Longwall Equipment Having Vertically Adjustable Disc Shearer Loader Guided on the Face Conveyor

Longwall equipment for mechanical extraction, for example in underground coal mining, comprising:

• a face conveyor adapted to be disposed along a longwall face;
• a disc shearer loader that is displaceable on said face conveyor, wherein said disc shearer loader includes a machine body that rests, and is guided, upon said face conveyor, further wherein said machine body includes two shearing discs that are pivotably disposed on said machine body , and wherein said machine body extends over said face conveyor and forms a portal that prescribes a maximum loading cross-section of said face conveyor;
• a lifting mechanism mounted on said machine body for guiding said machine body on said face conveyor in a vertically adjustable manner and for variably adjusting the portal cross section;
• an abutment fixedly disposed on said face conveyor;
• a drive element disposed on said machine body, wherein said drive element is adjustable in height, and wherein said drive element engages said abutment;
• and
• shield support units disposed at an angle relative to said face conveyor, wherein each of said shield support units includes a top canopy that projects toward said disc shearer loader.