GB1596736A

GB1596736A - Mining machine

Info

Publication number: GB1596736A
Application number: GB2546178A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dobson Park Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Joy Global Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-31
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1981-08-26
Also published as: FR2427461B1; FR2427461A1; DE2849474C3; DE2849474B2; DE2849474A1

Description

(54) MINING MACHINE (71) We, DOBSON PARK INDUS TRIES LIMITED, a British Company, of Dobson Park House, Colwick Industrial Estate, Colwick, Nottingham NG4 2BX, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a mining machine.

Such a machine, particularly when selfpropelled, finds further application underground for excavating, drilling or rock-breaking, for example as may be required in driving headings in mines.

Often, such machines have walking leg or sliding skid type supports and propelling systems, though overhead rail mounted and propelled drilling or rock-breaking machines have been proposed with rail suspension from tunnel arches. The former suffer from dis advantages in relation to restricted space for the passage of material, personnel or other machinery at the position of the machine itself and/or in relation to cumbersome mov ing or propelling mechanisms, and at least that the latter require roof-support to be built up around them. The former sometimes operate without immediate roof-support but then depend on sound strata with rearward roof support only, which is unsuitable for friable or otherwise unsound roof strata.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate some or all of these problems in an advantageous manner.

According to the invention there is provided a mining machine comprising a structure having ground and roof engaging parts, means for urging the roof engaging part or parts towards the roof for support purposes, the roof engaging part or parts having means allowing movement of the structure whilst in contact with the roof, and means for advancing the structure along the ground while its said roof engaging part or parts is or are so urged against the roof, the structure accommodating mining apparatus generally below and within its said roof engaging part or parts but capable of extension of a mineral winning head thereof to serve in excavating material selectively over an area bounded by a desired profile corresponding to accommodation of the structure.

The term "selectively" as used herein requires that the head can engage and work only a part at a time of the total area bounded by said desired profile and so must be capable of traversing over and across that area, preferably via a linkage that affords an articulation at a position that is beyond the structure of the mining machine on extension of the head.

Preferred embodiments have laterally spaced ground-engaging units translatable over the floor and jointly supporting, by way of pressure-fluid-operated means, an overhead roof-supporting or shielding structure also equipped with at least one roof-engaging unit translatable along the roof as The groundengaging units are advanced and which may, if desired, be drivable but, perhaps more usually, will not. Suitable ground and roofengaging units comprise slideways or other guides and sliders, rollers or other guided unit parts, say with either being sectional for removal at the trailing end and reattachment at the forward end, or individual walking skid type floor units, or tracked units.It is particularly convenient for a rock-breaker, drill or the like to be supported from and below the overhead structure giving the access advantages of the above arch-supported machines and also avoiding the complications of building up roof support in the immediate vicinity of the machine when working in unsound strata.

Thus, such machines embodying the invention offer advantages in that they afford clear through-way at ground level between their ground-engaging units, and, particularly, in that they are advanceable under loading by operation of the pressure-fluid-operated means to force the roof-supporting structure against the roof, i.e. giving substantially permanent positive support to the roof. The latter is especially important for workings in unsound or friable strata and a machine may well be equipped at its rear with a roof-arch fitting station to leave behind it a permanent roof supporting system.

Suitable ground tracked units have endless tracks with drive mechanisms therefor that are within the confines of the tracks themselves, say by way of pressure-fluid ram means (see for example British Patent Specification No.

766811) and which may conveniently act directly on projections from or recesses in the articulated track elements, or, if desired, by any other transmission mechanism, for example one incorporating rectilinear-to-rota tional movement translation means.

Preferred pressure-fluid-operated ram means in the form of props acts at sides of the machine and between each of said ground engaging units and a canopy of any desired or suitable configuration largely determined by intended, or actual, roof configuration. In driving headings, or performing other opera tions within a mine gate, where the roof there of is often curved or arched for support by U- or horseshoe-shaped members, usually of metal, the machine canopy is conveniently also generally curved or arched, though not necessarily in close conformity with the roof shape as it is desirable that the roof-engaging unit or units be at least slightly proud of the remainder of the canopy at the roof side thereof.

Advantages will also accrue by way of avoiding or minimising jamming problems if the total roof engaging unit width is a substantial proportion of the whole canopy width, say 50% or more. An alternative approach would be for other canopy shielding parts constituting most of the canopy to have a good clearance from the roof itself.

For certain embodiments, the roof-engaging unit or units is or are symmetrically arranged at least with regard to maximum roof height, and preferably also relative to the width of the machine as a whole. For a conventional arched roof, one unit may be provided along the centre of the canopy, if desired with units spaced to each side thereof. Alternatively, two units could be provided equally spaced to each side of the centre, perhaps preferably with a flat or flattish central interconnecting shield portion.

In the case of multiple roof-engaging translatable units, one or more of them may be driven and the others, if any, not driven, or all may be free running.

In using the term "unit" for the ground engaging translatable provision, we do not exclude the use of multiple or modular units at each side of the machine, one behind the other, and some of which may be freerunning rather than driven. The term "unit" in relation to the upper translatable provision does not exclude the possibility that the canopy construction is basically integral and incorporates unit mounting gear in framing thereof. Also, of course, a degree of roofdirected flexibility in the unit or units or of the unit or units relative to canopy or its parts may well be of advantage in coping with roof irregularities whether deliberate or the result of roof falls or localised strata dislocation. Such flexibility may extend to, or be composed primarily of, rockability foreand-aft of the units themselves.However, basic front-to-rear relative height variation will normally be achieved by support prop adjustment.

Example of implementation of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a machine embodying this invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a machine of the type shown in Figure 1 and having tracked drive units; Figure 3 is a plan view of a hauled machine; Figures 4 to 7 show alternatives to tracked units; Figure 8 is a side view partially broken away of a tracked ground-engaging unit; and Figure 9 is a side view partially broken away of a tracked free-running roof-engaging unit.

Referring to the drawings, initially Figures 1 and 2, a heading, drilling or similar machine comprises a pair of spaced ground-engaging translation parts 12, 14 shown as tracked units in Figure 2, each offering seats 16, 18 for hydraulic jacks 20, shown single telescopic in Figure 1, but could be double-telescopic as an alternative. These jacks 20 support a roof-engaging structure 30 having, at each side, seats 32, 34 for the jacks 20 in side parts 36, 38 having, between them, an approximately arch shaped canopy comprised of spaced roof-engaging parts 40, 42, capable or translation under load and shown as tracked units in Figure 2, and a substantially flat central portion 44 having dependent I-section rails 68, 70. Using the indicated spherical ram seatings, other ram means for stabilising the machine to a desired attitude may be incorporated.

Another machine to which the invention applies is shown in plan from above in Figure 3 and comprises outer spaced ground-engaging tracked units, again referenced 12, 14 and upper roof-engaging tracked units, again referenced 40, 42. As shown, however both of the tracked units 12, 14 are assumed to be of a free-running rather than driven type and attachment haulage means, specifically in the form of chains 84 attached to face end supports 86, 88 of rows of self-advancing roof supports 90, 92 on mine faces or face sections one to each side of heading, roadway or gate 94 excavated by the machine. It will also be noted that the selective percussive mining apparatus is indicated as fixedly secured relative to the machine overhead frame structure. Clearly, however, use may be made of rail mounting or other provision for movement relative to the frame structure.

In operation as shown, the heading machine will be advanced by or from the face-end support units 86, 88 either automatically with advance thereof or, and perhaps preferably, hydraulic haulage means, such as a ram housed in the face end units, as the face advances. Clearly, the haulage arrangement can be made to permit heading machine positioning to the position of or even in advance of the rows of roof supports, say by attachment to a forward drive engagement of the face end supports and/or anchorage to the machine medially of its extent along the heading.

Also, of course, the ground track units may be drivable in order to advance beyond the normal maximum of the haulage arrangement or independently thereof.

One alternative to a tracked groundengaging unit is shown in Figures 4 to 6. In Figure 4 a machine support side part 100 sealing support prop 20 has a lower cut-out guide slot 102 shown mating with a ground rail or plate 104, specifically its upstands 106 which, see fragmentary side view of Figure 5, has spaced indents 108 for drive purposes. The rail or plate 104 is, in fact, made up of end-to-end sections, see Figure 5, and these may be interlocated spigot and socket manner as indicated at 110 in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows an alternative ground rail section having two spaced parallel upstands 106' which may facilitate relative interlocation of rail section ends.One convenient drive is shown in Figure 5 where a hydraulic ram 112 is end pivotted at 114 in the support part 100 for a tooth 116 carried by its piston rod 118 to drivingly engage in or disengage from the indents 108 as determined by a further ram 120 coupled to the ram 112 to pivot the latter and operated in a desired phase relation with the ram 112 to achieve at least one direction of translation of the machine over the rail or plate sections.

One typical tracked drive unit 12, 14 is shown in Figure 8 as having closely spaced and articulated ground-engagement elements 46 running over end wheels 48, 50 and having internal drive rams 52, 54 on a main frame 55 therefor also carrying the wheels 48, 50 journaled for rotation therein. The drive rams 52, 54 operate via toothed parts 56, 58 engaging with teeth 60 on the interior of the articulated elements 46. Double acting rams 52, 54 and an appropriate latching system e.g. based on rams and pivotting of the rams or sliding of a stationary thrust bar therefor (not shown) will enable the overall machine to be driven forward or backwards. Selective operation thereof, forward (F), reverse (R) and free running (N), will afford complete steering control to a maximum desired extent via appropriate valve gear 62 with, if desired, common or separate pump units 64.It is generally preferred, but not essential, for the wheels 48, 50 to positivcly engage the teeth 60.

A preferred free running drive unit 40, 42 is shown in Figure 4 and resembles the driven unit of Figure 8 except for the drive rams and associated equipment as evidenced by the similar but primed refcrence numerals.

The frame 55' is, of course, normally secured to the central shield part 44 and to the jackseating side parts 36, 38 if desired via resilient mounts 66.

The rails 68, 70 serve to mount a selectively operable percussive tool carriage 72 via couplings 74. The carriage 72 has a telescopic boom 76 pivotted thereto and carrying a pivotal manipulable tool mount 78, e.g. as in our British Patent No. 1,363,917. Drive is by a two part carriage and ram or rams or, as shown, rams 80 operating against parts of the machine frame.

Alternative track unit drives could, of course, be used, for example, ram and crank mechanisms coupled to one or both of the track mount wheels, but, again, advantageously entirely within the track units as such.

If preferred track units or mechanisms with offset working and return runs may be used of the type shown and described in our copending application No. 25463/78 (Serial No. 1,596,737) (rip504).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A mining machine comprising a structure having ground and roof engaging parts, means for urging the roof engaging part or parts towards the roof for support purposes, the roof engaging part or parts having means allowing movement of the structure whilst in contact with the roof, and means for advancing the structure along the ground while its said roof engaging part or parts is or are so urged against the roof, the structure accommodating mining apparatus generally below and within its said roof engaging part or parts but capable of extension of a mineral winning head thereof to serve in excavating material selectively over an area bounded by a desired profile corresponding to accommodation of the structure.

2. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein said head is manipulable over said area by a linkage including an articulation at a position beyond said structure on extension of the head.

3. A mining machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mining apparatus is suspending from an upper part or parts of the structure.

4. A mining machine according to claim 3, wherein the mining apparatus is bodily translatable relative to the structure along overhead guide means of or attached to said upper part or parts of the structure.

5. A mining machine according to claim

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Claims

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will be advanced by or from the face-end support units 86, 88 either automatically with advance thereof or, and perhaps preferably, hydraulic haulage means, such as a ram housed in the face end units, as the face advances. Clearly, the haulage arrangement can be made to permit heading machine positioning to the position of or even in advance of the rows of roof supports, say by attachment to a forward drive engagement of the face end supports and/or anchorage to the machine medially of its extent along the heading.

Also, of course, the ground track units may be drivable in order to advance beyond the normal maximum of the haulage arrangement or independently thereof.

One alternative to a tracked groundengaging unit is shown in Figures 4 to 6. In Figure 4 a machine support side part 100 sealing support prop 20 has a lower cut-out guide slot 102 shown mating with a ground rail or plate 104, specifically its upstands

106 which, see fragmentary side view of Figure 5, has spaced indents 108 for drive purposes. The rail or plate 104 is, in fact, made up of end-to-end sections, see Figure 5, and these may be interlocated spigot and socket manner as indicated at 110 in Figure 6. Figure 7 shows an alternative ground rail section having two spaced parallel upstands 106' which may facilitate relative interlocation of rail section ends.One convenient drive is shown in Figure 5 where a hydraulic ram 112 is end pivotted at 114 in the support part 100 for a tooth 116 carried by its piston rod 118 to drivingly engage in or disengage from the indents 108 as determined by a further ram

120 coupled to the ram 112 to pivot the latter and operated in a desired phase relation with the ram 112 to achieve at least one direction of translation of the machine over the rail or plate sections.

One typical tracked drive unit 12, 14 is shown in Figure 8 as having closely spaced and articulated ground-engagement elements 46 running over end wheels 48, 50 and having internal drive rams 52, 54 on a main frame 55 therefor also carrying the wheels 48, 50 journaled for rotation therein. The drive rams 52, 54 operate via toothed parts 56, 58 engaging with teeth 60 on the interior of the articulated elements 46. Double acting rams 52, 54 and an appropriate latching system e.g. based on rams and pivotting of the rams or sliding of a stationary thrust bar therefor (not shown) will enable the overall machine to be driven forward or backwards. Selective operation thereof, forward (F), reverse (R) and free running (N), will afford complete steering control to a maximum desired extent via appropriate valve gear 62 with, if desired, common or separate pump units 64.It is generally preferred, but not essential, for the wheels 48, 50 to positivcly engage the teeth 60.

A preferred free running drive unit 40, 42 is shown in Figure 4 and resembles the driven unit of Figure 8 except for the drive rams and associated equipment as evidenced by the similar but primed refcrence numerals.

The frame 55' is, of course, normally secured to the central shield part 44 and to the jackseating side parts 36, 38 if desired via resilient mounts 66.

The rails 68, 70 serve to mount a selectively operable percussive tool carriage 72 via couplings 74. The carriage 72 has a telescopic boom 76 pivotted thereto and carrying a pivotal manipulable tool mount 78, e.g. as in our British Patent No. 1,363,917. Drive is by a two part carriage and ram or rams or, as shown, rams 80 operating against parts of the machine frame.

Alternative track unit drives could, of course, be used, for example, ram and crank mechanisms coupled to one or both of the track mount wheels, but, again, advantageously entirely within the track units as such.

If preferred track units or mechanisms with offset working and return runs may be used of the type shown and described in our copending application No. 25463/78 (Serial No. 1,596,737) (rip504).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A mining machine comprising a structure having ground and roof engaging parts, means for urging the roof engaging part or parts towards the roof for support purposes, the roof engaging part or parts having means allowing movement of the structure whilst in contact with the roof, and means for advancing the structure along the ground while its said roof engaging part or parts is or are so urged against the roof, the structure accommodating mining apparatus generally below and within its said roof engaging part or parts but capable of extension of a mineral winning head thereof to serve in excavating material selectively over an area bounded by a desired profile corresponding to accommodation of the structure.
2. A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein said head is manipulable over said area by a linkage including an articulation at a position beyond said structure on extension of the head.
3. A mining machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mining apparatus is suspending from an upper part or parts of the structure.
4. A mining machine according to claim 3, wherein the mining apparatus is bodily translatable relative to the structure along overhead guide means of or attached to said upper part or parts of the structure.
5. A mining machine according to claim

4, wherein the guide means comprises a rail or rails also suspended from said upper part or parts of the structure.
6. A mining machine according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the selective mining apparatus has a carriage and an extensible boom carrying a percussive said head.
7. A mining machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the roof-engaging part or parts comprise one or more tracked units.
8. A mining machine according to any preceding claim, comprising laterally spaced ground-engaging units that are translatable over the floor and jointly support, by way of pressure-fluid-operated means, an overhead roof-supporting or shielding structure also having at least one roof-engaging unit translatable along the roof under loading thereto as the ground engaging units are advanced.
9. A mining machine according to claim 8, wherein the ground engaging units are drivable by means incorporated therein.
10. A mining machine according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the ground-engaging units comprise tracked units.
11. A mining machine arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.