Coal mining apparatus and method

Apparatus for removing subterranean material with minimal disruption of the overburden, comprising:

• underground mobile propulsion means for moving beneath said overburden into said subterranean material;
• mining means connected to said underground means for removing a portion of said subterranean material adjacent said underground means, including cutter means on the front of said underground mobile means for fragmenting said subterranean material, and conveyor means movable with said underground means extending from said underground means to the surface of said overburden for transporting said fragmented subterranean material through said overburden to a loading station at said surface;
• digging means on said conveyor means for cutting a trench for said conveyor means to move through said overburden;
• support means on said underground means adapted to move beneath said overburden with said underground means for supporting a portion of said overburden above said underground means;
• and
• mobile surface propulsion means connected to said conveyor means at the surface of said overburden for moving in coordination with said underground means to assist said conveyor means in moving through said trench in the overburden, said surface means and said underground means being adapted for movement relative to each other to adjust for variations in the depth of said subterranean material beneath said surface.

Mining apparatus for removing coal from a subterranean coal seam with minimal disruption of the overburden, comprising:

• a self-propelled mobile mining machine adapted for movement along said coal seam;
• cutting means on the front of said mobile mining machine for breaking said coal seam into separate pieces, including elevator means extending from said mobile mining machine through said overburden to lift said coal pieces to the surface of said overburden, and means for directing said coal pieces from the cutting means to the elevator means;
• conveyor means for removing said coal pieces from in front of said mobile mining machine;
• driving means for moving said mobile mining machine forward as said cutting means and said conveyor means open a passageway in said coal seam;
• support means for partially supporting said overburden above said mobile mining machine and for gradually lowering said overburden as said mobile mining machine passes thereunder to fill in the passageway cut by said mining apparatus;
• a self-propelled surface vehicle attached to said elevator means at the surface of said overburden, said surface vehicle being synchronized to move in cooperation with said mobile mining machine and said elevator means;
• first attachment means for connecting said elevator means to said mobile mining machine and adapted to provide for movement of said mobile mining machine relative to said elevator means;
• and
• second attachment means for connecting said elevator means to said surface vehicle and adapted to provide for movement of said surface vehicle relative to said elevator means, and relative to said mobile mining machine.

A process for mining coal from an underground coal deposit using a mobile underground propulsion machine, a mobile surface propulsion vehicle and an interconnecting conveyor shaft, with minimal disruption of the overburden, comprising the steps of continuously:

• burrowing said underground machine into said coal deposit,
• breaking said coal deposit adjacent said underground machine into transportable pieces,
• conveying said transportable pieces along said conveyor shaft to said mobile surface vehicle,
• driving said surface vehicle in coordination with said underground machine,
• cutting a passageway through said overburden between said underground machine and said surface to provide a path for movement of said interconnecting conveyor shaft in coordination with said underground machine and said surface vehicle, and
• remotely controlling the operation of said underground machine from said surface vehicle.

In mining apparatus for removing subterranean material from beneath the earth to the surface using self-propelled mobile underground digging means the combination comprising:

• vertical conveyor means including an enclosed housing extending from said underground digging means through the overburden to said surface to keep said overburden out of said housing;
• elevator means on said conveyor means within said enclosed housing for transporting said subterranean material to said surface without contaminating said material with said overburden;
• drive means connected to said conveyor means for moving said conveyor means through said overburden in coordination with the movement of said underground digging means, including self-propelled mobile surface means attached to said vertical conveyor means at said surface adapted for moving in coordination with the movement of said underground digging means, and for controlling the movement of said underground digging means, and cutting means on said conveyor means for cutting a passsageway through the overburden for said conveyor means to move in coordination with said underground means and said surface means;
• power communication means extending to said underground means through said enclosed housing for transporting power from said surface means to drive said underground means;
• and
• control communication means extending to said underground means through said enclosed housing for transporting control signals from said surface means to control said underground means.

Apparatus for removing subterranean material from beneath the earth, comprising:

• mobile underground means for burrowing into said subterranean material, including digging means for breaking up said subterranean material and means for driving said mobile underground means into said material;
• transporting means movable with said mobile underground means for conveying said broken subterranean material from said digging means to a loading station, including means extending to the surface of the earth from said mobile underground means for lifting said subterranean material to the surface;
• and
• remote control means in communication with said digging means and with said driving means for controlling the operation of said mobile underground means from a remote station, including mobile surface propulsion means connected to said lifting means for moving in coordination with said mobile underground means.

A process for removing subterranean material using a self-propelled underground mining machine with minimal disruption of the overburden, comprising:

• continually moving said mining machine toward said subterranean material;
• supporting the overburden above said mining machine;
• processing said subterranean material adjacent said mining machine into transportable form;
• conveying said processed subterranean material through the overburden to the earth surface by a substantially vertical conveyor moving through the overburden in coordination with said mining machine;
• digging a substantially vertical trench through said overburden above said mining machine to provide a path for said conveyor to move through said overburden and to convey said processed subterranean material to said surface as said mining machine moves toward said subterranean material;
• lowering said supported overburden behind said mobile mining machine as said machine moves continually toward said subterranean material;
• and
• moving said mining machine relative to said conveyor to maintain said conveyor substantially vertically disposed while the orientation of said mining machine changes as it moves toward said subterranean material.

A process for removing subterranean material using a mobile underground mining machine with minimal disruption of the overburden, comprising:

• continually moving said mobile underground mining machine toward said subterranean material;
• breaking said subterranean material adjacent said mobile underground mining machine into transportable pieces,
• continually cutting a passageway through said overburden for a conveyor extending from said mining machine to said surface for said conveyor to move forward in coordination with said mining machine;
• lifting said pieces of subterranean material along said conveyor from said mining machine to said surface;
• supporting said conveyor at the earth surface using a mobile surface vehicle moving in coordination with said mobile mining machine;
• and
• moving said mining machine and said surface vehicle in relation to each other to adjust for variations in the depth of the subterranean material relative beneath the earth surface.