GB2062737A

GB2062737A - Cutter and Conveyor Mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2062737A
Application number: GB8035933A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Dobson Park Industries Ltd
Current assignee: Joy Global Industries Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-09
Filing date: 1980-11-07
Publication date: 1981-05-28
Also published as: GB2062737B

Abstract

A mine roof support (10) for use with high coal faces (14) has an elevated platform (13) supported above the base (11). Coal cutting machines (15, 20) and conveyors (16, 21) are mounted on both base (11) and elevated platform (13), so that upper and lower levels of the coal face (14) can be cut simultaneously. The upper coal cutting machine (20) and conveyor (21) may be mounted on a platform member (19) which is slidable forwardly and rearwardly of the support (10) by means of an extendible jack. The support may be on tracks actuated by jacks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cutter and Conveyor Mounting This invention relates to mine roof supports, and in particular to self-advancing roof supports used along a coal face. More particularly the invention relates to mine roof supports for use with high coal faces and which have an elevated, forwardly extending platform. Such a platform may extend over the coal conveyor and coal cutting machine and may also provide a mounting for a forwardly located roof supporting prop or props. Such arrangements are described in British Patent No. 1,114,472.

Some of the problems associated with the use of such supports in the vicinity of a high coal face are those of the support interfering with the coal cutting operation of the higher part of the coal face and with the removal of the coal cut from that part of the face. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mine roof support which does not present these problems or presents them to a much lesser extent than was the case heretofore.

The invention provides a mine roof support having a base, an elevated forwardly extending platform above the base and supported therefrom and mounting means provided on said elevated platform and adapted to receive coal cutting means.

Further mounting means may be provided on said elevated platform adapted to receive conveyor means.

The coal cutter mounting means may comprise means adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to said elevated platform a coal cutting means when mounted thereon.

The conveyor mounting means may comprise means for moving forwardly and rearwardly relative to said elevated platform, a conveyor means when mounted thereon.

The coal cutter mounting means and the conveyor mounting means may be adapted to move in synchronism coal cutting means and conveyor means when mounted thereon.

The coal cutter mounting means may comprise a platform member, a guiding member attached thereto and at least one guide attached to said elevated platform and adapted to cooperate with said guiding member for relative sliding movement therebetween.

The moving means preferably comprises at least one extendible jack having the respective ends thereof connected to said elevated platform and to said platform member.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of mine roof support according to the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment; and Fig. 3 illustrates a third embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 1 a mine roof support 1 comprises a base 2 and an elevated platform 3.

Mounted on the elevated platform 3 is a coal cutting machine 4. The support 1 is positioned near to and facing a coal face 6 so that the cutting machine 4 is able to cut coal from the upper part of coal face 6 without interference from the structure of the support 1. Another cutting machine (not shown) may be located adjacent the lower part of coal face 6 so as to cut coal from that part of the face and conveyor 7 is mounted on the base 2 for coal removal. The support 1 carries a roofing bar structure 8 and a coal face support sprag 9, which structure 8 is supported from the base 2 by extendible props 5, and the platform 3 and support means for such roofing bar structure would interfere with the cutting and removal of coal from the upper part of coal face 6 by means of a cutting machine located adjacent the base of the coal face 6 and the conveyor 7 mounted on the base 2.The elevated platform 3 with the cutter 4 mounted thereon may be advanced and retracted relative to the remainder of the support 1 by actuation of jack 5.

Fig. 2 illustrates a mine roof support 10 which comprises a base 11, a roofing bar structure 12 and an elevated forwardly extending platform 13, The support 10 is positioned near to and facing a coal face 14, and a conventional coal cutting machine 1 5 and coal conveyor 1 6 are located at the foot of the coal face 14. The elevated platform 13 extends over the conveyor 1 6 and coal cutting machine 15. To aid stability of the support 10 the base 11 is extended forwardly at the toe 1 7. The roofing bar structure 12 is supported from the base 11 by extendible props 18.

On the elevated platform 13, at the forward extension thereof, there are mountings 1 9 adapted to receive a second coal cutting machine 20 and a second conveyor 21.

By this means coal may be cut from the upper and lower parts of the coal face 14 in a convenient manner and the cut coal may readily be removed from both of these cutting areas, thus speeding up production and thereby reducing the cost of cutting the coal.

A further advantage to be gained by this arrangement lies in that during the simultaneous advancements of the several mine roof supports in use at a particular location towards the coal face, the additional conveyor structure adds extra strength and stability to the combination of supports. The supports may comprise means for their advancement in accordance with our copending Applications Nos. 7938882 or 7938879.

The support may be constructed in the manner disclosed in our copending Application No.

7938880, so that the height of the elevated platform 1 3 above the base 11 may be adjusted.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown a mine roof support which has the advantage of, and can be constructed in a similar manner to the previously described embodiment. However with the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 3, a further advantage is gained in that an upper cutting machine, having made a cutting traverse across the coal face, does not have to remain out of use whilst a lower cutting machine makes a cutting traverse. In Fig. 3 there is shown a mine roof support 30, which comprise a base 31, a roofing bar structure 32 and an elevated forwardly extending platform 33. The support 30 is positioned near to and facing a coal face 34, and a conventional coal cutting machine 35 and coal conveyor 36 are located at the foot of the coal face 34. The elevated platform 33 extends over the conveyor 36 and coal cutting machine 35.To aid stability of the support 30 the base 31 is extended forwardly at the toe 37. A roofing bar structure 32 is supported from the base 31 by extendible props 38.

Mounted on the elevated platform 33, at the forward extension thereof, is a platform member 39, adapted to receive a second coal cutting machine 40 and a second conveyor 41.

The platform member 39 has longitudinal ribs 42 which are slidably engaged in channels 43 formed in the elevated platform 33. An extendible jack 44 has its ends connected to the elevated platform 33 and the platform member 39 respectively whereby extension or retraction of the jack 44 moves the cutting machine 40 and conveyor 41 forwardly or rearwardly respectively relative to the support 30. In consequence the upper cutting machine may make a cutting traverse of the coal face 34 and may then be moved forwardly relative to the support 30 by an amount equal to the depth of cut taken by the cutter and may make a further cutting traverse of the new coal face 34' whilst the lower cutting machine makes a cutting traverse of the original coal face 34.

By this means coal may be cut from the upper and lower parts of the coal face 34', 34 in a single and convenient manner and the cut coal may readily be removed from the cutting area. Cutting may be performed from the upper and lower regions at the same time, thus speeding up production and thereby reducing the cost of cutting the coal.

Claims

1. A mine roof support having a base, an elevated forwardly extending platform above said base and supported therefrom, and mounting means provided on said elevated platform and adapted to receive coal cutting means.

2. A support according to claim 1 comprising mounting means provided on said elevated platform and adapted to receive conveyor means:

3. A support according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said coal cutter mounting means comprises means adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to said elevated platform a coal cutting means when mounted thereon.

4. A support according to claim 3 wherein said conveyor mounting means comprises means adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to aid elevated platform a conveyor means when mounted thereon.

5. A support according to claim 4 wherein said coal cutter mounting means and said conveyor mounting means are adapted to move in synchronism coal cutting means and conveyor means when mounted thereon.

6. A support according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said coal cutter mounting means comprises a platform member, a guiding member thereon and at least one guide on said elevated platform and adapted to cooperate with said guiding member for relative sliding movement therebetween.

7. A support according to claim 6 wherein said moving means comprises at least one extendible jack having respective ends thereof connected to said elevated platform and to said platform member.

8. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising mounting means provided on said base and adapted to receive coal cutting means and conveyor means.

9. A support according to any one of claims 1 to 8 comprising a roofing bar structure supported from said base.

10. A mine roof support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the figures of the accompanying drawings.