WO2020172705A1

WO2020172705A1 - Mining apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2020172705A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/050164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Raymond Dyer
Original assignee: Auger Mining Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-26
Filing date: 2020-02-25
Publication date: 2020-09-03

Abstract

A mining machine including a base, a platform having a front end pivotally mounted to the base, the platform being configured to receive and support an auger flight, a carriage movably mounted to the platform, an electric motor mounted on the carriage, the electric motor being configured to rotate the auger flight, a carriage drive configured to move the carriage longitudinally along the platform to thereby urge the auger flight towards a substrate and thereby extract material from the substrate and a platform drive configured to elevate a rear of the platform so that the platform can be provided at a desired incline relative to the base.

Description

MINING APPARATUS

Background of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a mining apparatus, and in one particular example to a mining apparatus including an auger for mining an inclined coal seam, or other similar deposit.

Description of the Prior Art

[0002] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

[0003] Highwall mining is an established and proven method of mining a coal seam by remote controlled drilling. This method involves a drilling machine to drill directly into the coal seam laterally, with coal being removed from the hole by means of the scrolling action of the auger flights which transports the coal to surface where it is then loaded by a conveyor chain onto an integral side stacker to create stockpiles beside the auger.

[0004] Typical auger drill hole diameters of 1.8m have become the norm over the last 25 years. To enable this, the auger and associated drive mechanism are mounted on a platform that is supported on jack legs, which allow the platform to be raised and lowered. The auger is mounted parallel to the platform, so that the auger can be tilted by differentially extending legs at the front and rear of the platform. An example of such an arrangement is provided by the Coal Augering Services AM 1500 Auger Miner.

[0005] However, such arrangements suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, the arrangement is restricted to mining coal seams that have a dip of less than 15°, resulting from a practical limit of length of jack legs, and limitations regarding the ability of the diesel engine and power shift automatic transmissions to operate at tilt angles of the greater than 15°, even with specialised dry sump lubrication systems. For example, diesel engine inclination is limited by the engine lubrication system, and even when equipped with dry sump lubrication systems, diesel engines suffer oil frothing and surge which results in premature engine failure. Additionally, the jack legs are perpendicular to the platform, meaning all drilling and retraction forces are presented as longitudinal loads in the weakest plane for the jack leg structures. This in turn limits the overall drilling force that can be applied.

[0006] As a result of these limitations, viable drilling for seams of greater than 15° has not been achieved, which has resulted in substantial amounts of coal being sterilised and unminable.

[0007] US-5,330,257 describes an auger mining apparatus includes a support frame holding a tilt platform. A tilt mechanism displaces the tilt platform at a pitch between 0°- 45° relative to the support frame. A stacked, dual carriage arrangement is carried by the tilt platform. A bidirectional auger drive system is mounted to the upper carriage. The dual carriages are mounted for reciprocal movement along independent paths extending substantially perpendicular to one another. An auger clamp mounted to the tilt platform includes a pilot member for guiding auger sections and a mechanism allowing movement on the pilot member through two separate planes; the second perpendicular to the first. The auger clamp also includes a clamping/decoupling plate and a mechanism for moving the plate in a third plane orthogonal to the first and second planes. Thus, the pilot member with the clamping/decoupling plate may also be utilized to clamp and hold an auger line in position even in steeply pitched seams.

[0008] However, this arrangement is configured for underground mining, and only uses smaller scale augers and only mines in an upward direction, meaning this is not suitable for use in highwall mining applications.

Summary of the Present Invention

[0009] In one broad form, an aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a mining machine including: a base; a platform having a front end pivotally mounted to the base, the platform being configured to receive and support an auger flight; a carriage movably mounted to the platform; an electric motor mounted on the carriage, the electric motor being configured to rotate the auger flight; a carriage drive configured to move the carriage longitudinally along the platform to thereby urge the auger flight towards a substrate and thereby extract material from the substrate; and, a platform drive configured to elevate a rear of the platform so that the platform can be provided at a desired incline relative to the base.

[0010] In one embodiment the platform is pivotally mounted to the base via a pivot located proximate to the front end of the platform.

[0011] In one embodiment the platform includes a base and side walls configured to support the auger flight.

[0012] In one embodiment the mining machine includes an auger clamp configured to secure an auger flight in a loading position.

[0013] In one embodiment the machine includes a hoist configured to: load auger flights at the auger loading position; and, retrieve auger flights from the auger loading position.

[0014] In one embodiment the carriage is movable between the front and rear ends of the platform.

[0015] In one embodiment the carriage is positioned proximate the rear end of the platform when loading or retrieving an auger flight.

[0016] In one embodiment carriage drive includes at least one of: linear actuators; hydraulic actuators; and, crowd cylinders extending along the platform.

[0017] In one embodiment the electric motor is a variable speed electric motor.

[0018] In one embodiment the mining machine includes a gear box including a planetary gear reducer to transmit torque from the electric motor to the auger flight.

[0019] In one embodiment machine includes an oil scavenger pump configured to retrieve oil from the gear box and supply pressurised oil to a gear mesh and bearings in the gear box.

[0020] In one embodiment the machine includes a conveyor extending laterally under a portion of the platform to collect extracted material. [0021] In one embodiment the platform includes an opening that releases extracted material onto the conveyor.

[0022] In one embodiment the conveyor is configured to remain substantially level as the platform is inclined.

[0023] In one embodiment the platform drive includes hydraulic actuators.

[0024] In one embodiment the machine includes buffers mounted to a front end of the platform that engage the substrate.

[0025] In one embodiment the buffers are movably mounted to the platform to allow the buffers to move between a retracted position and a deployed position in which the buffers engage the substrate.

[0026] In one embodiment the buffers are hydraulic buffers.

[0027] In one embodiment the buffers are connected to the carriage drive via an interlock to prevent the carriage drive operating unless the buffers are extended.

[0028] In one embodiment the base includes walking skids configured to support the base relative to a ground surface, and allow lateral movement of the base.

[0029] In one embodiment the base includes an equipment platform configured to support equipment.

[0030] In one embodiment platform is configured to operate at an incline of between -10° and 90°.

[0031] In one embodiment the machine includes a controller configured to control at least one of: a hoist; a platform drive; the electric motor; and, the carriage drive.

[0032] In one embodiment the controller is configured to: monitor signals from one or more sensors; and, control operation of the machine in accordance with the monitored signals. [0033] In one embodiment the machine includes a buffer sensor configured to detect deployment of the buffers and wherein the controller is configured to prevent operation of the electric motor and carriage drive until the buffers are deployed.

[0034] In one embodiment the machine includes a power sensor configured to detect power used by the motor and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the motor speed and/or the carriage drive in accordance with the power used.

[0035] In one embodiment the mining machine is a highwall mining machine.

[0036] It will be appreciated that the broad forms of the invention and their respective features can be used in conjunction and/or independently, and reference to separate broad forms is not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that features of the method can be performed using the system or apparatus and that features of the system or apparatus can be implemented using the method.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0037] Various examples and embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

[0038] Figure 1A is a schematic plan view of an example of the mining machine;

[0039] Figure IB is a schematic side view of the mining machine of Figure 1A in a retracted position;

[0040] Figure 1C is a schematic end view of the mining machine of Figure 1A in the retracted position;

[0041] Figure ID is a schematic side view of the mining machine of Figure 1 A in an elevated position;

[0042] Figure IE is a schematic side view of the mining machine of Figure 1A in the elevated position with the auger extended; [0043] Figure IF is a schematic side view of the mining machine of FigurelA in the elevated position with the auger extended and an additional auger flight added;

[0044] Figure 2A is a schematic perspective view of a specific example of a mining machine in an elevated position;

[0045] Figure 2B is a schematic side view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0046] Figure 2C is a schematic reverse side view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0047] Figure 2D is a schematic rear view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0048] Figure 2E is a schematic front view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0049] Figure 2F is a schematic plan view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0050] Figure 2G is a schematic perspective rear view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0051] Figure 2H is a schematic perspective front close up view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0052] Figure 21 is a schematic perspective cutaway view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0053] Figure 2J is a schematic plan cutaway view of the platform of Figure 2A in the elevated position;

[0054] Figure 2K is a schematic perspective view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in a retracted position; [0055] Figure 2L is a schematic side view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the retracted position; and,

[0056] Figure 2M is a schematic front view of the mining machine of Figure 2A in the retracted position.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0057] An example of a mining machine will now be described with reference to Figures 1A to IF.

[0058] For the purpose of illustration, reference will be made to coal mining specifically, but as will become apparent from the following description, the machine can be used for any application in which a material is to be extracted from a substrate, and reference to coal mining is not intended to be limiting. Additionally, while reference is made to highwall mining, it will be appreciated that the mining machine can be used for other applications, and this is not intended to be limiting.

[0059] In this example, the mining machine 100 includes a base 110. The base 110 typically includes a frame or other similar arrangement which is configured to be positioned on a ground surface, either directly and/or via supporting legs as will be described in more detail below.

[0060] A platform 120 is pivotally mounted to the base so that the platform can be provided at a desired incline relative to the base as shown for example in Figures ID to IF. The platform can be of any form but is typically configured to receive and support an auger flight 101. In one example, this is achieved using a base 121 and sidewalls 122, which constrain movement of the auger flight 101, so that the auger flight can only move longitudinally along the platform 120, although other suitable arrangements could be used.

[0061] A carriage 130 is moveably mounted to the platform allowing the carriage to move substantially along a length of the platform as shown for example in Figures ID and IE. An electric motor 140 is mounted on the carriage, with the electric motor being configured to transmit torque to the auger flight 101, either directly or via an intervening gear box, to thereby rotate the auger flight 101. [0062] A carriage drive 150, such as hydraulic actuator or similar, is provided to move the carriage 130 longitudinally along a length of the platform 120, to thereby urge the auger flight 101 forwardly of the platform 120, towards a substrate (not shown), thereby allowing material to be extracted from the substrate.

[0063] Finally the mining machine 100 includes a platform drive 160, such as a hydraulic actuator or similar which can be configured to elevate the rear section of the platform 120, so that the platform 120 can be provided at a desired incline relative to the base 110.

[0064] In use, the mining machine 100 can be positioned adjacent to a coal seam or other substrate to be mined, with the platform 120 being tilted to a desired incline as shown in Figure ID, using the platform drive 160, so that the auger is aligned with a coal seam, or other material to be extracted. The electric motor 140 can then be activated, to thereby rotate the auger flight 101, with the carriage drive 150 being used to urge the carriage 130 towards the front of the platform 120, thereby driving the auger flight 101 into the coal seam and simultaneously removing coal from the seam.

[0065] This process progresses until the carriage 130 reaches a front of the platform 120. At this point, the auger flight 101 can be disengaged from the motor 140, and the carriage 130 returned to a rear of the platform 120. This allows a further auger flight 102 to be positioned on the platform 120, and then coupled to the in-situ auger flight 101 and the motor 140, as shown in Figure IF, allowing the process to be repeated, so that further auger flights are added, thereby progressively drilling into the coal seam.

[0066] Accordingly, the above described system provides a mining machine 100 that is able to drill at an inclined angle into a substrate, such as a coal seam. By virtue of the use of an electric motor 140, and the associated tilting platform 120, this allows drilling to be performed at any angle between 0° and 90°. Additionally, through suitable configuration of the platform 120 and base 110, a slight upward incline can be provided, further extending the range to between -10° and 90°. This allows auger based coal extraction to be performed in a wide range of scenarios, and in particular in highwall mining applications including highly inclined coal seams, which would not otherwise be achievable using traditional highwall auger based drilling machines. [0067] A further benefit of the above described arrangement is that the base 110 is provided at an angle relative to the platform 120, whilst the auger 101, 102 and motor 140, are aligned parallel to the platform 120. As a result, forces are transmitted longitudinally along the platform 120, thereby reducing the force applied longitudinally along the base 110, which in turn can reduce the magnitude of forces perpendicular to any supporting legs. This enables greater drilling forces to be accommodated using reduce strength legs than is achievable in traditional highwall auger mining machines.

[0068] A number of further features will now be described.

[0069] In one example, the platform 120 is pivotally mounted to the base 110 via a pivot located proximate a first front end of the platform 120, with a second rear end of the platform 120 being elevated in use to thereby provide the desired downward incline.

[0070] As previously mentioned the platform is configured to support the auger flight 101, allowing this to be guided into the substrate, and to enable the auger flight 101 to be positioned for connection to the motor 140 and/or a preceding auger flight 101. In one example, this is achieved through the use of an appropriately configured base 121 and side walls 122, although other suitable arrangements, such as the use of a substantially U-shaped channel, or the like, could be used. Accordingly, suitable configuration of the platform can be used to guide the auger flight 101, ensuring the flight moves longitudinally along the platform and into the substrate.

[0071] In one example, the mining machine 100 can include an auger clamp that can hold an auger flight in a loading position. Specifically, the clamp is used to hold the auger flight while an auger flight 102 is attached to a preceding auger flight 101 within the substrate and/or the motor 140. The auger clamp can also act as a pilot to guide the auger flight as it is moved along the platform 120.

[0072] In one example, loading of auger flights 101 is achieved utilising a hoist, such as a telescopic hoist, which can load auger flights or retrieve auger flights from the auger loading position. The hoist could be mounted on the mining machine 100, for example, on the base 110, although alternatively the hoist could be provided separately to the mining machine 100. [0073] In one example, the carriage 130 is moved utilising a carriage drive, including any one or more of linear actuators, hydraulic actuators, crowd cylinders extending along the platform, or the like. In a preferred example, crowd cylinders are provided mounted internally within side walls 122 of the platform although it will be appreciated that this is not essential and any suitable arrangement could be used. It will also be appreciated that active movement of the carriage may not be required during drilling, with movement of the carriage 130 occurring as a result of progressive movement of the auger flight 101 through the auger clamp and substrate as a result of rotation of the auger. Similarly reverse rotation of the auger can assist in removing the auger flights, in which case the carriage drive may only be required to operate to move the carriage rearwardly when a new auger flight 102 is to be attached to the motor 140.

[0074] In one example, the electric motor is a variable speed electric motor and in one particular example a variable speed alternate frequency electric motor, although it will be appreciated that any suitable motor could be used.

[0075] Depending on the nature of the electric motor 140, the motor 140 could be coupled directly to the auger flight 101. More typically however, the motor 140 is coupled to the auger flight 101 via a gear box including a planetary gear reducer, which reduces the speed of the electric motor 140 to a speed suitable for use in auger mining. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement avoids the need for an automatic gearbox, having different gear ratios, as is required in traditional highwall mining applications, thereby simplifying the system. In particular this reduces the size of the gearbox, enabling a longer auger flight 101, 102 to be accommodated on the platform 120 than would be the case if an automatic gearbox was required. This in turn reduces the number of auger flights 101, 102 required to drill to a desired depth and thereby makes the drilling process move efficient. Additionally, this reduces the weight of the drive unit, making it feasible to mount this on an inclined platform.

[0076] In one example, the mining machine includes an oil scavenger pump configured to retrieve oil from the gearbox, and in particular from a gear box sump, and supply pressurised oil to gear meshings and bearings in the gearbox. This allows the gearbox to continue operating at any angle of inclination, so that the gearbox performs effectively irrespective of the inclination of the platform 120. [0077] In one example, the mining machine 100 includes a conveyor extending laterally from under a portion of the platform 120, to collect extracted material. In this example, the platform 120 can include an opening that releases extracted material onto the conveyor. The conveyor can also be supported by the base 110 so that the conveyor remains substantially level as the platform 120 is inclined, thereby ensuring effective operation of the conveyor.

[0078] The mining machine 100 can include buffers, such as hydraulic buffers, mounted to a front end of the platform 120. The buffers can be used to engage the substrate, which can help support the mining machine 100 in use, and ensure forces are transmitted longitudinally along the length of the platform, thereby reducing forces on the base 110. The buffers are typically moveable mounted to the platform 120 to allow the buffers to move from a retracted to an extended position to thereby engage the substrate once the mining machine 100 has been positioned and the platform 120 inclined. In one example, the buffers are connected to the carriage drive 150 via an interlock to prevent the carriage drive operating unless the buffers are extended, although in other examples equivalent functionality can be additionally and/or alternatively implemented using electronic sensing, as will be described in more detail below.

[0079] The base 100 typically includes walking skids configured to support the base 100 relative to a ground surface. In particular, in a preferred example, the walking skids include legs and skid feet, which can be moved laterally to allow movement of the base 110 and hence mining machine 100. This enables the mining machine 100 to progressively walk along a highwall, perpendicular to a coal seam face, so that the coal seam may be mined progressively along the coal seam face. It will be appreciated that other locomotion systems could however be used, such as laterally mounted retractable tracks, or similar.

[0080] In one example, the base 110 includes an equipment platform configured to support ancillary equipment. The nature of the equipment will vary depending upon the preferred implementation but could include a diesel generator that generates power to drive the electric motor 140, hydraulic pumps, a control system, such as one or more electronic controllers, an operator cabin to accommodate an individual operating the machine, or the like. [0081] In one example, the machine includes a controller configured to control individual components, including the hoist, platform drive 160, electric motor 140, carriage drive 150, or the like. The controller can be of any appropriate form, but in one example, includes one or more suitably programmed processing devices, such as a microprocessor, microchip processor, logic gate configuration, firmware optionally associated with implementing logic such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or any other electronic device, system or arrangement. For ease of illustration the remaining description will refer to a processing device, but it will be appreciated that multiple processing devices could be used, with processing distributed between the processing devices as needed, and that reference to the singular encompasses the plural arrangement and vice versa.

[0082] Control of the mining machine 100 can be performed manually, for example by having an operator provide user input commands to control the operation of the individual components. More typically however operation is automatic and/or semi-automatic, with controller executing algorithms to coordinate operation of the individual components.

[0083] Additionally, the controller can be configured to monitor signals for one or more sensors and then at least partially control operation of the machine in accordance with the monitored signals. This allows one or more safety overrides to be utilised in order to ensure safe operation of the mining machine.

[0084] For example, the machine can include a buffer sensor configured to detect deployment of the buffers with the controller being configured to prevent operation of the hoist, electric motor and/or carriage drive, until the buffers have been successfully deployed. Similarly, the machine can include a power sensor configured to detect power used by the motor 140, with the controller being configured to control at least one of the motor speed and carriage drive in accordance with the power used. This can then be used to control the drilling process, and prevent damage, for example in the event that the auger encounters obstructions, or similar.

[0085] A specific example of a mining machine will now be described with reference to Figures 2A to 2N. [0086] In this example, the mining machine 200 has a generally similar configuration to that described above, and includes a base 210, a platform 220, a carriage 230, motor 240, and hydraulic cylinders 250, 260 acting as the carriage and platform drives respectively.

[0087] In this example, the base 210 includes a pair of parallel spaced apart beams 211. The beams include elevated front and rear end sections, with the beams 211 being interconnected at a front end by an upright frame 212, and at a rear end by a pair of parallel spaced lateral beams 214.

[0088] The rear section supports an equipment platform 203, mounted on the lateral beams 214. Equipment 204 is mounted on the equipment platform 203, including an operator cabin, generator, control system, or the like, with access being provided via a sloped walkway 205.

[0089] Parallel side plates 211.1 are mounted on each side of a front portion of each of the beams 211, and support the frame 212 and a pivot pin 213, which is attached to and supports the platform 220.

[0090] The frame 212 includes a pair of parallel spaced upper and lower horizontal beams 212.1, 212.2, which extend laterally outwardly from a first side of the mining machine 200. The upper beam 212.1 extends over the platform and is supported by posts 212.4, 212.5 mounted to the beams 211, whilst the lower beam 212.2 extends outwardly from one of the posts 212.4 and is attached at an outer end to the upper beam 212.1 by an additional vertical post 212.3.

[0091] The frame 212 operates to support a conveyor system 270, which includes a conveyor belt 271, entrained around rollers 272, 275 within in a former 273, which is attached to the frame 212 via mounting supports 276. The conveyor belt is driven by a motor 274 attached to the frame 212, and allows extracted material to be transported to a chute 277 mounted at the end of the former 273, allowing the material to be deposited directly into a truck or other vehicle. In another example, the frame 212 can be used to support a cabin (not shown), with this being used in addition to, or alternatively to, the positioning of a cabin on the platform 203. In this regard, positioning a cabin on the frame 212, and in particular on top of the upper horizontal beam 212.1 can improve visibility for the operator, making the equipment easier to operate. [0092] A hoist 280 is mounted on a second side of the frame 212, directly above post 212.5, allowing auger flights to be lifted into position on the platform 220.

[0093] By coupling the frame 212 to the base 210, this ensures the frame 212, and hence the conveyor 270 and hoist 280 remain level during elevation of the platform 220, in turn allowing these to function correctly when the platform is raised.

[0094] The base also includes extendible rear and front legs 215, 217, mounted on outer sides of the beams 211, proximate the rear and front sections of the beams 211, respectively. The legs 215, 217 terminate in respective skid feet 216, 218, extending laterally relative to the beams 211. The skids 216, 218 are slidably attached to the legs 215, 217, with actuators

216.1, 218.1, such as linear hydraulic actuators, being provided on the skids to allow the skids to move laterally relative to the legs. In use, this allows the legs 215, 217 and skids 216, 218 to be moved so that the base 210 can walk laterally relative to a rock face, as will be understood by persons skilled in the art.

[0095] The platform 220 includes side walls 222 extending along a length of the platform, Undersides of the side walls 222 are interconnected by lateral struts 221 spaced along a length of the platform, while the sidewalls 222 are further interconnected at front and rear upper ends by lateral support members 225.1, 225.2. The lateral struts 221 are interconnected by elongate struts 223, which also support curved support plates 224, which collectively form the platform base and operate to support the auger flights 201.

[0096] A U-shaped mouth plate 226 is attached to an underside of the lateral support member

225.1, to define an opening through which the auger flight 201 passes in order to engage the face being mined. An opening 228 is positioned behind the mouth plate 226 that allows captured material to fall onto the conveyor system 270.

[0097] The hydraulic cylinders 260 are attached to the carriage side walls 222 and to the base beams 211, via respective pivotal mountings 261, 262, allowing the platform to be raised and lowered as needed. [0098] Hydraulic buffers 227 are mounted to the lateral support member 225.1, allowing the buffers to be extended to engage the substrate being mined. As previously mentioned, the buffers 227 an integrate sensors to allow deployment of the sensors to be detected.

[0099] A carriage 230 is provided on the platform 220, with the carriage 230 including carriage sidewalls 231, interconnected by lateral carriage struts 232. The carriage 230 includes wings 234, which extend laterally from the carriage side walls 231 into channels in the platform sidewalls 222. This allows the carriage 230 to be slidably supported by the platform, whilst the wings 234 can be connected to hydraulic cylinders 250 mounted in the platform sidewalls 222, allowing the carriage to be moved along the platform.

[0100] The carriage supports an electric motor 240 and a gearbox 241 containing the planetary gear reducer. A driveshaft 242 extending from the gearbox 241 engages a rear coupling 201.1 on the auger flight 201, whilst a front coupling 201.2 is provided to allow the auger flight 201 to a rear coupling 201.1 of a preceding auger flight (not shown). A clamping mechanism 290 is provided, including a clamp support 291 and movable arm 292, which can be lifted into engagement with the auger flight, to thereby secure auger flights positioned between the platform sidewalls 222, with the auger flight 201 resting on the lateral struts 221 and curved support plates 224, so that the auger can be connected to or disconnected from to the drive shaft 242.

[0101] It will be appreciated that the mining machine 200 functions substantially as described above with respect to the example of the mining machine 100. Specifically, the mining machine 200 can be provide proximate to a coal seam or other substrate to be mined, with the legs 215, 217 and skid feet 216, 218 being used to manoeuvre the machine 200 into a desired position. Once positioned, the hydraulic cylinders 260 are used to elevate the platform 220 so it is tilted to a desired incline, before the buffers 227 are extended into engagement with the substrate. The carriage 230 is positioned rearwardly on the platform 220, with the hoist being used to retrieve and position an auger flight 201 between the side walls. The clamping mechanism 290 is activated by raising the arm to engage the auger flight 201 and secure the flight in position, while the drive shaft 242 is connected to the rear coupling 201.1 of the auger flight 201. Following this, the hoist 280 can be detached and the clamping mechanism 290 released, allowing mining to commence. [0102] The electric motor 240 is activated to cause the auger flight 201 to rotate, with the hydraulic cylinders 250 being used to urge the carriage 230 towards the front of the platform 220, thereby driving the auger flight 201 into the coal seam and thereby removing coal from the seam. The coal is drawn upwards by the auger flight into and through the mouth plate 226, before being released through the opening 228, onto the conveyor chain 271, allowing the coal to be transported to the chute 277 to delivery to the integral side stacker belt, vehicle, truck or the like.

[0103] As before, this process progresses until the carriage 230 reaches the front of the platform 220. At this point, the drive shaft 241 is disconnected from the rear coupling 201.1 of the auger flight, with the hydraulic actuator 250 being used to return the carriage 230 to a rear of the platform 220. The hoist is then used to load a further auger flight, which is attached to the in-situ auger flight, before the drive shaft is attached to the rear coupling 201.1, allowing the process to be repeated as needed.

[0104] It will be appreciated that once mining is complete, the process can be reversed, with auger flights being extracted and decoupled as required, before the platform 220 is lowered, and the mining apparatus moved laterally to allow further mining to be performed.

[0105] Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described mining machine is particularly suited to highwall and other application in which a coal seam or other deposit is provided at an angle relative to a ground surface. The mining machine replaces the diesel engine and transmission used in traditional highwall applications, with an electric motor and planetary geared reducer which is capable of operating at steep inclines. Furthermore, in one example, the mining machine can utilise a two part machine frame architecture, with a base supporting an inclined platform, avoiding the need for jack legs to be used to incline a platform. This allows a base to be used with sufficient mass and width to provide support for the inclined drill platform, and in one example, which includes a skid walking system which moves the auger from hole to hole laterally.

[0106] The use of the tiltable platform allows drilling and retraction forces to be transmitted axially within the drill platform, with resulting external forces being transmitted to the base via pivot pins provided at the front of the drill mast. This eliminates the lateral forces being transmitted through long jacking legs, which in turn allows greater seam dip angles to be drilled.

[0107] In one example, a variable speed electric motor, such as a Variable Frequency AC electric motor (VFAC), can be used to provide drive to the drill string via a fixed ratio planetary geared reducer. The motor is designed to operate at any angle including vertical, whilst the planetary reducer can be equipped with an oil scavenge pump that feeds filtered, pressurised oil to the gear mesh and bearings.

[0108] Hydraulic actuators in the form of crowd cylinders can be arranged beside the electric motor and planetary gearbox to reduce machine length, making the inclined platform feasible and whilst maximising the length available for supporting auger flights. These can be interlocked with buffers to prevent them operating until buffers are extended and/or engaged with a substrate, for safety reasons.

[0109] In one example, a conveyor is provided that removes extracted material, with the conveyor and a hoist being supported by a frame that remains upright irrespective of the inclination of the platform, so that the conveyor and hoist remain level as the platform is raised, thereby allowing these to function effectively and avoiding undue lateral loads.

[0110] Whilst the above described arrangements have been described with respect to highwall applications, it will be appreciated that the techniques could be used for other applications, including but not limited to flat surface and inclined low-wall applications.

[0111] Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word“comprise”, and variations such as“comprises” or“comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. As used herein and unless otherwise stated, the term "approximately" means +20%.

[0112] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. All such variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope that the invention broadly appearing before described.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1) A mining machine including:

a) a base;

b) a platform having a front end pivotally mounted to the base, the platform being configured to receive and support an auger flight;

c) a carriage movably mounted to the platform;

d) an electric motor mounted on the carriage, the electric motor being configured to rotate the auger flight;

e) a carriage drive configured to move the carriage longitudinally along the platform to thereby urge the auger flight towards a substrate and thereby extract material from the substrate; and,

f) a platform drive configured to elevate a rear of the platform so that the platform can be provided at a desired incline relative to the base.

2) A mining machine according to claim 1, wherein the platform is pivotally mounted to the base via a pivot located proximate to the front end of the platform.

3) A mining machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the platform includes a base and side walls configured to support the auger flight.

4) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the mining machine includes an auger clamp configured to secure an auger flight in a loading position.

5) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the machine includes a hoist configured to:

a) load auger flights at the auger loading position; and,

b) retrieve auger flights from the auger loading position.

6) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the carriage is movable between the front and rear ends of the platform.

7) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the carriage is positioned proximate the rear end of the platform when loading or retrieving an auger flight.

8) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein carriage drive includes at least one of:

a) linear actuators;

b) hydraulic actuators; and, c) crowd cylinders extending along the platform.

9) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the electric motor is a variable speed electric motor.

10) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the mining machine includes a gearbox including a planetary gear reducer to transmit torque from the electric motor to the auger flight.

11) A mining machine according to claim 10, wherein machine includes an oil scavenger pump configured to retrieve oil from the gearbox and supply pressurised oil to a gear mesh and bearings in the gearbox.

12) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the machine includes a conveyor extending laterally under a portion of the platform to collect extracted material.

13)A mining machine according to claim 12, wherein the platform includes an opening that releases extracted material onto the conveyor.

14) A mining machine according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the conveyor is configured to remain substantially level as the platform is inclined.

15) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the platform drive includes hydraulic actuators.

16) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the machine includes buffers mounted to a front end of the platform that engage the substrate.

17) A mining machine according to claim 16, wherein the buffers are movably mounted to the platform to allow the buffers to move between a retracted position and a deployed position in which the buffers engage the substrate.

18)A mining machine according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the buffers are hydraulic buffers.

19) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 16 to 18, wherein the buffers are connected to the carriage drive via an interlock to prevent the carriage drive operating unless the buffers are extended.

20) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 19, wherein the base includes walking skids configured to support the base relative to a ground surface, and allow lateral movement of the base. 21) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 20, wherein the base includes an equipment platform configured to support equipment.

22) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 21, wherein platform is configured to operate at an incline of between -10° and 90°.

23) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 22, wherein the machine includes a controller configured to control at least one of:

a) a hoist;

b) a platform drive;

c) the electric motor; and,

d) the carriage drive.

24) A mining machine according to claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to:

a) monitor signals from one or more sensors; and,

b) control operation of the machine in accordance with the monitored signals.

25) A mining machine according to claim 24, wherein the machine includes a buffer sensor configured to detect deployment of the buffers and wherein the controller is configured to prevent operation of the electric motor and carriage drive until the buffers are deployed.

26) A mining machine according to claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the machine includes a power sensor configured to detect power used by the motor and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the motor speed and/or the carriage drive in accordance with the power used.

27) A mining machine according to any one of the claims 1 to 26, wherein the mining machine is a highwall mining machine.