Abstract: Apparatus to advance a multi-unit mining machine along a face conveyor in an underground mine includes a hydraulic unit with an advancing mechanism that extends around a toothed rack. The rack extends over the length of machine movement. The hydraulic unit is an independent unit on a machine body of the mining machine and is used for increasing the advancing force provided by other existing advancing units for the mining machine. The hydraulic unit is narrower than the other units on the machine body and is attached by vertical flanges to adjacent units on the machine body. The hydraulic unit receives a winch casing between oppositely-disposed flanges for guided vertical movement of the casing. The casing has pins extending in the direction of machine movement from opposite top portions thereof to engage with members that slide vertically between guide bars on the flanges for vertical mobility. Clearances between the parts provide limited horizontal mobility.

Abstract: A longwall mining machine and method for its use, the machine traveling over a face conveyor having a first toothed rack extending therealong. A gantry-like frame is movable along the face conveyor and has upstanding supports at its opposite ends which carry an upper track and a second toothed rack. A first mining machine frame is carried on the face conveyor and has drive pinion means engageable with the first toothed rack. A second mining machine frame is carried on the upper track of the gantry-like frame and has drive pinion means engageable with the second toothed rack. The first and second mining machine frames each having a shearer drum mounted thereon for cutting and removing a mineral seam.

Abstract: A drum cutter mining machine includes a machine frame with a winch having a drive wheel to engage a rack or chain which extends along the path of travel by the mining machine to propel the machine along a mine face. The mining machine is made up of discrete units which include a machine body and machine housings joined to opposite sides of the machine body. The winch is either coupled through a drive train with a feed drive motor or coupled to the drive motor for cutter drums. The machine housings each support a pivot shaft coupled by an arm to a drum cutter. One of these housings includes a removable end cover and a recess adapted to receive a support housing for a spur gear system used to transmit torque from a feed drive motor to a reduction gear system which is, in turn, coupled to the drive wheel of the winch. In one embodiment, a removable end cover on the machine housing provides access to the feed drive motor.

Abstract: A gearhead for a shearer type mining machine comprising an elongate arm pivotally attachable at or about its mid-position to a shearer type mining machine to provide an arm pivot axis extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm, to one or each end of a mining machine, the arm carrying at or towards each end a spiral vane cutting drum, the adjacent drum peripheries being spaced apart to define a nip and the drums being rotatable about axes parallel to the arm pivot axis and being contra-rotatable, the vane or vanes of one drum being of opposite hand to the vane or vanes of the other drum. Mineral loading means is located within the nip provided by said drums, said mineral loading means may be in the form of an auger, a cowl, a paddle chain, or some other type of transporting mechanism, for assisting removal of the cut mineral.

Abstract: An excavating mining and conveying apparatus is formed of trough segments or sections with screw sections mounted on the trough sections carrying out the mining and conveying functions. Actuating means are provided to bring the screws successively into inclined contact with the face or seam of coal at an angle of from 5.degree. to 50.degree.. A drive is provided to transmit a torque to drive the conveying and transporting screws.