Continuous highwall mining machine with armless conveyor

Abstract

A continuous highwall mining machine includes a frame and a ground engaging loading shovel that is mounted to extend forwardly from the frame. A cutter for winning aggregate material is mounted to the frame so as to extend above and forwardly of the loading shovel. An armless conveyor system conveys aggregate material won from the mineral seam. The armless conveyor system includes twin chains having a forked section at the forwardmost end carried on the loading shovel and an uninterrupted straight path extending rearwardly from the forked section to a discharge end.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.