US4072349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering of mining machines
Assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
•
Filing: 1976-05-19
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Granted: 1978-02-07
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Expires: 1996-05-19
Abstract
Abstract A mineral mining machine which wins a strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages comprises steering apparatus which senses the cutting horizon associated with one cutting stage to control the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis Hartley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/20; G01N23/203; E; E21; E21C; E21C35/00; E21C35/282; E21C35/302
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In a method of steering mineral cutter means having at least one ranging drum which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during at least one traverse along the working face of the mineral, the improvement comprising: traversing the working face of the mineral in a first cutting stage with a mineral cutter means having a single ranging drum; sensing at least during a second cutting stage with nucleonic detecting means the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with the first cutting stage; receiving a signal from the detecting means at least during the second cutting stage indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the first cutting stage; traversing the working face of the mineral in the second cutting stage with the mineral cutter means; controlling the height of the cutting horizon of the second cutting stage by adjusting it in response to said signal; and advancing the mineral cutter means forward into the working face of the mineral subsequent to the winning of the strip of mineral, whereby the mineral cutter means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a method of steering mineral cutter means having at least one ranging drum which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during at least one traverse along the working face of the mineral, the improvement comprising: traversing the working face of the mineral in a first cutting stage with a mineral cutter means having a single ranging drum; sensing at least during a second cutting stage with nucleonic detecting means the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with the first cutting stage; receiving a signal from the detecting means at least during the second cutting stage indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the first cutting stage; traversing the working face of the mineral in the second cutting stage with the mineral cutter means; controlling the height of the cutting horizon of the second cutting stage by adjusting it in response to said signal; and advancing the mineral cutter means forward into the working face of the mineral subsequent to the winning of the strip of mineral, whereby the mineral cutter means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizons associated with both the roof and floor cutting stages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for steering mineral cutter means which win a strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages, in which the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage, comprising means for sensing the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with one of the cutting stages and for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed portion of the cutting horizon within the mineral or of the rock boundary, and control means for controlling the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage in response to the signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for steering mineral cutter means which win a strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages, in which the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage, comprising means for sensing the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with one of the cutting stages and for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed portion of the cutting horizon within the mineral or of the rock boundary, and control means for controlling the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage in response to the signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the control means controls the cutting horizons associated with both the cutting stages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, in combination with a mineral mining machine provided with cutter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the mining machine comprises at least two rotary cutter drums carried on ranging arms, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in combination with a mineral mining machine provided with cutter means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the mining machine comprises a single rotary cutter drum carried on a ranging arm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the mining machine comprises at least two rotary cutter drums carried on ranging arms, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for sensing with a sensing means the cutting horizon or rock boundary after the first stage cut and adjusting the depth of the second cut in response to the sensing means, comprising nucleonic detector means for sensing the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with the first cutting stage and for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed position of the cutting horizon within the mineral or of the rock boundary, and control means for controlling the cutting horizon associated with the second cutting stage in response to the signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus for sensing with a sensing means the cutting horizon or rock boundary after the first stage cut and adjusting the depth of the second cut in response to the sensing means, comprising nucleonic detector means for sensing the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with the first cutting stage and for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed position of the cutting horizon within the mineral or of the rock boundary, and control means for controlling the cutting horizon associated with the second cutting stage in response to the signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising source means of nucleonic radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the control means controls the cutting horizons associated with both the roof and floor cutting stages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising source means of nucleonic radiation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method of steering mineral cutter means having at least one ranging drum which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during at least one traverse along the working face of the mineral, the improvement comprising: traversing the working face of the mineral with a simultaneous first and second cutting stage by a mineral cutter means having two ranging drums; sensing with nucleonic detecting means the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of said first and second cutting stages; receiving a signal from the detecting means indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the sensed cutting stage; controlling the height of the cutting horizon of the other of said first and second cutting stages by adjusting it in response to said signal; and advancing the mineral cutter means forward into the working face of the mineral subsequent to the winning of the strip of mineral, whereby the mineral cutter means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a method of steering mineral cutter means having at least one ranging drum which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during at least one traverse along the working face of the mineral, the improvement comprising: traversing the working face of the mineral with a simultaneous first and second cutting stage by a mineral cutter means having two ranging drums; sensing with nucleonic detecting means the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of said first and second cutting stages; receiving a signal from the detecting means indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the sensed cutting stage; controlling the height of the cutting horizon of the other of said first and second cutting stages by adjusting it in response to said signal; and advancing the mineral cutter means forward into the working face of the mineral subsequent to the winning of the strip of mineral, whereby the mineral cutter means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cutting horizon or rock boundary associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizons associated with both the roof and floor cutting stages.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for steering a single ranging drum mineral cutter means which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during two passes along the working face of the mineral in which the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizon associated with a subsequent cutting stage, comprising: a mineral cutter comprised of a single ranging cutter drum; nucleonic detecting means extending from said mineral cutter for sensing the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with the first of the cutting stages for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon within the mineral; receiving means for receiving a signal from the detecting means indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the first cutting stage; and control means for controlling the height of the cutting horizon of a second cutting stage in response to the signal, whereby the mineral cutting means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for steering a single ranging drum mineral cutter means which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during two passes along the working face of the mineral in which the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizon associated with a subsequent cutting stage, comprising: a mineral cutter comprised of a single ranging cutter drum; nucleonic detecting means extending from said mineral cutter for sensing the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with the first of the cutting stages for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon within the mineral; receiving means for receiving a signal from the detecting means indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the first cutting stage; and control means for controlling the height of the cutting horizon of a second cutting stage in response to the signal, whereby the mineral cutting means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for steering a double ranging drum mineral cutter means which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during a single pass along the working face of the mineral in which the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage, comprising: a mineral cutter comprised of double ranging cutter drums; nucleonic detecting means extending from said mineral cutter for sensing the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of the cutting stages and for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon within the mineral; receiving means for receiving a signal from the detecting means indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the first cutting stage; and control means for controlling the height of the cutting horizon of a second cutting stage in response to the signal, whereby the mineral cutter means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
184 words
Apparatus for steering a double ranging drum mineral cutter means which wins a single strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages during a single pass along the working face of the mineral in which the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of the cutting stages is sensed to control the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage, comprising: a mineral cutter comprised of double ranging cutter drums; nucleonic detecting means extending from said mineral cutter for sensing the rock boundary or related cutting horizon associated with one of the cutting stages and for deriving a signal indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon within the mineral; receiving means for receiving a signal from the detecting means indicative of the sensed position of the rock boundary or related cutting horizon of the first cutting stage; and control means for controlling the height of the cutting horizon of a second cutting stage in response to the signal, whereby the mineral cutter means may be steered along a predetermined path within a mineral seam.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling a cutting horizon of mineral cutter means which win a strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages comprising: (a) cutting one of the separate roof and floor stages; (b) cutting the other of the separate roof and floor stages; (c) controlling the cutting horizon of one of said cutting stages by sensing the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling a cutting horizon of mineral cutter means which win a strip of mineral by separate roof and floor cutting stages comprising: (a) cutting one of the separate roof and floor stages; (b) cutting the other of the separate roof and floor stages; (c) controlling the cutting horizon of one of said cutting stages by sensing the cutting horizon associated with the other cutting stage.
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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) | 1981-02-06 | 1981-08-08 | 1982-02-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-06 | 1985-08-08 | 1986-02-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-06 | 1989-08-08 | 1990-02-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |