GB2262494A

GB2262494A - Mining apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2262494A
Application number: GB9126723A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Degg; Richard Arthur Naylor
Original assignee: MECO FACE END SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: MECO FACE END SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1991-12-17
Filing date: 1991-12-17
Publication date: 1993-06-23
Also published as: GB9126723D0

Abstract

The mining apparatus comprises a stage loader 10, a staking device 12 located to one side of the stage loader, and an advancing mechanism 13 connected between the stage loader and the staking device for advancing the stage loader relative to the staking device. The staking device comprises a base member 14 and an extendible/retractable hydraulic prop 15 supported by the base member and extendible in use to trap the staking device between the roof and the floor of a mine so that the base member can serve as an anchor for the advancing mechanism. <IMAGE>

Description

MINING APPARATUS This invention relates to mining apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus including a stage loader.

Stage loaders are commonly located at the end of a coal (or other mineral) face being worked to transfer coal from a main conveyor extending along the face to a belt conveyor extending along an access roadway (known as a gate) at the end of the coal face.

Stage loaders are conventionally advanced with the use of a chain anchored at one end to the mine floor. This is not entirely satisfactory as it is a labour intensive operation to anchor the chain to the mine floor and to remove it after an advancing operation and, if the chain snaps, there is a risk of injury to mine personnel.

According to the present invention there is provided mining apparatus comprising a stage loader, a staking device located to one side of the stage loader, and an advancing mechanism connected between the stage loader and the staking device for advancing the stage 'loader relative to the staking device, the staking device comprising a base member and an extendibleXretractable hydraulic prop supported by the base member and extendible in use to trap the staking device between the roof and the floor of a mine so that the base member can serve as an anchor for the advancing mechanism.

Advantageously, the prop extends from the base member at an angle to the vertical and, preferably, the prop is pivotally connected to the base member and the staking device includes an elevation adjustment ram to vary the angle of elevation of the prop. In this latter case, the base member may include two stops to limit the range of angular adjustment of the prop relative to the base member.

The end of the prop remote from the base member has a roof engageable part which may be in the form of a spike or a pivotable beam.

Preferably, the advancing mechanism includes an advancing ram, a torsion link and a slider between the advancing ram and the torsion link, the torsion link being pivotally connected at one end to the slider and at the other end to the base member of the staking device.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of mining apparatus according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of part of the mining apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the mining apparatus shown therein comprises a stage loader 10, which includes a wedge-shaped base structure 11 supporting operational parts of the stage loader, and a staking device 12 located to one side of the stage loader 10 and connected to the base structure 11 by an advancing mechanism 13.

The staking device 12 comprises a ground engaging base member 14, an extendible/retractable prop 15 extending upwards from the base member 14 at an angle to the vertical, and a roof engageable member in the form of a beam 16 pivotally connected to the upper end of the prop 15.

The prop 15 comprises inner and outer telescopic box section members 17 and 18, respectively, and a hydraulic ram 19 mounted within the members 17 and 18. The outer member 18 is connected to the base member 14 for pivotal movement about a hinge pin 20 and an elevation adjustment ram 21 pivotally connected at one end to the base member 14 and at the other end to the outer member 18, is provided to adjust the angle of elevation of the prop 15.

The base member 14 has two stops 22 and 23 to limit the range of angular adjustment of the prop 15 and the beam 16 includes a plurality of shear blocks 24 to give positive location on the arches which support the roof of an access roadway (or gate) at one end of the coal face.

As an alternative to the beam 16, the upper ,end of the inner member 17 may be fitted with a spike as shown at 25.

The advancing mechanism 13 comprises two advancing rams 26 (only one of which is shown in the drawings), a slider 27, and a torsion link 28. The advancing rams 26 and slider 27 are arranged symmetrically within the base structure 11 so that the staking device 12 can be located on either side of the stage loader. The two advancing rams 26 are each connected at one end to the base structure 11 and the other ends of the advancing rams 26 are interconnected by the slider 27 which is guided for slidable horizontal movement in the base structure 11. The torsion link 28 connects the slider 27 to the base member 14 of the staking device 12 and at one end it is pivotally connected to a hinge pin 29 fixed to one side of the slider 27 and at the other end it is pivotally connected to a hinge pin 30 mounted within the base member 14 of the staking device.

When the stage loader is to be advanced, the elevation adjustment ram 21 is extended to lift the prop 15 to the required angle and the ram 19 is operated to extend the prop 15 until the beam 16 engages the arches which support the roof of the access roadway.

The prop 15 applies a load, which includes vertical and horizontal components, between the roof and floor, thereby fixing the base member 14 so that it can serve as an anchor for the advancing mechanism 13. The advancing rams 26 are then operated to advance the stage loader 10 and with it the main conveyor towards the mine face. After the advancing operation has been completed the ram 19 is operated to retract the prop 15 and the elevation adjustment ram 21 is operated to park the prop 15 against the lower stop 23.

Claims

CIsAIXS

1. Mining apparatus comprising a stage loader, a staking device located to one side of the stage loader, and an advancing mechanism connected between the stage loader and the staking device for advancing the stage loader relative to the staking device, the staking device comprising a base member and an extendible/retractable hydraulic prop supported by the base member and extendible in use to trap the staking device between the roof and the floor of a mine so that the base member can serve as an anchor for the advancing mechanism.

2. Mining apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prop extends at an angle to the vertical.

3. Mining apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the prop is pivotally connected to the base member and the staking device includes an elevation adjustment ram to vary the angle of elevation of the prop.

4. Mining apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base member includes two stops to limit the range of angular adjustment of the prop relative to the base member.

5. Mining apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the prop remote from the base has a roof engageable part in the form of a spike.

6. Mining apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end of the prop remote from the base has a roof engageable part in the form of a pivotable beam.

7. Mining apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the advancing mechanism includes an advancing ram, a torsion link and a slider, the torsion link being pivotally connected at one end to the slider and at the other end to the base member of the staking device.

8. Mining apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.