Mining machine having rectangular thrust transmitting conveyor column

Abstract

A mining machine comprises a laterally elongated cutting head including ms for cutting an earth formation, a laterally elongated thrust transmitting column connected to and extending rearwardly from the cutting head, and a power head connected to the rear of the column and operative to thrust the cutting head forward into the earth formation by means of the interposed column. The column carries a non-thrust transmitting column conveyor for carrying fragments cut from the formation from the cutting head to the power head.

I claim:  .[.1. A mining machine comprising: 
     
        carried by a respective one of said column modules..]. 3. A mining machine as recited in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.43 .Iaddend.wherein each of said column modules has a main body which generally defines a rectangular 
     
     
        parallelopiped. 4. A mining machine as recited in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.43 .Iaddend.wherein the main body of each of said column modules comprises a top cover, and wherein each of said conveyor segments is disposed beneath 
     
     
        the top cover of its respective column module. 5. A mining machine as recited in claim 4 wherein the main body of each of said column modules defines a box-like structure and wherein each of said conveyor segments is disposed within the box-like structure of its respective column module. 
     
     
           A mining machine as recited in claim 5 wherein the main body of each of said column modules further comprises a bottom cover, two end covers, and 
     
     
        a plurality of bracing members at each of its sides. 7. A mining machine according to claim 5 wherein said column conveyor is a screw type 
     
     
        conveyor. 8. A mining machine as recited in claim 7 comprising two such column conveyors carried by said column extending along substantially the 
     
     
        entire length of said column and disposed parallel to each other. 9. A mining machine as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said column modules further includes a trough extending along the sides and bottom of the 
     
     
        respective one of said conveyor segments. 10. A mining machine as recited in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.43 .Iaddend.wherein the forwardmost one of said column modules is a control module and includes means for steering said 
     
     
        cutting head. 11. A mining machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said steering means includes a side steering shoe selectively laterally extensible and retractable from one side of said control module and wherein said cutting head includes means operative to cause said cutting 
     
     
        head to bear laterally toward said one side. 12. A mining machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said cutting head comprises a lateral shaft, means for rotating said shaft and a helical center cutter wound to cause 
     
     
        said cutting head to bear toward said one side when cutting. 13. A mining machine as recited in claim 11 wherein said control module includes means operative to detect the presence of a pillar of formation at the side of 
     
     
        said control module opposite said one side. 14. A mining machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said means for detecting the presence of said pillar is also operative to detect a factor indicative of the strength of 
     
     
        said pillar. 15. A mining machine as recited in claim 12 wherein said cutting head further comprises a pair of side cutters disposed at opposite sides of said center cutter laterally outwardly of said column modules, cutting head conveyor means for conveying formation fragments cut by said cutting means to said column conveyor, and scoop means for directing said 
     
     
        formation fragments into said cutting head conveyor means. 16. A mining machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said steering means includes a bottom steering shoe selectively vertically extensible and retractable 
     
     
        from the bottom of said control module. 17. A mining machine as recited in claim 16 further comprising means for pivoting said cutting head 
     
     
        vertically with respect to said control module. 18. A mining machine as recited in claim 17 wherein said control module includes means operative to detect a factor indicative of the thickness of a stratum of formation 
     
     
        above said control module. 19. A mining machine as recited in claim 16 wherein said steering means includes two such bottom steering shoes disposed adjacent opposite sides of said control module and independently vertically extensible and retractable from the bottom of said control 
     
     
        module. 20. A mining machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said control module includes a top control shoe selectively vertically extensible and retractable from the top of said control module to bear against the formation above said control module for reaction to forces generated by 
     
     
        said cutting head. 21. A mining machine as recited in claim 20 wherein said control module includes two such top control shoes independently selectively extensible and retractable from the top of said control 
     
     
        module. 22. A mining machine as recited in claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.43 .Iaddend.wherein said power head comprises a track frame, a drive assembly mounted on said track frame and removably connected to the rearwardmost one of said column modules, and primary reversible drive means for moving 
     
     
        said drive assembly longitudinally along said track frame. 23. A mining machine as recited in claim 22 wherein said track frame includes a chain extending lengthwise of said track frame and having its ends anchored to said track frame, and wherein said drive assembly includes a sprocket wheel engaging said chain and a reversible motor operatively connected to said sprocket wheel to rotate said sprocket wheel and thereby move said 
     
     
        drive assembly along said chain. 24. A mining machine as recited in claim 22 wherein said power head further comprises auxiliary drive means for 
     
     
        moving said drive assembly longitudinally along said track frame. 25. A mining machine as recited in claim 24 wherein said auxiliary drive means includes a hydraulic ram assembly including a pair of telescoping members, one of said members being connected to said drive assembly, and means for selectively fixing the other of said telescoping members against motion in 
     
     
        one direction with respect to said track frame. 26. A mining machine as recited in claim 22 wherein said power head further comprises power head conveyor means for conveying formation fragments from said column conveyor 
     
     
        to the rear end of said power head. 27. A mining machine as recited in claim 22 wherein said track frame comprises guide means for guiding said 
     
     
        column is the general longitudinal direction of said track frame. 28. A mining machine as recited in claim 27 wherein said power head further comprises a base frame, said track frame being pivotally mounted on said base frame, and means for selectively vertically pivoting the rear end of 
     
     
        said track frame with respect to said base frame. 29. A mining machine as recited in claim 28 wherein said power head further comprises means for anchoring said base frame to the ground. .Iadd. 30. A mining machine for mining mineral formations comprising: a cutting head including means for cutting a mineral formation, the dimensions of said cutting head from side-to-side being substantially greater than its vertical dimension,   a power head disposed remote from said cutting head,   a thrust transmitting column disposed intermediate said cutting head and said power head, said thrust transmitting column being nonrotatable about its longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of reusable column modules removably connected in end-to-end engagement, a forwardmost one of said column modules being removably connected to said cutting head and a rearwardmost one of said column modules being removably connected to said power head, each of said column modules comprising a box-like structure having a substantially greater dimension from side-to-side than vertically and being effective to transmit thrust as a unitary member, said plurality of column modules collectively functioning as a single thrust transmitting column member,   a column conveyor section disposed within the box-like section of, and carried by, each said column modules,   first means releasably securing adjacent column modules in thrust transmitting engagement,   said column conveyor sections being non-thrust transmitting,   said power head being effective to selectively apply forward or rearward force to the rearwardmost column module of said thrust transmitting column to selectively urge said cutting head forwardly into said mineral seam to facilitate cutting said mineral seam, or rearwardly thereof to facilitate removal of said cutting head and column from said mineral formation. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 31. The mining machine of claim 30 in which said column modules are in abutment over a substantial portion of the cross-sectional area thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 32. The mining machine of claim 30 in which each said column module comprises a top cover and each of said conveyor segments is disposed beneath the top cover of its respective module. .Iaddend..Iadd. 33. The mining machine of claim 30 in which each said column module is substantially as wide as said cutting head. .Iaddend..Iadd. 34. The mining machine of claim 30 in which each said column module is substantially as high as said cutting head. .Iaddend..Iadd. 35. The mining machine of claim 30 in which each said column module is substantially as wide and as high as said cutting head. .Iaddend..Iadd. 36. The mining machine of claim 30 in which said cutting head means for cutting a mineral formation is carried by a control module and includes motor means carried by said control module. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 37. The mining machine of claim 30 further including means for pivoting said cutting head vertically. .Iaddend..Iadd. 38. The mining machine of claim 30 in which said conveyor sections are screw conveyor sections. .Iaddend..Iadd. 39. The mining machine of claim 30 further comprising second means releasably interconnecting conveyors of adjacent column modules, said second means being effective to transmit a drive force for said conveyors, but not being effective to transmit thrust. .Iaddend..Iadd. 40. The mining machine of claim 39 wherein said power head comprises a track frame, a drive assembly mounted on said track frame and removably connected to the rearwardmost one of said column modules, and reversible drive means for moving said drive assembly longitudinally along said track frame, said drive assembly including means for driving said conveyor to the adjacent column module without applying substantial thrust thereto. .Iaddend..Iadd. 41. The mining machine of claim 30 wherein said power head includes means to selectively vertically tilt said column module. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 42. A mining machine comprising:   a cutting head including means for cutting an earth formation, the dimension of said cutting head from side to side being substantially greater than its vertical dimension;   a nonrotatable thrust-transmitting column connected to said cutting head and extending rearwardly therefrom, the dimension of said column from side to side being substantially greater than its vertical dimension, and said column having a non-thrust-transmitting column conveyor carried thereby and movable relative thereto and extending along substantially the entire length of said column;   and a power head connected to said column rearwardly of said cutting head and operative to thrust said cutting head forward into an earth formation by means of said column, and to withdraw said cutting head and column from said earth formation. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 43. A mining machine comprising:   a cutting head including means for cutting an earth formation, the dimension of said cutting head from side to side being substantially greater than its vertical dimension;   a thrust-transmitting column connected to said cutting head and extending rearwardly therefrom, the dimension of said column from side to side being substantially greater than its vertical dimension, and said column having a non-thrust-transmitting column conveyor carried thereby and extending along substantially the entire length of said column;   said column comprising a plurality of column modules removably connected in end-to-end relation, a forwardmost one of said column modules being removably connected to said cutting head and a rearwardmost one of said column modules being removably connected to said power head, said column conveyor comprising a plurality of conveyor segments disposed in end-to-end relation, each of said conveyor segments being carried by a respective one of said column modules,   and a power head connected to said column rearwardly of said cutting head and operative to thrust said cutting head forward into an earth formation by means of said column. .Iaddend.