# US 5,364,171 A · Apparatus and method for continuous mining > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,364,171 A - Document ID: US5364171A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/140,368 - Filed: 1993-10-21 - Granted: 1994-11-15 - Earliest claimed: 1990-12-10 - Assignees: Mining Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Larry C. Addington; Robert R. Addington; Larry M. Addington; Albert E. Lynch; John Susla; David L. Conley; John J. Sartaine; David E. Price - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5364171A ## CPC - E21C 35/20: General features of equipment for removal of chippings, e.g. for loading on conveyor - E21C 27/24: by milling means acting on the full working face {, i.e. the rotary axis of the tool carrier being substantially parallel to the working face (similar machines for tunneling E21D9/1026)} - E21F 13/083: {Conveyor belts removing methods or devices} - E21C: MINING OR QUARRYING - E21F: SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS ## Abstract An apparatus for mining aggregate material from a seam includes a miner for cutting material from the seam and a conveyor for conveying the won aggregate material from the miner for recovery. The conveyor is formed by a series of individual conveyor units that are coupled or interconnected in series so as to form a train. The coupling comprises cooperating clevises and tongues interconnected by locking pins. Each unit includes a main frame supported on ground engaging wheels. A belt conveyor is supported in the main frame and a conveyor drive mechanism is provided on each unit. The apparatus also includes a launch vehicle. The launch vehicle includes a frame holding a conveyor for receiving won aggregate material from the conveyor train and for delivering that material to a discharge conveyor. Additionally, the launch vehicle includes a reciprocating drive assembly to aid in advancing the conveyor train and miner into the seam face. In an alternative embodiment, the launch vehicle is replaced with a self propelled pusher unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for mining aggregate material from a seam, comprising: mining means for winning aggregate material from the seam; means for conveying won aggregate material from said mining means for recovery, said means for conveying being coupled to said mining means so as to follow said mining means into said seam; and means for advancing said conveying means with said mining means into said seam as said aggregate material is being won without interrupting the flow of aggregate material, said advancing means including separate active pulling means and active pushing means. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveying means includes individual conveyor units connected together to form a train. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus set forth in claim 2, wherein each conveyor unit includes a support frame and an inclined conveyor held in said support frame, said inclined conveyor including an input end for receiving aggregate material and an output end for discharging aggregate material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus set forth in claim 2, further including launching means for adding said individual conveyor units to form said train, said launching means including a conveyor arranged to remain in continuous conveying communication with a trailing end of said train during the addition of said individual conveyor units, for avoiding an interruption in the flow of aggregate material as each individual conveyor unit is being added. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further including a launch vehicle adapted to receive aggregate material from said conveying means, said launch vehicle remaining stationary as said mining means and conveying means are advanced into the seam during mining. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus set forth in claim 5, wherein said launch vehicle includes means for anchoring said launch vehicle to the ground. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus set forth in claim 5, wherein said conveying means includes individual conveyor units connected together to form a train, each unit supported for movement on ground engaging means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein said launch vehicle includes a receiving conveyor and means for supporting and guiding a conveyor unit at an end of said train above said receiving conveyor so that aggregate material discharged from said end conveyor unit is received on said receiving conveyor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said supporting and guiding means are a pair of spaced channel rails for receiving the ground engaging means of said conveyor units. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus set forth in claim 8, further including means for positioning an additional conveyor unit on said launch vehicle as said mining means and conveying means are advanced into the seam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus set forth in claim 8, wherein said launch vehicle includes a discharge conveyor fed by said receiving conveyor, said discharge conveyor feeding aggregate material to a delivery location. ### Claim 12 An apparatus for mining aggregate material from a seam, comprising: mining means for winning aggregate material from the seam; means for conveying won aggregate material from said mining means for recovery, said conveying means including individual conveyor units supported for relative movement with respect to an underlying mine floor; means for coupling said individual conveyor units together to form a train, said coupling means being sufficiently rigid to prevent buckling of said units during pushing while also allowing angular displacement to accommodate changes in the pitch of the mine floor; and means for actively pushing said conveying means with said mining means into the seam as aggregate material is being won without interrupting the flow of aggregate material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein each conveyor unit includes a support frame and an inclined conveyor held in said support frame, said inclined conveyor including an input end for receiving aggregate material and an output end for discharging aggregate material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus set forth in claim 12, further including a launch vehicle adapted to receive aggregate material from said conveying means, said launch vehicle remaining stationary as said mining means and conveying means are advanced into the seam during mining. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein said pushing means is a reciprocating drive assembly mounted to said launch vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein said launch vehicle includes means for anchoring said launch vehicle to the ground. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein said launch vehicle includes a receiving conveyor and means for supporting and guiding a conveyor unit at an end of said train above said receiving conveyor so that aggregate material discharged from said end conveyor unit is received on said receiving conveyor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus set forth in claim 17, wherein said supporting and guiding means are a pair of spaced channel rails for receiving the ground engaging means of said conveyor units. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus set forth in claim 17, further including means for positioning an additional conveyor unit on said launch vehicle as said mining means and conveying means are advanced into the seam. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus set forth in claim 19, wherein said positioning means is a fork lift loader for lifting and placing a conveyor unit on said launch vehicle with ground engaging means of said conveyor unit received in said supporting and guiding means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The apparatus set forth in claim 17, wherein said launch vehicle includes a discharge conveyor fed by said receiving conveyor, said discharge conveyor feeding aggregate material to a delivery location. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The apparatus set forth in claim 12, wherein said coupling means includes a pair of spaced clevises at a first end of the conveyor units and a pair of spaced tongues at a second, opposite end of the conveyor units. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus set forth in claim 22, wherein said spaced clevises at a first end of one conveyor unit cooperatively receive said spaced tongues at a second end of an adjacent, aligned conveyor unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus set forth in claim 23, further including a load bearing pin fixed to each clevis and slot means on each tongue for receiving said load bearing pin of a cooperating clevis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus set forth in claim 24, further including a locking pin received in each tongue for capturing said load bearing pin and holding said coupling means together. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus set forth in claim 25, wherein said coupling means provides for free angular movement through 19.degree. about a horizontal axis defined by said load bearing pin so as to allow said individual conveyor units to follow changes to pitch in the mine floor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The apparatus set forth in claim 26, wherein said coupling provides two inches or less of free play in the vertical direction and one-quarter inch or less of free play in the horizontal direction so as to be semi-rigid and prevent buckling of said conveyor means as said apparatus is advanced into said seam. ### Claim 28 An apparatus for mining aggregate material from a seam, comprising: self-propelled mining means for winning aggregate material from the seam; means for conveying won aggregate material from said self-propelled mining means for recovery, said means for conveying being coupled to said self-propelled mining means so as to follow said mining means into the seam; and means for actively pushing said conveying means with said self-propelled mining means into the seam as the aggregate material is being won without interrupting the flow of aggregate material. ### Claim 29 A method of continuously mining aggregate material from a seam utilizing a mining means and conveying means, comprising the steps of: cutting aggregate material from the seam; conveying aggregate material cut from the seam to a recovery location; advancing the mining means and conveying means into the seam by actively pulling said conveying means from a forward end and actively pushing said conveying means at a rearward end; and extending said conveying means without interrupting conveying of aggregate material.