Abstract: This mining system utilizes a row of roof support units in conjunction with a row of conveyor sections and a continuous mining machine which rides on the conveyor sections. Each roof support includes a primary support shield supported on a base by means of jacks and a secondary support shield telescopically mounted to the primary support shield and having a wall engagement portion at the outer end to provide bearing support for the secondary support shield by the wall rather than merely by cantilever support. Each support unit is connected to an associated conveyor unit by a ram for moving said units relative to each other. The mining machine includes a kerf cutting member for creating a continuous ledge at the junction of the longwall and roof for supporting the secondary support shield wall engagement portion.

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: A guide for a mineral winning or loading machine, such as a coal plough, is composed of assemblies secured to the mineral face side of a conveyor. The assemblies have angle plates with upstanding wall portions securable to the side walls of the conveyor and integral foot portions supporting the machine and resting on the floor of the mine working. Spacers separating upper and lower passages for guiding a drive chain are in turn secured to the wall portions of the angle plates and these passages are shielded by cover plates formed with ramp-like inclined guide surfaces for the machine. The cover plates are pivoted to the spacers at their lower regions so that they can be pivoted outwards to allow access to the passages therebehind. The cover plates are locked with releasable devices to the wall portions in their closed position and have recesses accommodating the spacers which have inclined surfaces forming continuations of the guide surfaces of the cover plates.

Abstract: A drum-cutter mining machine is propelled along a course of travel at the working face of a mine by a winch carried on the machine. The winch drives two sprocket wheels each pivotally carried by a pivot arm to position the sprocket wheels so that their teeth mesh with the teeth of a stationary rack. A roller or skid runner is carried by each arm to engage the lower surface of the rack and maintain the desired meshing relation between the sprocket wheel and the rack teeth at the upper surface of the rack. In a second embodiment, single-acting piston and cylinder assemblies deliver a biasing force to opposite sides of a level coupled to each pivot arm for controlling its position in a dependent relation to the direction of travel by the mining machine along the rack.

Abstract: A spill-plate housing protectively encloses a cable carriage including a pulley to form a reverse bend in a cable having one end connected to a mining machine while the cable extends along the internal duct in the housing. A tension reel includes a rope coupled to the cable carriage for advancing movement thereof within the spill-plate housing. The tension reel is supported at the end of the spill-plate housing opposite the end thereof from which the cable emerges. The cable includes an electrical power cable and hose which are separately carried by grooves in the pulley which may consist of two separate pulleys.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for drawing shearers comprises a conveyor on which the shearers move with sledges interposed therebetween and which is arranged along a long-walled pit face of a coal mine shearers drawing cable is arranged in fixing members which are arranged on the conveyor, and a pair of means are provided for releasing and fixing the cable from and into the fixing members, the means being arranged adjacent to the sledges and the cable located between the cable releasing and fixing means being engaged with a cable driving means housed in each of the shearer bodies, wherein a drawing force is applied only to the cable located between the cable releasing and fixing means when the driving means is rendered operative.

Abstract: A system for controlling the thrust applied to a mineral winning machine, which is movable along a guide at a longwall face in a mine working, includes control means which regulates the thrust applied to the guide by hydraulic rams in dependence upon the loading of the winning machine drive. The control means may include one pressure regulator for each ram, one pressure regulator for each of a plurality of groups of rams, or one pressure regulator for all the rams.

Abstract: A method for securing mining machines, particularly longwall mining machines from sliding on inclined or steep seams in the event of a malfunction of a traction element or driving unit. The invention has particular application to longwall mining machines provided with at least two gearwheels which engage a rack extending along a working face whereby the mining machine may be advanced during a mining operation. The invention also relates to apparatus for automatically braking such a mining machine in the event of failure of a traction element.

Abstract: A longwall mining machine traverses to and fro along an articulated track assembly which includes an armoured face conveyor and which is engaged by a driven pinion on the machine body to haul the machine along its path.

Abstract: An articulated ancillary support for a conveyor is attached onto the forward side of a mine roof chock by extensible means which, when retracted towards the chock, shifts the ancillary support from a normal condition in which it occupies an area of relatively wide lateral extent to another condition in which it overlies an area of relatively narrow lateral extent, freeing a large portion of the space under the chocks to clear the way for a retreating continuous miner.

Abstract: A rack device extends along the side wall of a face conveyor for a mining machine and essentially includes a plurality of elongated rack segments supporting spaced-apart drive members along the length of each segment. The rack segments are joined together in an end-to-end relation by a rod member passed through an eyelet opening in extensions projecting from the rack segments. The rod member is arranged at the joint between rack segments such that the rod member lies between, preferably midway between, adjoined sections of the face conveyor. A duct extends between the side wall of the face conveyor and a spill plate which is formed by a plurality of plate members arranged side-by-side to extend along the face conveyor. The duct has upstanding side walls with openings to receive and support the rod member used to join together the rack segments.

Abstract: A duct for use with mine equipment is provided with an elongate aperture normally closed by a displaceable sealing means to retain a fluid, under pressure, within the duct, the sealing means, in use, being displaceable by fluid pick-up means carried by a mining machine to convey fluid from the duct to the machine. The invention also includes conveyor trough section provided with such a duct and a mining machine combination.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation has a conveyor along which a winning machine such as a plough, is guided for movement back and forth along a mineral face. A series of water-spray nozzles are distributed along the working and is divided in the operational sense into different groups. Each of these groups is controlled by a valve which allows water to pass through non-return valves to one or two adjacent groups of nozzles. The control valves are in turn operated by further valves disposed remote from the actual working zone and these further valves are operated by local means separate and remote from the machine and providing signals and an indication, dependent on the distance moved by the machine and hence its position as it progresses along the face.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting coal mine workers from flying coal, rocks, coal dust, scattering coal and the like, which are produced as a drum shearer works in a longwall coal face. The apparatus is provided with isolated walls or chambers between iron props installed in the self-advancing supports provided in the longwall coal face by use of fastening members. The isolated wall or chamber is connected with its adjacent wall or chamber by a flexible connecting member.

Abstract: Described is a mining machine of the type which moves along a track or conveyor provided with a gear rack and wherein a driven gearwheel on the machine engages the rack to move the machine along the track. At least one skid is pivotally connected to the mining machine and bears upon and is guided by the rack, the pivotal connection of the skid to the machine being intermediate the ends of the skid. The gearwheel is fixedly mounted on the mining machine and extends through an opening in the skid to mesh with the gear rack whereby rotation of the gearwheel will cause the machine to traverse the track. The axis of rotation of the gearwheel lies in a vertical plane through which the pivotal axis of the skid extends whereby the skid can articulate along the rack without affecting the engagement of the gearwheel with the rack.

Abstract: A guide for a mining machine, such as a plough, is constructed from a series of interconnected sections arranged end-to-end and secured with bolts to the mineral face side wall of a conveyor. Each guide section is composed of an L-shaped plate with an upstanding wall engaging on the conveyor side wall and an inclined foot wall supporting the body of the plough. Spacers locating the securing bolts separate upper and lower chain guide passages and a cover plate extends over the mineral face side of the passages. A slot is formed above the foot wall to allow the plough body to be coupled to the chain in the lower passage. The slot is defined at its upper side by channel-like strips assembled to the spacers and these strips have apertures which receive tongues on the cover plate to thereby form a detachable push-in hinge permitting the cover plate to pivot towards the mineral face. The cover plate is detachably secured to the L-shaped plate at its upper end.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading material onto a conveyor in a mine working comprises two similar bodies interconnected through a short chain and supported for movement along a guide means at one side of the conveyor. Each body has a shaped base member engaging on the guide means and connected through a plate extending beneath the guide means to a drive chain. This base member has an inclined loading surface extending downwardly towards the floor of the working and in the direction of movement. Additional similarly shaped complementary members can be secured side-by-side with the base members to produce composite loading surfaces of any desired width. Attachments with blades resembling plough shares can be secured to the base members to define a guide surface cooperating with the loading surface to direct material into the conveyor and a number of attachments can be built up one upon another to provide a composite guide surface of any desired height.

Abstract: An elongated conveyor is adapted to extend along a mine face in an underground mine gallery. A mining machine, such as a coal planer or the like is reciprocably arranged in the space between the mine face and the conveyor and has a bottom plate sliding on the sole of the mine gallery and extending below and with an end portion thereof beyond the conveyor. An endless chain having an upper and a lower run is used to reciprocate the mining machine along the mine face. Chain guide means are connected to the side of the conveyor facing away from the mine face and comprise superimposed substantially cylindrical guide channels for respectively guiding the upper and the lower run of the endless chain.

Abstract: A ranging arm mining machine traversable to and fro along a fixed guide extending along a working face is provided with a bracket assembly secured to a support trunnion for a ranging arm carrying a cutter drum such that in use the machine is trapped or captivated to the guide.

Abstract: The shoes on the goaf side of a longwall mineral mining machine comprise pivotally connected components so that the machine can hinge about these shoes during steering adjustments. Longitudinal pins connect components of goaf side shoes so that a pinion driven by the machine is maintained in engagement with a rack fixed to the track.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the position of a mineral mining machine such as a plough, movable along guide means such as a scraper-chain conveyor with a guide on one side. The apparatus employs piston and cylinder units coupled between the guide means and connecting devices pivoted to the guide means. A ball-and-socket joint is provided between each of the units and the associated connecting device.Elongate beams are interconnected at one end and are mounted via a head piece and a swivel joint to each connecting device. These beams are pivoted and guided at their other ends on roof support structures so that the units can operate to tilt the guide means about the pivot axes between the connecting devices and the guide means to thereby control the position of the machine.

Abstract: Mining apparatus for longwall mining comprising a mineral winning machine which traverses a mineral face, a row of self-advanceable roof supports parallel to the face, and a conveyor also parallel to the face for removing cut mineral, the supports having platforms which support the conveyor, the hydraulic props of the supports being positioned between the mineral face and the conveyor. The winning machine thereby can cut substantially across its whole depth, the props being adjacent the face to be cut. Ramps are provided on the supports and the conveyor to scoop out mineral onto the platforms and then on the conveyor, during advance of the supports and the conveyor.

Abstract: A longwall conveyor composed of channel sections arranged end-to-end and a scraper-chain assembly moved to transfer material along the channel sections has a main drive station at one end and an auxiliary drive station at the other end. Each drive station has a frame rotatably supporting a drum around which is entrained the scraper-chain assembly. Drive motor and gearing units are carried by the frames and drive the drums. At each drive station there is a housing in which a sprocket wheel drivably engages with a chain used to haul a plough or a similar machine along the conveyor. Drive motor and gearing units are supported by the housings and drive the sprocket wheels. The housing and sprocket wheel at the main drive station is slidably mounted on the frame and a piston and cylinder unit effects slidable displacement of the housing to vary the tension in the drive chain.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation intended for mining thick seams is composed of a series of units arranged alongside the mineral face and interconnected via a shifting system employing hydraulic rams operable to shift individual units. Each unit is a two story construction with a rigid underframe with roof and floor parts interconnected by pillars or walls to provide a winning chamber accessible to the face and an access chamber remote from the face and capable of housing vehicles and other equipment. On top of each underframe, to complete the unit, is a top frame composed of telescopic props resting on the roof part of the underframe and supporting a roof girder. At least one winning machine and conveyor is arranged within the forward regions of the frames of the units, and usually in the winning chambers; and the machine serves to hew mineral from the face.

Abstract: A scraper-chain conveyor for transporting material at a mine face working has a series of pans and a screen used to screen-off the working zone carried by the sides of the pans remote from the face. The screen is composed of sections with two sections being allocated to each pan. Each screen section is composed of a lower wall secured through U-shaped springs to pivot pins permitting the whole section to be swung outwards of the face to a collapsed position. The pins extend through the bights of the springs and an upper wall is received for slidable movement between the arms of the springs. The upper walls can thus be raised into contact with the roof when the screen sections are upright. To hold the sections upright wedge-like locking members are inserted into brackets supporting the pivot pins to engage on the springs.

Abstract: A mineral mining installation employs a scraper-chain conveyor with separate channel sections each with a floor plate connected between sigma-shaped side walls arranged end-to-end and a scraper-chain assembly is circulated along the channel sections to transport material. L-shaped components are attached to the side walls of the channel sections and these components define or connect with spaced-apart supports projecting beneath the lower flanges of the side walls to produce slots therewith which receive bottom plates closing off the underside of the conveyor. Tongues on these bottom plates serve as a locating and stop means engageable with the supports. A guide for a machine and for receiving the chain used to move the machine is supported by the L-shaped components on the mineral face side and a multi-part displaceable screen is carried by the L-shaped components on the opposite side.

Abstract: The feed system of a coal getting combine, which works with a face conveyor, comprises: a traction device located on the combine and having a cylinder-shaped sprocket on the side surface of which a circular spherical-shaped recess is provided, slots being made on both inner sides of the spherical recess, said slots having an involute-spherical surface. Arranged lengthwise of the conveyor is a longitudinally traversable guide bar secured at the ends of the conveyor and composed of a number of separate tubular sections articulated together and provided with open-end holes arranged square with the longitudinal axis of said holes.

Abstract: A spill-plate housing extends along one side of the course of travel by a mining machine. A flexible cutter cable and water conduit are carried from the mining machine by a carrier arm for extending into the spill-plate housing by projecting through a longitudinal slot formed in a faceplate of the housing. Upper and lower resilient apron strips are secured to the faceplate so that their longitudinal edges abut along the longitudinal center of the slot. Vertical support pipes are secured to the faceplate by upper and lower members to form an internal housing space adapted to accommodate the cable and conduit while coupled to the mining machine. Bias blocking arms are pivotally supported by the faceplate within the housing to prevent unintentional emergence of the cable from the slot in the housing. Pipe-engaging surfaces on clamp plates arranged at opposed sides of the vertical support pipes are used to carry a door for vertical movement to expose the interior of the housing space.

Abstract: A carriage and drive mechanism for use in mines in which the drive engages a continuous chain and moves the carriage along a rack; including a chain deflecting device and chain guide members.

Abstract: A ranging arm shearer mining machine has sensing means for sensing the position of the rotational axis of a cutter drum mounted on the ranging arm relative to the pivotal axis of the arm.

Abstract: A carrier for a looped cable used to supply power or water to a winning machine in a mine in which a gate is mounted on a body for movement into an open and a closed horizontal position. The body is resiliently mounted on a carrier.

Abstract: Water is discharged from spray nozzles toward cutting tools of a drum-cutting mining machine only during the actual time when material is released from the face of a mine. A pulse generator is driven by the traversing drive of the mining machine. The pulse output is fed to a controller which may include a computer that also receives an enabling signal produced by the secondary winding of a transformer in the power supply lines for the drive motor which is used to rotate the cutting drums of the mining machine. The enabling signal indicates an actual mining operation on the basis of the flow of current to the drive motor about a predetermined idle current load. Additional signals are fed to the controller such as a signal representing properties of the mine materials, and a signal representing characteristics of the drive system for the mining machine such as the dimensions of the capstan's chain drive wheel.

Abstract: A conventional form of scraper-chain conveyor with a series of channel sections each having a floor disposed between sigma-shaped side walls has upstanding spill plates, C-shaped covers and hollow spacer bars attached to the goaf side of each channel section. These components define upper and lower guide channels for a drive chain circulated along the goaf side of the conveyor which is connected through a sword plate to a machine guided for movement along the conveyor. To prevent gases from building up beneath the conveyor vents are provided in the goaf side wall of the channel sections and these vents communicate with the external V-shaped grooves in the side walls.Vents are also provided in the spill plates to establish communication between the V-shaped grooves and the upper chain guide channel. The covers are then spaced apart to form apertures allowing any gas which reaches the upper channel to pass to the surroundings.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of in situ extraction of a constituent of a rock formation, e.g., copper deposits or particular petroleum deposits as found in oil shale, and to a method of preparing the rock formation for in situ extraction of the rock constituent. Various embodiments of a side excavating machine are also disclosed for preparing the rock for in-situ extraction of a constituent therefrom. The excavating machine breaks the rock in-situ in a manner to form a narrow, horizontal flow-directing chamber in the rock-filled with fluid-permeable broken rock.

Abstract: A ranging drum mining machine has its cutting end gearbox pivotally mounted in trunnions for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of pivotal movement of the ranging arm.

Abstract: A roller crusher is carried by a coal cutting mining machine which is, in turn, carried by a gantry for movement along the frame of a longwall face conveyor. The roller crusher is attached to the coal cutting machine by a U-shaped frame having hinge pins for pivotal movement thereof about a horizontal axis at the end of the machine which faces toward the oncoming stream of coal on the conveyor. The U-shaped frame supports a drive motor that is, in turn, coupled by a gear drive to the roller crusher. A piston and cylinder assembly is controlled to adjustably position the U-shaped frame and thereby the roller. The mining machine has support arms that are pivotal about horizontal axes and carry coal cutting drums to project into the working face of the mine.