Method of mining and an improved mining machine with a shovel moveable relative to a vehicle chassis

Abstract

A continuous miner having a cutting head and a conveyor mounted on a moveable chassis, the miner including a shovel mounted on a supporting structure, the shovel being translatable relative to the miner, and means for translating the shovel relative to the moveable chassis so as to be able to be moved from a rearward location to a forward location relative to the moveable chassis.

1 . A continuous miner comprising a cutting head and a conveyor mounted on a moveable chassis, said miner also including a shovel mounted on a supporting structure, said shovel having mounted thereon at least one bolting apparatus, said shovel being translatable relative to said miner, and means for translating said shovel relative to said moveable chassis from a rearward location to a forward location relative to said moveable chassis whereby said bolting apparatus can be operated in said forward location.  
     
     
         2 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein when said shovel is moved to a forward location, a work space for an operator of said bolter is created.  
     
     
         3 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said bolting apparatus are mounted on at least one cross slide which is in turn mounted to said shovel.  
     
     
         4 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said work space is created between said shovel and said chassis.  
     
     
         5 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of bolting apparatus is located on said shovel.  
     
     
         6 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said bolting apparatus are mounted on at least one cross slide which is in turn mounted to said shovel.  
     
     
         7 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said bolting apparatus are mounted on at least one cross slide which is in turn mounted to said shovel.  
     
     
         8 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein one or more rib bolting apparatus is provided on said miner.  
     
     
         9 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein controls are provided so that only when said cutting head is not operating said shovel can be moved to said forward position.  
     
     
         10 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein controls are provided so that only when the cutting head is located at an appropriate height above said shovel, that said shovel are moveable to a forward location, so as to prevent collision between said shovel and said cutting head.  
     
     
         11 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said shovel has at least one coal loading arm associated therewith.  
     
     
         12 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said conveyor has a frame which has a portion pivotally mounted to said supporting structure.  
     
     
         13 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conveyor moves with said shovel.  
     
     
         14 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said conveyor is mounted above the rear of said moveable chassis and said conveyor and is able to be raised or lowered relative to the rear of said chassis.  
     
     
         15 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said conveyor is raised or lowered by a lifting means connected between said moveable chassis and said conveyor which includes a three point linkage which will pass through an arc.  
     
     
         16 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said lifting means includes a bearing which will engage the frame of said conveyor.  
     
     
         17 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said translation means includes an arm pivotally connected to said supporting structure at one end and to said chassis at the other end.  
     
     
         18 . A continuous miner as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said arm is rotated by means of a hydraulic cylinder.  
     
     
         19 . A continuous miner comprising a cutting head and a conveyor mounted on a moveable chassis, said miner also including a shovel mounted on a supporting structure, said shovel being translatable relative to said miner, and means for translating said shovel relative to said moveable chassis so as to be able to be moved from a rearward location to a forward location relative to said moveable chassis.  
     
     
         20 . A method of mining a mine entry with a continuous miner, said method including the steps of: 
 mining said mine entry with a cutting head mounted on said miner and gathering the ore thus mined; and    moving bolting apparatus relative to said cutting head from a location occupied while the cutting head is mining to a forward location so that said bolting apparatus can perform bolting operations.    
     
     
         21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein moving said bolting apparatus relative to said cutting head is performed by translating a supporting structure on which said shovel is mounted from a location occupied while the cutting head is mining to a forward location.  
     
     
         22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said step of moving said bolting apparatus relative to said cutting head is performed while simultaneously moving said shovel, and a conveyor associated with said shovel.