Continuous highwall mining machine with armless conveyor

A mining machine for continuous highwall mining of a mineral seam, comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading shovel mounted to extend forwardly from said frame;
• a cutter for winning aggregate material from the mineral seam, said cutter extending above and forwardly of said loading shovel;
• and
• a conveyor for conveying won aggregate material rearwardly from said loading shovel to a discharge end, said mining machine being characterized by said conveyor following a pathway having a substantially constant acclivity with an inclination angle of between substantially 3.degree.-7.degree., said conveyor pathway having a minimum throat opening area of 10 ft.sup.2.

A mining machine for continuous highwall mining of a mineral seam, comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading shovel mounted to extend forwardly from said frame;
• a cutter for winning aggregate material from the mineral seam, said cutter extending above and forwardly of said loading shovel;
• and
• a conveyor for conveying won aggregate material rearwardly from said loading shovel to a discharge end, said mining machine being characterized by said conveyor following a pathway having a substantially constant acclivity with an inclination angle of between substantially 3.degree.-7.degree.;
• said mining machine further including a boom for supporting said cutter and said conveyor pathway providing a minimum clearance height between said boom and a floor pan of said loading shovel of substantially 12 inches.

A mining machine for continuous highwall mining of a mineral seam, comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading shovel mounted to extend forwardly from said frame;
• a cutter for winning aggregate material from the mineral seam, said cutter extending above and forwardly of said loading shovel;
• and
• a twin chain flight conveyor driven by a single drive motor carried by said frame for conveying won aggregate material rearwardly from said loading shovel to a discharge end, said mining machine being characterized by said conveyor following a pathway having a substantially constant acclivity with an inclination angle of substantially 5.degree..

A mining machine for continuous highwall mining of a mineral seam, comprising:

• a frame;
• a loading shovel mounted to extend forwardly from said frame;
• a cutter for winning aggregate material from the mineral seam, said cutter extending above and forwardly of said loading shovel;
• and
• a twin chain flight conveyor driven by a single drive motor carried by said frame for conveying won aggregate material rearwardly from said loading shovel to a discharge end, said mining machine being characterized by said conveyor following a pathway opening having a minimum throat opening area of 10 ft.sup.2.