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US 2003/0140526 A1Published application
Universal trailer for a longwall roof support for longwall underground mining
OwnerDennis R. Thomasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal trailer for transporting a variety of longwall roof supports for a longwall underground mine is disclosed, along with a method of using such a trailer. The trailer includes a wheeled, U-shaped frame that can be raised and lowered relative to the ground to lift and off-load a roof support. The trailer includes forward and rearward supports, either of which may be shiftable.
Claims32
A trailer for transporting an underground mining roof support over a support surface, the trailer comprising:
- a U-shaped frame having a forward portion and a pair of rearwardly extending side beams;
- a pair of wheel supports, each of the wheel supports shiftably mounted to the frame and shiftable between a first position in which the frame is disposed adjacent the support surface and a second position in which the frame is raised away from the support surface;
- at least one actuator mounted to the frame and operatively engaging the wheel supports, the at least one actuator being operable to shift the wheel supports between the first and second positions;
- a forward support disposed generally adjacent to the forward portion of the frame, the forward support adapted to engage a first portion of the roof support;
- and
- a pair of shiftable rear supports, each rear support carried by a corresponding one of the rearwardly extending side beams, each rear support adapted to engage a second portion of the roof support, each rear support including an actuator operable to shift the rear support between a first position and a second position.
3 more elements
A trailer for transporting an underground mining roof support over a support surface, the trailer comprising:
- a U-shaped frame having a forward portion and a pair of rearwardly extending side beams;
- a pair of wheel supports, each of the wheel supports rotatably supporting a wheel, each of the wheel supports shiftably mounted to the frame and moveable between a first position and a second position;
- actuation means mounted to the frame and operatively engaging the wheel supports, the actuation means operable to shift the wheel supports between the first and second positions to thereby alter the position of the frame relative to the support surface;
- a forward support, the forward support positioned on the frame to engage a forward portion of the roof support when the trailer is positioned adjacent the roof support;
- and
- a pair of rear supports, each rear support carried by a corresponding one of the rearwardly extending side beams, each rear support positioned on the frame to engage a rearward portion of the roof support when the trailer is positioned adjacent the roof support.
3 more elements
A trailer for transporting an underground mining roof support over a support surface, the trailer comprising:
- a U-shaped frame having a forward portion and a pair of rearwardly extending side beams;
- a pair of wheel supports, each of the wheel supports rotatably supporting a wheel, each of the wheel supports shiftably mounted to the frame and moveable between a first position and a second position;
- actuation means mounted to the frame and operatively engaging the wheel supports, the actuation means operable to shift the wheel supports between the first and second positions to thereby alter the position of the frame relative to the support surface;
- a forward support, the forward support positioned on the frame to engage a forward portion of the roof support when the trailer is positioned adjacent the roof support;
- a pair of rear supports, each rear support carried by a corresponding one of the rearwardly extending side beams, each rear support positioned on the frame to engage a rearward portion of the roof support when the trailer is positioned adjacent the roof support;
- atleast one of the forward support and rear supports shiftable relative to the frame.
3 more elements
A method of using a prime mover to transport an underground mining roof support over a support surface, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a trailer having a frame adapted to straddle at least a portion of the roof support, the frame including a forward support, at least one rear support, and a pair of shiftable wheel supports, each of the wheel supports rotatably supporting a wheel and shiftable relative to the frame between a first position and a second position;
- shifting a lower portion of the frame toward the support surface by shifting the wheel supports to the first position;
- positioning the trailer adjacent the roof support with the forward support adjacent a first part of the roof support and with the rear support adjacent a second part of the roof support;
- shifting the wheel supports toward the second position to thereby lift at least one of the first and second parts of the roof support off the support surface, whereby the trailer and the roof support can be moved by a prime mover.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.