US3691775A

US3691775A - Mineral mining installations

Info

Publication number: US3691775A
Application number: US45471A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernhard Holtrup; Johannes Laabs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-13
Filing date: 1970-06-11
Publication date: 1972-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-19
Also published as: DE1941094C3; GB1239517A; FR2048607A5; DE1941094A1; DE1941094B2

Abstract

A mineral mining installation which has a mineral face conveyor arranged to transfer mineral onto a roadway conveyor supported on a trough and movable relative thereto. Roof support props are disposed on the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor. The props are operably divided into a first set of props connected for movement with the trough and a second set of props connected for movement with the mineral face conveyor and slidably guided on a beam provided on the trough. A shifting ram connected between the trough and the second set of props is used to relatively move the trough and the mineral face conveyor.

Description

United States Patent 1151 3,691,7 7 5 Holtrup et al. 451 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] MINERAL MINING INSTALLATIONS 3,471,201 10/1969 Small ..6l/45 D X [72] Inventors: Bernhard Holtrup, Cappen- V I bergerstrasse 28, 4712 weme; Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Johannes Laabs Konigslandwehr Attorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover 46, 4619 Oberaden, both of Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; J 11, 1970 A mineral mining installation which has a mineral face conveyor arranged to transfer mineral onto a roadway [21] Appl. No.. 45,471 conveyor supported on a trough and movable relative thereto. Roof support props are disposed on the side [30] Foreign Application Pri rity D t of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face Aug. 13, 1969 Germany ..P 19 41 094.7

v The props are operably divided into a first set of props [52] U.S. Cl. ..61/45 D nn t d r m n with th tr ugh a a nd [51] Int. Cl. ..E2ld 23/00 set of props connected for movement with the mineral [58] Field of Search ..61/45 D; 299/11, 31, 33; face conveyor and slidably guided on a beam provided 248/357; 198/126 on the trough. [56] References Chad A shifting ram connected between the trough and the second set of props is used .to relatively move the UNITED STATES PATENTS trough and the mineral face conveyor.

1,450,603 4/1923 Morgan ..6 l/45 D 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEPIS 1912 I 3,691. 775 sum 1 ur a v LL m 1 m cu r\ L0 w INVENTORS 287M471 .Hblirm ATTORNEY PATENTEDSEHQIQYZ 3.691.775

SHEEI 2 OF 3 INVENTORS fer/liar! 'fafra ATTORNEY PATENTEDSEP 19 1912 saw 3 or 3 FIG-4 YFIG.6

FIG.5

MINERAL MINING INSTALLATIONS BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION ln mineral mining it is known to use a roadway conveyor in a roadway gallery to receive mineral from a mineral face conveyor.

With such an arrangement it is necessary to periodically advance the mineral face conveyor in the direction of the mineral face which is being worked.

This advancing process presents constructional difficulties.

Arrangements are known in which a beam is provided which absorbs the forces transmitted by the roadway conveyor during the shifting operation. A beam of this kind is connected with roof support props which are braceable between the roof and the floor of the mine working. The roadway conveyor is movable along the beam, so that when the latter is fixed the roadway conveyor can move with the mineral face conveyor to thereby keep pace with the progress of working for a certain time until the beam needs advancing. At this stage the end of the roadway conveyor is fixed and the beam fed forward.

It has also been suggested that the roadway conveyor should be connected with a loading conveyor built into the roadway in front of the road conveyor and that this loading conveyor should be advanced simultaneously with the roadway conveyor. Here again the force transmitted by the roadway conveyor would be absorbed by a beam positioned parallel with the loading conveyor. The connection between the end of the roadway conveyor and the loading conveyor would be provided by a reinforced length of channelling belonging to the latter conveyor.

The use of a beam of this nature involves the drawback that the transfer station between the mineral face and roadway conveyors occupies considerable space and that when the beam is being fed forward care has to be taken to ensure that it is aligned correctly. If, on the other hand, a connection is made between the end of the roadway conveyor and the aforementioned loading conveyor, then the latter must always be moved during the shifting operation.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved installation of the type generally discussed hereinbefore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a mineral mining installation comprising a mineral face conveyor, a roadway conveyor extending generally perpendicularly to the said mineral face conveyor, a trough member adapted to receive the roadway conveyor and movable in relation to the roadway conveyor, a set of roof support-props disposed on the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor and connected to said trough member for movement therewith, a further set of roof support props connected to one another and to the mineral face conveyor for movement therewith, and shifting means for causing relative movement between the mineral face conveyor and the trough member.

This arrangement ensures that the roadway conveyor is utilized for guiding the roof support system composed of the sets of props and the mineral face conveyor but without the need for the former to accompany the system when part of the latter is advanced. The provision of the trough member in which the roadway conveyor is received enables considerable space to be saved, so that the installation can also be used with roadways of comparatively small cross section.

According to a further feature of the invention, the trough member is provided with a guide beam on the side thereof adjacent the mineral face conveyor, the mineral face conveyor and the further set of props being slidably guided relative to said beam.

It is preferable for the further set of props and for the mineral face conveyor to have guide sleeves each of which slidably engages the beam. The sleeves can be interconnected by means of connecting pieces which are flexibly connected or articulated to said sleeves.

With an installation made in accordance with this invention props especially adapted for the purpose in view can be utilized. The position of the props in relation to one another can be varied by removing and replacing-the aforementioned connecting pieces as and y when required. At the same time it is of great advantage for a carriage consisting of a number of interbe taken apart more easily for the purpose of transport I r to the side where it is to be used.

According to a further feature of the invention the shifting means is in the form of a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit mounted above the guide beam, the cylinder of said unit being connected to the further set of props and the piston rod of said unit being connected with the trough member. This not only results ina considerable saving of space but prevents the shifting unit from impeding the operation of mounting and assembling the connecting pieces.

The first set of props, which are rigidly connected with the trough member, and the further set of props, which are displaceable in respect of the trough member, have to support the roof at the transition point from the mineral face gallery and the roadway gallery. The props are therefore preferably equipped with head pieces which engage the roof. In order to ensure that the props do not interfere with one another, the head pieces of the further set of props are displaced relative to the head pieces of the first set of props by a distance corresponding approximately to the width of each head piece.

It is of advantage for each prop of the first set of props to be disposed outwardly beyond the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor in relating to the further set of props. Moreover, each prop of the first set of props is preferably displaceable in a direction transversely of the trough member with the aid of a shifting ram. The transversal displaceability of the first set of props makes it possible to adapt the installation to irregularities in the width of the roadway gallery. Furthermore correction can be made, if necessary, to the direction of movement of the trough member and thus the roadway conveyor.

According to a further feature of the invention each prop of each set of props is provided with means for varying the angle of inclination of the prop in relation to the horizontal. The purpose of this measure is to ensure that the props can in each case be adjusted, before the bracing step to the best possible position for the prevailing conditions. Since, however, the angular position of the props, during the bracing processes, may still change as a result of the roof setting pressure, the adjusting means determining the angle of inclination should be relieved of load when the props are set so that it is not subjected to any excessive strain. The means for varying the angle of inclination each of the props is in the form of a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit. Each prop preferably also has resilient means adapted to bias the prop into a vertical position.

As the position of the mineral face conveyor in respect of the trough member changes while the conveyor is being fed forward the transfer point moves along the trough member. Thus it is advisable for the side plate of the roadway conveyor which faces towards the mineral face conveyor to be provided at the transfer zone with a recess through which the coal face conveyor passes. Additional side places can be situated on'both sides of the mineral face conveyor and made displaceable 'along the sections of the side plates at either side of the recess at least to an extent corresponding to the length of the stroke of the shifting means.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other features of the invention may become more apparent, from consideration of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A constructional embodiment of the present invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a coal mining installation made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the installation shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3-is a more detailed view of certain elements of the installation of FIGS. 1 and 2 related to the coal face conveyor thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view partially in section taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 3; I g

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a more detailed view of the installation of FIGS. 1 and 2 related to one of the roof support props thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.

The installation depicted in the accompanying drawings has a coal face conveyor 1 of which only the part adjacent to the roadway gallery is shown. A coal winning machine, not shown in the drawing is moved along the conveyor 1 in the usual manner. A drive station for the conveyor 1 and the associated winning machine is designated 3.

The mineral obtained from the coal face by the machine is transferred from the coal fact conveyor 1 to a roadway conveyor 2 extending generally perpendicularly to the conveyor 1. In the zone of mineral transference the roadway conveyor 2 is supported in a trough-like member 4 which can be seen more readily in FIGS. 2 and 5. The conveyor 2 is not connected with the member 4 and can therefore move relative thereto.

Roof support props

6, 6', 11, 11' are disposed on the side of the conveyor 2 facing towards the coal face. These

props

6, 6, ll, 1 l have base plates 5, 5', 10, 10' respectively. The roadway gallery roof, shown in outline in FIG. 2 is supported over the transfer zone by the props 6, 6', ll, 11' and these props at the same time serve as a shifting abutment as will be described further hereinafter.

On the side of the roadway conveyor 2 facing towards the coal face the trough-like member 4 is connected to the base plates 5, 5' of the set of props 6, 6' respectively. The base plates 5, 5' are connected to the member 4 by

pivotal joints

9, 9 so as to be pivotable in a vertical plane but rigidly secured in a horizontal plane. Thus, the longitudinal axes of the base plates 5 and 5 are held perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roadway conveyor 2 but the base plates 5, 5' can adapt themselves to irregularities in the floor. Horizontally disposed shifting rams 7, only one of which is shown diagrammatically in the drawing, can be operated to vary the transverse distance between the prop 6, 6' and the trough-like member 4, and thus the roadway conveyor 2, as depicted by the double arrow 8.

In contrast to the props 6, 6' the set of props 11, 11' are displaceable along the trough-like member 4 in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor 2. To this end a guide beam 17 is affixed to the member 4 on the side thereof facing the coal face and this beam 17 is slidably engaged by sleeves 18 18" connected with the base plates 10 10' respectively via pivotable joints 14, 14' respectively as shown in FIG. 6. The provision of the joints 14, 14' again allow the props 1 1, 1 1 to cope with any uneveness in the floor. In a similar manner the conveyor 1 is connected to a further sleeve 18' slidably engaging the beam 17.

In order to ensure the necessary mobility of the conveyor 1 in relation to the sleeve 18' and the guide beam 17 the conveyor 1 is provided with a horizontal shaft 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A guide element 20 engages around the shaft 20 and allows the latter to be angularly displaced therein in a vertical swinging movement. The element 20 is in turn pivotably connected to the sleeve 18' by means of a vertical pin 21 so that the element 20 can be angularly displaced in a horizontal swinging movement. Thus, the conveyor 1 has a certain free movement with horizontally and vertically in relation to the sleeve 18' and hence the guide beam 17.

The

sleeves

18, 18, 18" which are slidably displaceably along the guide beam 17 are interconnected with one another. In particular, a connecting piece 24 connects the sleeve 18" to the sleeve 18', and the piece 24 is flexibly connected or articulated to the sleeves 18", 18. Likewise, a further connecting piece 23 connects the sleeve 18 and the sleeve 18 and the piece 23 is again flexibly connected or articulated to the sleeve The pressure medium for actuating the

props

6, 6', 11 and 11' is conveyed through conduits which are disposed in protective tubes 27 extending over the conveyor 2.

To enable the set of props l l and 11', the conveyor 1 and the driving station 3 to be displaced along the trough member 4 in the longitudinal direction thereof a double-acting hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit is mounted about the guide beam 17. The cylinder of the unit 15 is affixed to the guide sleeve 18' by a joint 22 and the piston rod 16 of the unit 15 is effectively connected to the trough member 4 since it is affixed to the joint 9' between the base plate 5' of the prop 6' and the member 4. A fixed side plate 31 is disposed on the side of the conveyor 2 adjacent the conveyor 1. The plate 31 is providedwith a recess over the transferring zone and the conveyor 1 engages or faces the recess. At each side of the conveyor 1 and connected thereto side plates 32 are provided which extend longitudinally of the conveyor 2 to overlap the sections of the plate 31 at either side of the recess. The side plates 32 can slide along these sections and the amount of overlap is made to correspond with the fall stroke of the unit 15.

The

props

6 and 6', and 11 and 11' carry

head pieces

12, 13 at their upper ends, as may be seen from FIG. 2 which

pieces

12, 13 engage the roof. The longitudinal axes of these

pieces

12, 13 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor 2. To ensure that the

head pieces

12, 13 do not interfere with one another the adjacent props 6, l 1 and 6' and 11' are laterally displaced from one another in relation to the roadway conveyor 2 by a distance corresponding to the width of one of the

head pieces

12, 13. Each

prop

6, 6, 11 11 is provided with aset of spring 30 by means of which the props are biased into a substantially upright position. To enable the angle of inclination of the

props

6, 6', 11 and 11' to be adapted to the roof of the props themselves are pivotable about joints 28. The axes of the joints 28 are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor 2. The angle of inclination of each of the props 6, 6', ll, 11' can be adjusted by means of a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit 26. Each unit 26 is articulated or flexibly connected to the base plate of its associated prop at the point marked 25 and is connected to the prop via a toggle lever 29. Each of the units 26 is rendered non-operative whenever the associated prop is set against the roof to avoid damaging the unit 26.

The shifting operation of the installation is as follows:

It is assumed that the coal face is being advanced to the right of FIG. 1. At the beginning of the first phase of the work the installation is situated in the position shown, in which all the props 6, 6', l1 and 11' are braced against the roof in the roof supporting state. As soon as the coal face conveyor 1 is to be advanced to the right, the props l1 and 11' are retracted and the unit 15 is fed with pressure medium to retract the piston rod 16. The props 1 1 and 11' the conveyor 1 and the driving station 3 of the conveyor 1 are effectively connected to the cylinder 15 and therefore these parts are shifted to the right along the guide beam 17. The trough member 4 and the road conveyor 2 do not move and the trough member 4 is firmly secured, in this process, by the braced props 6 and 6'.

As soon as the driving station 3 has reached the new position the props 11 and 11' are once again extended and braced in relation to the roof. This sequence may be repeated several times until the stroke of the unit 15 is exhausted. In this position the prop 11' is situated close by the prop 6', while the prop 11 has moved away from the prop 6.

To enable the trough member 4 to follow up the station 3 the props 6 and 6' are released, while the

props

11 and 11 remain braced. The unit 15 is now fed with pressure medium in such a way that the piston rod 16 extends to push the trough member 4 and the

props

6 and 6 to the right of FIG. 1. The trough member 4 is thus caused to move relative to the roadway conveyor 2. At the end of the stroke of the unit 15 the installation is once again in the position shown in FIG. 1. The props 6 and 6' can now once again be braced but if necessary, this takes place after correction of their transversal distance from the roadway conveyor 2 with the aid of the shifting rams 7.

Although the position of the transfer zone between the conveyors 1, 2 will be changed in the abovedescribed shifting operation the provision of the slidable plates 32 ensures correct transference of material between the conveyors 1, 2.

We claim:

1. A mineral mining installation comprising:

a. mineral face conveyor,

b. a roadway conveyor extending generally perpendicularly to the said mineral face conveyor,

a trough member adapted to receive the roadway conveyor and movable in relation to the roadway conveyor,

. a set of roof support props disposed on the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor and connected to said trough member for movement therewith,

. a further set of roof support props connected to one another and to the mineral face conveyor for movement therewith, and

f. shifting means for causing relative movement between the mineral face conveyor and the troug member.

2. An installation according to claim 1, wherein the trough member is provided with a guide beam on the side thereof adjacent the mineral face conveyor, the mineral face conveyor and the further set of props being slidably guided relative to said beam.

3. An installation according to claim 2, wherein the further set of props and the mineral face conveyor have guide sleeves each of which slidably engages the beam.

4. An installation according to claim 3, wherein the sleeves are interconnected by means of connecting pieces.

5. An installation according to claim 4, wherein said connecting pieces are articulated to the sleeves.

6. An installation according to claim 2 wherein the shifting means is in the form of a hydraulically operated piston and cylinder unit mounted about the guide beam, the cylinder of said unit being connected to the further set of props and the piston rod of said unit being connected with the trough member.

7. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each prop of each set of props has a head piece for engaging the roof and the head pieces of the further set of props are displaced relative to the head pieces of the first set of props by a distance corresponding approximately to the width of each head piece.

8. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each prop of the first set of props is disposed outwardly beyond the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor in relation to the further set of props and is displacable in a direction transversely of the trough member with the aid of an associatedshifting ram.

9. An installation according to claim 1 wherein each prop of each set of props is provided with means for varying the angle of inclination of the prop in relation to the horizontal.

10. An installation according to claim 9, wherein the means for varying the angle of inclination of each of the props is in the form of a hydraulically operating piston and cylinder unit. p

l 1. An installation according to claim 9 wherein each prop has resilient means adapted to bias the prop into a vertical position.

12. An installation according to claim 1 wherein the roadway conveyor has afixed side place at the side 13. An installation according to claim 12, wherein the additional plates overlap said sections by an amount greater than the-full stroke of the shifting means.

zg gg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,6915175 Dated September 19, 1972 Inventor(s) Bernhard Holtrup and Johannes Laabs It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the first page thereof, following the list of Inventors, please enter the name and address of the assignee as follows:

Assigne'e: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia.

Wethmar Bei Lunen Westfalia, Germany Signed and sealed this 17th day of ,April 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A mineral mining installation comprising: a. mineral face conveyor, b. a roadway conveyor extending generally perpendicularly to the said mineral face conveyor, c. a trough member adapted to receive the roadway conveyor and movable in relation to the roadway conveyor, d. a set of roof support props disposed on the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor and connected to said trough member for movement therewith, e. a further set of roof support props connected to one another and to the mineral face conveyor for movement therewith, and f. shifting means for causing relative movement between the mineral face conveyor and the trough member.

8. An installation according to claim 1, wherein each prop of the first set of props is disposed outwardly beyond the side of the roadway conveyor adjacent the mineral face conveyor in relation to the further set of props and is displacable in a direction transversely of the trough member with the aid of an associated shifting ram.

10. An installation according to claim 9, wherein the means for varying the angle of inclination of each of the props is in the form of a hydraulically operating piston and cylinder unit.

11. An installation according to claim 9 wherein each prop has resilient means adapted to bias the prop into a vertical position.

12. An installation according to claim 1 wherein the roadway conveyor has a fixed side place at the side thereof which faces towards the mineral face conveyor, the latter being provided with a recess into which the mineral face conveyor extends, and there is further provided additional side plates which are situated at both sides of the mineral face conveyor and extend parallel to the section of said fixed plate at either side of the mineral face conveyor to overlap said sections, said additional plates being connected to said mineral face conveyor and displaceable relative to said sections of the fixed plate.

13. An installation according to claim 12, wherein the additional plates overlap said sections by an amount greater than the full stroke of the shifting means.