Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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This invention relates to mining machines and, in
particular, continuous coal mining machines which are equipped
with a device which can be used for installing roof,support bolts
as the mining machine advances along a mine entry.
This is a division of copending Canadian Patent Appli-
cation Serial Number 340,255, filed November 20, 1979.
Much underground coal mining is done by continuous
mining machines which remove coal along the, full hei~ht of the
- - coal seam and include a gathering and conveying system so that
' the machine can advance while it mines. In order for such
machines to advance greater distances into a seam, depending on
roof conditions, continuous mining machines have been equipped
with devices for installing roof sup~ort bolts in the mine roof.
This has been done to save time by eliminating the need to back
the mining machine out of an entry and have a separate roof
bolting machine install the roof bolts.
It has been found that by positioning such a roof
bolting unit on each side of a continuous mining machine, two
bolts may be installed along the lateral center line of a mine
entry. It has also been found that this does not always provide
sufficient support for the mine roof and that additional bolts norm21ly
must be instalJed in order to provide safe roof conditions. mus, ever~
though provision of roof bolting units on a mining machine can provide m~re
efficient installation of roof bolts, additiona,l roof bolts must be
installed along the lateral center line of a mine e,ntry which requires
use of a sepæate mof bolting machine and linits the distance a mining
machine can advance before the additional b~lting o2er~tion must be performed.
Whenever these roof bolt installation units are
mounted on a continuous mining machine, the bolter operator might be
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exposed to rocks or debris which miaht fall from the mine xoo-E
while installing the roof bolt. A protective canopy can be
provided which operates to shield the operator from falling rock.
Such a canopy is normally formed of heavy material and takes up
a ~elatively large amount of space in order to provide adequate
protection.
According ~o the present invention there is ~rovided
a pivotable protective canopy for an underground minin~ machine
which has a work performing apparatus pivotable about a vertical
axis in order to perform its work at different locations without
~oving the machine, the canopy being piYotable independent but
associable with the apparatus such that an operator can operate
the apparatus while under protection of the c~nopy. ~he canopy
has a vertically extensible support mast includin~ a first
tubular section affixed to the mining machine and a second tubular
section slidably engageable with the first section. ~ fluid-
pressUre operated cylinder is disposed interiorally of the tubular
sections with one of its ends connected to the first section and
its other end connected to the second section. A canopy shield
is pivotably mounted on the second tubular section and canti-
leveredly extends there~rom. The mast and cylinders are cooper-
~tively operable to raise and lower the canapy shield with respect
to the mine roof, and the slidin~ fit between the tubular mast
sections is such that all the moment loads from the canopy ~;
shield are transferred through the mast sections to the minin~
machine, while the ~luid cylinder incurs substantially only
axial compressive load.
A canopy constructed in accordance with the invention
may be provided for each bolter and desi~ned to provide adequate
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protection for the operator at all positions of the bolters and
still be relatively light in weight and small in size. The
canopy is extendable from a lowered position to a raised position
so that the canopy can be raised to abut the mine roof to support
the roof as well as provide an extra measure of protection. In
a specific embodiment of the invention, the canopy is fan-shaped
and rotatable through 360 so that the size and wei~ht are kept
to a minimum and the operator is protected at all positions of
the bolter.
These and other features and objects of the invention
will become apparent fEom a detailed description of a preferred
embodiment set forth below taken in conjunction with the accom-
panying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWI~JGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a continuous mining
machine suitable for use with the pivotal roof bolter and
extendable protective canopy;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of
the machine of Fi~ure 1, which shows, in particular, a roof
bolter and canopy;
Figure 3 i8 a top elevational view of the portion of
the machine as shown in Fig. 2, which shows in particular the
roof bolter and canopy and their paths of ~ovement; and
Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partially in
section, showing structura~ details of the canopy.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, a continuous mining machine is
shown which is designated generally by reference numeral 10.
The mining machine 10 includes a rotatable and vertically moveable
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cutting head 12 and a gatherin~ apparatus 14 for transporting
coal removed by the cuttin~ head 12 from the mine face (not
shown) to a conveyor 16 which extends along the lon~itudinal
axis of the machine 10. The mining machine 10 is controlled by
an operator who sits in a compartment 18 located at the rear of
the machine 10. Such a machine and its operation are known in
the art.
As shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, an auger or drill/roof
- bolting unit 20 is mounted on each side of the machine 10. ~he
bolting units 20 are known in the art and include a motor 21
for rotating a chuck portion 22 and a suitable mechanism (not
shown) for raising and lowerin~ the units as shown by arrow 23
in Fig. 2 so that a hole can be drilled in the mine roof (not
shown) and a roof bolt inserted. Since this is a standard
operation, no f.urther description will be given.
Each bolter 20 is mounted on an arm 24 which itself
is mounted on the mining machine 10 at a pivot point 26 so that
each bolter 20 can move throu~h a 180 sweep as shown by the
broken lines and arrows 27 in Fig. 3. Movement of each of the
bolters 20 is controlled by means of a suitable hydraulic
mechanism (not shownj. The bolters 20 are controlled by the
machine operator manipulatin~ handles 28 of a hydraulic control
panel 29 which is pivotally mounted on the machine 10 as shown
in Fig. 2 and can be moved as shown by arrows 30 in Fia. 3 fo~
operator convenience.
Tlie above-desaribed bolter arrangement is also
described and is claimed in above-identified parent application
Serial number 340,255.
As shown best in Fig. 3, a protective canopy 32 is
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located near each of the bolters 20 to protect the operator while
he is operating the bolter 20. The canopy 32 is fan-shaped and
rotatable throughout 360 sweep about a pivot point 34 as shown
by arrows 35, the structure allowing such movement being described
in greater detail below. In this way, the canopy 32 can be
moved by the operator for protection at any position of the
bolter 20 and the weight of the canopy 32 is kept at a minimum.
As shown best in Fig. 2, the canopy 32 is also movable up and
down as indicated by broken lines and arrow 36 to provide
additional support on the mine roof durin~ bolting operations.
Additional roof supports such as those indicated by reference
numeral 37 can also be provided.
The canopy 32 is mounted on a shaft generally designated
by reference numeral 38 and is formed of l-inch thick steel
plate, weighing 300-400 pounds. In order to provide a canopy 3
which is relatively light in wei~ht and will still protect the
operator at all positions of the bolters 20, the canopy 32 is
cantilevered from the shaft 38. For the canopy 32 to be verti-
cally moveable, as shown by the arrow 36, without exerting undue
force on the hydrualic mechanism used for raising and lowering
the canopy 32 (which is described in detail below), the shaft 38
has been designed to absorb all of the moment load of the canopy
32 so that the hydraulic mechanism will only support the vertical
load component.
As''shcwn in Fig. 4, the shaft 38 includes an inner sleeve 40 on '
which the canopy 32 is mLunted, an op~ng 42 in'the cano~y 32 fitting over
the top of the inner sleeve 40. A grease connection 44 is provided for
lubricating the bearin~`surfaces between'the inner sleeve 4Q and o~ening 42.
A plurality of stop openings 46 are spaced apart around the outer surfaoe
of the inner sleeve 40 for cooperating with a pin 48
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which is moveably mounted on the canopy 32. A spring 50 which
bears on one side against a washer 52 held in place by a pin 54
and on the other side against a support 56 for the pin 48 so
that the pin can be retracted in the direction of an arrow 58
to allow the operator manually to rotate the canopy 32 as
indicated by the arrows 35. When the desired position is
reached, the operator releases the pin 48 and the spring 50
will urge it back into the appropriate stop opening 46.
The shaft 38 also includes an outer sleeve 60 which
, 10 is connected to the mining machine lO by appropriate means
such as, for example, appropriate bolts and supports generally
indicated in Fig. 3 by reference numeral 61. As shown on Fig.
4, the inner sleeve 40 and outer sleeve 60 are shaped and,
dimensioned so the inner sleeve is vertically slideable within
the outer sleeve 60. A grease connection 62 is provided on
the outer surface of the outer sleeve 60 for lubricating the
bearing surfaces of the two sleeves. A hydraulic piston and
cylinder mechanism 64 is mounted within the inner and outer
sleeves 40, 60, the piston being connected to the outer sleeve
- 20 60 through a pin 66 and the cylinder being connected to the
inner sleeve 40 through a pin 68 to effect the appropriate up
and down movement that is shown by the arrow 36.
As shown in Fig. 4, the inner sleeve 40 includes,a
guide arm 70 which is connected to its outer surface and projects
25 ' longitudinally relative to the inner sleeve 40 for coopera~ing
with an opening 72 locatea in a flange-projecting from the
outer sleeve 6~ for preventing any relative rotation between
the sleeves ~0, 60. A cover 74 is provided on the top of the
inner sleeve 40, which is held in place by appropriate bolts
76. A pair of flanges 78 project from the ou~er surface of
the outer sleeve 60, on which the control unit 29 can be
mounted, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
Whenever the mining machine lO reaches a point where '
roof bolts should be installed forwara progress of the machine
is stopped and the operator will install the roof bolts along
the lateral center line o the mine entry by positioning the
bolters 20 at appropriate positions as described above. As
the bolter 20 is moved along different positions of the sweep
~indicated by the arrows 27, the canopy 32 is lowered and rotated
as described above, and then raised to provide additional
support on the mine roof and protection for the operator.
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ln this way, bolting operations are made more efficient by
eliminating the need to move the mining machine out of the
entry and bring in a bolting machine.
It should be understood that the invention which
has been described in detail above can be modified and improved
by tho~e skilled in the art and that all such modifications
and improvements are contemplated as falling within the scop~
of the appended claims.
