Narrow opening mechanical miner

• US 4,818,025 A
• Filed: 11/14/1986
• Issued: 04/04/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hecla Mining Co.
• Original Assignee: Hecla Mining Co.
• Inventors: Brackebusch, Fred W., Lundal, Mandius C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Massie, IV, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US06/931,199
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 299/31-33, 299/1, 405/142, 405/148, 180/8.1, 180/8.5
• US Class Current: 299/31
• CPC Class Codes: E21D 9/106 with percussive tools, e.g. pick-hammers
• CPC Class Codes: E21D 9/1093 Devices for supporting, advancing or orientating the machine or the tool-carrier measuring devices for guiding machines E21D9/003; anchoring in the borehole E21B4/18

Abstract

A self-propelled mining vehicle is disclosed which is self supporting above the floor of a mine tunnel. The vehicle is adapted to be supported above the floor of the mine tunnel such that conventional rock removing vehicles are operable therebeneath. The vehicle has an elongated carrier or frame having a mining apparatus mounted at one end. Four transverse bracing cap assemblies are included, and are adapted to engage side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the carrier above the tunnel floor. Four suspension links extend downwardly from each cap assembly for suspending the carrier beneath the cap assemblies. The suspension links are longitudinally movable with respect to the carrier and cap assemblies for causing movement of the carrier and cap assemblies relative to one another. With such a construction, the vehicle is able to hold its position above a mine tunnel floor without contacting the floor. The vehicle is also able to walk along mine tunnel walls to travel fore and aft, and up and down, within a mine tunnel. Additionally, the vehicle is able to change its heading for travelling along a curved mine tunnel or vein.

Claims

1. A mining vehicle comprising:

an elongated carrier;

means for mounting a mining apparatus to an end of the carrier;

transverve bracing means adapted to engage side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the floor of a mine tunnel, the transverse bracing means including at least one pair of transverse extendible legs protruding in opposite directions, the extendible legs adapted to engage opposite side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the mine tunnel floor;

suspension linkage means extending downwardly from the transverse bracing means for suspending the elongated carrier beneath the transverse bracing means, said suspension linkage means being longitudinally movable with respect to the elongated carrier and transverse bracing means for causing longitudinal movement of the elongated carrier and transverse bracing means relative to one another;

the transverse bracing means and elongated carrier each including left and right longitudinal halves;

the suspension linkage means comprising left linkage means and right linkage means linking the respective left and right longitudinal halves of the transverse bracing means with the elongated carrier, the left linkage means and right linkage means being independently movable for skewing the elongated carrier relative to the transverse bracing means to turn or cause the vehicle to change heading enabling the vehicle to traverse a curved portion of a mine tunnel; and

the left and right linkage means each comprising a pair or suspension links positioned parallel with respect to one another, one end of each link being pivotally connected to the transverse bracing means, the other end of each link being pivotally connected to the elongated carrier.

2. A mining vehicle comprising:

an elongated carrier;

means for mounting a mining apparatus to an end of the carrier;

transverse bracing means adapted to engage side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the floor of a mine tunnel;

suspension linkage means extending downwardly from the transverse bracing means for suspending the elongated carrier beneath the transverse bracing means, said suspension linkage means being longitudinally movable with respect to the elongated carrier and transverse bracing means for causing longitudinal movement of the elongated carrier and transverse bracing means relative to one another;

the transverse bracing means and elongated carrier each including left and right longitudinal halves;

the suspension linkage means comprising left linkage means and right linkage means linking the respective left and right halves of the transverse bracing means with the elongated carrier, the left linkage means and right linkage means being independently movable for skewing the elongated carrier relative to the transverse bracing means;

the left and right linkage means each comprising a pair of suspension links positioned parallel with respect to one another, one end of each link being pivotally connected to the transverse bracing means, the other end of each link being pivotally connected to the elongated carrier; and

powered piston and cylinder means operatively connected to each of the left and right pairs of suspension links for independently causing movement of each pair.

3. A mining vehicle comprising:

an elongated carrier;

means for mounting a mining apparatus to an end of the carrier;

transverse bracing means adapted to engage side walls of a mine

tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the floor of a mine tunnel;

suspension linkage means extending downwardly from the transverse bracing means for suspending the elongated carrier beneath the transverse bracing means, said suspension linkage means being longitudinally movable with respect to the elongated carrier and transverse bracing means for causing longitudinal movement of the elongated carrier and transverse bracing means relative to one another;

the transverse bracing means comprising;

a plurality of cap assemblies each having a pair of transverse extendible legs protruding in opposite directions thereform, the extendible legs adapted to engage opposite side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the cap assemblies above the floor of a mine tunnel; and

the linkage means comprising;

at least four suspension links extending forwardly from each cap assembly, each suspension link being pivotally connected to a cap assembly at one of its ends and pivotally connected to the elongated carrier at the other of its ends; and

movement means associated with the suspension links of each cap assembly for independently causing pivotal movement of the ends of the suspension links relative to each cap assembly and the elongated carrier for moving each cap assembly and the carrier relative to one another.

4. The mining apparatus of claim 3 wherein the extendable legs include pressure sensing means at the other ends thereof for sensing whether an extended leg is bearing with force against a wall of a mine tunnel.

5. The mining vehicle of claim 3 wherein,

the cap assemblies each comprise first and second opposite transverse sides, the four suspension links extending from each cap assembly to the elongated carrier extending in the first and second pairs from the respective first and second transverse sides of the cap assembly, the suspension links in each pair being parallel to one another, and

wherein the movement means comprises powered piston and cylinder means operatively connected to the suspension link pairs for causing parallel movement of the suspension links of each pair about the pivotally connected ends.

6. The mining vehicle of claim 5 wherein the movement means comprises a separate independently operable piston and cylinder means operably connected to each of the first and second pairs of suspension links.

7. The mining vehicle of claim 6 wherein a plurality of the suspension links are variable in length.

8. The mining vehicle of claim 5 wherein each suspension link member comprises an upper half and a lower half, the piston and cylinder means being connected between the suspension links of at least one of the first and second pairs, the piston and cylinder means including a piston and cylinder which are connected to opposite upper and lower halves of the suspension links of the at least one pair.

9. The mining vehicle of claim 3 wherein each of the transversely protruding legs includes a foot member pivotally connected to an outer end thereof for engagement with the sidewalls of a mine tunnel.

10. The mining vehicle of claim 3 wherein the plurality of separate cap assemblies number four.

11. A mining vehicle comprising:

an elongated carrier;

means for mounting a mining apparatus to an end of the carrier;

first transverse bracing means adjacent the mining apparatus mounting means, the first transverse bracing means adapted to engage side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the floor of a mine tunnel, the first transverse bracing means including at least one pair of transverse extendible legs protruding in opposite directions, the extendible legs adapted to engage opposite side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the mine tunnel floor;

second transverse bracing means positioned behind the first transverse bracing means, the second transverse bracing means comprising at least three separate transverse bracing units, each transverse bracing unit including at least one pair of transverse extendible legs protruding in opposite directions, the extendible legs adapted to engage opposite side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the mine tunnel floor; and

linkage means extending downwardly from each of the first transverse bracing means and at least three transverse bracing units whereby the first transverse bracing means and at least three transverse bracing units are each independently linked to the elongated carrier, each linkage means being pivotally connected to the elongated carrier and respective first bracing means or bracing unit.

12. A mining vehicle comprising:

an elongated carrier;

means for mounting a mining apparatus to an end of the carrier;

first transverse bracing means adjacent the mining apparatus mounting means, the first transverse bracing means adapted to engage side walls of a mine tunnel for supporting the elongated carrier above the floor of a mine tunnel;

second transverse bracing means positioned behind the first transverse bracing means, the second transverse bracing means comprising at least three separate transverse bracing units;

linkage means extending downwardly from each of the first transverse bracing means and at least three transverse bracing units whereby the first transverse bracing means and at least three transverse bracing units are each independently linked to the elongated carrier, each linkage means being pivotally connected to the elongated carrier and respective first bracing means or bracing unit;

the first transverse bracing means, three transverse bracing units, and elongated carrier each including left and right longitudinal halves; and

the linkage means comprises a left linkage means and right linkage means linking the respective left and right halves of the first transverse bracing means and at least three transverse bracing units with the elongated carrier, the left linkage means and right linkage means being independently movable for skewing the elongated carrier relative to the first and second transverse bracing means, at least portions of the left and right linkage means being length adjustable.