Stabilizing assembly for a mining machine

A stabilizing assembly for a mining machine comprising,

• a mining machine body portion mounted on means for propelling said body portion,
• said mining machine body portion including a pair of longitudinally extending side walls,
• said side walls being spaced apart substantially the width of said mining machine body portion, said side walls each having vertically extending inner and outer surfaces,
• stabilizing means pivotally connected to said side walls for moving into engagement with the mine floor to maintain said mining machine body portion in a stabilized position,
• a conveyor support frame extending longitudinally on said mining machine body portion between said side walls,
• said stabilizing means being positioned in underlying relation with said conveyor support frame,
• said stabilizing means including a unitary body portion having a transverse dimension extending between said side walls and beyond the width of said conveyor support frame,
• said unitary body portion having lateral edge portions, a first end portion pivotally connected to said side walls, and a second end portion movable into and out of contact with the mine floor,
• said unitary body portion including reinforcing members extending across said body portion and substantially the width of said mining machine body portion to rigidify said unitary body portion,
• actuator means for moving said stabilizing means into and out of engagement with the mine floor,
• said actuator means being pivotally connected at one end to said side walls in a position laterally spaced from said conveyor support frame,
• said actuator means being connected to the lateral edge portions of said unitary body portion such that the distance between the pivotal connections of said actuator means and said unitary body portion to said side walls provides for an increased force to be exerted on said unitary body portion to maintain said unitary body portion in contact with the mine floor.