Continuous-extraction mining system

• US 8,985,703 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Joy Mm Delaware Incorporated (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil
• Application Number:
  US13/179,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 299/11, 299/12, 299/19, 299/18, 299/64, 299/65, 104/154, 104/162, 105/29.1, 105/31, 105/127, 241/264, 241/266, 241/101.2, 241/186.35, 241/101.5, 414/565, 414/685, 198/317, 198/520
• US Class Current: 299/64
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/6427 with elements of the scraper bowls being pivotable for dumping the soil E02F3/6445 take precedence; with an ejector having translational movement E02F3/6436
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/651 Hydraulic or pneumatic drives; Electric or electro-mechanical control devices E02F3/652, E02F3/653 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/962 Mounting of implements directly on tools already attached to the machine E02F3/404 and E02F3/8152 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/966 of hammer-type tools arrangements for breaking-up hard ground E02F5/305; percussion -type rippers E02F5/323
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/026 mounted on machines equipped with dipper- or bucket-arms
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/04 Loading devices mounted on a dredger or an excavator loading devices in general B65G hopper dredgers, also equipment for unloading the hopper
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/06 Delivery chutes or screening plants or mixing plants mounted on dredgers or excavators for back-filling E02F5/226 takes precedence; separating equipment in general B03; delivery chutes in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/00 Transport specially adapted to underground conditions mine cars B61D; transport in general, loading unless specially adapted to underground conditions B65G
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/002 Crushing devices specifically for conveying in mines
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/025 Shuttle cars
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/063 Loading devices for use in mining

Abstract

A continuous material extraction system for a mine. The mine includes a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell. The system generally includes a conveyor extending along the roadway entry, roadway rails extending along the roadway entry, and a material collector moveable along the roadway rails. The material collector is operable to crush material and deposit crushed material onto the conveyor. The system also includes a loading machine that is moveable along the rails and from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell and transferring material removed from the draw bell to the material collector. A bridge conveyor extends between the loading machine and the material collector.

Claims

1. A material extraction system for an underground mine, the mine including a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell, the system comprising:

a conveyor extending along the roadway entry;

roadway rails extending along the roadway entry;

a material collector moveable along the roadway rails, the material collector operable to deposit material onto the conveyor;

a loading machine moveable from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell and transferring material removed from the draw bell to the material collector; and

a crowding mechanism including a fixed portion that is fixed relative to the draw-bell entry and a moveable portion coupled to the loading machine and engageable with the fixed portion for moving the loading machine toward the draw-bell and into the material to be removed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading machine includes a chassis and a loading arm movably coupled to the chassis and operable to move material from the draw-bell toward the chassis.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the chassis includes a conveyor, and wherein the loading arm moves material from the draw-bell onto the conveyor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the loading machine includes a rock breaker mounted to an end of the loading arm.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising spur rails extending from the roadway rails into the draw-bell entry, wherein the loading machine is moveable along the roadway rails and along the spur rails.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the loading machine includes wheels engageable with the roadway rails and the spur rails, and wherein the crowding mechanism is separate from the wheels.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the fixed portion includes a rack extending substantially parallel to the spur rails and the moveable portion includes a pinion coupled to the loading machine and engageable with the rack, wherein rotation of the pinion when the pinion is engaged with the rack moves the loading machine toward the draw-bell.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the fixed portion includes a bar member and the moveable portion includes a hook coupled to the loading machine and moveable with respect to the wheels, the hook engageable with the member and moveable relative to the wheels to move the loading machine toward the draw-bell.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the conveyor is positioned between and below the roadway rails.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the loading machine is coupled to the material collector.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a bridge conveyor extending between the loading machine and the material collector.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power center moveable along the roadway rails, and wherein the power center, the material collector, and the loading machine together comprise a continuous-extraction train.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the material collector includes a crusher portion for crushing the material before depositing the material onto the conveyor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the moveable portion of the crowding mechanism on the loading machine is operable to be selectively disengaged from the fixed portion.

15. A material extraction system for an underground mine, the mine including a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell, the system comprising:

a material collector moveable along the roadway entry;

a machine moveable from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell and transferring material removed from the draw bell to the material collector; and

a crowding mechanism including a fixed portion that is fixed relative to the draw-bell entry and a moveable portion coupled to the machine and engageable with the fixed portion for moving the machine toward the draw-bell and into the material to be removed.

16. The material extraction system of claim 15, wherein the fixed portion includes a rack and the moveable portion includes a pinion coupled to the machine and engageable with the rack, wherein rotation of the pinion when the pinion is engaged with the rack moves the loading machine toward the draw-bell.

17. The material extraction system of claim 15, wherein the fixed portion includes a bar member and the moveable portion includes a hook coupled to the machine, the hook engageable with the bar member and operable to move the machine toward the draw-bell.

18. The material extraction system of claim 15, further including roadway rails extending along the roadway entry, wherein the material collector is movable along the roadway rails.

19. The material extraction system of claim 18, further including spur rails extending from the roadway rails into the draw bell entry, wherein the machine is moveable along the roadway rails and along the spur rails and the fixed portion of the crowding mechanism is fixed relative to the spur rails.

20. The material extraction system of claim 19, wherein the machine includes wheels engageable with the roadway rails and the spur rails, the crowding mechanism is separate from the wheels.

21. The material extraction system of claim 15, wherein the moveable portion of the crowding mechanism on the machine is operable to be selectively disengaged from the fixed portion.