US4953915A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Roof fall separating and removing apparatus and method for use in thin seam highwall mining
Assignee: METEC Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1989-07-31
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Granted: 1990-09-04
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Expires: 2009-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A thin seam highwall mining machine has a cutter head for mining coal from a seam while advancing forwardly into a mined hole, a power head anchored to a bench at the surface, and multisection pushbeam extending therebetween housing a conveyor therein. The machine is provided with structure for removing fallen roof rock from the hole and preventing jamming of the machine in the hole by rock accumulation. The structure includes a partition which keeps the fallen rock from mixing with the mined coal, and guide members which direct fallen rock onto the conveyor from the partition as the machine is being withdrawn from the hole. A pair of upstanding rearwardly diverging guide members fixed to the partition direct rock onto the conveyor through an opening in the partition overlying the forward end of the conveyor. One of the guide members carries an advancing conveyor surface having rock advancing bits which rotate and crush the rock while advancing it toward the opening. The pushbeam conveyor includes counter-rotating augers with rock crushing bits thereon which further crush the rock as it is removed.
Inventors
- 👤 Manfred Jasser
- 👤 Thomas Lipinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C27/00; E21C27/20; E21C27/24; E21C35/00; E21C35/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A thin-seam highwall mining machine comprising: a power head adjusted to be disposed adjacent the face of a coal seam at a highwall; a cutter head operable to mine coal from the seam by cutting a mined hole while advancing longitudinally into the coal seam when forwardly thrust toward the face of the seam; a multi-section pushbeam extending from said power head to said cutter head and connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said pushbeam having therein a material removal conveyor operable to convey material directed into said conveyor to the surface at the highwall; means carried by said cutter head for directing coal mined by said cutter head into said conveyor when said cutter head is advancing forwardly into the mined hole; said power head being connected to the rearward end of said pushbeam for alternatively thrusting said pushbeam and said cutter head forwardly into, and drawing said pushbeam and said cutter head rearwardly from, the mined hole; said pushbeam having a partition on the upper side thereof for supporting rock fallen from the roof of the mined hole and for maintaining the fallen rock separate from the coal being conveyed when the cutter head is advancing into the seam; and means carried by said pushbeam for directing fallen roof rock supported by said partition into said conveyor when said pushbeam and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A thin-seam highwall mining machine comprising: a power head adjusted to be disposed adjacent the face of a coal seam at a highwall; a cutter head operable to mine coal from the seam by cutting a mined hole while advancing longitudinally into the coal seam when forwardly thrust toward the face of the seam; a multi-section pushbeam extending from said power head to said cutter head and connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said pushbeam having therein a material removal conveyor operable to convey material directed into said conveyor to the surface at the highwall; means carried by said cutter head for directing coal mined by said cutter head into said conveyor when said cutter head is advancing forwardly into the mined hole; said power head being connected to the rearward end of said pushbeam for alternatively thrusting said pushbeam and said cutter head forwardly into, and drawing said pushbeam and said cutter head rearwardly from, the mined hole; said pushbeam having a partition on the upper side thereof for supporting rock fallen from the roof of the mined hole and for maintaining the fallen rock separate from the coal being conveyed when the cutter head is advancing into the seam; and means carried by said pushbeam for directing fallen roof rock supported by said partition into said conveyor when said pushbeam and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The machine of claim 1 in which the dimension of said cutter head from side to side is substantially greater than its vertical dimension, and the dimension of said pushbeam is substantially greater from side to side than its vertical dimension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The machine of claim 2 in which the vertical dimension of said cutter head is greater than the vertical dimension of said pushbeam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The machine of claim 2 wherein said fallen roof rock directing means comprises: a pair of guide members secured to and upstanding from said partition, said guide members each having a forward end proximate the forward end of said conveyor, said guide members forming a rearwardly diverging V-shape, each having a rearward end proximate a respective one of the opposite sides of said partition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein: said partition has an opening therein proximate the forward end of said conveyor; and said fallen roof rock directing means is operable to direct the fallen roof rock from said partition through said opening when said pushbeam and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The machine of claim 5 wherein said fallen roof rock directing means comprises: a pair of rearwardly diverging guide members secured to and upstanding from said partition, said guide members each having a forward end proximate said opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The machine of claim 6 wherein: said upstanding guide members include a fixed guide member having a rearward end near one side of said partition and a forward end near said material removal conveyor, and the other of said guide members comprises said rock directing conveyor, the rearward end of which is near the other side of said partition and the forward end of which is near said material removal conveyor, said rock directing conveyor being operable to rotate, advance and crush rock between said guide members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said fallen roof rock directing means comprises: a pair of upstanding guide members at least one of which includes a rock directing conveyor mounted on said partition, and means carried by said pushbeam for advancing said rock directing conveyor to move fallen roof rock forwardly along said partition into the forward end of said material removal conveyor when said pushbeam is being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 1 wherein said material removal conveyor includes a pair of counter rotating augers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 9 wherein said augers each have near the forward end thereof a plurality of rock crushing bits thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
A mining machine comprising: a cutter head operable to mine material from a mined seam by cutting a hole while advancing forwardly into the seam; a conveyor assembly connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said assembly comprising a box-like column having a conveyor housed therein, said conveyor being operable to convey therethrough material which has been directed into said conveyor; means carried by said cutter head for directing material mined by said cutter head into said conveyor when said cutter head is advancing forwardly into the seam; a partition on the upper side of said box-like column for supporting material fallen from the roof of the mined hole and maintaining the fallen rock separate from mined material being conveyed by said conveyor when the cutter head is advancing into the seam; and means carried by said conveyor assembly for directing fallen roof material supported by said partition into said conveyor when said assembly and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
A mining machine comprising: a cutter head operable to mine material from a mined seam by cutting a hole while advancing forwardly into the seam; a conveyor assembly connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said assembly comprising a box-like column having a conveyor housed therein, said conveyor being operable to convey therethrough material which has been directed into said conveyor; means carried by said cutter head for directing material mined by said cutter head into said conveyor when said cutter head is advancing forwardly into the seam; a partition on the upper side of said box-like column for supporting material fallen from the roof of the mined hole and maintaining the fallen rock separate from mined material being conveyed by said conveyor when the cutter head is advancing into the seam; and means carried by said conveyor assembly for directing fallen roof material supported by said partition into said conveyor when said assembly and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
A thin-seam highwall mining machine comprising: a power head disposable adjacent to the face of a coal seam at a highwall; a cutter head; a pushbeam extending between said power head and said cutter head, said beam being connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said pushbeam having a material removal conveyor housed therein for conveying material toward said bench; said power head being drivably connected to the rearward end of said pushbeam for alternatively thrusting said pushbeam and said cutter head forwardly into, and pulling said pushbeam and said cutter head rearwardly from, the seam; a partition formed on the upper side of said pushbeam; and a pair of rearwardly diverging guide members secured to and upstanding from said partition, said guide members each having a forward end proximate the forward end of said conveyor and each having a rearward end spaced from the rearward end of the other of said members across the width of said pushbeam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
A thin-seam highwall mining machine comprising: a power head disposable adjacent to the face of a coal seam at a highwall; a cutter head; a pushbeam extending between said power head and said cutter head, said beam being connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said pushbeam having a material removal conveyor housed therein for conveying material toward said bench; said power head being drivably connected to the rearward end of said pushbeam for alternatively thrusting said pushbeam and said cutter head forwardly into, and pulling said pushbeam and said cutter head rearwardly from, the seam; a partition formed on the upper side of said pushbeam; and a pair of rearwardly diverging guide members secured to and upstanding from said partition, said guide members each having a forward end proximate the forward end of said conveyor and each having a rearward end spaced from the rearward end of the other of said members across the width of said pushbeam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The machine of claim 12 wherein: said partition has an opening therein proximate the forward end of said guide members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The machine of claim 13 wherein at least one of said guide members includes a rock directing conveyor mounted on said partition and having a conveying surface facing the other of said members, and means carried by said pushbeam for advancing the conveying surface of said rock directing conveyor forwardly toward said opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The machine of claim 14 wherein said rock advancing conveyor has bits carried thereby for breaking rock between said members as said rock advancing conveyor surface is advanced.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 12 wherein said material removal conveyor includes a pair of counter rotating augers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 16 wherein said augers each have near the forward end thereof a plurality of material breaking bits thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
188 words
A mining machine comprising: a cutter head operable to mine coal from a coal seam by cutting a mined hole while longitudinally advancing forwardly into the coal seam; a conveyor assembly connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said conveyor assembly being movable to advance behind said cutter head longitudinally into the mined hole and being withdrawn ahead of said cutter head longitudinally from the mined hole, said assembly having housed therein a material removal conveyor operable to convey rearwardly material directed into said conveyor; means for directing coal mined by said cutter head into said conveyor when said cutter head is advancing forwardly into the mined hole; said conveyor assembly having a partition fixedly mounted on the upper side thereof for supporting rock fallen from the roof of the mined hole and for maintaining the fallen rock separate from the coal being conveyed when the cutter head is advancing into the seam; and means carried by said conveyor assembly for directing fallen roof rock supported by said partition into said conveyor when said assembly and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
188 words
A mining machine comprising: a cutter head operable to mine coal from a coal seam by cutting a mined hole while longitudinally advancing forwardly into the coal seam; a conveyor assembly connected at its forward end to said cutter head, said conveyor assembly being movable to advance behind said cutter head longitudinally into the mined hole and being withdrawn ahead of said cutter head longitudinally from the mined hole, said assembly having housed therein a material removal conveyor operable to convey rearwardly material directed into said conveyor; means for directing coal mined by said cutter head into said conveyor when said cutter head is advancing forwardly into the mined hole; said conveyor assembly having a partition fixedly mounted on the upper side thereof for supporting rock fallen from the roof of the mined hole and for maintaining the fallen rock separate from the coal being conveyed when the cutter head is advancing into the seam; and means carried by said conveyor assembly for directing fallen roof rock supported by said partition into said conveyor when said assembly and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
55 words
The machine of claim 18 wherein: said partition has an opening therein proximate the forward end of said conveyor assembly; and said fallen roof rock directing means is operable to direct the fallen roof rock from said partition through said opening when said assembly and said cutter head are being withdrawn from the mined hole.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
The machine of claim 19 wherein said fallen roof rock directing means comprises: a pair of guide members secured to and upstanding from said partition, said guide members each having a forward end proximate said opening and each having a rearward end spaced from the rearward end of the other of said members so as to span the width of said assembly.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 20 wherein said guide members form a rearwardly diverging V-shape having their forward ends terminating near said opening.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The machine of claim 20 wherein at least one of said guide members includes a rock directing conveyor mounted on said partition and having a conveying surface facing the other of said members, and means carried by said conveyor assembly for advancing the conveying surface of said conveyor forwardly toward said opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The machine of claim 22 wherein said rock advancing conveyor has bits carried thereby for advancing and breaking rock between said members as said rock advancing conveyor surface is advanced.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The machine of claim 20 wherein said material removal conveyor includes a pair of counter rotating augers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The machine of claim 24 wherein said augers each have near the forward end thereof a plurality of rock breaking bits thereon.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of mining coal from a seam at a highwall comprising the steps of: advancing a cutting head forwardly into the seam by exerting compressive force against the rear of the cutting head through a pushbeam from the highwall such that the pushbeam follows the cutting head forwardly into the seam; conveying mined coal through a conveyor housed within said pushbeam while the cutting head is being advanced; supporting above the pushbeam roof rock which falls upon the pushbeam, and maintaining the fallen rock separate from the conveyed coal as the cutting head is being advanced; withdrawing the cutting head and pushbeam from the coal seam by pulling the pushbeam rearwardly at the highwall to draw the pushbeam followed by the cutting head rearwardly from the seam; directing the separated fallen rock supported upon the pushbeam into the conveyor and conveying the fallen rock through the conveyor as the pushbeam and cutter head are being withdrawn from the seam.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of mining coal from a seam at a highwall comprising the steps of: advancing a cutting head forwardly into the seam by exerting compressive force against the rear of the cutting head through a pushbeam from the highwall such that the pushbeam follows the cutting head forwardly into the seam; conveying mined coal through a conveyor housed within said pushbeam while the cutting head is being advanced; supporting above the pushbeam roof rock which falls upon the pushbeam, and maintaining the fallen rock separate from the conveyed coal as the cutting head is being advanced; withdrawing the cutting head and pushbeam from the coal seam by pulling the pushbeam rearwardly at the highwall to draw the pushbeam followed by the cutting head rearwardly from the seam; directing the separated fallen rock supported upon the pushbeam into the conveyor and conveying the fallen rock through the conveyor as the pushbeam and cutter head are being withdrawn from the seam.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said rock directing step comprises the step of: directing the fallen rock through an opening on the upper surface of the pushbeam to the forward end of the conveyor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said rock directing step comprises the step of: passively guiding fallen rock into an opening on the upper surface of the pushbeam.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said rock directing step comprises the step of: actively advancing rock along the upper surface of the pushbeam to the forward end of the conveyor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the rock advancing step further comprises the step of rotating the rock as it is being advanced.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the rock advancing step further comprises the step of breaking the rock as it is advanced.
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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) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |