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US3603644A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mining ventilation apparatus and method

Assignee: Joy Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1969-04-15
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-04-15
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus for fully ventilating the face of a mined area by means of an auxiliary flow of air which deflects a normal flow of ventilating air such that a relatively greater area of a mine face is contacted by a passing flow of ventilating air.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harold C Mccleery

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 11:47
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C35/00; E21C35/22; E21C35/223

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
In a mining machine of the type having a cutter head mounted on the free forward end of an elongated boom and which cutter head extends laterally outwardly from each side of said boom and is movable in conjunction with said boom across a face of a bedded deposit of mineral, the improvement comprising: air conducting passageway means carried by said boom and movable therewith; said passageway means having a discharge opening located to discharge air outwardly of one side of said boom and forwardly towards the end of said cutterhead in closest proximity thereto; and means for causing air flow through said passageway means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 105 words
In a mining machine of the type having a cutter head mounted on the free forward end of an elongated boom and which cutter head extends laterally outwardly from each side of said boom and is movable in conjunction with said boom across a face of a bedded deposit of mineral, the improvement comprising: air conducting passageway means carried by said boom and movable therewith; said passageway means having a discharge opening located to discharge air outwardly of one side of said boom and forwardly towards the end of said cutterhead in closest proximity thereto; and means for causing air flow through said passageway means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
A mining machine as specified in claim 1 wherein said passageway means includes a second discharge opening located to discharge air outwardly of the other side of said boom and forwardly towards the other end of said cutterhead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A mining machine as specified in claim 2 additionally comprising flow control means cooperable with said passageway means to control the discharge of air through said discharge openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The mining machine as specified in claim 3 wherein said flow control means is a damper type valve movably mounted within said passageway means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The mining machine as specified in claim 2 wherein said passageway means includes a Y-shaped air duct and said discharge openings are at the ends of respective furcations of said duct opposite the juncture ends thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The mining machine as specified in claim 5 wherein said means for causing airflow is a fan and motor combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The mining machine as specified in claim 6 wherein said fan is a ducted axial flow fan mounted within the single leg portion of said air duct.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 103 words
The method of ventilating the mine face during the operation of a mining machine within a mine passageway, comprising: continuously providing along one side of a mine passageway a first flow of air toward a mine face located at the inner end of said passageway; continuously maintaining flow of at least a portion of said first flow towards the intersection of said one side and said face by directing an auxiliary flow of air at an acute angle to and in concurrent flow with said first flow; and thereafter withdrawing all of said air flows across said face and outwardly of said passageway.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 103 words
The method of ventilating the mine face during the operation of a mining machine within a mine passageway, comprising: continuously providing along one side of a mine passageway a first flow of air toward a mine face located at the inner end of said passageway; continuously maintaining flow of at least a portion of said first flow towards the intersection of said one side and said face by directing an auxiliary flow of air at an acute angle to and in concurrent flow with said first flow; and thereafter withdrawing all of said air flows across said face and outwardly of said passageway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 47 words
The method of ventilating as specified in claim 8 in which the operation of the mining machiNe includes a face-shearing cycle, including the further step of continuously varying the vertical orientation of said auxiliary flow in said passageway in conjunction with the progression of said face-shearing cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of ventilating as specified in claim 9 wherein said varying of said vertical orientation is substantially coincident with the portion of the face being sheared.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A mining machine as specified in claim 1 additionally comprising flow control means cooperable with said passageway means to control the discharge of air through said discharge opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 62 words
A method of ventilating as specified in claim 8 including, prior to said withdrawing, the additional steps of: discontinuing said first flow of air; selectively providing a second flow of air toward said face along the other side of said passageway; and selectively directing said auxiliary flow of air at an acute angle to and in concurrent flow with said second flow.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2749105A Cited
US3333896A Cited
US3387889A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-09-06 1975-03-08 1975-09-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-09-06 1979-03-08 1979-09-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-09-06 1983-03-08 1983-09-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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