Continuous shovel

A material transfer machine for moving material from a first location to a second location, comprising:

• a chassis;
• a first material transport and a second material transport, said first material transport and said second material transport supported by said chassis, said first material transport configured to move with respect to said second material transport, wherein said first material transport has a first end and a second end, said first material transport first end positioned with respect to said second material transport to allow said material to be discharged from said first material transport onto said second material transport;
• a material remover, said material remover disposed at said second end of said first material transport and configured to deposit material removed by said material remover onto said first material transport;
• and
• a first material transport drive connected to said first material transport and configured to move said first end of said first material transport with respect to said second material transport and said chassis;
• a first material transport second end positioner configured to elevationally position said second end of said first material transport, said first material transport second end positioner supported by said chassis;
• wherein said first end of said first material transport is constrained to move in a direction along the length of said second material transport.

A material transfer machine for moving material from a first location to a second location, comprising:

• a chassis;
• a first material transport and a second material transport, said first material transport and said second material transport supported by said chassis, said first material transport configured to move with respect to said second material transport, wherein said first material transport has a first end and a second end, said first material transport first end positioned with respect to said second material transport to allow said material to be discharged from said first material transport onto said second material transport;
• a material remover, said material remover disposed at said second end of said first material transport and configured to deposit material removed by said material remover onto said first material transport;
• and
• a first material transport drive connected to said first material transport and configured to move said first end of said first material transport with respect to said second material transport and said chassis;
• wherein said first material transport is configured to slew about said second material transport at said first end of said first material transport.

An excavator comprising:

• a chassis;
• an arm conveyor and a first discharge conveyor, said arm conveyor and said first discharge conveyor supported by said chassis, said arm conveyor moveable with respect to said first discharge conveyor, wherein said arm conveyor has a first end and a second end, said arm conveyor first end positioned with respect to said first discharge conveyor to allow material to be discharged from said arm conveyor onto said first discharge conveyor, said arm conveyor further comprising:
• a material remover, said material remover disposed at said second end of said arm conveyor;
• and
• an arm conveyer belt for moving material along said arm conveyor;
• wherein said material remover is configured such that material removed by said material remover is deposited onto said arm conveyor belt;
• an arm conveyor drive connected to said arm conveyor to cause movement of said first end of said arm conveyor with respect to said first discharge conveyor and said chassis;
• and
• an arm conveyor second end positioner for elevationally positioning said second end of said arm conveyor, said arm conveyor second end positioner supported by said chassis;
• a second discharge conveyor having a first end and a second end;
• and
• a surge pocket positioned to receive material from said first discharge conveyor and to discharge said material onto said first end of said second discharge conveyor;
• a moving mechanism connected to said second end of said second discharge conveyor to allow movement of said excavator with respect to a surface on which said second end of said second discharge is resting.

Method for moving earthen material from a first location having an exposed material face to a second location, comprising:

• removing said material from said exposed material face with a material remover by moving said material remover along said material face;
• moving said removed material onto a first material transport at a first material receiving point;
• conveying said material on said first material transport to a first material discharge point;
• discharging said material onto a second material transport at a second material receiving point;
• and
• discharging said material from a first end of said second material transport;
• wherein said first material discharge point moves in response to movement of said material remover to effectively vary said second material receiving point;
• slewing said first material discharge point about an axis located at said second material receiving point.

An excavator comprising:

• a chassis;
• an arm conveyor and a first discharge conveyor, said arm conveyor and said first discharge conveyor supported by said chassis, said arm conveyor moveable with respect to said first discharge conveyor, wherein said arm conveyor has a first end and a second end, said arm conveyor first end positioned with respect to said first discharge conveyor to allow said material to be discharged from said arm conveyor onto said first discharge conveyor, said arm conveyor further comprising:
• a material remover, said material remover disposed at said second end of said arm conveyor;
• and
• an arm conveyer belt for moving material along said arm conveyor;
• wherein said material remover is configured such that material removed by said material remover is deposited onto said arm conveyor belt;
• an arm conveyor drive connected to said arm conveyor to cause movement of said first end of said arm conveyor with respect to said second conveyor and said chassis;
• and
• an arm conveyor second end positioner for elevationally positioning said second end of said arm conveyor, said arm conveyor second end positioner supported by said chassis and including:
• a boom having a first end connected to said chassis and a second end distal from said first end;
• a cable connected to said arm conveyor at a cable arm connection point, said cable being supported by said boom at a position distal from said first end, such that said elevational position of said arm conveyor may be effected by the length of cable disposed between said boom and said cable arm connection point;
• and
• a cable take-up and deployment mechanism for causing the length of cable disposed between said boom and said cable arm connection point to shorten and lengthen in response to actuation thereof.

An excavator comprising:

• a chassis;
• an arm conveyor and a first discharge conveyor, said arm conveyor and said first discharge conveyor supported by said chassis, said arm conveyor moveable with respect to said first discharge conveyor, wherein said arm conveyor has a first end and a second end, said arm conveyor first end positioned with respect to said first discharge conveyor to allow said material to be discharged from said arm conveyor onto said first discharge conveyor, said arm conveyor further comprising:
• a material remover, said material remover disposed at said second end of said arm conveyor;
• and
• an arm conveyer belt for moving material along said arm conveyor;
• wherein said material remover is configured such that material removed by said material remover is deposited onto said arm conveyor belt;
• an arm conveyor drive connected to said arm conveyor to cause movement of said first end of said arm conveyor with respect to said first discharge conveyor and said chassis;
• and
• an arm conveyor second end positioner for elevationally positioning said second end of said arm conveyor, said arm conveyor second end positioner supported by said chassis;
• an overlay conveyor, said overlay conveyor disposed proximate to said arm conveyor so as to form a material channel therebetween such that said material channel may restrict the amount of material passing therethrough and onto said first discharge conveyor.

Method for moving earthen material from a first location having an exposed material face to a second location, comprising:

• removing said material from said exposed material face with a material remover by moving said material remover along said material face;
• moving said removed material onto a first material transport at a first material receiving point;
• conveying said material on said first material transport to a first material discharge point;
• discharging said material onto a second material transport at a second material receiving point;
• supporting the first material transport upon the second material transport to allow relative movement therebetween;
• discharging said material from a first end of said second material transport;
• wherein said first material discharge point moves in response to movement of said material remover to effectively vary said second material receiving point.