CA1066071A - Mining apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure 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.

Description

~0f~6~71 FIEL~ OF INYENTION
M~ning Or In Situ Dis~ntegration of Hard Material, Hard ~ater~al Disintegrat~ng Mac~ines, With Mine Roof Supporting Means.
OBJECTS
In typical long-wall mining, a row of chocks is advanced forwardly towards the panel face as the plow or other device removes the coal from the face, and the coal falls down onto a drag chain conveyor which is supported in a series of semi-permanent connected sections, each of ~hich is attached to the front side of a chock, usually by an extensible-retractable device such as a hydraulic ram, so that the conveyor sections can be aligned and kept at the desired distance from the face, and retracted towards and extended from the chocks.
More recently, a modification of this system has come into being, wherein a continuous miner is used in short-wall mode, and a row of chocks advance, one-by-one, behind the continuous miner. The coal is carrier away from the continuous miner by various means, such as a flex-ible conveyor train. See, for example, Joy Manufacturing Company Bulletin J-321 "Continuous Pillar ~ining". Accord-ing to this newer mode, after the continuous miner has cut through a coal panel a certain distance, for example, from one entry to another, it backs out through the cut it has just made and staxts a new cut. The flexible conveyor train, or piggyback conveyor system, has to back out also to clear the way for the continuous miner to back out behind it.
It would be advantegeous to utilize the chock-attached articulated ancillary support system in Camp~ell et al ~supra~ for supporting a conveyor syste~ in this short-wall method, but it may; 1f used in low heights and , 1;)66071 .
with conventional equipment, result in insufficient height to clear the back-out path of the continuous miner. The extensible-retractable conveyor supports previously used on chocks are not usable for practicing the new method because, even when the conveyor is retracted, the ancillary support system still occupies too much of an area at the front sides of the chocks to permit the continuous miner to back out past them.
In addition, certain commercially available face conveying systems require more height in which to operate than others, and when sufficient height is unavailable, as in certain mines, these conveying systems, including a roof-supported conveyor, cannot be used. It also may be more desirous to use a floor supported conveyor, for example because o~ poor roof conditions, than a roof supported system.
The object of this invention is to provide an articulated ancillary support system which has extensible-retractable means for attaching a conveyor support section to a chock, together with a mechanism which, when actuated to retract the conveyor support, shifts the conveyor support from its normal condition in which it occupies an area of relatively ;~
great lateral extent to a condition in which it occupies an area of relatively small lateral extent, clearing a space to allow the continuous miner a pathway to back out from under the chock supports.
In one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of establishing a section of a conveyor support along a path over a floor which lies laterally outward from a mine roof chock and clearing a space on the path for operation of a continuous miner which comprises: Cl~ moving the section ~ ~; of conveyor support across the floor between extended and .~.,

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retracted positions (2) shifting the section of conveyor support during movement to the retracted position whereby the section occupies less space in the retracted position than in the extended position and thereby clears a space on the path.
In a further aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of (a) a mine roof chock (b) a conveyor support section (c) extensible retractible means for attaching the conveyor support section to the front of the chock, such means adapted to move the conveyor support section between retracted and extended positions and to shift the conveyor support section to occupy less space in front of the chock in the retracted position than in the extended position (d) the conveyor support section being adapted to plow away and clear material as it moves to the extended position.
The conveyor support may partake of any one of numerous forms, as may the mechanism for shifting the area of lateral extent which they occupy, all as will be apparent from the following specification and drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chock with a solid conveyor support section in a normal position at one side thereof;

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Fig~ 2 is a section ~long the lines 2 2 of Fig. l;
F~gs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are ~ie~s ~m~lar to ~ig. 1, with the upper portion of the chock ~roken off, showing successl~ve pos~tions of the parts from the start to the fin~s~ of the solid conveyor support ~rom ~ts outer to its inner extremity;
Fig. 7 is a plan view partly in horizontal cross section of a chock with a first modification of a conveyor support extended at one side thereof;

Fig. 8 is an end view, broken away, of the first modification with the conveyor support extended as shown in Fig. ~;
Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Fig. 8, but : showîng successive steps in retracting the conveyor support and the shifting thereof to a condition in which it occu-pies an area of relatively small lateral extent;
Fig. 11 is an end view of a chock with a second modification of a conve~or support extended at one side , thereof;

Figs. 12 and 13 are views similar to Fig. 11, but showîng successive steps in retracting the conveyor support and the shifting thereof to a condition in which it occupies an area of relatively small lateral extent;
Fig. 14 is a fragmentary end view of a chock with a third modification of a conveyor support extended ~t one l side thereof;
;, Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14, but showing ~ the parts during a phase of retractive movement of the ..,~
conveyor support;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Figs. 14 and 15, but showing the parts with the conveyor support fully re-tracted and occupying an area of relatively small lateral ~ 3 --. , , ' -~

1066(~71 extent; and, Fig, 17 is a view similar to ~ig~ 15, but showing the parts dur~ng a phase of e~tend~ng mov~ment and occupying an area of relatively larg~ lateral extent.
Referring first to Figs. 1-7 of the drawings, in wfi~c~ like whole num~er reference numerals denote similar elements, and letters "a", "~" and "c" suffixes are used with reference numerals to denote elements comparable to those previously designated with whole number reference num-erals, the essentials only of a chock 2 are illustrated, these conventionally comprising a base 4, and hydraulic jacks 6 which, when extended upwardly, force a roof beam 8 against a mine roof. An arm 10 is diagrammatically illustrated, it being understood that such arms are frequently made ex-tensible by one means or the other, so that they can be re-tracted inwardly so as to be co-extensive, or substantially so, with the main portion of roof beam 8, and extended out-wardly so as to engage against the mine face. As is also conventional in the art, the subject chock has one or more hydraulic rams 12 whose cylinders (not shown) are housed . ~
in base 4, which project from the forward side of the chock ; base 4, The hydraulic rams are for extending outwardly or retract~`ng inwardly a channel section 14 whose base 16 and ; flanges 18 and 20 constitute a conveyor support. In conven-tional long wall coal mining, in place of sections 14, double decked channels which are attached to adjacent chocks, are joined together in a non-artlculated manner to support and guide a drag chain conveyor which carries off the coal which is plowed or sheared from the mine face. According -30 to this invention, however, when the ends of adjacent channels14 are joined together, they form an aticulated support-way for a conveyour system, such as a Joy ~lexible Conveyor ; , ~ ................ ' ", . -.. . .

10ti6~71 Train or a 3effrey Mult~Unlt Cascading Continuous Hauling System, the essential features o~ which are that, as each chock is moved in beh~nd a continuous miner, the conveyor system can be extended along with it to haul the mined material away.
On the outer side of flange 20 are secured a pair of open-ended sockets 22 whose bottoms are cut-away as indi cated at 24 and whose tops are cut away as indicated at 26, and whose spaced side walls 28 have a pair of longi-tudinally extending slots 30 therein~ As will be apparent hereinafter the cut-away portions of the bottoms and tops of the sockets are to accomodate the rams when the conveyor support is tipped up. The side walls of the sockets have rlat free end edges 32.
Rams 12 have rounded forward end portions 34, spaced rearwardly from which cross pins 36 are affixed, t~e cross pins slidably engaging in slots 30 in the opposite side walls of the sockets. Outwardly projecting cams 38 on the chock base have upwardly and outwardly facing cam surfaces 40 which, as will be apparent hereinafter, engage against the free end edges 32 of the side walls of the sockets.
The operation of the mechanism is as follows:
Let it be assumed that the channel 14 is extended to its ` extreme outer position from chock base 4, as illustrated A~ in Figs. 1 and 2. In this condition base 16 of the channel section is disposed laterally outward from the chock base and rests on the mine floor and serves as a support for a conveyor mechnism. The rounded forward edge portions 34 of rams 12 are engaged in the sockets 22, so that the channel 14 is firmly held agàinst tipping displacement.
- When the channel is to be retracted, rams 12 are drawn ., ~ v ~ ~.
inwardly and cross pins 36 slide in slots 30 until they engage the ends 42 of the slots (Figs. 1 and 4), whereupon further re-tractive movements of the rams draw the channel 14 inwardly until the surfaces 40 on cams 38 are engaged by the lower corners 44 of the socket side walls 28, whereupon the camming action commences (Fig. 5), and channel 14 is tipped up until the end edges 32 of the socket side walls rest upon the flat upper surfaces 46 of the cams. In this condition the channel section 14 is locked in a tipped-up position alongside the chock base 4, and the area for-merly occupied by it is cleared.
When channel section 14 is to be returned to its for-wardly extended position, the action is reversed. As rams 12 move outwardly from the Fig. 6 position, the end edges 32 of the ends of the socket side walls slide down the cam surfaces 40 ; (~ig. 5). Further outwardly movement of rams 12 engage their outer rounded end portions 34 in the sockets, thereby locking channel member 14 in its normal position. Simultaneously, cross pins 36 engage against slot ends 48, so that further outward motion of the rams move the channel outwardly. The channels can 20 be juxtaposed so that those connected to adjacent chocks form a continuous channel support. Conventional means (not shown) can be employed for locking the adjacent ends of the channel together, for example, such means are shown in our co-pending application, supra.
Referring now to Figs. 7-10, the base 4a of a chock is ` essentially the same as the base 4 of chock 2 previously described except in this illustration ram 12a with its cylinder 13 are cen-~: trally disposed and only one such ram is illustrated for extending and retracting the channel section 14a and for shifting it from a 3Q normal condition in which it occupies a relatively wide area laterally of the chock front to a condition of relatively small or narrow area of occupancy (Fig. 10) adjacent the chock base. In , ., .

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this embodiment the base 16a from which flanges 18a and 20a extend upwardly is collapsible. On the inner side of flange 20a is a recess 50 having a lip 52 on its lower side. A latch 54 pivoted to base 4a at 56 is biased to swing clockwise as seen in Figs. 8-10 by a spring 58 which normally pulls the inner end of the latch against a stop 60. On the outer end of latch 54 is a hook 62 which, when engaged over lip 52 locks flange 20a against the side of base 4a.
The outer end of ram 12a is rigidly connected at 23 to the inner side of flange 18a, the ram sliding through an aperture 25 near the bottom of flange 20a. Flanges 18a, 20a have on their inner sides arms 70,72 to which links 74 are pivoted as at 76.
Each of the pairs of links 74 is connected to a diagonal link 78 by pivots 80. On ram 12a is a cam 64 which engages against a follower 66 on latch 54, cam 64 also having a forward surface 65 which engages against flange 20a as described hereinbelow.
When ram 12a is retracted it pulls in the flange 18a, links 74 buckle upwardly (Fig. 10), the flanges move in together towards base 4a until the hook 62 of latch 54 rides up over lip 66 and the hook drops down over lip 52 and locks flange 20a against base 4a. When the channel section 14a is to be extended and spread laterally, ram 12a moves outwardly to force flange 18 outwardly, links 74 unbuckle downwardly (Fig. 9), cam 64 engages the follower 66 on latch 54 and frees it from lip 52, the forward surface 65 on cam 64 engages against flange 20 and as ram 12a continues to move -outwardly, it forces the channel assembly back to its fully opened and spread condition of Figs. 7 and 8.
The Figs. 11-13 embodiment is the same as that shown in Figs. 7-10 except in that a floor plate 82 is pivoted at 84 to 3Q the arm 72 of flange 20b. When links 74 buckle upwardly, they force floor plate 82 to swing upwardly about pivot 84 to its Fig. 13 position.

10ti6~:)71 In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 14-17, the flanges 18c and 20c support rail tops 19 along which the wheels of a con-veyor (not shown) roll. The outer end of ram 12c is rigidly con-nected as at 23c to flange 18c and the shank of the ram slides through an opening 25C through flange 20C and an abutment 68.
Fig. 14 shows the conveyor support section 14c fully extended and spread laterally to its fullest extent. The first retractive movements of ram 12c draw flange 18C inwardly until its base 16c engages the base 16C of flange 20C. Further retractive movement of ram 12c draws flange 18c inwardly which crowds flange 20c in-wardly against the chock base 14C (Fig. 16). A5 shown in Fig. 16, hook 62 of latch 54C has snapped over lip 52cso as to lock flange 20C in against the chock base. The first extension movements of ram 12c force flange 18c outwardly away from flange 20c until the Fig. 17 condition prevails. Cam 64c has engaged the follower 66c so as to lift the hook 62C free of lip 52c and the forward surface 65C of cam 64C engaged abutment 68so that further outward movement of rams 12c extends the then-spread apart flanges 18C, 20c from their Fig. 17 position to their fully extended position of Fig. 14.
As used herein, the term chock or chocks shall mean chocks, shields, or other related mechanical devices for roof support. The term mining machine shall refer to continuous miner, header, borer, auger, cutter, shearer, plow or other related com-mercial mechanical devices used to obtain minerals from the earth's crust. It is further noted that for the purpose of this specification and the appended claims that the term "conveyor systems" is not limited to the preferred embodiment, the multi-unit cascading train. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the backout path clearing mechanisms with the ancil-3a lary support system is readily adaptable to support other convey-ance systems such as flexible conveyor trains, hydraulic tube transport, pneumatic tube transport, the flexible frame endless conveyor, etc.

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10~;6071 That portion of the method wherein a mining machine is advanced along a cut line through a panel, and individual roof chocks are moved up along the cut to form an advanci.ng row of roof support behind the mining machine is known in the prior art.
The formation of an advancing trackway behind the mining machine by joining adjacent ends of individual track sections supported on the forward sides of individual chocks is disclosed in our co-pending application.
In all embodiments, the lower outside edge of flange 18, 18a, 18b or 18c is provided with a dozer like blade 86, 86a, 86b or 86c, respectively, so as to push loose coal or debris away towards the mine rib when the conveyor support is extended. The material is then mined by the continuous miner on its next pass across the panel. Conventional drag chain conveyors have a plow on their leading edge which has both a different design and utility than this embodiment. It is short in height and scoops or plows under the loose material, moving it onto the drag conveyor for removal from the mine. According to this method of this operation, the same motions which spread out the conveyor support sections 2a and extend it laterally outward from the chock base plows away and clears the path of the conveyor support guideway. In all embodiments, connecting means (not shown) may be used for joining the ends of the conveyor support associated with one chock base to the conveyor support section associated with the adjacent chock base. In all emhodiments, the specific shape and sizes of the elements may vary, all within the purview of the apparatus and method defined in the following claims.

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Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. The method of estabilishing a section of a conveyor support along a path over a floor which lies laterally outward from a mine roof chock and clearing a space on the path for operation of a continuous miner which comprises:
(1) moving the section of conveyor support across the floor between extended and retracted positions (2) shifting the section of conveyor support during movement to the retracted position whereby the section occupies less space in the retracted position than in the extended position and thereby clears a space on the path.

2. In combination:
(a) a mine roof chock (b) a conveyor support section (c) extensible retractible means for attaching the conveyor support section to the front of the chock, such means adapted to move the conveyor support section between retracted and extended positions and to shift the conveyor support section to occupy less space in front of the chock in the retracted position than in the extended position (d) the conveyor support section being adapted to plow away and clear material as it moves to the extended position.