Method and apparatus for sensing coal-rock interface

• US 4,981,327 A
• Filed: 06/09/1989
• Issued: 01/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Consolidation Coal Company Pittsburgh PA
• Original Assignee: Consolidation Capital Corp. (Residential Acquisition Co.)
• Inventors: Nelson, Michael G., Bessinger, Stephen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US07/364,042
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 299/1, 299/42, 299/43, 299/45, 299/67
• US Class Current: 299/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/08 Guiding the machine
• 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

Abstract

The method and apparatus for sensing the coal-rock interface while longwall mining by placing the sensor in the cowl adjacent the shearer drum so that sensor on the leading drum can feedforward interface data for the control of the trailing shearer drum by properly positioning the drum while cutting.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operating position of the leading and trailing shearer drums of a longwall shearer, the drums being carried on ranging arms which also support leading and trailing cowls each having a housing supporting coal-rock interface sensors spaced from the roof and floor coal surface comprising:

a. positioning the leading shearer drum cowl for permitting the coal-rock interface sensor to look downwardly to the floor to collect data on the coal-rock interface left below the leading shearer drums after the passing of the leading shearer drum, and;

b. feedforwarding the collected data to the control of the trailing shearer drum to anticipate proper positioning of the trailing shearer drum at the floor coal-rock interface.

2. In a longwall shearer having leading and trailing shearer drums passing across a mine panel having a roof and a floor with each shearer drum being carried on a ranging arm positioned in response to a controller comprising:

a. leading and trailing cows carried on the respective ranging arm adjacent to the shearer drum and adapted to guide material;

b. each of said cowls having a housing partially enclosing a coal-rock interface sensor to provide the controller with interface data; and

,

c. the sensor of the leading cowl looking downwardly inputting the controller to the trailing shearer drum to feedforward the floor coal-rock interface data below the leading shearer drum to the controller to position the trailing shearer drum.

3. The longwall shearer of claim 2 wherein said cowl housing includes a power supply for the sensor.