AU2006200287B2

AU2006200287B2 - Augering machine

Info

Publication number: AU2006200287B2
Application number: AU2006200287A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Vincent Martin; Brian Woolnough
Original assignee: AUGERING DOWN UNDER Pty Ltd
Current assignee: AUGERING DOWN UNDER Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-01-25
Filing date: 2006-01-24
Publication date: 2012-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-24
Also published as: AU2006200287A1

Abstract

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 5 drive shaft for cutting or drilling of respective and opposing mine faces. at lit iiVIC

Description

200480971_1 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 Sydney NSW 2000 Telephone: + 61 2 9258 6000 Fax: + 61 2 9258 6999 Ref: DGC JUB 021395 1378 2004809711_ 2. AUGERING MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates broadly to an augering machine and a mining apparatus including a rotational drive unit being "double-sided" for effective cutting or drilling of 5 respective opposing mine faces. The invention also relates generally to a method of mining utilising this type of an augering machine. 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 10 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 15 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 20 such as coal from remnant blocks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a mining apparatus comprising: an auger mount assembly; 25 an augering machine slidably 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 whereby in operation rotation of the drive shaft and the associated cutter head or auger 200480971_1 3. flight, together with sliding movement of the augering machine toward one of opposing mine faces is effective in cutting or drilling of respective of the opposing mine faces. 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 5 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. 10 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 mine faces, 15 respectively. Preferably the auger mount assembly is track mounted and the mining apparatus is thus a mobile unit. Preferably 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 20 flights, and a rearward-most of the auger flights being detachably coupled to one end of the drive shaft. According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mining comprising the steps of: providing an augering machine including a rotational drive unit having a drive 25 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; slidably moving the rotational drive unit in one direction toward an adjacent mining face for cutting engagement of the cutter head with said mine face; 30 coupling another cutter head, or the or another auger flight to an opposite end of the 2004809711_ 4. drive shaft and rotating said cutter head via the rotational drive unit; and slidably 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. 5 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 10 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 the other cutter head or the other auger flight to the opposite end of the drive shaft. More preferably the auger flights of said string are the same as the other auger flights and cutting of an opposite hole in the opposing mine face is 15 effected by 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. Preferably the rotational drive unit together with the drive shaft are rotated in opposite 20 directions when cutting the adjacent and opposing mine faces, respectively. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment of an augering machine and a mining apparatus will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 25 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; 200480971_ 5. 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; 5 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 1 to 3 with the augering machine positioned in said one location and drilling an opposing face or ribline 10 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 mine heading. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 15 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 the auger mount assembly 12, and is coupled to the cutter head 16 via the string of augers 20 for cutting or drilling of a mine face or in this case ribline of a mine heading (not 20 shown). This mining apparatus 10 is particularly suited to recovering residual material such as coal from remnant blocks. 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 24B. The auger mount assembly 12 is thus track mounted and the mining apparatus 10 is a mobile unit. 25 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 2004809711_ 6. and 26B cooperate with adjoining incline and transfer conveyors 28A/28B, and 30A/30B, 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 5 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 10 accommodates variations in widths of different headings. The mobile mining apparatus 10 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 15 slidably mounted to the chassis 22 for longitudinal movement and repositioning of the augering 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 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 20 machine at two respective locations on the auger mount assembly 12. These two positions have been designated as "Location 1" and "Location 2" and allow for cutting or drilling of the mine face at preset separations. The augering machine 14 is in this embodiment slidably mounted to the auger cradle 32 for movement toward and away from the mine face or ribline for cutting and retraction of the 25 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 30 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 18B of the 2004809711 7. auger string. The drive shaft 38 at each of its opposing ends is adapted to mount to a sub coupling or connector 35A and 35B for attachment to for example the rearward-most auger flight 18B. 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 sub 5 coupling 35A/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 35A/B 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 39A/B of the drive shaft 38. The boss and stub sub-couplings 35A/B each include a rotary joint 41 A/B which provides 10 cooling water to the cutter head via the auger string. The rotary joint 41 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 18B includes male and female 47A and 47B 15 couplings at its respective opposite ends. The male coupling 47A is received within the boss 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 51 A which releasably engages the corresponding male coupling 47A of for example the auger flight 18B. The female coupling 47B of the auger flight such as 18B 20 also includes a disengaging pin and striker mechanism 51B designed to releasably engage the stub sub-coupling 35B at the opposite end of the drive shaft 38. The female coupling 47B includes a water seal 37B which abuts a hemispherical end portion 49B of the stub sub-coupling 35B. By having the sub-couplings 35A/B at respective opposite ends as female boss and male stub fittings, the auger flights do not need to be swivelled through 25 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 18B for lifting it into or out of 30 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.

200480971_ 8. 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. 5 Figures 5 to 8 show cutting or drilling on a right hand side (RHS) 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 ribline for collection of mine face cuttings. In Figure 6 the augering machine 14 having 10 been detached from the cutter head 16 is retracted and a forward-most auger flight 18A 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 15 with a rearward-most auger flight 18J having been connected intermediate the auger string 20 and augering machine 14 and advanced into the ribline for completion of drilling of the hole 50. 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 20 advanced into the ribline for cutting of the opposing left hand side (LHS) hole 52. The chain conveyor 26B has been pushed out adjacent the ribline whilst the opposing chain conveyor 26A is retracted. In Figure 10 the augering machine 14 is disconnected from the other cutter head 16' and returned to the rearward-most flight 18J for coupling and retraction from the hole 50. In Figure 11 the augering machine 14 is uncoupled from the 25 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 18J 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 30 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.

200480971_.1 9. 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 trammed along the chassis 22 from Location I of the previous drilling steps of Figures 5 to 14 to Location 5 2. In this embodiment the adjacent holes 50 and 54 are separated at around 750mm 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 10 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 40, 15 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 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 20 string 20 into the ribline for continued drilling of the hole 54. This progressive tramming of the augering machine 14 and the auger cradle 32 between Locations 1 and 2 together with the shuttle or sliding movement of the augering machine 14 is repeated for sequential drilling of the hole 54. It should also be noted that the angle of the transfer conveyors either 30A or 30B are 25 varied depending on the ribline being mined. That is, in Figure 2 where the LHS 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 shuttle 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 30 30B is swung clear of this transfer zone.

200480971_ 10. 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: I. the drive unit of the mining apparatus being "double-sided" allows for mining on 5 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; 10 3. the augering machine can be adapted to heading developments of varied widths by utilising 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 15 specific construction of the augering machine or mining apparatus may vary from that 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. 20 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. 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. 25

Claims

11. CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A mining apparatus comprising: an auger mount assembly; an augering machine slidably mounted to the auger mount assembly, the 5 augering machine including a rotational drive unit having a drive shaft; a cutter head or an auger flight coupled to either of opposite ends of the drive shaft whereby in operation rotation of the drive shaft and the associated cutter head or auger flight, together with sliding movement of the augering machine toward one of opposing mine faces is effective in cutting or drilling of respective of 10 the opposing mine faces. 2. A mining apparatus of claim 1 wherein 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 15 materials transportation device. 3. A mining apparatus of claim 2 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. 4. A mining apparatus of either one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the transportation device 20 is a shuttle car or another conveyor. 5. A mining apparatus of any one of the preceding claims 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 25 for cutting and retraction of the cutter head, respectively. 6. A mining apparatus of claim 5 wherein 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. 2004809711_

12. 7. A mining apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the auger mount assembly is track mounted and the mining apparatus is thus a mobile unit. 8. A mining apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the auger flight is one of a plurality of auger flights connected end-to-end to form a string, the cutter 5 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. 9. A method of mining comprising the steps of: providing an augering machine including a rotational drive unit having a 10 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; slidably moving the rotational drive unit in one direction toward an adjacent mining face for cutting engagement of the cutter head with said mine face; 15 coupling an other cutter head, or the or an other auger flight to an opposite end of the drive shaft and rotating said other cutter head via the rotational drive unit; and slidably moving the rotational drive unit in an opposite direction toward an opposing mine face for cutting engagement of the other cutter head with said 20 opposing mine face. 10. A method of mining of claim 9 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. 25 11. A method of mining of claim 10 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. 2004809711_

13. 12. A method of mining of claim I I wherein the hole is cut in the adjacent mine face utilising the cutter head and the string of auger flights prior to coupling of the other cutter head or the other auger flight to the opposite end of the drive shaft. 13. A method of mining of claim 12 wherein the auger flights of said string are the 5 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 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. 10 14. A method of mining of any one of claims 9 to 13 where the rotational drive unit together with the drive shaft are rotated in opposite directions when cutting the adjacent and opposing mine faces, respectively.

15. A mining apparatus substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying figures. 15 16. A method of mining substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying figures.