Mineral mining installations

Claim 2

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-toend, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, two guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the central web having a number of crosspieces projecting towards the conveyor and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor to form compartments open towards the conveyor, the flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 3

An installation according to claim 1, wherein each of said crosspieces has an aperture therethrough for receiving a bolt used to secure the associated guide member to the conveyor.

Claim 4

An installation according to claim 1, wherein upper surfAces of the crosspieces form a running surface for the sections of a chain disposed in the upper guide passage.

Claim 5

An installation according to claim 1, wherein the guide members are of identical construction.

Claim 6

An installation according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the guide members connected to each channel section.

Claim 7

An installation according to claim 1, wherein each guide member is constructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be inverted vertically and re-connected to the conveyor.

Claim 8

An installation according to claim 1, wherein barrier plates are connected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrier plates.

Claim 9

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the central web being detachably mounted on said main wall and formed from two plates interconnected at their ends with crosspieces arranged between said plates and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor, the flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 10

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the central web being detachably mounted on said main wall and formed from two plates interconnected at their ends with crosspieces arranged between said plates and spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyor, the flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 11

An installation according to claim 8, wherein the guide members are of identical construction and a gap is formed between the guide members connected to each channel section.

Claim 12

An installation according to claim 8, wherein each guide member is constructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be inverted vertically and re-connected to the conveyor.

Claim 13

An installation according to claim 8, wherein barrier plates are connected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrier plates.

Claim 14

An installation according to claim 8, wherein four crosspieces are provided for each central web, the inner faces of the plates and the crosspieces defining reception zones for fixing bolts which are used to secure the web and the remainder of the associated guide members to the conveyor.

Claim 15

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, two guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower main flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the outer face of the main wall of each guide member being formed with two longitudinal ribs having upwardly and downwardly directed flanges, the main flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower main flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower main flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 16

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, two guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower main flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the outer face of the main wall of each guide member being formed with two longitudinal ribs having upwardly and downwardly directed flanges, the main flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower main flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower main flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 17

An installation according to claim 13, wherein the guide members are of identical construction and a Gap is formed between the guide members connected to each channel section.

Claim 18

An installation according to claim 13, wherein each guide member is constructed in a symmetrical manner so that it can be inverted vertically and re-connected to the conveyor.

Claim 19

An installation according to claim 13, wherein barrier plates are connected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrier plates.

Claim 20

An installation according to claim 13, wherein the longitudinal ribs are interconnected by upright ribs spaced apart longitudinally of the guide member.

Claim 21

An installation according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the flanges of the longitudinal ribs has a series of apertures therein to enable shifting rams to be connected to the guide members.

Claim 22

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, two guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the central web of each guide member having apertures therein receiving bolts serving to fix the guide member to the conveyor, each guide member being of symmetrical construction permitting the member to be inverted vertically and re-connected to the conveyor, the outer face of the main wall of each guide member being formed with two longitudinal ribs with a plate being connected between said ribs to lie parallel to said main wall, said plate having apertures therein permitting access to said bolts and recesses at its edges for connection to shifting rams, the flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 23

A mineral mining installation comprising: a scraper chain conveyor having a plurality of channel sections joined end-to-end, a mineral winning machine mounted for movement along one side of the conveyor, two guide members attached to the other side of each channel section, each of the guide members being generally E-shaped in cross section with upper and lower flanges and a central web adjoining a main wall, the central web of each guide member having apertures therein receiving bolts serving to fix the guide member to the conveyor, each guide member being of symmetrical construction permitting the member to be inverted vertically and re-connected to the conveyor, the outer face of the main wall of each guide member being formed with two longitudinal ribs with a plate being connected between said ribs to lie parallel to said main wall, said plate having apertures therein permitting access to said bolts and recesses at its edges for connection to shifting rams, the flanges and the central web of the guide members being directed towards the conveyor to form upper and lower guide passages defined between the central web and the upper and lower flanges, respectively, a drive chain disposed within the upper and lower passages, a gap disposed between the lower extremity of the other side of each channel section and the lower flanges of the associated guide members, and a sword plate connected to the machine and extending through at least one of said gaps to connect with the chain disposed in the lower guide passage.

Claim 24

An installation according to claim 19, wherein a gap is formed between the guide members connected to each channel section.

Claim 25

An installation according to claim 19, wherein barrier plates are connected to said one side of the conveyor and the guide members allocated to each channel section are secured to one of said barrier plates.

Claim 26

An installation according to claim 19, wherein there is provided fixing devices for clamping the guide members to the conveyor, each of said devices being engageable with a shaped aperture provided in the transition zone between the main wall and the upper flange of the associated guide member.

Claim 27

An installation according to claim 22, wherein each fixing device has a hook-like projecting arm which engages with the guide member in the region of the shaped aperture.