Combination panline and utility drilling or bolting unit

• US 7,350,876 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J.H. Fletcher & Company.
• Original Assignee: J.H. Fletcher & Company.
• Inventors: Kendall, William G. Jr., Burgess, Timothy D., Morris, David L., Payne, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): KRECK, JOHN J
• Application Number:
  US10/949,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20050067879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 299/10, 299/95
• US Class Current: 299/95
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 27/02 solely by slitting rods, drums, for same E21C25/10; saws, discs, wheels E21C25/18; chains, chain guides, for same E21C25/28
• CPC Class Codes: E21D 20/003 Machines for drilling anchor holes and setting anchor bolts

Abstract

A drilling or bolting unit for selective use with either a vehicle or a panline of a face conveyor associated with a longwall miner or mining machine is disclosed. In one embodiment, the unit comprises a base adapted for engaging the panline and a plurality of receivers. Each receiver may be adapted for receiving one of the pair of forks of the vehicle, such that the unit may be used as either a panline drilling or bolting unit or as a utility drilling or bolting unit with the vehicle apart from the panline. Related methods are also described.

Claims

1. A drilling or bolting unit for selective use with either a vehicle having a pair of forks or a panline of a face conveyor associated with a longwall miner or mining machine, comprising:

a base adapted for engaging the panline;

a drill head carried by the base;

means for engaging the vehicle associated with the base;

wherein the means for engaging comprises first and second spaced tubular receivers, each receiver comprising a retractable pocket adapted for slidably receiving one of the forks associated with the vehicle in an actuated position.

2. The drill unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for engaging comprises third and fourth spaced receivers oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the first and second spaced receivers.

3. The drill unit according to claim 1, wherein the pockets in the actuated position are generally aligned with a conveying direction of the panline.

4. The drill unit according to claim 1, wherein the panline includes a shearer or cutter mechanism driven to and fro therealong, and further including a tow bar for associating the base with the shearer or cutter to move the unit to and fro.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the tubular receivers are mounted to the base below the drill head, each receiver adapted for receiving one of the forks.

6. In combination, a vehicle and a drilling or bolting unit adapted for engaging a panline of a face conveyor, wherein the unit includes a plurality of receivers, each adapted for receiving a part of the vehicle, whereby the unit may be used as either a panline drilling or bolting unit or a utility drilling or bolting unit with the vehicle apart from the panline;

wherein two tubular receivers are provided for slidably receiving the vehicle part, each having a direction of elongation generally perpendicular to the conveying direction of the panline when associated therewith; and

wherein at least one of the receivers includes a pair of pockets movable between a stowed or retracted position and an actuated position for receiving the part of the vehicle.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of receivers includes four receivers, two of said four receivers having a direction of elongation generally perpendicular to the conveying direction of the panline when associated therewith and the other two of said receivers having a direction of elongation generally parallel to the conveying direction of the panline when associated therewith.

8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the pockets pivotally mount to a base of the drill unit.

9. A method of drilling in an underground mine having a longwall miner or mining machine including a panline, comprising:

(a) associating a drill unit with the panline;

(b) drilling with the drill unit associated with the panline;

(c) associating the drill unit with a vehicle; and

(d) drilling with the drill unit associated with the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle includes a pair of forks, and the step of associating the drill unit with the vehicle comprises inserting each fork in a corresponding receiver provided in the drill unit.

11. The method according to claim 10, further including the step of moving each receiver from a stowed position before inserting the corresponding fork.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed before steps (c) and (d).

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein steps (a) and (b) are repeated after steps (c) and (d) are performed.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of associating the drill unit with the panline comprises connecting the drill unit to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid associated with the panline.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of associating the drill unit with the vehicle comprises connecting the drill unit to a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid associated with the vehicle.

16. The method according to claim 9, the step of using the drill unit in association with the vehicle comprises moving the vehicle to a location remote from the panline.

17. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of drilling the borehole is preceded by moving the drill unit along the panline in a conveying direction.

18. The method of claim 9, further including the step of using the drill unit to install bolts in a mine passage.

19. A drilling or bolting unit, comprising:

means for engaging a panline of a face conveyor;

means for engaging a vehicle apart from the face conveyor;

wherein the means for engaging the vehicle comprises at least one pair of receivers, each receiver of said pair adapted for receiving an elongated lifting structure associated with the vehicle; and

wherein at least one of the receivers comprises a pair of pockets movable between a stowed or retracted and an actuated position.

20. The drilling or bolting unit according to claim 19, wherein the means for engaging the panline comprises a plurality of shoes and a tongue for engaging a trapping shoe associated with the panline.

21. A drilling or bolting unit for use in association with a trapping shoe associated with a guide rail of a panline forming part of a face conveyor having a conveying direction, as well as in connection with a lifting portion of a lifting vehicle, comprising:

a base supporting a drill head for use in drilling boreholes and installing roof bolts in the mine passage;

means for receiving the lifting portion of the lifting vehicle, said means being associated with the base; and

a removable retainer for insertion in the receiving means for connecting the unit to the guide rail.

22. The drilling or bolting unit of claim 21, wherein the means for receiving comprises a tubular receiver, and the removable retainer connects with the trapping shoe.

23. A method of associating a drilling or bolting unit with a panline of a face conveyor, comprising:

placing the unit on the panline;

associating a trapping shoe with both the panline and the unit to provide a holddown function by inserting at least a portion of the trapping shoe or an extension thereof within a receiver forming part of the drilling or bolting unit;

drilling using the drilling or bolting unit associated with the panline;

removing the trapping shoe or extension from the receiver; and

inserting a fork of a forklift in the receiver.

24. The method of claim 23, further including the step of drilling using the unit associated with the forklift.