Mining machine gathering head

Abstract

A gathering head for a mining machine is positionable at a forward end of the machine. The gathering head includes a base, a back plate and sidewalls. The sidewalls are both tapered inwardly in the widthwise direction of the head from a forward end to a rearward end and outwardly relative to the base from a lowermost region to an uppermost region. Accordingly, the requirement for additional gathering arms at a base region of the head is avoided.

1 . A mining machine gathering head positionable at a forward end of a mining machine, the head having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end arranged to be positioned adjacent the mining machine, the head comprising:
 at least one base  0494  extending lengthwise along the head, the base having a base surface arranged to contact material gathered by the head;   a pair of sidewalls positioned at the lengthwise ends of the base, the sidewalls each having a side surface to contact the material and being tapered inwardly in the widthwise direction of the head from the forward end to the rearward end;   at least one back plate having a material contact surface extending upwardly from a rearward region of the base surface and extending in the lengthwise direction of the gathering head between the sidewalls; and   a ramp extending lengthwise along the head and being declined to project forward and downward from the base to provide a leading edge at the head; wherein each side surface is tapered outwardly relative to the base surface from a lowermost region to an uppermost region of each side surface to guide the flow of material onto the base surface and the material contact surface.   
     
     
         2 . The gathering head as claimed in claim h further comprising a pair of side flanges each flange being moveably mounted at an outer region of a respective sidewall and capable of projecting forwardly of the respective sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each flange is mounted at the respective sidewall via at least one pivot mounting and at least one guide member to hold and guide the pivoting movement of each flange relative to each sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each flange is tapered inwardly and outwardly at substantially the same angle as the side surfaces, such that a flange contact surface to contact material gathered by the head is substantially coplanar with each respective side surface. 
     
     
         5 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyor having a belt projecting rearwardly from the ramp, a forward end of the conveyor extending into a region of the base in the widthwise direction between the sidewalls. 
     
     
         6 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a height level of the base surface is positioned at a level above the belt to provide that material is configured to fall downwardly from the base surface onto the belt. 
     
     
         7 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a first set of conveyor feed plates extending between and inclined downwardly from the base surface to the belt. 
     
     
         8 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a second set of conveyor feed plates extending between and being tapered inwardly from the back plate towards the belt. 
     
     
         9 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a front end of the conveyor is positioned substantially at a region of the leading edge of the base and/or a rearward edge of the ramp. 
     
     
         10 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base includes two base plates extending inwardly from each respective sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the back plate includes two back plates extending inwardly from each respective sidewall and upwardly from each respective back plate. 
     
     
         12 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base surface is substantially planar and devoid of obstructions to allow the unhindered passage of material gathered by the head. 
     
     
         13 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 1 , being devoid of rotatable spinner arms mounted at the base. 
     
     
         14 . The gathering head as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a distance by which the base extends widthwise between the forward and rearward ends is less than a height of the head between a lowermost to an uppermost region of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         15 . A mining machine comprising:
 a forward end; and   a gathering head positioned at the forward end, the gathering head having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end arranged to be positioned adjacent the mining machine, the gathering head including at least one base extending lengthwise along the head, the base having a base surface arranged to contact material gathered by the gathering head, a pair of sidewalls positioned at the lengthwise ends of the base, the sidewalls each having a side surface to contact the material and being tapered inwardly in the widthwise direction of the gathering head from the forward end to the rearward end, at least one back plate having a material contact surface extending upwardly from a rearward region of the base surface and extending in the lengthwise direction of the gathering head between the sidewalls, and a ramp extending lengthwise along the gathering head and being declined to project forward and downward from the base to provide a leading edge at the gathering head, wherein each side surface is tapered outwardly relative to the base surface from a lowermost region to an uppermost region of each side surface to guide the flow of material onto the base surface and the material contact surface.   
     
     
         16 . The mining machine of  claim 15 , wherein the mining machine is a continuous mining machine.