Safety enclosure for mining machines

In a mining machine or the like, improved safety apparatus for protecting the operator thereof from overhead falls and the like, said improved safety apparatus comprising a cage-like enclosure for receiving and surrounding said operator while operating said machine, means in association with said machine and said cage-like enclosure for securing said cage-like enclosure to one side of said machine and for allowing sliding displacement of said cage-like enclosure relative to said machine in a vertical direction, said securing means comprising at least one male mating member having a longitudinally extending slide vertically secured to said cage-like enclosure and a corresponding female mating member secured to said one side of said machine, said female member having a vertically disposed longitudinal channel for receiving said slide, said longitudinal channel being configured for allowing said vertical sliding displacement of said slide therein and for otherwise captively retaining said slide, and means for adjustably maintaining said cage-like enclosure at a predetermined distance above the floor of said mine, said latter mentioned means being adapted to release said cage-like enclosure for sliding displacement to the floor of said mine in response to an overhead fall causing a predetermined force on the top of said cage-like enclosure.

The improved safety apparatus according to claim 8 including at least one vertically disposed hydraulic jack assembly having support means secured to said male mating member, said jack assembly including means for engaging the floor of said mine for allowing said enclosure to be raised relative to said machine in response to applying fluid power to said jack assembly.