초록 ▼

A mining machine and method allow coal or the like to be mined substantially as quickly during out cutting as in cutting. A front cutter is mounted at the front of the frame, and a first conveyor, which preferably comprises a chain conveyer, conveys cut coal from the front of the frame to the rear a

A mining machine and method allow coal or the like to be mined substantially as quickly during out cutting as in cutting. A front cutter is mounted at the front of the frame, and a first conveyor, which preferably comprises a chain conveyer, conveys cut coal from the front of the frame to the rear and ultimately out of the area being mined. A second conveyor is mounted in back of the front cutter for conveying cut coal from adjacent the rear of the frame towards the front, and ultimately to be deposited on the first conveyor. A rear cutter is located to the rear of the second conveyor for cutting material during out cutting to be moved to the second conveyor as the machine moves rearwardly. The rear cutter is movable from a first inoperative position within the volume cut by the front cutter, to a second, operative position outside the volume cut by the front cutter. The second conveyor may comprise shrouds pivotally mounted about their front ends, with spiral conveyors for conveying coal from the shrouds to the chain conveyor, or may comprise universal conveyor chains mounted in slides with inwardly curved front code. The rear cutters may comprise cutter drums mounted for rotation about either horizontal or vertical axes.

대표청구항 ▼

A mining machine for mining an area, comprising: a frame; a front cutting means mounted adjacent the front of said frame; a first conveying means for conveying cut material, from a front portion of the frame to the rear, and ultimately out of the area being mined; a second conveying means mounted in

A mining machine for mining an area, comprising: a frame; a front cutting means mounted adjacent the front of said frame; a first conveying means for conveying cut material, from a front portion of the frame to the rear, and ultimately out of the area being mined; a second conveying means mounted in back of said front cutting means, for conveying cut material from adjacent the rear portion of the frame toward the front, to be deposited on said first conveying means; and a rear cutting means located to the rear of said second conveying means for cutting material to be moved to said second conveying means as said machine is moving rearwardly. A method of mining material in an area where no operator will be present, comprising the steps of: (a) cutting into the area to be mined using a mining machine by moving the mining machine in a forward direction, to form a bore having given first dimensions; (b) removing cut material as the mining machine is moved in the forward direction by moving the material rearwardly out of the area being mined; (c) terminating forward movement into the area being mined, and then moving the mining machine rearwardly out of the bore while continuing to cut material so as to enlarge the bore from said first dimensions to second dimensions greater than said first dimensions; and (d) conveying the material cut during rearward movement first in a forward direction, and then ultimately rearwardly so that it moves out of the area being mined in the same manner that the material cut during forward movement is moved out of the area being mined.