Underground mining system for reduced costs, improved efficiencies, higher productivity and a safer working environment through penetrated block extraction
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An underground mining method including the steps of forming:
- forming one or more sets of underground gate roads, each set of gate roads including at least two headings; and
forming underground dead-end plunge cuts extending from the sets of gate roads, each plunge cut formed with an unmanned continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system and being greater than 30 meters in length with a roof that need not be supported;
sealing each dead-end plunge cut to form a ventilation barrier whilst still permitting entry of the continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system; and
supplying inert gas to a cutting face of each plunge cut.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a mining method including the step of forming one or more sets of gate roads. Each set of gate roads includes at least two headings typically for providing and retuning ventilation. Dead end plunge cuts extend from the sets of gate roads. Each plunge cut is formed with a continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system. Each plunge cut is greater than 30 meters in length. Advantageously, narrow elongate pillars may be left between adjacent plunge cuts, thereby resulting in greater material removal per volume and improved operating costs when compared with bord and pillar mining.
14 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An underground mining method including the steps of forming:
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forming one or more sets of underground gate roads, each set of gate roads including at least two headings; and forming underground dead-end plunge cuts extending from the sets of gate roads, each plunge cut formed with an unmanned continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system and being greater than 30 meters in length with a roof that need not be supported; sealing each dead-end plunge cut to form a ventilation barrier whilst still permitting entry of the continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system; and supplying inert gas to a cutting face of each plunge cut. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An underground mine including:
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one or more sets of underground gate roads, each set of gate roads including at least two headings; and underground dead-end plunge cuts extending from the sets of gate roads, each plunge cut formed with an unmanned continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system and being greater than 30 meters in length with a roof that need not be supported; sealing each dead-end plunge cut to form a ventilation barrier whilst still permitting entry of the continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system; and supplying inert gas to a cutting face of each plunge cut. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An underground mining system including:
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(1) an underground mine including; one or more sets of underground gate roads, each set of gate roads including at least two headings; and underground dead-end plunge cuts extending from the sets of gate roads, each plunge cut having a generally quadrilateral cross section and being greater than 30 meters in length with a roof that need not be supported; and (2) an unmanned continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system for forming the plunge cuts, each dead-end plunge cut being sealed to form a ventilation barrier whilst still permitting entry of the continuous miner coupled to a flexible conveyor system, and inert gas being supplied to a cutting face of each plunge cut.
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Specification