APPARATUS FOR STEERING A LONGWALL MINERAL MINING MACHINE

• US 3,817,578 A
• Filed: 10/17/1972
• Issued: 06/18/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raymond George Wilson
• Original Assignee: Raymond George Wilson
• Inventors: Wilson, Raymond George
• Primary Examiner(s): Purser, Ernest R.
• Application Number:
  US05/298,267
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 299/1
• US Class Current: 299/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/24 Remote control specially adapted for machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral control in general G05

Abstract

Steering apparatus for a mineral mining machine having a rotary cutter head includes a probe resiliently urged towards the mine roof so as to sense the position of the cutting horizon with the mineral seam and apparatus for sensing the height of the probe with respect to the cutter head.

Claims

1. Apparatus for steering a mineral mining machine having at least one cutter head, comprising an arm support mounting for attachment to the part of the machine carrying the cutter head for movement with said part of the machine, an arm supported by the arm support mounting, a probe carried by the arm for sensing the position of a rock boundary of a mineral seam, the probe deriving a first signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary of the mineral seam, the arm being supported such that in operation the probe is urged towards said boundary, means sensing the displacement of the probe relative to the mounting, said sensing means deriving a second signal indicative of the displacement of the probe relative to the mounting, and control means arranged to receive said first and second signals and to control the machine'"'"''"'"'s steering in accordance with the received signals.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising inclinometer means arranged to sense the inclination of the machine and to derive a third signal indicative of the sensed inclination, the control means being arranged to receive the third signal and to control the machine'"'"''"'"'s steering in accordance with the received signals.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the arm comprises a hydraulic ram and the length of the arm can be varied.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the arm is rigid and the arm support mounting resiliently urges the probe towards said rock boundary.

5. Apparatus for steering a mineral mining machine having at least one cutter head, comprising an arm support mounting for attachment to the part of the machine carrying the cutter head for movement with said part of the machine, a telescopic arm supported by the arm support mounting, a probe carried by the telescopic arm, the probe sensing the position of a rock boundary of a mineral seam and deriving a first signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary, the telescopic arm being arranged such that in operation the probe is urged towards said rock boundary, potentiometer means sensing the length of the arm and deriving a second signal indicative of the length of the arm, and control means arranged to receive said first and second signals and to control the machine'"'"''"'"'s steering in accordance with the received signals.

6. A mineral mining machine including a Cutter head and steering apparatus, the steering apparatus comprising an arm support mounting for attachment to the part of the machine carrying the cutter head for movement with said part of the machine, an arm supported by the arm support mounting, a probe carried by the arm for sensing the position of a rock boundary of a mineral seam and deriving a first signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary, means sensing the displacement of the probe relative to the arm support mounting and deriving a second signal indicative of the displacement of the probe relative to the arm support mounting, and control means arranged to receive said first and second signals and to control the machine'"'"''"'"'s steering in accordance with the received signals.

7. A mineral mining machine as claimed in claim 6 comprising a rotary cutter head and guide means for engaging a track upon which the machine travels, the guide means being mounted directly beneath the axis of rotation of the cutter head.