Longwall mining system
AssigneeFoster-Miller Associates, Inc.
InventorsJonathan E. Ludlow, Cecil V. Peake, Paul J. Guay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A longwall mining system includes a bidirectional shearer and a roof supporting structure. The shearer includes a pair of angled floor drums, a pivotable roof drum and a loading conveyor. Each drum has a plurality of picks disposed about the drum surface for cutting a material to be mined and a plurality of vanes disposed on the drum surface for carrying the cut material to the loading conveyor. The roof supporting structure includes a load carrying shield which is braced by a pair of supports. The supports are located under the shield in a position between the shearer and a face conveyor. The face conveyor, which is fed by the loading conveyor, carries the mined material to main conveyor for haulage to the outside.
Claims15
A longwall mining system for mining an underground mineral deposit and loading the mined material on a face conveyor, said system comprising:
- (a) a shearer with at least one rotatable drum and carrying means, said drum having a plurality of picks disposed about its surface for cutting the material to be mined, a plurality of vanes mounted in axial rows on the surface of said drum for carrying the cut material on the drum, said carrying means mounted adjacent said drum for receiving the material cut by said picks and carried by said vanes;
- and
- (b) roof supporting means operative to support the roof of a mine adjacent said shearer.
A longwall mining system for mining an underground mineral deposit and loading the mined material on a face conveyor, said system comprising:
- (a) a shearer with at least one rotatable drum and carrying means, said drum having a plurality of picks disposed about its surface for cutting the material to be mined, a plurality of vanes mounted on the surface of said drum for carrying the cut material on the drum, said carrying means mounted adjacent said drum for receiving the material cut by said picks and carried by said vanes;
- and
- (b) roof supporting means operative to support the roof of a mine adjacent said shearer;
- (c) said shearer including a frame, a pair of angled floor drums, and a roof drum, said floor drums mounted at opposite ends of said frame, each said floor drum supported at its face and gob sides, said roof drum pivotably mounted to said frame, said floor drums angled inwardly from the face side of said shearer at an angular offset in the range of 6.degree. to 15.degree..
A longwall mining system for mining an underground mineral deposit and loading the mined material on a face conveyor, said system comprising:
- (a) a shearer for mining a mineral deposit, said shearer including a pair of angled floor drums, a roof drum and means for carrying the mined mineral to the face conveyor;
- and
- (b) a plurality of roof supporting means for supporting the roof of a mine adjacent said shearer, each said roof support means includes a base, supporting body means and supporting member means, said supporting body means mounted to said base and operative to support a roof load, said supporting member means having first and second ends, said first end of said supporting member means mounted to said base under said supporting body means, said second end of said supporting member means mounted to said supporting body means above said base, said support member means positioned between said shearer and the face conveyor.
A shearer for a longwall mining system comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a pair of floor drums rotatably mounted at opposite ends of said frame, said floor drums angled inwardly from opposite ends of said frame toward a center of said frame at the face side thereof;
- (c) a ranging arm pivotably mounted to said frame;
- (d) a roof drum rotatably mounted to said ranging arm;
- (e) a plurality of picks mounted on the surface of each said drum, said picks operative to cut a material to be mined;
- and
- (f) a plurality of vanes disposed in axial rows on the surface of each said drum for carrying the material cut by said picks.
A shearer for a longwall mining system comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a pair of floor drums rotatably mounted at opposite ends of said frame, said floor drums are angled inwardly approximately 10.degree. for opposite ends of said frame toward a center of said frame at the face side thereof;
- (c) a ranging arm pivotably mounted to said frame;
- (d) a roof drum rotatably mounted to said ranging arm;
- (e) a plurality of picks mounted on the surface of each said drum, said picks operative to cut a material to be mined;
- (f) a plurality of vanes disposed on the surface of each said drum for carrying the material cut by said picks;
- and
- (g) a loading conveyor mounted to said frame between said floor drums and below said roof drum, said material carried by said vanes dropped onto said loading conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.