US4053182A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mining method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-10-05
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Granted: 1977-10-11
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Expires: 1996-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A shaft is formed from ground level downwardly to a subterranean seam of coal or other solids following preliminary survey procedures to locate the seam and establish its dimensions. A passage is cut radially into the coal seam and away from the shaft near the bottom thereof while coal cuttings are removed and delivered to ground level. The seam is then cut on an arcuate path centered on said shaft along the entire length of the radial passage while coal cuttings continue to be removed and delivered through the shaft to ground level. The mining apparatus is modular and comprises plural mining modules to be placed in the coal seam by a placement and advancing unit which is lowered in the shaft. A rotational driving unit is subsequently lowered in the shaft to drive coupled mining modules in unison through the coal seam on said arcuate path. In addition, self-propelled modules can drive themselves radially from the shaft outwardly into the seam and under remote control from ground level can propel themselves on a second path, e.g., an arcuate or, if desirable, a straight path, along one side of the radial cut.
Inventors
- 👤 Rodney L. Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:57
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C37/00; E21C37/06; E21C41/00; E21C41/16; E21C41/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for mining solids from a subterranean seam containing minable solids through a prepared shaft extending from ground level into said seam comprising plural mining modules adapted to be placed one at a time in coupled relationship in said seam, a module placement and advancing unit adapted to be lowered through said shaft to said seam with each mining module and to force each module into said seam on a radial path away from said shaft while coupled with a module immediately ahead of it, and a rotational driving unit for all of the coupled mining modules in said seam adapted to be lowered in said shaft into coupled engagement with the rearmost mining module adjacent said shaft for then driving the modules through said seam on an arcuate path centered on said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus for mining solids from a subterranean seam containing minable solids through a prepared shaft extending from ground level into said seam comprising plural mining modules adapted to be placed one at a time in coupled relationship in said seam, a module placement and advancing unit adapted to be lowered through said shaft to said seam with each mining module and to force each module into said seam on a radial path away from said shaft while coupled with a module immediately ahead of it, and a rotational driving unit for all of the coupled mining modules in said seam adapted to be lowered in said shaft into coupled engagement with the rearmost mining module adjacent said shaft for then driving the modules through said seam on an arcuate path centered on said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and said mining modules including a single forwardly cutting lead module, and a plurality of side cutting modules behind the lead module, each side cutting module having opposite end male and female coupling elements and the lead module having a rear end female coupling element, said module placement and advancing unit and said rotational driving unit each having a male coupling element to interfit with the female coupling element of a side cutting module.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 2, and each side cutting module provided with built-in driving fluid and slurry removal passages opening through the opposite ends thereof, a back filling material passage and a sensing cable segment extending between said opposite ends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and said module placement and advancing unit comprising suspension means allowing said unit to be raised and lowered through said shaft, a mining module transport chamber having a floor, and an extensible and retractable power device adapted for coupling and uncoupling engagement with each mining module to draw the same into said transport chamber at an above ground location and to force the module forwardly radially away from said shaft and into said seam near the bottom of the shaft with the module coupled to another mining module immediately ahead of it.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus of claim 4, and said module placement and advancing unit further comprising an extensible and retractable ram, a coupling head carried by the ram and adapted for coupling engagement with each mining module being placed in said seam, said unit having passages for driving fluid and mined slurry, and flexible extensible and retractable conduit sections coupled with said passages and said coupling head, whereby driving fluid and mined slurry can be delivered to and taken from each mining module during the placement thereof by said unit in said seam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and said rotational driving unit comprising an upper non-rotatable section adapted to grip the interior of said prepared shaft, a lower rotatable section having a coupling head adapted for coupling with the rearmost mining module in said seam, and power drive means for said lower rotatable section on the upper non-rotatable section of said rotational driving unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 6, and said lower rotatable section having passage means formed therein for driving fluid, mined slurry and back filling material adapted for registration with corresponding passage means of said mining modules, said non-rotatable section also having passage means for driving fluid, mined slurry and back filling material, and relatively rotatable annular interface fluid passage means between said non-rotatable and rotatable sections for said driving fluid, mined slurry and back filling material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 7, and said power drive means for said lower rotatable section including a long spline gear drivingly engaging said lower rotatable section for turning the same about the axis of said prepared shaft, said lower rotatable section movable longitudinally on said spline gear whereby the lower rotatable section and said coupled mining modules may descend through said seam during angular rotation with said lower rotatable section, and telescoping connecting means between the upper non-rotatable and lower rotatable sections of said rotational driving unit including telescoping parts of said passage means of said non-rotatable section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and said mining modules including a forwardly cutting lead module and a plurality of side cutting modules behind the lead module, a forward cutting head on the lead module, a side cutting head on each side cutting module, fluid motor means for said forward cutting head of the lead module and for each side cutting head, and driving fluid conduit means delivering driving fluid from above ground to said fluid motor means, said lead module and each side cutting module having a driving fluid passage means therein in communication with said conduit means and connected with said fluid motor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9, and said lead module and each side cutting module having a mined slurry passage and a bottom opening mined slurry inlet leading to said passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 10, and each side cutting module having a back filling material passage and a back filling material outlet in its side remote from said side cutting head, and top and bottom seals on each side cutting module adapted to engage the ceiling and floor of the cavity formed in said seam to separate back filling material from the driving fluid and mined slurry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 11, and said driving fluid conduit means, mined slurry passage and back filling material passage being valved, and electrically interconnected control means for the valves of said driving fluid conduit means, mined slurry passage and back filling material passage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 12, said control means for said valves including an electrical sensing cable section in said lead module and in each side cutting module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and said mining modules comprising generally rectangular block-like units having male and female interengaging rigid coupling parts, whereby a number of modules may be coupled rigidly in end-to-end abutting relationship to thereby form a substantially continuous elongated mining machine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 14, and said modules having cutting heads on corresponding sides thereof along the entire length of the mining machine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15, and each mining module having caster wheels on its bottom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 15, and said male coupling parts being downwardly tapered for guided entry into the tops of the female coupling parts, the female coupling parts including slots which open through the tops of the modules.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 17, and said modules having front-to-back flow passages for driving fluid, mined slurry and back filling material which open through the male and female coupling parts, and spring-urged interface sealing means on the fronts and backs of said modules adapted to seal said front-to-back flow passages at the interfaces between adjacent modules.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 15, and power means to adjust the angle of each side cutting head relative to the vertical by pivoting the head on a pivot axis near the lower end of the head and longitudinally of the module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 15, and each module having a top and bottom longitudinal extensible and retractable sealing plate adjacent its side remote from its cutting head.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1, and an ingress-egress service unit at the mouth of said prepared shaft at ground level for raising and lowering said module placement and advancing unit and said rotational driving unit in the shaft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
Mining apparatus comprising plural mining modules of minable solids adapted to be placed in a subterranean seam of minable solids in end-to-end coupled relationship, means to independently convey said modules to said seam through a prepared shaft and to assemble them in the seam in end-to-end coupled relationship, said means including an additional means for advancing each module from the shaft substantially radially into said seam behind other modules therein, means for providing movement of the coupled modules on a second path within said seam, away from one side of said radial advancement, and means integrally formed in said modules for transporting said minable solids thereby mined to a predetermined destination.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
111 words
Mining apparatus comprising plural mining modules of minable solids adapted to be placed in a subterranean seam of minable solids in end-to-end coupled relationship, means to independently convey said modules to said seam through a prepared shaft and to assemble them in the seam in end-to-end coupled relationship, said means including an additional means for advancing each module from the shaft substantially radially into said seam behind other modules therein, means for providing movement of the coupled modules on a second path within said seam, away from one side of said radial advancement, and means integrally formed in said modules for transporting said minable solids thereby mined to a predetermined destination.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
122 words
Mining apparatus comprising plural mining modules adapted to be placed individually in a subterranean seam of minable solids to be mined, means to assemble said modules in situ, said modules adapted to be propelled on a first path of movement into the seam one behind the other to thereby form a string of interconnected mining modules in the seam, the modules in said string being adapted to move through said seam on a second path away from one side of the first path to mine the minable solids in an area of said seam, said modules including means for transporting solids mined by said modules outwardly therefrom, and means coupled to said transporting means for conveying the solids mined to ground level.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
122 words
Mining apparatus comprising plural mining modules adapted to be placed individually in a subterranean seam of minable solids to be mined, means to assemble said modules in situ, said modules adapted to be propelled on a first path of movement into the seam one behind the other to thereby form a string of interconnected mining modules in the seam, the modules in said string being adapted to move through said seam on a second path away from one side of the first path to mine the minable solids in an area of said seam, said modules including means for transporting solids mined by said modules outwardly therefrom, and means coupled to said transporting means for conveying the solids mined to ground level.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 23, and the modules of said string being in coupled relation whereby the string forms a substantially rigid unitized mining means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 24, and a movable cutting head on a corresponding side of each module and providing substantially continuous cutting means along one side of the string of coupled mining modules.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 24, and said second path being an arcuate path of movement approximately centered on one end of said string of modules, and means to rotate the string of modules around said one end of said string.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-10 | 1981-04-11 | 1981-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-10 | 1985-04-11 | 1985-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-10 | 1989-04-11 | 1989-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |