# US 8,770,667 B1 · Mining methods and equipment

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- Number: US 8,770,667 B1
- Document ID: US8770667B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 13/958,330
- Filed: 2013-08-02
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14
- Assignees: Seneca Industries Inc.
- Applicants: Seneca Industries Inc.
- Inventors: Timothy J. Myers; Michael Cline; John Dickinson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770667B1

## CPC

- E21C 41/18: for brown or hard coal
- E21C 27/00: Machines which completely free the mineral from the seam
- E21C 27/24: by milling means acting on the full working face {, i.e. the rotary axis of the tool carrier being substantially parallel to the working face (similar machines for tunneling E21D9/1026)}
- E21C 41/16: Methods of underground mining (winning machines therefor E21C25/00 - E21C39/00); Layouts therefor
- E21D 11/40: Devices or apparatus specially adapted for handling or placing units of linings {or supporting units} for tunnels or galleries {(combined with tunnelling shields E21D9/06)}
- E21D 23/0091: {at the junction with the working face}
- E21D 23/12: Control, e.g. using remote control (E21D23/16 takes precedence)
- E21F 13/068: {Special adaptations for use at the junction of the working face with the gallery, e.g. driving stations coupled to the driving station of the winning machine}
- E21F 17/06: Distributing electric power; Cable networks; Conduits for cables (circuit arrangements for supplying or distributing electric power in general H02J)
- E21C: MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21D: SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F)
- E21F: SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS

## Abstract

Methods and equipment have been developed that combine the use of continuous miners, flexible conveyor trains, and longwall mining techniques to provide flexible and efficient removal of resources from subterranean formations. Some methods for use in a mining operation include advancing a continuous miner towards an angled face that extends from a headgate to a tailgate; and performing an angled cutting turn in which the continuous miner turns less than 90°.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for use in a mining operation, the method comprising:
advancing a continuous miner towards an angled face that extends from a headgate to a tailgate of a mine;
performing an angled cutting turn in which the continuous miner turns less than 90°;
advancing the continuous miner along the angled face to the tail gate in a cutting operation;
depositing material extracted from the face by the continuous miner on a flexible conveyor train;
supporting a roof of the mine along the angled face with a plurality of powered roof supports;
withdrawing the flexible conveyor train along the angled face;
withdrawing the continuous miner along the angled face; and
sequentially advancing each of the plurality of powered roof supports towards the angled face.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of claim 1 are repeated with a new face generated by each repetition of steps substantially parallel to the angled face generated by previous iterations of the steps.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the flexible conveyor train is a first flexible conveyor train and the method comprises discharging extracted material from the first flexible conveyor train to a second flexible conveyor train.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein a mobile bridge is used to couple a discharge of the first flexible conveyor train to an inlet hopper of the second flexible conveyor train.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sequentially advancing each of the plurality of powered roof supports towards the angled face comprises sequentially advancing each of the plurality of powered roof supports at least 10 feet towards the angled face.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sequentially advancing each of the plurality of powered roof supports towards the angled face comprises sequentially advancing each of the plurality of powered roof supports in coordination with movement of the continuous miner.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sequentially advancing each of the plurality of powered roof supports towards the angled face comprises pushing loose material into the path of the continuous miner by extending dozer blade spill plates on the powered roof supports.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the angled face is an angled coal face.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the angled face extends between 200 feet and 700 feet from the maingate to the tailgate.