Mining apparatus with precision navigation system
OwnerJohn A. Baird, Jr., Ian T. Carrinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mining apparatus includes a miner, a conveyor unit and a steering unit connecting the miner and conveyor unit. The apparatus also includes a heading sensor and a controller responsive to the heading sensor. A first actuator is carried on the miner, the control unit or the steering unit. The first actuator is positioned to a first side of a midline of the miner. Further a second actuator is carried on one of the miner, the conveyor unit and the steering unit. The second actuator is positioned to a second opposite side of the midline of the miner. The first and second actuators are utilized to adjust a connection angle between the miner and the conveyor unit either side of parallel in order to maintain the miner on the desired directional heading.
Claims21
A mining apparatus, comprising:
- a miner;
- a conveyor unit;
- a steering unit connecting said miner and said conveyor unit;
- a positioning sensor;
- a controller responsive to said positioning sensor;
- a first actuator carried on and connected to only one of said miner, said conveyor unit and said steering unit, said first actuator positioned to a first side of a midline of said miner;
- and
- a second actuator carried on and connected to only one of said miner, said conveyor unit and said steering unit, said second actuator positioned to a second, opposite side of said midline of said miner;
- wherein said first actuator includes a first displaceable guide element and said second actuator includes a second displaceable guide element, said first and second displaceable guide elements being extended approximately one half the length of their stroke when said miner is aligned with said conveyor unit;
- whereby responsive to said controller said first and second actuators adjust a connection angle between said miner and said conveyor unit either side of parallel to determine a directional heading for said miner by one of said first or said second displaceable guide elements extending and the other of said first or said second displaceable guide elements retracting.
A mining apparatus, comprising:
- a miner;
- a conveyor unit pivotally connected to said miner at a midline of said miner;
- and
- a steering mechanism including a first displaceable steering element located at a first side of said miner midline and a second displaceable steering element located at a second side of said miner midline, said steering mechanism being carried by one of said miner and said conveyor unit, and said first and said second displaceable steering elements engaging, but not connecting to, the other of said miner and said conveyor unit whereby a connection angle between said miner and said conveyor unit is adjusted to determine a directional heading for movement of said miner by one of said first or said second displaceable steering elements extending and the other of said first or said second displaceable steering elements retracting.
A method of guiding a mining apparatus including a miner and a conveyor unit through a mineral seam, comprising:
- determining an actual position and heading for said miner;
- comparing said actual position and heading to a desired position and heading for said miner;
- adjusting a steering mechanism, said steering mechanism including a first displaceable steering element located at a first side of a midline of said miner and a second displaceable steering element located at a second side of said miner midline, engaged between said miner and said conveyor unit by one of said first or said second displaceable steering elements extending against a bearing surface and the other of said first or said second displaceable steering elements retracting to bring said miner to said desired directional heading, wherein said first and second displaceable steering elements are not connected to the bearing surface;
- and
- advancing said miner along said desired directional heading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.