AU747080B2 - Sinking machine with vertical swing rollers - Google Patents

Description

Sinking Machine with Vertical Swing Rollers E 9409.doc Page I of Sinking Machine with Vertical Swing Rollers E 9409 Description The invention concerns a sinking machine especially for the use on the sections of underground coal mining where the sole of the section needs to be lowered again to a standard level after convergence-related elevations, with a machine frame, a drive and a cutting device to be inserted in the sole of the section which features two rollers that are vertically set and horizontally moveable, held by a supporting arm, and which are related to a conveyor via which the discharge material is transported behind the machine frame.

For underground coal mining, special sinking machines are used which can lower the floor level again when it was raised due to mining procedures in neighboring seams or due to other reasons so that the required cross section for transporting mining devices, mined material and personnel is restored. Such sinking machines are used in temporarily abandoned seams as well as in such operations where the mining process continues. The sinkers therefore have to be very flexible. The proportions have to be very small due to the narrow site conditions whereas however sufficient force needs to be applied in the area of the section that needs to be lowered so that the material at location can safely be removed.

From the DE-GM 82 30 528, the DE-GM 75 09 458 as well as the DE-OS 28 13 202 sinkers are known whose buckets feature teeth and where the buckets are jointed with a boom arm and can pivot into the applicable optimal position. Also, the hydraulically moveable boom arm is utilized to push the bucket into the sole of the section. To improve the penetration of the bucket of the sinking machine it is known to activate the entire bucket via a vibrator which is integrated in the boom arm or via a number of pneumatic or hydraulic pounding mechanisms. However, the disadvantage is such that due to the pressure of the hydraulic vibrator the boom has to be extensively reinforced and the entire equipment has to be sufficiently heavy in order to reach the necessary stability. To equip the entire bucket cutter with pounding mechanisms is also relatively extensive and requires a relatively extensive design of the bucket. It is further disadvantageous that the narrow width of the buckets limit their capacity and that the output is most of the time unsatisfactory. The width however cannot be varied because this would lead to encumbrances due to the frequent change of spatial conditions. I-hus.

the smallest or narrowest bucket is usually used for the entire sinking operation.

From the DE-PS 501 703 mining equipment is known that can be used as a sinking machine whose pivotal boom arm features a bearing for a two-part cutting device which can be pivoted. The cutting device consists of two topside oriented grazing wheels that are located on the same drive shaft and which feature grazing or shredding teeth on their outside. The grazing or shredding teeth loosen the material, apparently brown coal, load the material when pivoting and pass it to a first conveyor which passes it to an REVISED PAGE intermediate transport device which is to be placed onto the machine frame of the digging device. Disadvantageous is the wide construction of the grazing wheels as well as the low drive power which is able to be transferred because the first conveyor and the grazing wheels are powered via the same drive. Rock, as it is encountered during the sinking process, cannot be mined with such a device without additional auxiliary aggregates or separate procedures to loosen the rock. Especially disadvantageous is the overall height of such a device.

An in principle similarly working sinking machine is found in the DE-OS 29 11 705.

Here, a cutting roller operates that is located at the head of a cutting arm which is equipped with shredding teeth or similar features whereas it is used to crush or loosen the rock as well as to transport it towards the conveyor. A similarly working sinking machine can also be found in the DE-PS 21 60 which operates similar to the aforementioned sinking machine and which features the same disadvantages as that the cutting roller which pivots around a horizontal axis can only be operated with a very extensive boom arm in order to absorb the resulting force. It is an added problem that with the known devices caterpillar vehicles are used which offer limited options to securely transfer the forces that are to be absorbed.

o -o The device to extend the sections that is disclosed in US 4,664,449 features two cutting rollers which are located on the front bar of a supporting arm in a fixed distance from each other. The bar runs in right angle to the supporting arm and features a cylinder via which the cutting rollers can be moved back and forth in horizontal direction. The 25 single supporting arm which carries both cutting rollers at the same time can be used which is only possible with high supporting forces and required enormous forces and energies. Also, the US-PS 3,472.555 shows a machine, which features two level discs on its only support arm which. are evenly powered by a drive in the middle, but are fixated in a previously specified distance from each other. With such a grinding disc device it is also only possible to operate both level or grinding discs at the same time and thus in a specified distance.

The invention seeks to provide a sinking machine which facilitates the sinking process.

According to the present invention there is provided a sinking machine for lowering the 35 sole of a mine section to a standard level, said machine including a machine frame which includes a floor plate unit and a stabilizer and connector unit, said machine further including a drive, a cutting device and a discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor being related to said cutting device so that material cut from the mine section can be discharged to a position behind the machine frame, and wherein said cutting device includes two swing rollers which are each held by a supporting arm, said swing rollers being arranged so that they are adjustable in height, and wherein each of said supporting arms are pivotally mounted in a bearing associated with a side portion of the floor plate unit.

A sinking machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is arranged so that cutting into a new dig area as well as further cutting can be executed at a point where the least pressure is necessary. These are the main areas because convergencerelated elevations have their largest measurements in the middle of the section. Because the swing rollers in the main area are only used in their partial length, the necessary cutting forces are smaller than what would be necessary if the rollers would cut on their full length or with the penetration of a shovel. With this procedure the forces are the same regardless of the location as a result of the process that takes place parallel to the section and due to the unchanged and fully applied width of the cut. Due to those differences the said invention no longer requires that the necessary counter forces are created through weight. Moreover, the corresponding sinking machine can be secured and supported in a different way which will be further discussed. Because of the height of the swing rollers can be adjusted, the differences when navigating hollows and elevations can be compensated for without a problem while it is ensured that in relation tot the cutting forces and the necessary counter force only the least possible strain is to be endured and absorbed.

It is a further advantage of an embodiment of the invention that independent from the hardness of the underlying layers the necessary restoring forces can be achieved due to 20 the process parallel to the section. The demands on the design of the stabilizer and connector unit are furthermore decreased due to the contra-rotating swing rollers and the resulting compensation of the restoring forces. Of course, theoretically, there is the S•.option to operate with a single swing roller by which the advantage of the compensation 2 5 of the restoring forces would be lost. Therefore, the entire sinking machine could be 25 smaller, however, you need to take into consideration that the use of two sink rollers enable an extensive adaptation to varying section widths.

The attachment of the support arms of both swing rollers on a side portion of the S. 0 machine frame and the compact design of the support arm bearing offers the option to start the induction of the cutting process without a problem in the area where the section is to be extended and to pivot from there towards the middle in order to take full advantage use of the previously described advantages. At the same time, the conveyed *material will be pushed towards the conveyor which transfers the material towards a conveyor that operates in the middle so that it can take on the loosened material and 35 convey it. The bearing of the support arm in its compact design enables the application of the necessary forces via the swing rollers and the support arm as well as the support arm bearing in the machine frame.

Previously it has been indicated that the support arms are related to the machine frame and can be adjusted in their height. According to one embodiment of the invention the height of the support arm connectors can be adjusted via hydraulic control cylinders which do not feature joints themselves but rather require only a shift of the support bearing inside their control cylinder in order to adjust the height of the swing rollers.

As also previously mentioned, the support arms of the swing roller can be moved from the front of the device to the middle of the section. This is due to the further design of the invention as such that the support arms feature integrated swing cylinders which also allow a corresponding slight movement during the application of the necessary force onto the swing rollers.

A compact design which hardly effects the entire outline of the sinking machine is such that the swing rollers are equipped with a powering drive in the hollow shaft of the body of the roller. Here, it was found that the integration of the drive with a power of 100 KW is possible via which the necessary forces can be applied without a problem. Such swing rollers theoretically can be compared with the crusher roller at the main drive whereas the goal of the discussed invention is to utilize mostly existing construction parts. Thus, proven components can be used as they have been used for a long time with the crusher rollers.

Because the swing rollers are preferably set to work counteractively towards the middle, the restoring forces that are a result from the cutting process can be compensated for to a great extent. The drives that are integrated in the rollers summon up the necessary forces.

A stable sinking machine which can be moved depending to the mining progress while allowing an optimal stable positioning is such where the machine frame is designed as a 20 front floor plate unit which features the boom arm bearing as well as a rear stabilizer •and connector unit which both can be braced against the gallery ends and which can be moved towards each other via hydraulic cylinders and skids which serve as an undercarriage. By bracing the floor plate unit against the gallery ends and by 25 corresponding loosening of the stabilizer and connector unit. The stabilizer and 25 connector unit can be moved towards the front to be braced again and then the floor plate unit can be loosened so that it can move forwards together with the boom arm bearing together with the swing rollers that are arranged on the boom arm so that the high forces of the hydraulic cylinder can apply the necessary pressure onto the cutting :o :rollers.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is intended that the hydraulic cylinder can be spherically moved and that it is designed to allow for an angle between the floor plate unit and the stabilizer and connector unit. Thus, differences in height •between floor plate unit and stabilizer and connector unit can easily be compensated for 35 without putting pressure on the hydraulic cylinder. In addition, the floor plate unit can also specifically be elevated or lowered to also optimally sink hollows and saddles.

The functional forward movement and at the same time the application of the necessary pressure onto the swing rollers can be achieved with the fact that the floor plate unit and the stabilizer and connector unit van be braved independently from each other against the gallery end by special mining braces and support cylinders. The special mining braces and the support cylinders enable the application of the necessary forces without endangering the stability of the gallery end against which the special mining braces are being placed. The special mining braces ensure the application of forces onto multiple push segments of the expansion at the same time.

Sinking Machine with Vertical Swing Rollers E 9409.doc Page 5 of Previously it has been mentioned that the hydraulic cylinders can be spherically moved and that they are designed to allow for an angle between floor plate unit and stabilizer and connector unit. The vertical direction of the floor plate unit can now also be additionally adjusted whereas it is intended that the floor plate unit is equipped with a level control which rests on the stabilizer and connector unit. Thus the floor plate unit can be appropriately adjusted according to all changes of direction as they become necessary so that all sinking procedures can operate completely skillfully.

For the advantageous positioning of the conveyor as well as for the advantageous positioning of the boom arm bearing it is intended that the floor plate unit consists of a middle part which includes the conveyor and two side parts which in turn include the special mining braces and intermediary adapter rails. Thus, depending on the connection of the individual parts the absorption of the pressure and forces can take place without impacting the other part. However, foremost it gives the option to specify the width and therefore the construction of the individual sinking machine according to the specific spatial conditions through the inserted adapter rail. The side parts are attached to the middle part via the adapter rails whereas the adapter pieces or the adapter rails feature a width that corresponds with the individual requirements.

The loading process for the loosened material is facilitated through a special design of the middle piece or better the floor plate unit whereas it is intended that the floor plate unit is equipped with a shovel-shaped loading ramp with loading aprons and a loading strip on its front edge. Due to this design the remaining mining material on the section is being pushed onto the front part of the floor plate unit when the device moves forward while this operation is facilitated through the shovel-shaped design. This enforces the transfer of the loosened mining material towards the conveyor so that a slipping off of the loosened material from the working area is impossible. Loading aprons that are attached on the sides catch the loosened material and transfer it via funnel-shaped sheets to the conveyor.

Part of the weight of the floor plate unit (total weight about 18 to 20 tons) is diverted by the fact that according to the invention the loading strip features a pointed bearing. This ensures a clean removal of the material and counteracts the tendency of the floor plate unit to slip up onto the loosened material. This effect can also be countered through the level control.

The job of the level control can also be facilitated by the fact that the rear lower edge of the floor plate unit is phased. The floor plate unit can be put in an upwards facing position via the appropriate control cylinder without resulting in a negative impact between floor plate unit and stabilizer and connector unit.

The stabilizer and connector unit, just like the floor plate unit, is being braced against the gallery. The stabilizer and connector unit can take over this function especially well when it is divided into middle part, side parts and adapter rails and when it is equipped with a positioning piece for the conveyor in the middle section which absorbs the relative REVISED PAGE 6 motion between the conveyor and the stabilizer and connector unit during the forward motion without a problem and which also permits curves, angles and similar positions.

The conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention is built in such a way that it consists of an inflexible frame which can be laid on the positioning piece of the stabilizer and connector unit and which is jointed to the front end of the floor plate unit so that it can pivot horizontally. Thus it can lift from the floor plate unit when passing through hollows and lift from the stabilizer and connector unit when driving over saddles without diminishing its function.

The floor plate unit and the stabilizer and connector unit are preferably connected at about the height of the centre of gravity of the sinking machine to form the level control. Thus it is intended that the level control consists of level control cylinders which are fixated on oscillators and like them are pivotally attached to the floor plate unit and via a cardan joint are linked with thruster poles which can be moved within the stabilizer and connector unit in parallel direction to the section. The connection with the side of the stabilizer and connector unit is preferably made via two thruster poles, as mentioned, which are positioned in the stabilizer and connector unit and can be moved towards in the in direction of the section and which are connected with the oscillators 20 via cardans. With such a level control, the front part of the floor plate unit can be lifted (as to pass over a bump or to ascend on the section), the positioning pressure of the loading ramp can be reinforced to avoid the climbing, to improve the clearing effect) of the floor plate unit can be pushed underneath the material on the sole of the section 2 (diving drive). Thus the versatility of the new sinking machine is additionally increased.

An embodiment of the invention is especially characterized by the fact that sinking machine has been designed that has a versatile use while it is small in size in comparison to its yield because it absorbs necessary restoring forces well and applies 30 cutting by the means of a simple and very functional construction. The therefore overall optimal dimensioned sinking machine can practically be used in sections of varying diameters, meaning widths, because the adapter rails offer the option to adjust the width of the sinking machine easily and quickly to the width of the section while the two swing rollers ensure that with optimal application of the necessary cutting forces the 35 same are inserted into the mountain in such a skilful way that.the individual parts can be kept small. The individual parts relate to each other and are designed that the necessary cutting productivity can be achieved with the smallest possible aggregates, but that also the necessary restoring forces are either diminished well enough or at least absorbed well enough that they hinder the operation and enable an especially functional construction. It is further advantageous that together with a high cutting performance it is ensured that the loosened material is safely transferred and that due to the design the operation can be handled with either one disabled swing roller or also with only one swing roller when the width of the section or its share requires this.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a side view of a sinking machine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the sinking machine shown in Figure 1.

The sinking machine 1 according to Figure 1 is utilized in a section 2 of underground mining to return the sole 3 of the which is limited due to a considerable elevation 7 in its cross section to its previous condition without having to remove the section support and the support arches. The support arches protect the section 2 by effectively setting a brace between the sole 3 of the section and its ridge 4. The sinking machine 1 is designed to move parallel to the gallery end 6 towards longitudinal section direction 8 whereas the details will be discussed later.

The sinking machine 1 features a machine frame 20 which can be moved I longitudinal section direction 8 with the aid of drive. For that, there are hydraulic cylinders 12 placed between the floor plate unit 15 and the stabilizer connector unit 16 which can move the .1 20 floor plate unit 15 in longitudinal section direction 8 on its skids 13, 14 when the stabilizer and connector unit 16 is braced and which can pull the stabilizer and S-connector unit 16 via the hydraulic cylinders 12 when the floor plate unit 15 is affixed.

With the movement of the floor plate unit 15 in longitudinal section direction 8 the 25 cutting device 17 is moved against the elevation 7 at the same time so that it can cut there and transfer the loosened material to the conveyor 18.

Especially Figure 2 clarifies that here the cutting device of the floor plate unit consists of two swing rollers 19, 20 which are arranged on a longer boom arm 21 and 30 which rest on the machine frame 10 by means of a boom bearing 22. Part of the boom arm bearing 22 are the adjusting cylinders 23, which achieve a height adjustment of the boom arm bearing 22. Thus the penetration depth of the swing roller 19, 20 into the elevation 7 can be set according to the requirements.

35 Figure 1 and Figure 2 do not provide details regarding the shape of the roller body 24.

It is to be assumed that the swing rollers 19, 20 just like traditional cutting devices, are equipped with appropriate pricks to facilitate the chopping of the rock or the elevation 7.

During the extraction or the extraction of the elevation or its loosened material the special mining braces 25, 25' are inserted into the floor plate unit 15 via the support cylinders 26 while the middle part 28 runs in between both of the side parts 29, 30 and carries the conveyor 18. There are adapter rails 31, 32 arranged between the middle part 28 and the side parts 290, 30 via which the width of the entire sinking machine can be adjusted according to the existing necessities. There are adapter rails 31, 32 in varying widths so that those only have to be inserted to increase the width of the machine or to be taken out to make it narrower accordingly.

The number 33 relates to the level control via which the position of the floor plate unit can be adjusted to correspond with the necessities. This level control 33 consists of the level control cylinders 34 which in turn are connected with oscillators 35 which are pivotally attached to the floor plate unit 15 while they are linked with thruster poles via a cardan joint 36 and which are arranged within the stabilizer and connector unit 16 so that they can be moved.

The front edge 39 of the floor plate unit 15 according to Figure 2 is a loading ramp with a loading ledge 41 which is shaped in such a way that the material that was loosened by the swing rollers 19, 20 can be transferred to the front reversal 47 of the conveyor 18. The corresponding intake material is then transferred over the conveyor 18 to the rear reversal 48 and from there transferred to the next conveyor aggregate.

A change in the slope of the floor plate unit 15 is possible through the level control 33 but also through the hydraulic cylinder 12 as the lower edge 42 of the floor plate unit 20 is phased accordingly.

Numeral 44 relates to the positioning piece via which the conveyor 18 rests on the stabilizer and connector unit 16. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 show that the conveyor 18 is built as an inflexible frame 45 that holds the reversals 47, 48 as well as the carriers 25 and the chains. The inflexible frame 45 is only partially supported and fixated in the front part 46 of the floor plate unit The stabilizer and connector unit 16 includes mining braces 25, 25', support cylinders 26, 26', a middle part -28, side parts 29', 30' on either side, as well as the inserted adapter rails 31', 32'.

The height of the boom arm bearings 22 can be adjusted via cylinders that are not shown. In the standard position, the penetration depth of the swing rollers 19, 20 and *the lower edge 42 of the floor plate unit 15 are on the same level (sole drive). By 35 increasing the height of the swing rollers 19, 20 the level of the digging operation can be increased. Additionally, the passing of a hollow is thus facilitated. This option however is also given through the level control 33. The swing rollers 19, 20 can also move from the standard position downwards so that the lower edge 42 of the floor plate unit 15 can be undercut. This facilitates the dive or the passing over saddles. The effect can also be achieved through the level control 33.

Previously it was indicated that at approximately the height of the centre of gravity of the sinking machine, the stabilizer and connector unit 16 and the floor plate unit 15 are connected with two spherically set hydraulic cylinders 12. The spherical design of this attachment is necessary to allow for angles between the stabilizer and connector unit 16 and the floor plate unit 15 to pass through curves and hollows or saddles. The same is true for the two level control cylinders 34. They are affixed on two oscillators 35 and are pivotally attached to the floor place unit 15. The attachment on the side of the stabilizer and connector unit 16 is achieved through two thruster poles 37, which, as previously mentioned, are guided within the stabilizer and connector unit 16 to move in longitudinal section direction 8 and are cardinally connected with the oscillators The level control 33 can lift the front part 46 of the floor plate unit 15 and enforce the positioning pressure of the loading ramp to push the floor plate unit into the existing material.

The start position which is followed by the following work processed, can be described as such: The floor plate unit 15 and the stabilizer and connector unit 16 have been positioned towards the section if necessary with the aid of special mining braces The correction of the horizontal position of the floor plate unit 15 takes place via the pressure onto the hydraulic cylinders 12, the vertical position through the adjustment of the level control cylinder 34 with enforced special mining braces at the stabilizer and connector unit 16 and relaxed special mining braces 25, 25' at the floor plate unit The swing rollers 19, 20 are located immediately prior to the lowering thrust or the elevation 8 and are extended to the gallery end. In the cut section between the gallery :end and the loading ramp 40 there is possibly some residue of the previous cutting process. The stabilizer and connector unit 16 has been moved up by bracing the floor plate unit 15 with the special mining braces 25, 25' of the stabilizer and connector unit 16 are taken off, the hydraulic cylinder 12 is lowered and the special mining braces 25' of the stabilizer and connection unit 16 are pushed against the gallery end 6. The height of the swing rollers 19, 20 have been adjusted to the new sole level and they are 25 operating (turning direction towards each other, turning direction towards the middle of the section).

The cutting into the new dig starts by synchronizing the extension of the two hydraulic cylinders 12 and by pushing the floor plate unit 15 forward into longitudinal section direction with the turning swing rollers 19, 20. With that, the special mining braces of the floor plate unit 15 have been loosened enough that there is no pressure onto the gallery end or the support arches 5 while a possible movement out of the section .axis is prevented due to the long extension of the special mining braces 25, 25', which then build a connection. The speed of the expansion depends on the density of the 35 material that is to be removed as well as the depth of the level to which the section needs to be dug.

With this special procedure that retracting forces which are parallel to the sole thus can be safely controlled through sufficient construction of the steel frame and its stabilizer and connector unit 16. Regarding dimensions, design and grading of the dependability of steel construction and stabilizer and connector unit systems there are extensive scientific finding like from the new shield construction or the bracing systems in the area of section belt-conveyor systems which address much higher forces. The requirements of the stabilizer and connector unit 16 in addition are clearly reduced through the counteractive movement of the rollers and the therefore resulting compensation of the restoring forces.

Simultaneous to the cutting of the swing rollers 19, 20 and the forward motion of the floor plate unit 15 the remaining material between the floor plate unit 15 and the gallery end 6 is lifted onto and pushed over the loading ramp 40 or the loading apron into the conveyor 18. To support this effect but also to introduce an ascending/descending direction correction the level control cylinder 34 can be operated during the forward push. The cutting is completed when the swing rollers 19, 20 sit in the new cut in their entirety. It depends on the type and the height of the layers that are to be removed if a following cut and therefore a reduction of the number of repeat processes is possible.

After completion of the cut, the special mining braces 25, 25' of the floor plate unit are again braced against the gallery end 6 and both swing rollers 19, 20 are moved to the middle of the section under synchronized speed. The swing speed depends on the density of the rock and the corresponding restoring forces. Because the swing speed can be exactly controlled, the restoring forces can be limited by a lot.

On its way to the middle of the section, the swing rollers 19, 20 loosen the layers technically then only singly braced and move them due to the turning direction towards the floor plate unit 15. The conveyor 18 (chain conveyor) which is integrated in the floor plate unit 15 conveys the directly received portion of the loosened material.

The remaining part of the loosened material on the front part 46 of the floor plate unit 15 and on the sole of the section is transferred into the conveyor 18 with the next repetitious movement.

Before they reach the middle of the section, the swing rollers 19, 20 swing over the 25 section axis after one another in order to also reach the spandrel in the middle of the S"section and to remove it. Afterwards they are moved back to the gallery end 6. After the movement of the stabilizer and connector unit 16 as described the section is dug in the width of the swing rollers 19, 20 and the above referenced starting position has been 30 restored.

:The conveyor 18 moves the loosened material in sufficient height behind the sinking machine. Through the geometric positioning of the bearing on the stabilizer and connection unit 16 it can be ensured that the least required transfer height is achieved even when passing through a hollow. Here the self-supporting box construction I which 35 the conveyor is lead across the sinking machine lifts itself from the guiding profile of the floor plate unit 15 and rests on the stabilizer and connector unit 16 so that it can glide. When passing over a saddle box, the box profile lifts from the stabilizer and connector unit 16 and lies freely just on the floor plate unit 16 until the material is thrown. The required amount of movement of the conveyor 18 is achieved through the loose resting of the box profile on the floor plate unit 15 as well as on the stabilizer and connector unit 16 and through a pivotal fixation of the box construction in the area of the front reversal 47. The conveyor 18 transfers the loosened material to a middle conveyor which is attached to the stabilizer and connector unit 16 and which is pulled by it accordingly during the mining process. It is also thinkable to release the loosened material behind the sinking machine onto the sole of the section and to transfer it with a loading device onto a following belt conveyor.

The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in S this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention.

It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

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Claims (13)

1. A sinking machine for lowering the sole of a mine section to a standard level, said machine including a machine frame which includes a floor plate unit and a stabilizer and connector unit, said machine further including a drive, a cutting device and a discharge conveyor, said discharge conveyor being related to said cutting device so that material cut from the mine section can be discharged to a position behind the machine frame, and wherein said cutting device includes two swing rollers which are each held by a supporting arm, said swing rollers being arranged so that they are adjustable in height, and wherein each of said supporting arms are pivotally mounted in a bearing associated with a side portion of the floor plate unit.

2. A sinking machine according to claim 1, wherein the support arms can be adjusted in height via hydraulic control cylinders.

3. A sinking machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the support arms include integrated swing cylinders.

4. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the 20 swing rollers include a powering drive in a hollow shaft of a body of each of the rollers.

5. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the swing rollers are driven counteractively towards one another.

6. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the floor plate unit supports the bearings, and the stabilizer and connector unit is arranged to be braced against the section limits of the mine section, and wherein the floor plate unit and stabilizer and connector unit are each mounted on skids and can be moved towards each other via at least one hydraulic cylinder. 0 07. A sinking machine according to claim 6 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is arranged to allow an angle to form between the floor plate unit and the stabilizer and connector unit. S* 35 8. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the floor plate unit and the stabilizer and connector unit can be braced independently from each other against the restoring forces from the mine section using mining braces and support cylinders.

9. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the floor plate unit is equipped with a level control which rests on the stabilizer and connector unit. A sinking machine according to claim 8, wherein the floor plate unit includes a middle part which encompasses the conveyor, two side parts which encompass the mining braces and intermediary adapter rails.

11. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the floor plate unit includes a shovel-shaped loading ramp with loading aprons and a loading strip on its front edge.

12. A sinking machine according to claim 11, wherein the loading strip includes a pointed bearing.

13. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the floor plate u nit has a rear lower edge which is phased.

14. A sinking machine according to any one of the previous claims wherein the stabilizer and connector unit includes a middle part, side parts and a pair of adapter rails and a positioning piece A sinking machine according to claim 14, wherein the conveyor includes an inflexible frame which can be laid on the positioning piece of the stabilizer and connector unit and which is joined to a front end of the floor plate unit so that it can pivot horizontally.

16. A sinking machine according to claim 9 wherein the level control includes level ••:control cylinders which are located on oscillators which are pivotally attached to the floor plate unit and via a cardan joint are connected with thruster poles which can be moved within the stabilizer and connector unit in parallel direction to the section. S

17. A sinking machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S DATED: 15 OCTOBER 2001 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: RAG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT a