Mining equipment

A spiral vane shearer disc adapted to be supported from, and rotatably driven by a shearer type coal cutting machine, said disc comprising an outer drum, pick box accommodating means mounted on said drum and including a tire of generally circular cross-section secured to one end of said drum, which end, in service, is remote from said machine, said tire having a plurality of spaced apart sockets preformed therein and extending radially of said tire, each said socket being of a cross section corresponding to that of an elongate pick box adapted to be inserted therein, and each said socket including perimetrically continuous surface portions to surround and to support a pick box about the entire periphery of said pick box over a major proportion of the length of said pick box, with the circular cross-section of said tire enabling said sockets to be disposed at differing angular orientations with optimum support for the pick boxes at all locations.