US3861749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mineral mining installations
Assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
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Filing: 1971-07-08
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1991-07-08
Abstract
Abstract An installation for mining non-carbonaceous minerals which has a longwall conveyor as used in coal mining workings, support chocks connected to the conveyor via shifting rams and a plough guided for movement along the conveyor. Each support chock has allocated thereto a heating device which is displaceable in relation to the conveyor. The heating devices are collectively used to heat a mineral face which is to be mined and the devices are moved from a position adjacent the face in order to allow the plough to proceed along the conveyor to detach the pre-heated mineral in known manner. Various measures are adopted to enable the installation to cope with the high ambient temperatures produced by the heating devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner Georg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:51
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C37/00; E21C37/16; E21C37/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A mineral mining installation composed of a longwall conveyor arranged alongside a mineral face, cutting means guided for movement along the conveyor, roof support chocks, shifting rams interconnecting the chocks and the conveyor and a plurality of heating devices movable laterally relative to the conveyor between a working position adjacent the face and a retracted position permitting passage of said cutting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A mineral mining installation composed of a longwall conveyor arranged alongside a mineral face, cutting means guided for movement along the conveyor, roof support chocks, shifting rams interconnecting the chocks and the conveyor and a plurality of heating devices movable laterally relative to the conveyor between a working position adjacent the face and a retracted position permitting passage of said cutting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said cutting means is a plough moved back and forth along the conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An installation according to claim 2, wherein there is provided means to impart vibration to the plough as the latter moves along the conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An installation according to claim 2, wherein there is further provided means for conveying electrical energy to said plough, said means including an arm attached to the plough and extending over the conveyor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An installation according to claim 4, and further comprising a channel member disposed alongside the side of the conveyor remote from the mineral face, said channel member containing electrical contact stripS, a carriage movable along said channel and connected to said arm in telescopic fashion and a contact slide member attached to said carriage and adapted to make electrical connection with said contact strips.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An installation according to claim 5, wherein shock-absorbing and damping members are incorporated between the components of the electrical energy conveying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An installation according to claim 1, and further comprising means for moving each of the heating devices substantially perpendicularly of said conveyor, and control means for controlling the movement of the device in accordance with the position of the cutting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An installation according to claim 7, and further comprising feeler elements provided for each heating device, said elements being adapted to contact the mineral face to thereby initiate a control operation to halt the advance of the heating device towards the face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
An installation according to claim 7, wherein each heating device is guided for movement along guide rails of a frame, said frame being pivotable in relation to said conveyor, the means for moving the heating device being in the form of an hydraulic piston and cylinder unit arranged to displace the heating device along the guide rails and a further hydraulic piston and cylinder unit arranged to effect pivoting of said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
An installation according to claim 9, wherein the frame has two parallel rods each with one end pivotably attached to the guide rails and the other end pivotable in relation to the conveyor, a transverse yoke interconnecting said rods and a further rod of shorter length than the first-mentioned rods with one end pivotably attached to the yoke and the other end pivotable in relation to the conveyor, the first-mentioned piston and cylinder unit being operably disposed between the heating device and the guide rails and the further piston and cylinder unit being operably disposed between the further rod and a rigid abutment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An installation according to claim 10, and further comprising means for adjusting the length of the further rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
85 words
An installation according to claim 10, wherein the frame is carried on a structure composed of brackets connected to the side of the conveyor remote from the mineral face, a yoke extending between the brackets and substantially parallel to the conveyor and feet attached to the brackets and slidable along the floor of the mine working, and wherein the first-mentioned rods are pivotably attached to said brackets and there is provided an arm which interconnects the further rod and the yoke extending between the brackets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
An installation according to claim 10, wherein there is provided a number of shock absorbing members to protect the heating device from vibration and shock, and one of said shock absorbing members take the form of a leaf spring engageable with the further rod when the latter is pivoted away from the mineral face.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An installation according to claim 9, and further comprising a guide rod affixed to the heating device and guided in a sleeve attached to the frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
An installation according to claim 9, wherein the frame is carried on a structure composed of brackets connected to the side of the conveyor remote from the mineral face, a yoke extending between the brackets and substantially parallel to the conveyor and feet attached to the brackets and slidable along the floor of the mine working.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An installation according to claim 15, wherein the brackets connect with guide members which are slidably received in guide channels connected to the associated support chock.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An installation according to claim 9, wherein there is provided a number of shock absorbing members to protect the heating device from vibration and shock.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An installation according to claim 17, wherein one of said shock absorbing members is provided for each piston and cylinder unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An installation according to claim 7, wherein the control means includes limit swItches mounted on brackets attached to the conveyor and there is provided an arm engageable with said limit switches and movable with said cutting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
An installation according to claim 1, and further comprising means for energizing each heating device and means for controlling said energization so that the heat generated by said device when at its working position is greater than that generated by said device when at its retracted position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
An installation according to claim 20, wherein each support chock has four telescopic props interconnected by floor rails and roof caps, some of said support chocks each accommodating an electrical transformer forming part of said energizing means, said transformer being capable of displacement between the props of the chock and towards the conveyor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
An installation according to claim 21, wherein said transformer is supported on a slip which has rails slidably engaging the floor of the mine working laterally outside the floor rails of the associated chock.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
An installation according to claim 1, wherein said cutting means is in the form of a plough moved along the conveyor with the aid of an endless chain, the plough being guided on a longitudinal guide member and having one or more claws which slidably engage a guide tube disposed above the mineral face side of the conveyor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
An installation according to claim 23, wherein there is provided means to impart vibration to the plough as the latter moves along the conveyor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
An installation according to claim 23, wherein there is further provided means for conveying electrical-energy to said plough, said means including an arm attached to the plough and extending over the conveyor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
An installation according to claim 25, and further comprising a channel member disposed alongside the side of the conveyor remote from the mineral face, said channel member containing electrical contact strips, a carriage movable along said channel and connected to said arm in telescopic fashion and a contact slide member attached to said carriage and adapted to make electrical connection with said contact strips.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
An installation according to claim 26, wherein shock-absorbing and damping members are incorporated between the components of the electrical energy conveying means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
An installation according to claim 23, wherein the guide member is generally of L-shaped cross-section with an upright portion spaced apart from the mineral face side of the conveyor and a further portion extending towards the mineral face and wherein stiffening plates are disposed between said upright portion of the guide member and the conveyor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
An installation according to claim 28, wherein the stiffening plates are recessed to form a channel for receiving one of the runs of the endless chain and a hinged cover extends over said chain channel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
An installation according to claim 28, wherein the stiffening plates are affixed to the further portion of the guide member and are pivotably connected to brackets arranged along the mineral face side of the conveyor.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
An installation according to claim 28, wherein the stiffening plates have portions in the form of ribs which extend beneath the further portion of the guide member to support the guide member on the floor of the mine working.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
An installation according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor has support stands at each of its sides, the support stands having feet which project inwardly of the conveyor and engage the floor of the mine working, said feet being spaced from the lower part of the conveyor side walls to form gaps capable of receiving cover plates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |