Mining System
AssigneeUnderground Extraction Technologies Pty LTD
InventorsMichael Mapp, Brian MacDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a mining system. The system includes a continuous miner for forming plunge tunnels from a roadway. A flexible conveyor system is coupled to the continuous miner for conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels. A controller is provided for controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path. Advantageously, the controller may control the drive and steering (including turning maneuvers) of the continuous miner and each conveyor module of the flexible conveyor system along the predetermined path to avoid striking either any adjacent equipment (e.g., another conveyor), or the “ribs” of a plunge tunnel being mined.
Claims20
A mining system including:
- a continuous miner for forming plunge tunnels from a roadway;
- a flexible conveyor system coupled to the continuous miner for conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels;
- and
- a controller for controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path.
A mining method involving:
- forming plunge tunnels from a roadway with a continuous miner;
- conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels using a flexible conveyor system coupled to the continuous miner;
- and
- controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.