Mining machine having advancing mine roof supports

A mining machine comprising,

• a body portion having arm members pivotally secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom, said arm members positioned in spaced parallel relation to each other,
• a support frame rigidly secured transversely to the front end portion of said arm members,
• an upper guide bar rigidly supported on said support frame and extending transversely relative to said body portion front end portion,
• a lower guide bar rigidly supported on said support frame below said upper guide bar and positioned parallel thereto,
• a carriage slidably mounted for transverse movement on said upper and lower guide bars and rotatably supporting a dislodging means,
• a pair of sprocket members rotatably supported at the opposite end portions of said support frame,
• a chain reeved about said sprocket members, said chain having end portions secured to said carriage,
• drive means for rotating one of said sprockets to rotate said chain and move said carriage transversely of said body portion on said upper and lower guide bars,
• propelling means mounted on said body portion, said propelling means including a pair of endless ground engaging track members reeved about sprocket members rotatably mounted on said body,
• conveying means connected to said body portion for movement therewith and for conveying dislodged material from the front end portion to the rear of said body portion, said conveying means having a discharge end portion pivotally secured thereto to discharge dislodged material at an angle into a material receiving vehicle,
• first vertically adjustable roof support means connected to and movable with said body portion for supporting the roof of the mine while said body portion remains stationary,
• second vertically adjustable roof support means connected to and movable relative to said body portion for supporting the roof of the mine independently of said first roof support means as said body portion and said dislodging means advance forwardly in the mine and dislodge material from the mine face while said first roof support means is removed from engagement with the mine roof,
• said endless ground engaging track members operable to continuously advance said body portion and said first vertically adjustable roof support means as said dislodging means dislodges solid material from the face of a mine, and
• piston cylinder means for connecting said second roof support means to said body portion, said piston cylinder means being operable to permit relative movement between said body portion and said second roof support means such that said second roof support means supports the mine roof as said body portion and said first roof support means advance forwardly during the material dislodging operation and said first roof support means supports the mine roof as said second roof support means is retracted and advanced toward the mine face when said body portion is stationary to thereby provide continuous support of the mine roof.