Mining rock deflector apparatus and method

A method of protecting a person servicing a longwall shear, comprising:

• sliding a slide plate out from under an underside of a shield canopy toward a face of coal such that the slide plate positions over shearing equipment without contacting a roof adjacent to the face of coal;
• holding the slide plate over the shearing equipment while maintenance is performed on the shearing equipment;
• and
• sliding the slide plate back under the underside of the shield canopy after the maintenance on the shearing equipment has been performed.

An apparatus for protecting a person servicing a longwall shear, comprising:

• a shield canopy comprising a plurality of holes;
• a base plate comprising:
• a plurality of connectors to extend into the plurality of holes to secure the base plate to the shield canopy;
• and
• at least four guides;
• a slide plate, comprising:
• a front end;
• a back end;
• a void in the back end that narrows as it extends partway towards the front end, the void having a periphery;
• and
• an underside, the underside slidable along the at least four guides of the base plate such that the front end of the slide plate is slidable out from under, and back under, the shield canopy;
• and
• an actuator connected to the slide plate adjacent to the periphery of the void of the slide plate, the actuator disposed at least partially within the void;
• and
• wherein:
• the at least four guides of the base plate are to extend at least partially around the slide plate to movably secure, at least in part, the slide plate to the base plate.