Abstract: In a tunneling machine including a hollow shield, a non-rotatable outer housing mounted in the shield for longitudinal movement, and inner housing rotatably mounted within the outer housing, an excavator including a boom and bucket pivotally mounted on the forward end of the inner housing, and a boom cylinder having a forward portion pivotally engaged with the boom and a rear portion mounted at the rearward portion of the inner housing.

Abstract: Equipment for laying a layer of elongate material adjacent to an exposed rock or mineral surface in an underground mine comprises a support bracket for attachment to a mining machine body, support arms means pivotally supported by the support bracket at one end and having support means for a store of elongate material at its other end, in use, the support means being urged towards the exposed rock or mineral surface by resilient means co-operating with an over-center device mounted on the support bracket.

Abstract: A mining apparatus and method for dislodging material from a mine face. The dislodged material is transported from the front to the rear of the mine for further handling. The apparatus has a lifting mechanism for raising cross beams to the roof of the mine wherein beam jacks are permitted to engage the cross beams to provide support to the mine roof. The temporary roof support permits advancement of miner as dislodged material is removed.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the position of a mineral winning machine, such as a plough, movable along a guide at one side of a scraper-chain conveyor employs cantilevered beams extending between the conveyor and roof supports as known per se. Brackets are provided at the goaf side of the conveyor and these brackets are pivotably coupled to the cantilever arms by way of flat pan-like components. Upstanding piston and cylinder units are positioned close to the conveyor goaf side wall preferably within protective walls of the brackets. These units are pivotably connected at their upper ends to the brackets and to extensions of the pan-like components so that the beams are effectively pivotably coupled to the units at positions offset towards the conveyor relative to the pivot connections with the brackets. The space between the conveyor and the supports is relatively unrestricted. The units are extended or retracted to tilt the conveyor and the guide whereby to control the cutting position of the machine.

Abstract: In a shield-type tunneling machine, a pair of comb-type bit-plates are pivotally supported on a peripheral wall of each cutter slit provided in a cutter disc. In order to adjust a degree of opening of each slit as well as a cutting angle of the bits with respect to the facing, the bit plates are pivotally moved to an open position or a close position for opening or closing each slit, in association with the reciprocating motion of a slide shaft disposed in a hollow drive shaft which rotates the cutter disc.

Abstract: A mining method and bolting apparatus. Material is dislodged from a mine face by means of a miner wherein the face is advanced. The dislodged material is transported from the mine face for further handling. A temporary roof support of cross beams supported by beam jacks is provided. A bolting apparatus installs bolts in the mine roof providing a permanent roof support. Cross beams and beam jacks are lowered, manually moved forward and reinstalled wherein the temporary mine roof support is advanced. The mining apparatus and bolter is advanced under the advanced temporary roof support to the advanced mine face.

Abstract: A slideway arrangement comprises a slideway component and a slide component guidably slidable with respect to the slideway component under the action of a hydraulic ram. At least one of the components comprises at least one wedge arrangement and a hydraulic ram for urging the wedge arrangement to releasably wedge one of the components to the other of the components.

Abstract: The cutting machine body comprises a non-rotary housing mounted on a slideway and a boom carrying rotary housing rotatably supported by annular support means arranged adjacent to a radially outer margin of the body, drive means being provided on the non-rotary housing for rotating the boom carrying rotary housing.

Abstract: A tunnelling apparatus has an annular tunnelling element subdivided into a leading and a trailing chamber. The front end of the leading chamber is open to the material-removing face. A material-removing cutting device is lodged in an opening formed in the transverse wall to remove material from the working face. It can be axially withdrawn from the opening into and if necessary rearwardly beyond the trailing chamber, so as to expose the opening and permit access of an operator to the working face through the opening.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement for a combination mining machine and roof bolting apparatus in which the roof bolting mechanism is pivotable and can be used to install roof bolts in more than one location without moving the mining machine. The improvement is a pivotable canopy which pivots independently of, but in association with, the bolting apparatus. It comprises a canopy shield pivotably and cantileveredly mounted on the upper section of a telescopically-extensible mast. The telescopic mast absorbs all the moment loads, while the hydraulic extension cylinder disposed interiorily of the mast incurs only axial compressive loading.

Abstract: A roof drilling and bolting device comprising a mobile chassis and two cabs mounted to the front of the chassis for independent transverse (outward to the side) movement. The cabs have floors and protective canopies. Extensible hydraulic devices position the cabs outwardly of the chassis. Other extensible hydraulic devices raise and lower the cabs relative to the chassis. Mounted to the front of each cab is a drilling assembly including a rectilinear positioning device for drill pods which provides up-down and side-to-side movement of the drill pod in front of the cab. An extensible standard is positioned by a boom which extends forward of the chassis to provide a temporary roof support.

Abstract: A shield assembly for installation in an underground roadway or tunnel comprises an articulated upper shield assembly, a lower shield assembly and a plurality of hydraulic rams for urging the upper shield assembly upwards relatively to the lower shield assembly, a telescopic arrangement being provided which guides the upper shield assembly in a direction along the roadway or tunnel but which allows the end margins of the upper shield assembly to move outwardly relative to the end margins of the lower shield assembly.

Abstract: The front end portion of an endless belt type conveyor is detachably connected to the floor of a self-propelled tunneling shield, and the rear end of the conveyor is supported inclined upwardly by a trailing, mobile power unit which rides on spaced apart rails disposed along the tunnel floor. A pair of double acting hydraulic cylinders advance and retract a boom supporting carriage along support rails mounted along the length of the conveyor. An elongate boom is mounted on the carriage for movement with the carriage toward and away from the tunnel face. A combination digging and hoeing excavator tool is carried by the front end portion of the boom to loosen material at the tunnel face and then hoe the loosened material rearwardly onto the conveyor.

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 mining installation includes a mine roof support the base of which has a forward part on which is located an elevated track on which a mining machine can be supported for reciprocal movement. A conveyor is disposed beneath the cantilever track for the receipt of mined mineral, but does not bear any of the weight of the machine. The support element has utility supply conduits for use at any location along a mineral face. The installation can be used in thick seams working on the retreat principle and for seams of the order of 8 m can be provided with a rear section also having an elevated support track for supporting a machine capable of taking a substantial roof cut in the wake of the forward section.

Abstract: A contour miner has walker means carrying an external deck outside the formation being mined having power supply and control means for movement along the periphery of a coal seam with a reciprocating carriage having a rotary cutter for removing the coal from a work face extending inwardly below the overburden perpendicular to the seam periphery; a conveyor extends adjacent the work face and conveys the removed coal out beyond the external deck; an internal roof support-walker assembly is positioned inwardly of the formation and has hydraulic cylinder actuated movable roof supports and ground pads and hydraulic cylinders for walking forward toward the work face with dragline means moving prefabricated roof supports behind the support-walker assembly as it is moved toward the work face.

Abstract: A method of producing an underground cavity in a driving shield advance operation comprises, prior to excavation, forming an annular slot corresponding to the contour and wall thickness of the shield ahead of the shield by using hot gas jets to form the slot and to separate a core from the surrounding rock formation, advancing the shield into the annular slot, and breaking out the core under the protection of the shield. The device for producing the underground cavity comprises a tubular drive shield adapted to be advanced into the cavity and having an interior support wall on which is rotatably supported a support member having an arm carrying a gas jet lance. The gas jet lance advantageously includes at least one gas nozzle directed forwardly to form an inwardly extending cavity ahead of the shield, and one or more nozzle discharges directing the gas laterally.

Abstract: An improved advancing mechanism for a dual auger continuous miner of the type adapted to be advanced by a pair of anchoring jack assemblies, a pair of cables extending from the anchoring jack assemblies to a pair of winch mechanisms on the sides of the frame. The mechanism includes a mounting arm mounted on each side of the frame for movement about a vertical axis, a telescoping structure extending longitudinally between each mounting arm and the associated anchoring jack assembly and hydraulic piston and cylinder units for effecting the pivotal movement of each arm and the telescoping movement of each telescoping structure.

Abstract: Tunnel driving apparatus employs a hollow support tube positioned axially centrally inside a drive shield. An inner cutting machine is supported and positioned inside the support tube and serves to cut away a central region of a working face. Outer cutting machines are also supported by the support tube but on the exterior thereof. The outer cutting machines serve to cut away the outer region of the working face. The cutting machines may each have a pivotable arm carrying cutting drums and are supported and guided for axial and rotary motion relative to the support tube.

Abstract: A device for mining thick coal strata comprising a plough pressed in the ion of the floor by a ram, whereas in the vicinity of the roof the plough is pressed by a unit fixed to a canopy of the lining. The unit is provided with guides on which the plough is supported through a slide. A lever of a distributor is deflected by the plough and causes the unit to extend by an amount equal to the web of the plough.

Abstract: A full face miner including a simplified conveying arrangement and designed for easy maneuverability into and out of mine sites. A plow operatively mounted to and longitudinally movable with each of a pair of rotatable cutting heads of the miner provide for the conveyance of cut coal to a middle conveying portion for ultimate transport away from the mine site. The mounting mechanism for the cutting heads is designed so that at least the end portions thereof are movable from a position generally parallel to the mine face to a position generally perpendicular to the mine face and extending in front of and in line with the central conveying means, for ease of withdrawal from the mining area. A motive power source, such as a powered crawler or powered wheels, is provided which is movable into operative engagement with the ground to transport the miner to and from the mining site when in a collapsed position.

Abstract: A main frame includes an annular beam by which the cutterhead is mounted onto an earth boring machine for a rotation about an axis of rotation. A plurality of radial spoke beams extend generally vertically at the front of cutterhead and curve rearwardly to intersect with the annular beam. Each radial spoke beam is constructed from a pair of spaced apart side plate members which define spaces between them for receiving a plurality of roller cutter mounts therebetween. Roller cutters, including gauge cutters, can be installed and removed from their associated cutter mounts from the rear side of the cutterhead. A plurality of generally radially elongate cut-ground-material passageways extend through the cutterhead in the regions between the radial spoke beams.

Abstract: A tunnel-excavating machine in which a chassis carrying a cutting drum is displaceable toward the face of a subterranean structure in which a tunnel is to be formed, the chassis being provided independently from a roof-support unit which is connected to the chassis only by at least one fluid-pressure cylinder arrangement. The cylinder arrangement is connected to the unit and/or the chassis by vibration damping means so that the cylinder arrangement can advance the chassis relative to the roof support unit or vice versa and vibration transmission from the chassis to the roof support unit is damped.

Abstract: Equipment for laying a layer of elongate material adjacent to a newly exposed rock or mineral surface formed by a mining machine cutter as the machine traverses along the working face, a loading member for cut rock or mineral being positioned adjacent to the rear of the cutter, comprises a support bracket secured to the rear of the members, arm means pivotally mounted on the support bracket and supporting a store of elongate material, and means for urging the arm towards the newly exposed rock or mineral surface such that in use elongate material is dispensed from the store and laid adjacent to the newly exposed surface.

Abstract: Equipment for laying a layer of elongate material adjacent to a newly exposed rock or mineral surface in an underground mine which is formed by a mining machine cutter as the machine traverses along a working face comprising a support bracket secured to the mining machine and defining a slideway along which a slide member can slide in a direction transverse to the direction of machine traverse, the slide member being provided with support arm means for supporting a coil of elongate material.

Abstract: A roll of wire mesh is supported on the rear of a cut mineral loading cowl of a rock or mineral winning machine. As the machine traverses along a path cut by the machine the wire mesh is paid out to retain or contain the roof material.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine comprising a central longitudinally extending conveyor assembly, a pair of cutting and conveying mechanisms mounted on the forward end of the central conveyor assembly for movement between a normal operating position wherein the cutting and conveying mechanisms are in alignment and extend laterally outwardly with respect to the forward receiving end of the conveyor assembly and a transporting position wherein the cutting and conveying mechanisms are in parallel relation alongside the central portion of the conveyor assembly, the cutting and conveying mechanisms having vertically movable endless track assemblies operable to move the continuous mining machine when the cutting and conveying mechanisms are in the transporting position, and a pair of mine floor-to-roof anchoring canopy units for (1) advancing the continuous mining machine so that the cutting and conveying mechanisms are moved inwardly of the working face, (2) facilitating the installation of mine roof bolts at positions

Abstract: The invention relates to a mine roof support assembly for use in winning mineral material from a mineral mining working having a mineral face. The assembly comprises three roof support units positioned side-by-side along the face, and a goaf shield common to the three units. Each of the roof support units has a roof shield supported on a floor sill. The goaf shield is adjustable in height so as to extend from the floor to the roof of the working. Advance means are provided for advancing the roof support units towards the face, and further advance means are provided for advancing the goaf shield to follow up the advance of the roof support units. The further advance means acts between the goaf shield and the roof support units, and is such as to advance the goaf shield by a distance greater than the distance through which the advance means advances the roof support units.

Abstract: The articulated boom-dipper-bucket assembly is utilized in a tunnel boring machine of the type which includes a hollow cylindrical body with a front circular cutting edge and a central axis on which an excavator including the assembly is positioned. The assembly includes a base having a front face facing axially of the machine and being mounted on a bulkhead having siderails which are received in channels fixed to the body and extending parallel to the central axis. A piston and cylinder mechanism is associated with the bulkhead for reciprocating same in a direction parallel to the central axis. The assembly further includes a boom having one end pivotally mounted to the front face of the base at one side thereof and a second end positioned outwardly from the base, an elongate dipper member pivotally mounted at a first inner end to the second outer end of the boom, and a bucket-scoop having an inner edge and an outer cutting edge and being pivotally mounted to a second outer end of the dipper member.

Abstract: The mining machine consists of a main frame having a front portion and a rearwardly extending portion, and cutter heads disposed for movement across the front portion for dislodging mineral. A conveyor system is provided which extends across of the front of the main frame and along the rearwardly extending portion thereof for carrying dislodge mineral from the mine face. Forward roof support jacks, which are attached to the main frame for unitary movement therewith, provide temporary roof support as the entry is being formed. Rear roof support jacks, disposed behind the forward roof support jacks, also provide temporary roof support. Sumping cylinders, which are disposed generally parallel to the mine floor, connect the rear roof support jacks to the main frame and are used for moving the mining machine. The sumping cylinders are connected to the main frame with a universal joint connection to permit free movement of each sumping cylinder around its point of connection to the main frame.

Abstract: Equipment for laying a layer of wire mesh adjacent to a newly exposed mine roof comprises storage means (10) for a roll of mesh (11) and resilient guide means (12) for guiding the mesh (72) as it unwinds towards the newly exposed mine roof (5).

Abstract: The invention provides a shortwall mining machine comprising an assembly, which preferably is articulated and has a protective canopy. The assembly is arranged parallel to a shortwall mineral face, and a cutter is hauled along a guide on the assembly to cut the face. As the face is cut the assembly is moved towards the face by use of rams connected between the assembly and stay units located in roadways adjacent the face. The cutter may be a scraper bucket or a plough, and is hauled across the face by either one motor in one of the roadways, or by two motors, one located in each roadway. The cutter may be steered by use of jacks on the assembly located in the roadways.

Abstract: An earth digging tool is mounted on the head of a tripod, the legs of which are double-acting hydraulic cylinders. The rear ends of the cylinders are connected to a rotor which is supported in a tunneling shield for rotation about an axis extending longitudinally of the tunnel. The cylinders are selectively extended and retracted for the purpose of moving the cutting tool forwardly and rearwardly and also up and down and sideways. The entire excavator is rotated for changing the sideways attitude of the digging tool. Universal joints are provided at both ends of each hydraulic cylinder, for substantially isolating them from bending moments and torque. A telescopic torque tube assembly is interconnected between the cutting tool mounting head and a gimbal carried by the rotor. The torque tube carries the bending moments and torque loads and transmits them back to the rotor.

Abstract: The generation of dust in a longwall mining operation is suppressed by covering the hanging wall of the mine with a plastic sheeting, the sheeting being pinned against the hanging wall by the support units used in the mine and being held in association the support units in the form of a flat package formed by folding the sheeting in a zigzag fashion along its entire length.

Abstract: In a tunnel boring or shield machine including a chamber defined between a working face and a bulkhead mounted in a machine frame of a shield machine body, means for controlling the amount of earth or muck conveyed to the exterior of the shield machine from the chamber in which earth is accumulated, and drive means for propelling the shield machine body toward and into the working face, a control method and system for ensuring stable boring operation at the working face by detecting the amount of earth or muck excavated or removed from the working face per unit time and the amount of earth or muck conveyed from the chamber per unit time, comparing these two detected values to generate an earth amount deviation signal representing the difference therebetween, controlling the amount of conveyed earth or muck and/or the amount of removed earth or muck in response to the earth amount deviation signal to maintain the earth pressure in the chamber within a predetermined range thereby ensuring stable tunnel boring o

Abstract: An arrangement for tensioning a gateway conveyor in a sloping gateway during longwall working using supports having base frames which are provided with pulling and shifting hydraulic actuators, wherein in a tensioning device is provided at least at one of the supports and is connected at one end to the gateway conveyor and at the other end to a slide member which is slidably guided by the base frame of the support for a movement which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the gateway conveyor, characterized in that the slide member which is slidably guided for a movement which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the gateway conveyor consists of a guide frame, which is supported by the base frame against forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the gateway conveyor, the cylinder of the pulling and shifting actuator is axially immovably mounted in the base frame and its piston is connected to said guide frame, which when retracted extends on opposite sides of the pulling and shifting a

Abstract: In a tunnel boring or shield machine, a method and system for controlling the earth pressure, in which the earth pressure in the chamber of the shield machine body is detected and the detected earth pressure is compared with a reference value to thereby produce a chamber earth pressure deviation signal. In response to the chamber earth pressure deviation signal, means for controlling the amount of conveying earth accumulated in the chamber to the exterior of the machine body and/or means for advancing the shield machine body into the working face are controlled so as to maintain the earth pressure in the chamber within a predetermined range so that the breakdown of the exposed face or earth stratum as well as the rising of the ground are prevented from occurring.In another method and system, the earth pressure at the working face is detected and the detected value is compared with a reference value to produce a signal representing the earth pressure deviation at the working face.

Abstract: An improved mining apparatus for excavating material, such as coal, for example, from an earth formation, such as a coal seam, for example, wherein a miner, having a forward and a rearward cutter, is guided through the coal seam and excavates a borehole therein, the borehole being filled with a working fluid during the operation of the miner, the working fluid facilitating the operation of the miner and providing a vehicle for removing the mined material. Substantially all of the operations of the miner are controlled from the earth's surface thereby eliminating the necessity and accompanying hazards and costs involved in utilizing personnel underground during the mining operations.

Abstract: An attachment, such as an operator's compartment or a mine roof drilling and bolting assembly is positioned adjacent the body portion of a self-propelled mine vehicle with the bottom portion of the attachment in slidable contact with the mine floor. In one embodiment a slide assembly for supporting the attachment for upward and downward movement relative to the mine vehicle is pivotally connected by a hinge assembly to the vehicle body. With this arrangement the attachment is operable to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the hinge assembly, which is fixed to the vehicle body. The attachment is operable to pivot about the hinge assembly as the bottom portion of the attachment slides along the undulating surface of the mine floor. In another embodiment the hinge assembly is secured to the attachment and supports guide rails of the slide assembly which are slidably received within a guide member secured to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A tunnel-excavating machine comprises an excavating head, preferably a full-cut head, adapted to excavate the full-cross-section of the tunnel to be formed, which is slideably mounted for movement relative to a pair of support frames. Means is provided to relatively displace the support frames axially and the support frames are surrounded by a blade shield made up of a multiplicity of individual blade segments, each of which can be individually advanced by hydraulic means connected to the support frames. The individual blade members, which span both frames, can be urged against the wall of the tunnel by respective fluid pressure means in each of the frames.

Abstract: The excavating machine has a cutter carrying boom carried by a boom support member which can be swung about an axis extending in the direction of the roadway. The machine includes a cutter unit and a stay unit each of which is releasably anchorable in the roadway and each of which can be advanced relative to the other unit.

Abstract: A channelling machine for cutting a preliminary groove around the working face of a tunnel being excavated. A guide and drive track assembly comprising at least two guide rails and a drive rail displaceable into the immediate proximity of the working face. The guide and drive track assembly is disposed entirely inside a hollow support frame of cross-section complementary to that of the tunnel being excavated. The guide and drive track assembly also includes a back-up rail likewise disposed inside the support frame. Another guide and drive track assembly may be provided symmetrical to the first. The machine is braced against the walls by a plurality of front and rear hydraulic cylinders which also adjust the alignment of the machine in the tunnel. The machine is mounted for displacements on a cradle.

Abstract: The mining machine has a body portion mounted on a pair of endless propelling tracks which advance the mining machine forwardly in the mine. Pairs of forwardly extending arm members are pivotally connected to the body portion and support at their end portions a skid plate which is positioned transversely across the body portion and arranged to rest on and slide over the mine floor. A first conveyor is supported by the skid plate and receives and directs dislodged material from the mine floor to a second conveyor connected to the end portion of the first conveyor. The second conveyor discharges the dislodged material to the rear of the body portion. A support frame is positioned on the skid plate and horizontally supports a pair of transverse guide rails at the front end of the body portion. A carriage is slidably mounted for transverse movement on the guide rails and includes a rotatable supporting shaft.

Abstract: A coal mining method at a long-walled pit face of a coal mine comprises combining self-advancing supports with a conveyor which is arranged along the long-walled pit face and on which a shearer is mounted, and arranging the effective shearing depth of shearing drums of the shearer to be at least half as long as the stroke of a shifter for shifting both of the self-advancing supports and the conveyor toward the pit face, whereby each of the self-advancing supports is progressively shifted toward the pit face every time that the whole area of the pit face is sheared at least twice by the shearer.

Abstract: A system for drilling and simultaneously installing a relatively large production casing along an invert underground arcuate path beneath an obstacle is disclosed. A plurality of production casing segments, each having preformed curvature corresponding to the radius of the curvature of the arcuate path, are joined end to end and advanced along the desired path. A drill head is located in front of the leading end of the casing. The drill head is mounted to the casing so that the angular orientation of the drill head relative to the axis of the leading end of the casing is at least partially adjustable. A drill bit is located in front of the drill head and a motor is located within the drill head to drive the drill bit. The drill bit excavates a passageway along the arcuate path in advance of the casing.

Abstract: A variable wall mining machine to release coal from a longwall mine face includes an articulated auger assembly made up of a plurality of side-cutting auger sections joined together by universal couplings in an end-to-end relation and coupled to a drive at one end of the assembly. A scavenger plow, supported on the mine floor, consists of sections connected together for articulated movement toward and away from the longwall mine face. Two support arms are journaled by bearings to each auger section and the other ends of the arms are pivotally supported by one of the scavenger power sections. Hydraulic actuators, supported by mine roof supports, move two adjacent scavenger plow sections together with two auger sections as a pair into sumping cuts with the longwall mine face. Other hydraulic actuators supported by the scavenger plow control the elevation of the pivotal arms and, hence, the auger assembly coupled thereto for shear cutting the mine face.

Abstract: Connected support sections for a mineral face conveyor are individually supported on the forward sides of chocks which move in towards the rib of a panel behind a mining machine. Backfill is transported to the mined area behind the moved-up chocks via a conveyor supported from connected support sections on the rear sides of the chocks.

Abstract: A mineral mining machine of the type having a boom-mounted cutter assembly carried by a mobile base unit is provided with a face support structure which is pivotally mounted on the boom. Fluid operable rams are provided for moving the structure between a stowed position lying adjacent the boom and an operational face supporting position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boom. The face support structure is brought into operation when it is desired to afford temporary support to a face of a ripping lip for example, in arch setting operations. In this latter respect, the boom also carries a stowable platform which can be opened out so that operatives may position themselves to handle arch sections which are elevated into position by a lifting mechanism also pivotally mounted on the boom.

Abstract: The roof of an underground mine working which is newly exposed by a mining machine passing along a face of the working is supported by applying a flexible mat to the roof and underpinning the mat by self-advancing roof supports. A supply of mat is stored in a region which is already supported by the roof supports, is fed from the store in a first direction, and turned through a right-angle to extend along the newly exposed face. The device which turns the mat and applies it to the roof may have its vertical position controlled in accordance with the vertical position of a cutting cylinder of the mining machine.

Abstract: A conveyor-mounted mining machine incorporates at least two driving units. Each unit comprises a linearly drivable member operatively engaged with a driven wheel coupled by a clutch to a driving wheel drivingly engaged with a stationary part of the conveyor. With the clutch engaged, linear motion of the linearly drivable member imparts rotary drive to the driving wheel so as to propel the machine along the conveyor. The driving units are operated sequentially so that a continuous drive effort acts on the machine.