Mining machine with moveable cutting assembly and method of using the same
AssigneeHolmes Limestone Co.
InventorsMerle R. Mullet, Rex A. Hummel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mining machine (20) for combined entry and retreat cutting of material located in underground seams including, a movable mainframe (21), a wing (50, 51) extending ahead of the movable mainframe, a cutter assembly (100) positionable proximate the end of the wing for entry cutting a hole in the material when the wing is aligned with the direction of movement of the mainframe, a pivotal connection (130) between the mainframe and the wing for orienting the wing at an angle to the direction of the movement of the mainframe, and a carriage mechanism (80) for moving the cutter assembly along the wing for cutting of the material in proximity to the wing during retreat cutting of the material.
Claims35
A mining machine for combined entry and retreat cutting of material located in underground seams comprising, a moveable mainframe, a wing extending ahead of said movable mainframe and having a first end and a second end, a cutter assembly positionable proximate said first end of said wing for entry cutting a hole in the material when said wing is aligned with the direction of movement of said mainframe, a pivotal connection between said mainframe and said second end of said wing for orienting said wing at an angle to the direction of movement of said mainframe, and a carriage mechanism for moving said cutter assembly along said wing for cutting of the material in proximity to said wing during retreat cutting of the material.
A method of mining minerals located in underground seams comprising the steps of:
- cutting an entry hole with a cutter assembly mounted on a wing preceding a mainframe assembly,
- moving said cutter assembly lengthwise of said wing to effect a widening cut of the entry hole in the area adjacent to said wing,
- spreading said wing angularly into the widening cut effected by said cutter assembly,
- sequentially repeating the moving of said cutter assembly lengthwise of said wing to effect a further widening cut to the, entry hole and the spreading of said wing angularly into widening cuts until said wing is displaced through a desired angle,
- instituting retreat motion increments of said mainframe assembly and said wing subsequent to advance cuts by said cutter assembly lengthwise of said wings,
- whereby a retreat cut of a width exceeding the width of the entry hole is accomplished.
A method of mining minerals located in an underground seam comprising the steps of:
- cutting an entry hole in the underground seam,
- locating a mining machine having a wing-mounted cutter assembly in the entry hole,
- moving said cutter assembly lengthwise of said wing to effect a widening cut of the entry hole in the area adjacent to said wing,
- spreading said wing angularly into the widening cut effected by said cutter assembly,
- sequentially repeating the moving of said cutter assembly lengthwise of said wing to effect a further widening cut to the entry hole and the spreading of said wing angularly into widening cuts until said wing is displaced through a desired angle,
- instituting retreat motion increments of said mining machine and said wing subsequent to advance cuts by said cutter assembly lengthwise of said wings,
- whereby a retreat cut of a width exceeding the width of the entry hole is accomplished.
A method of mining minerals from a seam comprising the steps of:
- advance cutting an entry hole in the seam,
- positioning a mining machine having a wing mounting a cutter assembly in the entry hole,
- effecting a widening cut of the entry hole in the area adjacent to the wing by moving the cutter assembly along the wing,
- angularly displacing the wing into the widening cut of the entry hole,
- sequentially repeating the effecting of a widening cut and the angularly displacing of the wing into the widening cut until the wing is displaced through a desired angle,
- incrementally withdrawing the wing into retreat cuts by the cutter assembly along the wing while maintaining the wing at the desired angle, whereby a retreat cut of a width exceeding the width of the entry hole is accomplished.
A mining machine for retreat cutting of material located in seams comprising, a movable mainframe, first and second wings carried by said mainframe, cutter assemblies mounted on each of said first and second wings, carriages on each of said first and second wings for selectively moving said cutter assemblies along said first and second wings for cutting of the material in proximity to said first and second wings, and pivotal connectors between said mainframe and said first and second wings for orienting said first and second wings in opposite angular directions relative to the direction of movement of said mainframe.
A mining machine for retreat cutting of material located in seams comprising, a movable mainframe, a wing carried by said mainframe, a cutter assembly mounted on said wing for selective movement along said wing for cutting of the material in proximity to the wing, a pivotal connector between said mainframe and said wing permitting the orienting of said wing at an angle to the direction of movement of said mainframe, and a spreader assembly to angularly move said wing relative to said mainframe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.