Method and apparatus for supporting the roof of an underground mine working

Claim 5

Apparatus for supporting the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, comprising: a. mobile means for storing a supply of flexible mat, b. means for leading off mat from said supply thereof, c. directing means for directing the mat to extend along the newly exposed region of roof so that it can be underpined by self-advancing roof support means, d. means establishing an operative connection between said directing means and a cutting element of the mining machine so that the vertical disposition of the directing means is controlled in accordance with the vertical disposition of said cutting element.

Claim 6

Apparatus for supporting the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, comprising: a. mobile means for storing a supply of flexible mat, b. means for leading off mat from said supply thereof, c. directing means for directing the mat to extend along the newly exposed region of roof so that it can be underpined by self-advancing roof support means, d. means establishing an operative connection between said directing means and a cutting element of the mining machine so that the vertical disposition of the directing means is controlled in accordance with the vertical disposition of said cutting element.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for establishing the operative connection between the directing means and the cutting element comprises a parallelogram arrangement of pivotally interconnected members, a first member being provided by a body part of the mining machine, a second member by an arm on which the cutting element of the mining machine is supported, a third member by an arm pivotally mounted on said body, and the fourth member by a rigid member extending between the free ends of the second and third members.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a support structure including a vertically movable part, the directing means being mounted on such vertically movable part, and guide means provided on said vertically movable part and slidable on the fourth member of the parallelogram arrangement.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the means for establishing the operative connection between the driving means and cutting element includes flexible drive members operatively connected to the directing means and cutting element, and transmission means for effecting the correct operative relation between the directing means and cutting element.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein there is provided releasable connecting means whereby a readily releasable connection is established between the cutting element and directing means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein there is provided means responsive to excessive downward movement of the mat-directing means, and operable to disable the mining machine.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the directing means includes a first directing member operable to direct mat to extend in the same direction of travel as the mining machine, and a second directing member operable to direct the mat in the opposite direction to the direct of travel of the mining machine and to apply such mat to the roof.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 1 wherein the supply of flexible mat comprises a roll thereof with its axis disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine, and the method comprises unrolling the mat therefrom in said first direction.

Claim 14

Apparatus for applying a flexible mat to the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, the roof being supported by self-advancing roof supports, comprising: a. mobile means for storing a supply of mat, such means occupying a region which, in use, is remote from the newly exposed roof region, and including a supporting bar member disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine and adapted to receive matting in the form of at least one roll thereof, b. means for leading off mat from said supply in a first direction, and c. directing means for redirecting said mat to extend along the newly exposed roof and including a steering member, a jib member projecting towards the face, and an intermediate mounting arm between the steering member and jib member and extending at right angles to the jib member, the mounting arm and jib member including leaf spring members.

Claim 15

Apparatus for applying a flexible mat to the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, the roof being supported by self-advancing roof supports, comprising: a. mobile means for storing a supply of mat, such means occupying a region which, in use, is remote from the newly exposed roof region, and including a supporting bar member disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine and adapted to receive matting in the form of at least one roll thereof, b. means for leading off mat from said supply in a first direction, and c. directing means for redirecting said mat to extend along the newly exposed roof and including a steering member, a jib member projecting towards the face, and an intermediate mounting arm between the steering member and jib member and extending at right angles to the jib member, the mounting arm and jib member including leaf spring members.

Claim 16

Apparatus for applying a flexible mat to the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, the roof being supported by self-advancing roof supports, comprising: a. mobile means for sorting a supply of mat, such means occupying a region which, in use, is remote from the newly exposed roof region, and including a supporting bar member disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine and adapted to receive matting in the form of at least one roll thereof, b. means for leading off mat from said supply in a first direction, c. directing means for redirecting said mat to extend along the newly exposed roof, and d. means for resisting rotation of the roll of matting to apply tension to matting withdrawn from the supply.

Claim 17

Apparatus for applying a flexible mat to the roof of an underground mine working in a region newly exposed by the passage of a mining machine along an upright face of the working, the roof being supported by self-advancing roof supports, comprising: a. mobile means for sorting a supply of mat, such means occupying a region which, in use, is remote from the newly exposed roof region, and including a supporting bar member disposed generally parallel to the direction of passage of the mining machine and adapted to receive matting in the form of at least one roll thereof, b. means for leading off mat from said supply in a first direction, c. directing means for redirecting said mat to extend along the newly exposed roof, and d. means for resisting rotation of the roll of matting to apply tension to matting withdrawn from the supply.