are multiple peripherally mounted rolling cutter units.

Abstract: An excavating and propelling machine for laying pipelines underground has a plum-pudding stone crusher device comprising a plurality of rod-shaped rotary teeth formed integrally on the rear face of a disk-shaped rotating cutter head in a manner of extending radially at uniform intervals spaced apart from one another and a plurality of rod-shaped stator teeth formed integrally on the front surface of an annular front face plate in a manner of extending radially at uniform intervals space apart from one another. The rotary teeth and the stator teeth are disposed in the vicinity of each other.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine for controlled boring of a curvilinear tunnel including a rotating cutter wheel mounted on the forward end of a thrust cylinder assembly having a central longitudinal axis aligned with the cutter wheel axis of rotation; the thrust cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder barrel and an extendable and retractable thrust arm received therein. An anchoring assembly is pivotally attached to the rear end of the cylinder barrel for anchoring the machine during a cutting stroke and providing a rear end pivot axis during curved cutting strokes. A pair of laterally extending, extendable and retractable arms are fixedly mounted at a forward portion of the cylinder barrel for providing lateral displacement in a laterally curved cutting mode and for anchoring the machine between cutting strokes and during straight line boring.

Abstract: A mobile mine roof support assembly has three mine roof support units coupled together by a common transverse beam. Roller devices are mounted beneath the floor sills of the support units. The roller devices are spring biased away from their floor sills so that they can lift the floor sills away from the floor of a working when the assembly is to be moved. At least one roller device of each support unit is a steerable roller device so that the assembly can be steered round bends. Each steerable roller device is pivotally mounted on its floor sill about a vertical axis, and is provided with an associated steering device. The steerable roller devices are preferably coupled together by means of a common steering device.

Abstract: An excavatory machine for use in coal and other mining, has a pair of rotary cutters for simultaneous presentation to the work. The cutters are mounted on the ends of a medially fulcrumed lever which can be swung about its fulcrum so to increase the work ambit of the combined cutters. The fulcrum has means for raising and lowering it and holding it at selected elevation so to suit the height of the seam being worked. The cutter assembly is mounted on a saddle which is laterally slidable and drivable from side-to-side of a base slidable along the excavation floor in the direction the work is required to follow. This base is furnished with means enabling it to be nudged along in the said direction so to force the cutters into the work.The base is provided with conveyor means to take away excavated matter and also with mechanism by which the path followed by the base may be up-or down-trended.

Abstract: A method of mining a mineral deposit from a remote point, particularly useful in mining pitching or horizontal seams, comprises boring, casing and preparing a log of a probe hole; the casing will later be used as a guide for the mining head. All personnel are remotely located from the mining face and the mining head follows the probe hole and is rotated by means of a novel drive stem powered from a portal based plant. Thrust is imparted to the rotating mining head in a non-cyclical manner by the intermittently supported drive stem. The mineral being mined is automatically removed from the face and discharged at the portal. Steel or reinforced concrete support collars follow the mining head and support the drive stem until the bore is mined out whereupon the collars, the drive stem and the guide are removed for reuse.

Abstract: A self-advancing mine-roof-support for use in or aligned with a main roadway or gate has a floor-engaging part and a roof engaging part spaced apart by extensible load-bearing prop or jack means, and engagement means for a face-conveyor and a transversely acting transfer conveyor whereby their relative positions are constrained to facilitate discharge of mineral from one conveyor to the other. The engagement means for the face conveyor comprises sliding anchor beams that assure maintenance of the relative attitudes of the support and the face conveyor and the transfer conveyor is held fore and aft of the support.

Abstract: A machine for boring a shaft in earth strata or the like. An annular support ring means having an outside diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the shaft which is selectively engageable or disengageable with the shaft wall by the use of clamping means is disclosed. A carriage means which is slidably mounted on the annular support ring means and orbital thereabout is also disclosed. A rotary cutting wheel means having a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the shaft is mounted on the carriage means and is axially displaceable with respect thereto for movement in a direction which may be parallel or inclined with respect to the axis of the shaft. Various drive means for moving the carriage means circumferentially about the annular support ring means, and for moving the rotary cutting wheel means in an axial direction with respect to the carriage means, and for rotating the rotary cutting wheel means are described.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine for boring a tunnel through mixed ground with stable ground conditions and unstable ground conditions. The tunnel boring machine is operable in a stable ground boring mode with the machine anchored to tunnel sidewall portions and also in an unstable ground mode wherein cutting thrust is provided by a shield means in cooperation with tunnel lining structure. Combined mode operation is also possible.

Abstract: A machine for boring a tunnel having an end face wall, a roof wall, a bottom wall, and opposite side walls. The machine comprises a rotatable cutting wheel means having an annular peripheral wall supporting a plurality of cutting devices and a generally convex-shaped upper wall supporting a plurality of cutting devices. The cutting wheel means is rotatable about an axis of rotation which is inclined in a forward direction relative to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tunnel for simultaneously cutting the tunnel face along two intersecting surfaces defined by the cutting devices on the annular peripheral wall and the cutting devices on the convex-shape upper wall. Support shoe means are mounted beneath the cutting wheel means for movably supporting the cutting wheel means on the tunnel floor.

Abstract: A shaft drilling machine has a circularly moving drilling head. The drilling head is angularly oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft sought to be drilled. Loosened material is transported from the lower portion of the shaft by pickup means, moving with the drilling head, and taken to the upper portion of the angularly oriented bottom of the shaft, whereupon the loosened material or borings slide, by gravity, to a centrally located vertical conveyor mechanism for final removal of the material or borings from the shaft.

Abstract: A low profile thin seam miner includes a main frame mounting a lower transverse axis rotary cutter and a parallel axis conveyor rearwardly of the lower cutter. The main frame also mounts a forward transverse axis rotary cutter somewhat above the lower cutter, the forward upper cutter being supported on a longitudinal boom pivoted to the main frame and being vertically swingable under influence of a single cylinder. The main frame and all of its parts is incrementally advanced into the seam by the alternating action of two horizontal longitudinal parallel axis cylinders connected between the main frame and a pair of floor-engaging plates. Two vertical axis jacks are connected between the two floor-engaging plates and two cooperating overhead roof plates, connected with the floor-engaging plates by separate toggle linkages.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in driving tunnels or the like comprises a front drive shield composed, for example, of elongate cutter knives supported for longitudinal displacement on a frame. In order to control turning motion of the shield the shield is connected via hydraulic control rams to a rear abutment such as a follow-up ring structure. The rams are all inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The rams are divided into two groups inclined in opposite directions and the rams of each group can be subjected collectively to pressure fluid to impart a corrective torque to the frame.

Abstract: Front and rear shields are telescopically joined together. The front shield carries a power driven rotary cutterhead means. Thrust rams are provided between the two shields for pushing the forward shield forwardly relative to the rear shield while the cutterhead means is being operated to mine the tunnel face, and also to pull the rear shield forwardly relative to the front shield. The rear shield includes a gripper assembly for reacting thrust and torque and a plurality of auxiliary thrust rams which extend rearwardly from the rear shield to react against forward end portions of a tunnel lining which is erected under cover of a tail section of the rear shield. A pair of side placed torque cylinders are interconnected between frame portions of the two shields and serve to transmit counter-rotational torque from the cutterhead support of the front shield back to the rear shield.

Abstract: The roof of a heading cut by a continuous mining machine is supported by cantilevered roof beams forming part of a shield. There are at least two sets of roof beams which can be raised and lowered separately by means of hydraulic rams. When one set is lowered and the other set is raised, the lowered set can be pushed forward against the raised set by means of hydraulic rams. The cantilevered roof beams extend far enough forward to support the roof over the driving position of the continuous mining machine. The width of the shield should be less than the width of the mining machine, so that the shield can advance along the heading cut by the mining machine. Furthermore, the shield includes a conveyor for conveying the mined material from the mining machine backwards to a shuttle car or other conveying system.

Abstract: Producing a vertical or inclined drill hole by full profile drilling taking place upwardly from a starting location and utilizing a rotatable and displaceable drilling tool and a train of drilling rods which lead to the drilling tool, wherein the drilling tool is, together with the train of drilling rods, subjected, in the vicinity of the upper end of the train of drilling rods, to a force applied in the feed direction, at least part of the reaction of this force being transmitted to a counterabutment which can be releasably secured in the drill hole, and the driving torque for the drilling tool being produced at the starting location and mechanically led from there to the drilling tool.

Abstract: A mining installation includes a self-advancing roof support unit with which is associated a forward base part which is independent of the floor-engaging member of the unit. The forward base part is connectible to the floor-engaging member and movable relative thereto. An elevated track is carried on the forward base part and in use supports a mining machine which can travel reciprocally therealong.

Abstract: A tunneling machine adapted to cut tunnels on a continuous basis and to apply continuous pressure on the tunnel face even during repositioning of the gripping legs is disclosed. The machine includes at least two supporting frames having a plurality of extendible feet which are adapted to grip the tunnel wall. The support frames are provided with axial bores therethrough, and a hollow piston extends through all of the bores for longitudinal movement along the axis of the tunnel. In accordance with the method, a tunneling operation is carried out by extending at least one pair of extendible feet against the walls of the tunnel to securely hold at least one of the support frames relative to the tunnel wall. The piston chamber of each support frame which is clamped to the wall is pressurized to drive the cutter head against the face of the tunnel.