Method for the controlled maintaining of a distance between the top canopy and the coal face in longwall mining operations

A method for maintaining, in a controlled manner, a top canopy/coal face distance (33) that is expedient for rock mechanics, in longwall mining operations in underground coal mining, including the steps of:

• providing a face conveyor;
• providing at least one extraction machine;
• providing a hydraulic shield support frame that includes, as main components, a floor skid arrangement, a gob shield, a top canopy, and support connection rods;
• disposing inclination sensors on at least three of the group consisting of said floor skid arrangement, said gob shield, said support connection rods, and a gob-side region of said top canopy;
• ascertaining via said inclination sensors an inclination of said top canopy and said floor skid arrangement in a direction of mining;
• in a computer, determining from the ascertained inclination data the effects on a top canopy/coal face distance when changes in an angle of inclination of said top canopy occur;
• carrying out an automatic adjustment of decisive work cycle parameters of said shield support frame, wherein said work cycle comprises reaction, advancement, and setting processes, to effect a controlled maintenance of said top canopy/coal face distance, such that a top canopy-coal face distance which is to be viewed as optimal under the applicable boundary conditions results.