Abstract: A method for controlling the supply of fluid to a combine, wherein fluid is fed for actuating hydraulic cylinders 14, 15 of the drive for moving the combine and to a dust suppression hydraulic system 1. The same fluid, which is discharged from the hydraulic cylinders 14, 15, is used for feeding it at a pre-set pressure to the hydraulic system 1 for emergence under the flowthrough conditions. For that purpose, the dust suppression hydraulic system 1 communicates, via a fluid distributor 13, with the hydraulic cylinders 14, 15 to define an open-circuit hydraulic system.

Abstract: A double-ended ranging drum shearer is steered along a longwall face by using a series of spaced reference locations A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H. I . . . . The machine position is sensed so as to identify when the leading and trailing drum reach each desired reference location. The cutting horizon of each drum is sensed at each reference location and steering corrections applied if necessary.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the elevation of a cutter of a longwall shearer in which the attitude of the body of the shearer and the rate of change of attitude with longitudinal movement of the shearer are monitored and the elevation of the cutter is varied as a function of the sum of the product of a first constant times attitude and the product of a second constant and the rate of change of attitude.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the position of a mineral mining machine, such as a coal plough, guided for movement back and forth along a guide employs inclined piston and cylinder units coupled via ball-and-socket joints to brackets on a conveyor supporting the guide and to connectors which are pivotably connected to the conveyor. Assemblies have parallel elongate beams which are guided on roof supports and linked to the connectors. Each connector is of multi-part construction with a main skid resting on the floor of the working and connected to the conveyor and to the associated beams. A further complementary component fits onto the main skid and the parts of the connector have curved recesses which combine to form a socket for receiving a ball of the associated unit.

Abstract: A rotary cutter head for a mining machine is provided with a plurality of cutter tools mounted on an annular end component which defines the end of the cutter head remote from the mining machine. Ventilating means are provided comprising air flow guide passages having air flow inducing spray means, the air flow inlets to the guide passages being in an exposed zone in which the action of cut mineral and/or of the newly exposed working face tends to scour the inlets preventing the build up of damp, fine mineral particles and thereby tending to prevent blockage of the inlets.

Abstract: High-pressure liquid is controlled for delivery to nozzles disposed near cutting tools or on the periphery of a shearer drum for a longwall mining machine. The shearer drum includes a central shaft which is extended to project from a support arm for the drum containing drive gearing to rotate the drum. The shaft rotates in the same direction and speed as the drum. The extended end of the shaft is used to support a live seal by which high-pressure liquid is introduced to a central bore in the shaft. Between the live seal and the support arm for the drum, there is provided a casing that does not rotate with the shaft and includes sector recesses in the bore thereof to supply liquid to separate bores in the shaft for controlling the discharge of liquid from valves. The valves are separately controlled by the liquid pressure in the sector recesses so that only nozzles directed to the coal face receive the pressurized liquid.

Abstract: An electrical power supply and liquid supply arrangement for a mining machine, particularly a longwall mining machine, wherein extended lengths of a power supply cable and liquid supply conduit are disposed within a housing structure extending along one side of the course of travel of the mining machine. A side arm on the mining machine extends through a slot in a face plate of the housing structure and carries at its outer end a junction box within which power cables leading from the mining machine can be connected to or disconnected from an external power cable. Clamped to the aforesaid junction box is the liquid supply conduit which can be selectively coupled to, or uncoupled from, a mating supply conduit leading to the interior of the mining machine. The arrangement permits connection or disconnection of the power supply and water supply members to or from the mining machine without any disassembly of the machine itself.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the position of a mineral mining machine, such as a plough, guided for movement along a guide comprises inclined piston and cylinder units connected via ball-and-socket joints between connectors at the ends of elongate beams guided on roof supports and brackets on a conveyor forming or supporting the guide. The cylinder of each unit has a ball at its upper end received in a socket on one of the brackets. This upper ball has a stepped profile with a shoulder and an end region of different radii of curvature.The piston and interior of the cylinder are also stepped with innermost regions of reduced diameter. These measures reduce the overall length of the unit.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for moving objects which may be partially buried. The apparatus comprises a hook-like element which may be attached to the side of a vehicle, such as a bulldozer. The hook-like element is pivotally attached so that its orientation is adjustable.A method of moving objects is disclosed where a hook-like element extending from the side of a vehicle engages the objects to be moved.

Abstract: A longwall coal-mining machine has a gearcase at each of its ends, each gearcase carrying two ranging arms respectively mounting a cutter drum and a lump breaker, and also carrying a haulage drive. Each gearcase comprises a casing having therein first and second co-axial and mutually-spaced transverse horizontal shafts projecting through opposite sides of the casing driven by individual transmissions located in the gearcase and from an electric motor and a hydraulic motor, respectively, both outside the casing. Rotation of the second shaft drives the mining machine along a longwall face. Rotation of the first shaft actuates a cutter drum through a gear train and also actuates a lump breaker through a gear transmission.

Abstract: A feed system of a mining combine includes a track made up of pivotally interconnected tubular segments on which is installed the combine being moved. The combine has a drive gearwheel meshing with a traction rack. The traction rack is formed by individual pivotally interconnected segments comprising side members interconnected by pins engageable with the drive gearwheel. According to the invention, the traction rack is connected to the track for rotation thereabout by means of pivotal joints which are provided at points of the joints between the segments of the track. Positive engagement of the traction rack with the drive gearwheel is maintained.

Abstract: The invention is particularly adapted for use with a longwall mining machine of the type having a rack extending along a track for the mining machine, a gear wheel on the machine engageable with the rack for moving the machine along a track, at least two shearer drums carried by the machine, at least one driving motor on the machine, and gear train means connecting the driving motor to the shearer drums to rotate the same. Two inductive clutches having a common armature are connected through reduction gearing to the aforesaid driving gear wheel; while separate rotors connect the respective clutches to the gear train such that one rotor will rotate in a direction opposite to the other. A magnetically-actuated, spring-biased friction brake is disposed between the two inductive clutches for braking the clutches when the machine is at rest.

Abstract: A tool for cutting a material along a path with a liquid jet directed onto the material for hydromechanical or hydraulic mining or for cutting mineral or bituminous material is disclosed. The tool includes a housing having an interior chamber with an opening adjacent the chamber. A nozzle body is mounted to the housing through the opening for swiveling motion about a swivel axis. The nozzle body has a first portion including a cylindrical stem symmetrically disposed about the swivel axis within the chamber and a second portion extending through the opening including a nozzle having a nozzle bore for discharging the liquid jet. A drive, operatively connected to the first portion, is provided for swiveling the nozzle body about the swivel axis.

Abstract: The subject of this invention is a device for directing the rack of a ties feed gear to co-operation with the driving wheel of a mining machine.The guide shoe (1) is provided with an external slipper (6) and an internal slipper (7), whereby the distance between the slippers is approximately equal to the diameter of the pins (8) of the rack (3), and their height is approximately equal to the distance between the upper (11) and the lower (12) blade of the rack (3).The internal slipper (7) of the guide shoe (1) is mounted immediately to the body (15) of the traction machine (16) on both sides of the wheel (2). The external slipper (6) is mounted to the body (13) of the guide shoe (1), said body (13) being mounted to the body (15) of the traction machine (16) by means of pins (17).

Abstract: This invention relates to a suspension railroad in mines, including a monorail having an elongated friction section and an elongated rack section located above the friction section, a car suspended on the monorail and driven for moving the car along the rail including a friction wheel in frictional engagement with the friction section, a gear wheel coaxial with the friction wheel, and a shiftable device for moving the gear wheel into and out of engagement with the rack section.

Abstract: A device for safety guiding of hauling chain, especially for a ranging drum shearer in coal mining equipment having chain haulage means, consists of chain screening /5/ at a guard /6/ of conveyor /7/ and of chain guides /11/ fixed to a ranging shearer /1/, wherein said guides /11/ travel along the route of conveyor /7/ inside the screening placed at chain guard /6/. The screening of hauling chain /5/ is confined by screening plates /12/, /13/ and /14/ at the upper part of chain guard /6/, having its uncovered side closed by screening end /20/ of a double end lever /15/, pivoted in hub /16/ below the lower screening plate /12/. The retaining end /20/ of double end lever /15/ is closed by the tension of spring /17/, attached by one end to the retaining end /18/ of lever /15/ and by another to a grip /19/ fixed to the body of the guard /6/.

Abstract: A hollow gearwheel has internal teeth that mesh directly or through an intermediate gear with the teeth of a drive gear of a machine drive on a drum cutter mining machine. External teeth on the hollow gearwheel mesh with the teeth of a rack extending over the distance traversed by the mining machine along the face of a longwall mine. A plate pivots about the rotational axis of the drive gear while the plate forms a closure to the side of the hollow gearwheel facing the mining machine. The plate carries a bearing support for the arbor shaft of the hollow gearwheel and forms a seal along the outer peripheral edge of the hollow gearwheel. A carrier includes a bearing to support the outer end of the arbor shaft. The carrier is moved along a recess in a housing for the hollow gearwheel to adjust, by pivotal positioning, the hollow gearwheel.

Abstract: A self-propelled mineral winning/detaching machine incorporating at least one electric motor and provided with electrical pick up means movable, in use, with said machine to pick up electrical energy from a stationary conductor.

Abstract: A drum cutter includes a machine body having at the opposed ends, pivot shafts extending parallel to the mine floor at right angles to the direction of travel by the machine body along a coal face. Two support arms each include two laterally-spaced bores at one end thereof to selectively receive a projected portion of a pivot shaft extending toward the mine face. A lever is mounted onto each of the support arms adjacent the bores in the end thereof. A cutter drum projects from the free ends of the support arms at the coal side of the machine body. Hydraulic jacks, supported by the machine body, are coupled to the levers for pivoting the arms to position the cutter drum supported thereby. A motor is supported within a casing attached to the stow side of each support arm. The motor is coupled through gearing to the cutter drum. The projected end of the casing is supported by a bearing member secured to the extension of the machine body and provided with a bore to receive the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A side excavating machine comprising a rotatably driven cylindrical drum adapted to advance generally endwise along a pre-existing working face, but angled so that trailing portions of the drum project beneath the plane of the pre-existing face. The drum has a distribution of rock cutting rollers on its cylindrical surface which are freely rotatable about rolling axes which are fixed in a predetermined relation to the axis of the drum, defining a small forward skew angle. The cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted by bearings on a frame which advances along the working face, with the drum axis lying at a small acute angle to the direction of advance so that trailing portions of the drum excavate rock as the frame advances along the face. The major component of rock-cutting forces thereby applied to the drum is normal to the direction of advance of the frame, and there are means to provide side reaction force to the frame corresponding to this major component of rock-cutting forces.

Abstract: A propulsion motor is disclosed for use in propelling the mining machine used in a fixed arch shield mining system wherein the mining machine is movably supported by the shield. The propulsion motor comprises a power transfer means secured to the mining machine and being shiftable from a non-cutting position to a cutting position. The power transfer means includes a drive arrangement having portions engageable with certain of the arches of the mining shield for propelling the mining machine.