Method and apparatus for remote self-propelled conveying in mineral deposits

A method of simultaneously advancing and steering a mining machine having a steering means operatively connected to an advancing conveying assembly, said conveying assembly having one or more conveying units, comprising:

• simultaneously advancing said conveying assembly and said mining machine;
• measuring the transverse displacement of said mining machine with respect to a desired direction of mining;
• rotating said mining machine to an angle greater than zero with respect to a longitudinal axis of said conveying assembly;
• and
• adjusting said angle as required to reduce or eliminate said displacement of said mining machine while advancing.

An apparatus for simultaneously advancing and steering a mining machine operatively connected to a conveying assembly, comprising:

• means of simultaneously advancing said conveying assembly and said mining machine;
• means of measuring the displacement between an axis of said mining machine and the desired direction of mining;
• and
• means of rotating said mining machine with respect to said conveying assembly.