AU2006200287A1 - Augering machine - Google Patents

Description

02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1:04 40-0623 16 10:47 24-01-2006 2/36 20048097l11 1.

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) Complete Specification Augering Down Under Pty Limited Invention Title Augering Machine The invention is described in the following statement: Blake Dawson Waldron Patent Services Level 37, Grosvenor Place 225 George Street Sydncy NSW 2000 Telephone: 61 2 9258 6000 Fax: 61 29258 6999 Ref: DGC JUB 02 1395 1378 COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1:05 40-0633 16:10:56 24-01-2006 3136 IND 2004809711 0 2.

AUGERING MACHINE ci FIELD OF THE INVENTION r- The present invention relates broadly to an angering machine and a mining apparatus 00 including a rotational drive unit being "double-sided" for effective culling or drilling of respective opposing mine faces. The invention also relates generally to a method of mining utilising this type of an augering machine.

o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The applicant's Australian complete patent application no. 2004203381 describes a mining apparatus including a track-mounted feeder and an auger machine. This mining apparatus or auger feeder integrated system is used to form cut-throughs interconnecting development roadways that are conventionally mined using a continuous miner. The auger machine of this prior art includes a hydraulic drive unit having an output shaft which connects to a series of auger scrolls connected in an end-to-end relationship to form an auger string. The auger string at a forward-most end is connected to a cutter head which on rotation of the drive unit is slid into engagement with the mine face which is progressively drilled to form the cut-through. The track-mounted feeder receives mined material from both the auger machine via the auger string, and the heading of the development roadway via shuttle cars and/or conveyors. Although relatively effective in forming cut-throughs, this mining apparatus is not suited to recovering residual material such as coal from remnant blocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an augering machine comprising a rotational drive unit including a drive shaft being adapted at each of its opposite ends to couple to a cutter head or an auger flight for rotation together with the drive shaft for cutting or drilling of respective and opposing mine faces.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a mining apparatus comprising: an auger mount assembly; COMS ID No: SBMI-02463629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1:11 40-0643 16:11:19 24-01-2006 4136 200480971_1 0 3.

an augering machine mounted to the auger mount assembly, the angering machine including a rotational drive unit having a drive shaft; and a cutter head or an auger flight coupled to either of opposite ends of the drive shaft for cutting or drilling of respective and opposing mine faces.

00 5 Preferably the drive shaft at each end is adapted to mount to a sub-coupling or connector Nx o for attachment to the cutter head or the auger flight. More preferably the sub-coupling or 0 connector includes a male or female connection fitting being designed for releasable No attachment to a matching coupling provided at an end of the auger flight.

Preferably the auger mount assembly is generally elongate and the mining apparatus also comprises a pair of conveyors each being spaced apart and mounted to respective opposite sides of the auger mount assembly, the conveyors designed to collect mine face cuttings for delivery to a materials transportation device. More preferably the conveyors are movably mounted to the auger mount assembly for lateral movement of the conveyor relative to the mine face to be cut. Generally the transportation device is a shuttle car or another conveyor.

Preferably the mining apparatus further comprises an auger cradle which is generally elongate and oriented transverse to the auger mount assembly, the augering machine being slidably mounted to the cradle for movement toward and away from the mine face for cutting and retraction of the cutter head, respectively. More preferably, the drive unit is rotated in opposite directions for cutting or drilling of the opposing mnine faces, respectively.

Preferably the mining apparatus additionally comprises a hoist mounted to the auger mount assembly and designed to releasably connedt to one of the auger flights for lifting into or out of the cradle. More preferably the hoist includes an extendible mast or jib to accommodate movement of the auger cradle and/or the augering machine relative to the auger mount assembly.

Preferably the auger cradle is slidably mounted to the auger mount assembly for longitudinal movement along said assembly for repositioning of the augering machine relative to the opposing mine faces. More preferably the auger mount assembly includes adjustable stops located a predetermined distance apart and designed to provide abutment COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 16:11:48 24-01 -2006 5/36 INO 2004809711I 0 4.

for the auger cradle on its longitudinal movement for cutting or drilling of the mine face at preset separations.

Preferably the auger mount assembly is track mounted and the mining apparatus is thus a mobile unit.

00 Preferably the auger flight is one of a plurality of auger flights connected end-to-end to o form a string, the cutter head being detachably connected to a forward-most of the auger flights, and a rearward-most of the auger flights being detachably coupled to one end of the o drive shaft.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mining comprising the steps of: providing an angering machine including a rotational drive unit having a drive shaft; coupling a cutter head or an auger flight to one end of the drive shaft and rotating the cutter head via the rotational drive unit; moving the rotational drive unit in one direction toward an adjacent mining face for cutting engagement of the cutter head with said mine face;, coupling another cutter head, or the or another auger flight to an opposite end of the drive shaft and rotating said cutter head via the rotational drive unit; and moving the rotational drive unit in an opposite direction toward an opposing mine face for cutting engagement of the other cutter head with said opposing mine face.

Preferably the method sequentially involves the steps of coupling one of a string of the auger flights end-to-end and moving the rotational drive unit toward the adjacent mine face for each of the auger flights to progressively cut a hole in said mine face. More preferably the method also comprises uncoupling a rearward-most of the auger flights from the drive shaft and retracting the drive unit from the mine face to accommodate an additional auger flight coupled intermediate the drive shaft and the rearward-most auger flight.

Preferably the hole is cut in the adjacent mine face utilising the cutter head and the string of auger flights prior to coupling of another cutter head or another auger flight to the opposite end of the drive shaft. More preferably the auger flights are the same as the other auger flights and cutting of an opposite hole in the opposing mine face is effected by COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dmwson Waldron 1:21 40*0663 16:12:13 24-01-2006 6136 2004809711 0 sequentially detaching a rearward-most of the auger flights from the string adjacent the mine face, and coupling each of the retracted auger flights end-to-end and to the other cutter head which is moved in the opposite direction into cutting engagement with the opposing mine face.

00 5 Preferably the rotational drive unit together with the drive shaft are rotated in opposite o directions when cutting the adjacent and opposing mine faces, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0 In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment of an angering machine and a mining apparatus will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a general arrangement in elevational and plan views of an augering machine and a mining apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is another arrangement in perspective of the mining apparatus with the augering machine positioned in one location; Figure 3 is a further arrangement in perspective of the mining apparatus with the augering machine in another location; Figure 4 are exploded views of an augering machine together with an auger flight of the preceding embodiment of the invention; Figures 5 to 8 are plan views of the mining apparatus of the preceding Figures showing the augering machine positioned in one location and drilling one face or ribline of a mine heading; Figures 9 to 14 are plan views of the mining apparatus of the Figures I to 3 with the angering machine positioned in said one location and drilling an opposing face or ribline of the mine heading; Figures 15 to 19 are plan views of the mining apparatus of Figures 1 to 3 with the augering machine moved to another location and drilling said one face or ribline of the mi~ne heading.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 029258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 16:12:35 24-01-2006 7/36 200480971_1 o 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in Figures I to 3 there is a mining apparatus 10 comprising an auger mount assembly 12, an augering machine 14, and a cutter head 16 together with a string of auger flights such as 18A. The augering machine 14 is in this embodiment slidably mounted to 00 5 the auger mount assembly 12, and is coupled to the cutter head 16 via the string of augers o 20 for cutting or drilling of a mine face or in this case ribline of a mine heading (not 0 shown). This mining apparatus 10 is particularly suited to recovering residual material NO such as coal from remnant blocks.

Ci The auger mount assembly 12 includes an elongate chassis 22 mounted on its opposing sides to respective pairs of crawler track assemblies such as 24A and 24B3. The auger mount assembly 12 is thus track mounted and the mining apparatus 10 is a mobile unit.

The mining apparatus 10 also comprises a pair of conveyors 26A and 26B being oriented parallel to one another and mounted adjacent opposing sides of the chassis 22. The conveyors such as 26A are in this example chain conveyors designed to collect mine face cuttings from the cutter head 16 via the auger string 20. Each of the chain conveyors 26A and 26B cooperate with adjoining incline and transfer conveyors 28A/28B, and 30A/300B, respectively. The transfer conveyors 30A or 30B deliver mine face cuttings to a materials transportation device (not shown) which may be in the form a shuttle car or another conveyor. The transfer conveyors such as 30A can be swung relative to the respective incline conveyor such as 28A to conveniently position disposal or transfer of the mine face cuttings from the transfer conveyor 30A. Importantly, at least the chain conveyors either 26A or 26B are slidably mounted to the chassis 22 for lateral movement relative to the mine face or ribline (not shown) to be cut or drilled. This allows the conveyor such as 26B to be pushed out to adjacent the face or ribline to collect mine face cuttings and accommodates variations in widths of different headings. The mobile mining apparatus need not be moved to adjacent the mine face or ribline but rather the conveyor such as 26B can be hydraulically or otherwise pushed out to the ribline.

The mining apparatus 10 further comprises an auger cradle 32 which is generally elongate and arranged transverse to the chassis 22. In this embodiment the auger cradle 32 is slidably mounted to the chassis 22 for longitudinal movement and repositioning of the COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1:30 40-0683 16:13:05 24-01-2006 8136 INO 2004809711 0 7.

angering machine 14 relative to the mine face to be cut. The auger mount assembly 12 may include adjustable stops (not illustrated) located a predetermined distance apart and ci designed to provide abutment for the auger cradle 32 during its longitudinal movement.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate longitudinal positioning of the auger cradle 32 and the augering machine at two respective locations on the auger mount assembly 12. These two positions 00 Cl have been designated as "Location 1" and "Location 2" and allow for cutting or drilling of o the mine face at preset separations.

o The angering machine 14 is in this embodiment slidably mounted to the auger cradle 32 for 0 movement toward and away from the mine face or ribline for cutting and retraction of the cutter head 16, respectively. The mining apparatus 10 includes a control panel 34 and associated hydraulics for actuation of the augering machine 14 in its sliding movement across the auger cradle 32. The auger cradle 32 and the primary conveyors 26A and 26B are also hydraulically driven relative to the chassis 22.

As shown in Figure 4 the augering machine 14 includes a rotational drive unit 36 having a drive shaft 38. Importantly, the drive shaft 38 is adapted at each of its opposing ends to couple to the cutter head (not shown) or a rearward-most auger flight such as 18SB of the auger string. The drive shaft 38 at each of its opposing ends is adapted to mount to a subcoupling or connector 35A and 358 for attachment to for example the rearward-most auger flight 188. This coupling of the drive shaft 38 to the auger string 20 is shown in the enlarged views of Figures 2 and 3. Figure 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the subcoupling 35K/B which is in the form of a boss and stub at respective opposing ends of the drive shaft 38. The boss and stub sub-couplings 35A18 are each fixed integral with the drive shaft 38 via a series of circumferentially spaced bolts such as 37 which clamp the sub-coupling 35A/B to a corresponding flange 39A1B of the drive shaft 38.

The boss and stub sub-couplings 35A/B each include a rotary joint 41AIB which provides cooling water to the cutter head via the auger string. The rotary joint 4 1 A/B is ported to interconnected channels such as 43 of the sub-coupling such as 35A which are in fluid communication with a hollow elongate core 45 of the auger flight such as 18B. The boss sub-coupling 35A includes a water seal 37A which prevents the leakage of cooling water from the sub-coupling 35A. The auger flight 1B includes male and female 47A and 478 couplings at its respective opposite ends.. The male coupling 47A is received within the COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1:33 40-0693 16:13:34 24-01-2006 9136 200480971_1 0 8.

bass sub-coupling 35A and includes a hemispherical end portion 49A which abuts the water seal 37A. The boss sub-coupling 35A also includes a disengaging pin and striker mechanism 51JA which releas ably engages the corresponding male coupling 47A of for example the auger flight 188. The female coupling 47B of the auger flight such as ISB S also includes a disengaging pin and striker mechanism SIB designed to releasably engage 0 o 478 includes a water seal 37B which abuts a hemispherical end portion 498 of the stub sub-coupling 35B. By having the sub-couplings 35A1B at respective opposite ends as female boss and male stub fittings, the auger flights do not need to be swivelled through 1800 when moved from one to the opposite end of the drive shaft 38.

The mining apparatus 10 additionally comprises a hoist 40 pivotally mounted to the chassis 22 adjacent one of its ends. The hoist 40 includes a retractable jib unit 42 connected at an upper end to a boom 44. The boom 44 at its free end includes lifting tackle (not shown) for releasable attachment to one of the auger flights such as 188 for lifting it into or out of the cradle 32. The retractable or extendable jib 42 allows for the longitudinal movement of the auger cradle 32 and the augering machine 36 along the chassis 22.

In order to facilitate a better understanding of the mining apparatus 10 of this preceding embodiment, its operation will now be explained with reference to Figures 4 to 18 which sequentially illustrate a preferred method of mining using this "double-sided" augering machine.

Figures 5 to 8 show cutting or drilling on a right hand side (RIHS) of a ribline or a mine face of a development heading. In Figure 5 the cutter head 16 is connected to the augering machine 14 and is rotated in a clockwise direction for commencement of cutting or drilling of the hole 50. The chain conveyor 26A has been pushed out so that it is adjacent the iibline for collection of mine face cuttings. In Figure 6 the augering machine 14 having been detached from the cutter head 16 is retracted and a forward-most auger flight i8A connected intermediate the augering machine 14 and the cutter head 16. The auger flight 18A was lifted into the auger cradle 32 using the hoist assembly 40. In Figure 6 the augering machine 14 is advanced toward the ribline during rotation of the augering machine 14 for progressive drilling of the hole 50. Figure 8 shows the mining apparatus with a rearward-most auger flight 1 8J having been connected intermediate the auger string COMS ID No: 5BMI-02483629 Received by lP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 16:14:06 24-01-2006 10 /36 20048097 11

NO

0 9.

and augering machine 14 and advanced into the ribline for completion of drilling of the hole Figures 9 to 14 illustrate the sequential steps involved in cutting or drilling of the opposing mine face or ribline of the development heading. In Figure 9 the other cutter head 16' is oc 5 advanced into the ribline for cutting of the opposing left hand side (LIS) hole 52. The 00 o chain conveyor 26B has been pushed out adjacent the ribline whilst the opposing chain 0 conveyor 26A is retracted. In Figure 10 the augering machine 14 is disconnected from the Nother cutter head 16' and returned to the rearward-most flight 181 for coupling and o retraction from the hole 50. In Figure I I the augering machine 14 is uncoupled from the retracted flight 18J which in Figure 12 is lifted clear of the auger cradle 32 to allow for retraction of the augering machine 14 away from the opposing ribline. As shown in Figure 13 the retracted and rearward-most auger flight 1 SJ is then placed intermediate and connected to the augering machine 14 and the augering machine 14 advanced toward the ribline. This process is continued until as shown in Figure 14 the forward-most auger flight 18A is detached from the cutter head 16 and connected intermediate the augering machine 14 and the adjacent auger flight 18B for advancement into the ribline.

Figures 15 to 19 show the sequential steps involved in cutting or drilling another hole 54 in the ribline adjacent the hole 50. In this example and as shown in Figure 15 the auger cradle 32 together with the augering machine 14 is longitudinally moved or tranmed along the chassis 22 from Location 1 of the previous drilling steps of Figures 5 to 14 to Location 2. In this embodiment the adjacent holes 50 and 54 are separated at around 750rm and stops are provided for abutment of the auger cradle 32 between these two locations for this preset separation. The augering machine 14 has in Figure 15 been advanced into the ribline for commencement of drilling of the hole 54. The augering machine 14 is detached from the cutter head 16 for movement away from the ribline and tramming of the auger machine 14 to Location 1 to connect to and retract the now rearward-most auger flight 18A of the other hole 52. This position is shown in Figure 16 wherein the augering machine 14 attaches to the auger flight 18A and retracts it from the hole 52 for uncoupling from the augering machine 14 and the adjacent auger flight 18B as shown in Figure 17. The retracted auger flight 18A is then lifted from the auger cradle 32 via the hoist assembly the auger cradle 32 advanced longitudinally or trammed to Location 2, and the augering machine 14 withdrawn from the ribline as shown in Figure 18. As further illustrated in COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blinks Dawsnon Waidron 1:43 40 20 13 16:14:36 24-01-2006 11136 INO 2004809711 Figure 18 the auger flight 18A is moved outwardly over the auger cradle 32 by extension of the extendable jib arm 42 and lowered into the auger cradle 42 for connection to the augering machine 14 and the cutter head 16'. Figure 19 shows advancement of the auger string 20 into the ribline for continued drilling of the hole 54. This progressive tramming r- 5 of the augering machine 14 and the auger cradle 32 between Locations 1 and 2 together 00 c-I with the shuttle or sliding movement of the augering machine 14 is repeated for sequential o chilling of the hole 54.

o It should also be noted that the angle of the transfer conveyors either 30A or 30B are 0 varied depending on the ribline being mnined. That is, in Figure 2 where the HS of the ribline is being drilled, the corresponding transfer conveyor 30B is swung inwardly of the mining apparatus 10 for relatively easy transfer to a shuffle car or conveyor On the other hand, in mining of the RHS of the ribline as shown in Figure 3, the corresponding transfer conveyor 30A is swung inwardly of the apparatus whilst the opposing transfer conveyor is swung clear of this transfer zone.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the augering machine and mining apparatus have the following advantages: 1 the drive unit of the mining apparatus being "!double-sided" allows for mining on both sides and is thus relatively efficient in recovering minerals and other material from remnant mine blocks; 2. the augering machine with its hoist assembly and shuttle movements of the augering machine effectively uses a minimum number of auger flights in drilling opposing mine faces; 3. the angering machine can be adapted to heading developments of varied widths by utili sing the pair of conveyors which can each be moved toward and away from corresponding mine faces or riblines of the heading development.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For example, the specific construction of the augering machine or mining apparatus may vary from that COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258699gg Blake Dawson Waldron 16:15:01 24-01-2006 12 /36 200480971_1 described provided it allows for drilling of opposing mine faces from respective opposing "sides" of a single rotational drive unit. In one variant of the mining apparatus the hoist assembly may be replaced with a monorail. The methodology described may also vary provided it is within the broadest aspect of the invention.

00 5 All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

Va It is to be understood that any acknowledgement of prior art in this specification is not to be taken as an admission that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or elsewhere.

COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24

Claims (13)

1. An augering machine comprising a rotational drive unit including a drive shaft being adapted at each of its opposite ends to couple to a cutter head or an auger flight for rotation together with the drive shaft for cutting or drilling of respective 00 Ni 5 and opposing mine faces.

02. An augering machine of claim 1 wherein the drive shaft at each end is adapted to No mount to a sub-coupling or connector for attachment to the cutter head or the auger 0 flight.

3. An augering machine of claim 2 wherein the sub-coupling or connector includes a male or female connection fitting being designed for releasable attachment to a matching coupling provided at an end of the auger flight.

4. An augering machine of any one of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the drive unit is rotated in opposite directions for cutting or drilling of the opposing mine faces, respectively.

5. An augering machine of any one of the claims 1 to 4 wherein the auger flight is one of a plurality of auger flights connected end-to-end to form a string, the cutter head being detachably connected to a forward-most of the auger flights, and a rearward- most of the auger flights being detachably coupled to one end of the drive shaft.

6. A mining apparatus comprising: an auger mount assembly; an augering machine mounted to the auger mount assembly, the augering machine including a rotational drive unit having a drive shaft; and a cutter head or an auger flight coupled to either of opposite ends of the drive shaft for cutting or drilling of respective and opposing mine faces.

7. A mining apparatus of claim 6 wherein the drive shaft at each end is adapted to mount to a sub-coupling or connector for attachment to the cutter head or the auger flight. COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 1:53 40-061 3 16:15:35 24-01-2006 14136 INO 2004809711

13. 8. A mining apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sub-coupling or connector includes a male or female connection fitting being designed for releasable attachment to a matching coupling provided at an end of the auger flight. 9. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 6 to 8 wherein the auger mount 00 5 assembly is generally elongate and the mining apparatus also comprises a pair of conveyors each being spaced apart and mounted to respective opposite sides of the ci auger mount assembly, the conveyors designed to collect mine face cuttings for VaO o delivery to a materials transportation device. A mining apparatus of claim 9 wherein the conveyors are movably mounted to the auger mount assembly for lateral movement of the conveyor relative to the mine face to be cut. 11. A mining apparatus of either one of the claims 9 or 10 wherein the transportation device is a shuffle car or another conveyor. 12. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 6 to 11I wherein the mining apparatus further comprises an auger cradle which is generally elongate and oriented transverse to the auger mount assembly, the augering machine being slidably mounted to the cradle for movement toward and away from the mine face for cutting and refraction of the cutter head, respectively. 13. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 6 to 12 wherein the drive unit is rotated in opposite directions for cutting or drilling of the opposing mine faces, respectively.

14. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 6 to 13 that additionally comprises a hoist mounted to the auger mount assembly and designed to releasably connect to one of the auger flights for lifting into or out of the cradle.

15. A mining apparatus of claim 14 wherein the hoist includes an extendible mast or jib to accommodate movement of the auger cradle and/or the augering machine relative to the auger mount assembly. COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 02 9258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron166:0

20-06156 16:16:00 24-01-2006 15136 200480971_1 0 14. 16. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 12 to 15 wherein the auger cradle is slidably mounted to the auger mount assembly for longitudinal movement along said assembly for repositioning of the angering machine relative to the opposing mine faces. 00 5 17. A mining apparatus of claim 16 wherein the auger mount assembly includes o adjustable stops located a predetermined distance apart and designed to provide 0 abutment forthe auger cradle on its longitudinal movement for cutting or drilling of No the mine face at preset separations. 18. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 6 to 17 wherein the auger mount assembly is track mounted and the mining apparatus is thus a mobile unit. 19. A mining apparatus of any one of the claims 6 to 18 wherein the auger flight is one of a plurality of auger flights connected end-to-end to form a string, the cutter head being detachably connected to a forward-most of the auger flights, and a rearward- most of the auger flights being detachably coupled to one end of the drive shaft. 20. A method of mining comprising the steps of: providing an augering machine including a rotational drive unit having a drive shaft; coupling a cutter head or an auger flight to one end of the drive shaft and rotating the cutter head via the rotational drive unit; moving the rotational drive unit in one direction toward an adjacent mining face for cutting engagement of the cutter head with said mine face; coupling another cutter head, or the or another auger flight to an opposite end of the drive shaft and rotating said cutter head via the rotational drive unit; and moving the rotational drive unit in an opposite direction toward an opposing mine face for cutting engagement of the other cutter head wit said opposing mine face.

21. A method of mining of claim 20 that sequentially involves the steps of coupling one of a string of the auger flights end-to-end and moving the rotational drive unit toward the adjacent mine face for each of the auger flights to progressively cut a hole in said mine face. COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24 029258 6999 Blake Dawson Waldron 16:16:26 24-01-2006 16/36 2004809711I

22. A method of miming of claim 21 that also comprises uncoupling a rearward-most of the auger flights from the drive shaft and retracting the drive unit from the mine face to accommodate an additional auger flight coupled intermediate the drive shaft and the rearward-most auger flight. 0c' 5 23. A method of mining of claim 22 wherein the hole is cut in the adjacent mine face o utilising the cutter head and the string of auger flights prior to coupling of another 0 cutter head or another auger flight to the opposite end of the drive shaft. o24. A method of mining of claim 23 wherein the auger flights are the same as the other auger flights and cutting of an opposite hole in the opposing mine face is effected by sequentially detaching a rearward-most of the auger flights from the string adjacent the mine face, and coupling each of the refracted auger flights end-to-end and to the other cutter head which is moved in the opposite direction into cutting engagement with the opposing mine face. A method of mining of any one of the claims 20 to 24 where the rotational drive unit together with the drive shaft are rotated in opposite directions when cuffing the adjacent and opposing mine faces, respectively. COMS ID No: SBMI-02483629 Received by lP Australia: Time 16:30 Date 2006-01-24