Automated, low profile drilling/bolting module with roof reference guide

A module for use in drilling into a face of a mine passage using a drilling element, comprising:

• a mast supporting a drill head for movement in a longitudinal direction and adapted for engaging the face;
• and
• a drill guide mounted for moving along the mast in the longitudinal direction, said drill guide comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms together forming a frusto-conical passage for receiving and guiding the drilling element into engagement with the face;
• wherein at least one of the arms includes a surface for engaging the face, and a wider end of the frusto-conical passage is opposite the engagement surface.

A module for use in drilling into a face of a mine passage using a drilling element, comprising:

• an elongated mast having first and second guide surfaces;
• a drill head for receiving the drilling element and carried by the mast for movement along the first guide surface;
• and
• a drill guide carried by the mast and mounted for movement along the second guide surface, the drill guide comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms that together define a passage for receiving and guiding the drilling element into engagement with the face.

A module for use in drilling into a face of a mine passage using a drilling element, comprising:

• an elongated mast having first and second guide surfaces;
• a drill head for receiving the drilling element and carried by the mast for movement along the first guide surface;
• and
• a drill guide carried by the mast and mounted for movement along the second guide surface, the drill guide comprising a pair of pivotally mounted arms that together define a passage for receiving and guiding the drilling element into engagement with the face;
• a stab jack actuated by a cylinder including a fluid under pressure for engaging the face to assist in fixing the position of the module relative to the mine passage;
• a sensor for sensing the pressure of the fluid associated with the cylinder and generating an output signal;
• and
• a controller for automatically advancing the stab jack to engage the face based on a change in the output signal.