Platform and driver for coal mining system

Abstract

A mining system for advancing and retrieving a mining vehicle such as a miner, material transfer units or, shields into and out of mines. The system includes a platform from which the vehicle is advanced into a mine by means of a pusher. Subsequent vehicles are placed onto the platform, connected to the preceding vehicle and then advanced into the mine. If desired, shields and a miner or material transfer unit may be simultaneously advanced into the mine in the same manner. To retrieve the vehicle, the pusher is reversed and pulls each vehicle from the mine in reverse order. If desired, the shields may remain in the mine and the miner and transfer units may be pulled from within the shields. The platform further includes a system for removing the mined ore from the transfer units as it is delivered from the mine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 a platform;    an advancing means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine; and    a retrieving means for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the platform further includes a leveling means for leveling the platform.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the mining vehicle is a miner.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the platform further includes controls for controlling the miner, power and water supply to the miner and miner hydraulics.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the advancing means comprises: 
 at least one drive gear;  
 at least one drive gear belt which accepts the drive gear; and  
 a motorized means for driving the drive gear.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the drive gear is a sprocket and the drive gear belt is a chain which accepts the sprocket.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the advancing means further comprises a retaining means for retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the at least one drive gear is driven by at least one planetary gear box.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the advancing means further comprises an attachment means for connecting to the mining vehicle.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the attachment means is a hook and pin system.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the motorized means is capable of moving forward and in reverse along the platform.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the retrieving means comprises: 
 at least one drive gear;  
 at least one drive gear belt which accepts the drive gear; and  
 a motorized means for driving the drive gear.  
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the drive gear is a sprocket and the drive gear belt is a chain which accepts the sprocket.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the retrieving means further comprises a retaining means for retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the at least one drive gear is driven by at least one planetary gear box.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mining vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a miner, a material transfer unit and a shield.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 a platform;    an advancing and retrieving means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 at least one drive gear;  
 at least one drive gear belt which accepts the drive gear;  
 a motorized means for driving the drive gear; and  
 a retaining means for retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt.  
   
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 a platform;    an advancing and retrieving means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 at least one sprocket;  
 at least one chain which accepts the sprocket;  
 a planetary gear box for driving the sprocket; and  
 a retaining means for retaining the sprocket in contact with the chain.  
   
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 a platform;    an advancing and retrieving means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: 
 two sprockets;  
 two chains which each accept one of the two the sprockets;  
 a planetary gear box for driving the sprockets; and  
 a retaining means for retaining the sprockets in contact with the chains.