SHOVELING APPARATUS WITH MULTI-POSITIONAL SHOVEL
First Claim
1. A shoveling apparatus comprising:
- a low profile vehicle suitable for use in underground mines, said vehicle further comprising an advanceable support structure, and one or more receptacles partially receiving and supporting longitudinal movement of said advanceable support structure;
a boom assembly;
a shovel;
first and second rotary actuators, whereinsaid first rotary actuator is affixed to said advanceable support structure and said boom assembly, to control rotational movement of said boom assembly about said support structure, andsaid second rotary actuator is affixed to said boom assembly and said shovel, to control rotational movement of said shovel about said boom assembly; and
first and second linear actuators, whereinsaid first linear actuator is engaged with said advanceable support structure to control the longitudinal movement of the advanceable support structure, andsaid second linear actuator is engaged with said boom assembly to control the vertical rotational movement of the boom assembly with respect to the first rotary actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shoveling apparatus including a low profile vehicle, a boom assembly, and a shovel assembly for use in underground mining operations, and particularly useful in clearing coal and rock debris from a belt line corridor. The low profile vehicle includes an advanceable support that supports the boom assembly and laterally advances the boom assembly from the cab portion of the vehicle. The boom assembly includes a support structure, a rotary actuator and a linear actuator, to control lateral and vertical rotation of the support structure (and thus the shovel assembly) with respect to a ground surface. The shovel assembly includes a rotary actuator and a shovel, and in some embodiments a tilting mechanism, to control the lateral and in some cases vertical, rotation of the shovel with respect to the boom assembly.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A shoveling apparatus comprising:
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a low profile vehicle suitable for use in underground mines, said vehicle further comprising an advanceable support structure, and one or more receptacles partially receiving and supporting longitudinal movement of said advanceable support structure; a boom assembly; a shovel; first and second rotary actuators, wherein said first rotary actuator is affixed to said advanceable support structure and said boom assembly, to control rotational movement of said boom assembly about said support structure, and said second rotary actuator is affixed to said boom assembly and said shovel, to control rotational movement of said shovel about said boom assembly; and first and second linear actuators, wherein said first linear actuator is engaged with said advanceable support structure to control the longitudinal movement of the advanceable support structure, and said second linear actuator is engaged with said boom assembly to control the vertical rotational movement of the boom assembly with respect to the first rotary actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A shoveling apparatus comprising:
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a low profile vehicle suitable for use in underground mines, said vehicle further comprising a pair of parallel arms positioned on opposing sides of the low profile vehicle, each arm having an internal end and an exposed end, at least two receptacles, each having rollers positioned thereon to partially receive and support longitudinal movement of said support structure, a face plate affixed to the exposed ends of said parallel arms, and opposing cavities, each positioned to conceal the respective receptacles and a portion of the parallel arm, on a side of the vehicle; a positioning arm and a leveling arm; a shovel; first and second rotary actuators, wherein said first rotary actuator is affixed to said parallel arms and said positioning and leveling arms, to control rotational movement of said positioning and leveling arms about said parallel arms; and said second rotary actuator is affixed to said positioning and leveling arms and said shovel, to control rotational movement of said shovel about said positioning and leveling arms; and first, second and third hydraulic cylinder systems, wherein said first hydraulic cylinder system comprises two hydraulic cylinders, each said cylinder comprising a barrel and a cylinder rod, with each said rod being affixed to the internal end of a parallel arm to control the longitudinal movement thereof; said second hydraulic cylinder system is engaged with said positioning and leveling arms to control the vertical rotational movement of the positioning and leveling arms with respect to the rotary actuator; and said third hydraulic cylinder system is engaged with said shovel to control the vertical rotation of the shovel with respect to the second rotary actuator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for removing coal and rock debris from the belt line corridor of an underground mine, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a shoveling apparatus comprising; a low profile vehicle suitable for use in underground mines, said vehicle further comprising an advanceable support structure, and one or more receptacles partially receiving and supporting said advanceable support structure; and a boom assembly; a shovel; first and second rotary actuators, wherein said first rotary actuator is affixed to said advanceable support structure and said boom assembly, to control rotational movement of said boom assembly about said advanceable support structure; and said second rotary actuator is affixed to said boom assembly and said shovel, to control rotational movement of said shovel about said boom assembly; and a linear actuator, wherein said linear actuator is engaged with said boom assembly to control the vertical movement of the boom assembly. positioning said apparatus near the corridor; positioning the shovel within the corridor, at ground surface, and scooping coal and rock debris therefrom by linear movement of the parallel arms, linear and rotational movement of the boom assembly, and rotational movement of the shovel; and lifting the shovel and depositing the coal and rock debris on the belt line by linear and rotational movement of the boom assembly, and rotational movement of the shovel.
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Specification