Method of mining with a programmed profile guide for a mining machine

• US 3,922,015 A
• Filed: 12/17/1973
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Consolidation Capital Corp. (Residential Acquisition Co.)
• Original Assignee: William N. Poundstone
• Inventors: Poundstone, William N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abbott, Frank L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pate, III, William F.
• Application Number:
  US05/425,345
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 299/1,10,12 235/151.11,151.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 39/00 Devices for testing in situ the hardness or other properties of minerals, e.g. for giving information as to the selection of suitable mining tools
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 41/18 for brown or hard coal

Abstract

A method for mining a mineral deposit underground in a vein having an underburden and an overburden which comprises boring a pilot hole into the vein between the underburden and the overburden. The thickness of the material is then measured at predetermined distances along the pilot hole, between the pilot hole and the overburden, and between the pilot hole and the underburden. The information measured is stored in a storage mechanism which relates the measurements to the distance in the borehole. A mining machine is then controlled in accordance with the distance between the borehole and the overburden, and the borehole and the underburden. The invention further contemplates a method of mining where the tunnel being mined is sealed off and filled with an inert atmosphere. This method will provide an explosion-free environment during the mining operation.

Claims

1. A method for mining a mineral deposited underground in a vein having an underburden and an overburden comprising:

a. boring a pilot hole into said vein between said underburden and said overburden;

b. measuring a first mineral thickness between said pilot hole and said overburden at periodic distances along said pilot hole;

c. measuring a second mineral thickness between said pilot hole and said underburden at periodic distances along said pilot hole;

d. storing said first and second measured mineral thickness each with respect to its respective distance along the axis of said borehole from a common point of origin;

e. controlling a mining machine in accordance with said stored information whereby the total mineral removed and the direction of the progress of the mining machine is controlled by said pilot hole and said memory.

2. A method as described in claim 2 wherein said first and second mineral thickness is measured as said pilot hole is formed.

3. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said first and second mineral thickness is measured as said pilot hole is formed and additionally including the step of controlling the direction of said pilot drill to maintain said pilot hole equi-distant between said overburden and said underburden.

4. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said step of controlling said machine by said pilot hole and said memory comprises;

a. probing said pilot hole from said mining machine;

b. determining the orientation of said mining machine from said probed pilot hole;

c. communicating said determined orientation to a mining machine control unit along with said stored measured mineral thickness; and

d. operating a mineral removal apparatus with the output from said mining machine control unit whereby said meterial can be removed by said mining machine in accordance with said measured mineral thickness.

5. A method as described in claim 1 including the step of:

a. sealing said mined portion between said overburden and said underburden at least at said point of origin; and

b. filling said mined portion and said pilot hole with a noncombustible gas.

6. A method as described in claim 5 wherein said non-combustible gas is nitrogen.