GB2096680A

GB2096680A - A mine roof support unit with a gate in the goaf shield

Info

Publication number: GB2096680A
Application number: GB8209123A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: UHOLNE A LIGNITOVE BANE KONCER
Current assignee: UHOLNE A LIGNITOVE BANE KONCER
Priority date: 1981-04-09
Filing date: 1982-03-29
Publication date: 1982-10-20
Also published as: FR2503788A1; PL235583A2; CS229507B1; PL130585B2; DE3208444A1

Abstract

A self-advancing mine roof support unit comprises a goaf shield (5) and attached canopy (7) propped by at least one hydraulic jack (2) attached to the frame (1); the goaf shield (5) is equipped with a caving gate (14) and a chute (12) capable of swinging about the point of connection and leading to the single conveyor (15) mounted on the frame (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A support unit for mining of coal and other useful mineral seams in slices and/or with sublevel caving Description The present invention relates to a selfadvancing powered support unit for mining of coal or other mineral seams especially for supporting longwall faces when mining thick seams in slices and/or with sublevel caving in the underground mining industry.

There are known self-advancing powered supports for longwall faces consisting of units positioned side by side along the coal face.

According to their construction two types of the known support units can be distinguished: the shield type and the chock type. Both of them are constructed mostly for mining of the coal or other mineral seams with thickness up to three metres.

Support units for mining of coal or other mineral seams thicker than 4 metres are also known but these types of support units are very spacious and heavy. Therefore their transportation into the mine and mounting and dismounting in the longwall face are very difficult.

At the present time powered supports for mining of thick seams by sublevel caving or in several slices with sublevel caving equipped with two conveyors are also available. The second conveyor serving for conveying coal from sublevel caving is situated as a rule at the goaf side of the support.

Another type of support, consisting of a pair of frames with hydraulic props and canopies, is also known. A bed of a second conveyor is situated as a rule between a pair of hydraulic props. One of these props is situated on a front part and a second one on a rear part of the frame. A chute attached to a goaf shield serves for better direction of coal. This type of support is also very big and cumbersome. The necessity of having the second conveyor is a further disadvantage of this type of support.

Another arrangement of the support unit for mining of thick seams by sublevel caving or in slices with sublevel caving is also known. The frame of this unit is equipped with a horizontally installed hydraulic jack for shifting the conveyor towards the coal face. The shield is equipped with a caving gate letting off the coal from the caving to the conveyor. The unyielding props of this type of support are disadvantageous because they increase physical effort and decrease the safety of work.

Another known arrangement of the chock type or powered support unit for mining the seams in slices with sublevel caving is equipped with a pair of hydraulic jacks supporting a canopy equipped with a cutting device for coal getting from the roof part of the seam. This arrangement is also disadvantageous due to its being big and cumbersome.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-advancing powered support unit for mining of a coal or other mineral seam in slices and/or.with sublevel caving comprising a frame, hydraulic jacks, a goaf shield and a canopy with a coal face sprag, wherein the goaf shield with the canopy attached is equipped with a caving gate and a chute which is capable of swinging about its point of attachment and wherein the frame is equipped with at least one hydraulic jack propping the goaf shield outside the caving gate and wherein the frame is equipped with a single conveyor.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a powered support unit for mining thick seams of coal or other mineral in slices and/or with sublevel caving consisting of a frame, hydraulic jacks, a goaf shield, with a caving gate and a canopy with a coal face sprag, and equipped with at least one hydraulic jack extended between the frame and the goaf shield with attached canopy; whereby the mentioned hydraulic jack is attached outside of the caving gate and the only conveyor is mounted on the frame.

The main advantage of a preferred support unit embodying the present invention is the simplification of manipulation of the support unit and the possibility of simultaneous coal getting both from the coal face and from the sublevel caving.

A further advantage of the preferred support unit embodying the present invention is the possibility of its application for both mining in slices and mining by sublevel caving.

The invention will be further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the invention in side elevation; Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in side elevation; and Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention in side elevation.

Referring to the drawings, each of the three powered support units embodying the invention comprises a frame 1 to which a goaf shield 5 is attached by means of a rear prop 3 and a front prop 4. A canopy 7 is attached to the goaf shield 5. A single or sole conveyor 1 5 is mounted on the frame 1. The frame 1 is equipped with a holder for the attachment of one end of a first hydraulic jack 2 which is attached at its other end either to the goaf shield 5 (Figures 1 and 3) or to the canopy 7 (Figure 2). The goaf shield 5 is equipped with a caving gate/outage 14 with a shutter 1 0. The shutter 10 of the caving gate is driven by means of a second hydraulic jack 11. A chute 12 is attached under the caving gate. An adjustable prop 13 controls a swinging motion of the chute 12.The chute 12 can also serve as a shutter of the caving gate.

A third hydraulic jack 8 serves for shifting the canopy 7 towards the coal face. The canopy 7 is equipped with a coal face sprag 16. A fourth hydraulic jack 9, positioned between a rear part 6 of the canopy 7 and the goaf shield 5, serves for pushing the canopy 7 towards the roof 20.

Each support unit works as follows: In the longwall face, there are several such powered support units embodying the present invention standing side by side on the ground 21.

Before coal getting commences the coal face sprags 16 are displaced from the coal face 22.

After passing of the cutter-loader the canopy 7 is lowered by means of the fourth hydraulic jack 9 and shifted forwardly to the coal face-22 by means of the third hydraulic jack 8. In this way supporting of the roof 20 is achieved. Then the coal face 22 is secured by the coal face sprags 1 6. After shifting of the conveyor 1 5 towards the coal face 22 the goaf shield 5 is lowered by means of the first hydraulic jack 2 and the frame 1 together with the goaf shield 5 is shifted towards the coal face 22.

Simultaneously the canopy 7 is being telescopically shortened. During these operations the canopy 7 is firmly pushed against the roof 20 by means of the fourth hydraulic jack 9. After opening of the shutter 10 the broken coal 18 flows from the sublevel caving 1 7 along the roof material slope 19 and the chute 12 to the single conveyor 1 5. After letting out of the broken coal 1 8 or other useful mineral the caving gate is closed by means of the shutter 10 and the second hydraulic jack 1 1 -or by means of the chute 12 to prevent the waste from falling on to the conveyor 1 5. Above mentioned operations create one cycle of mining of the coal or other mineral seam with sublevel caving.

Claims

1. A self-advancing powered support unit for mining of a coal or other mineral seam in slices and/or with sublevel caving comprising a frame, hydraulic jacks, a goaf shield and a canopy with a coal face sprag, wherein the goaf shield with the canopy attached is equipped with a caving gate and a chute which is capable of swinging about its point of attachment and wherein the frame is equipped with at least one hydraulic jack propping the goaf shield outside the caving gate and wherein the frame is equipped with a single conveyor.

2. A self-advancing powered support unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one hydraulic jack having one of its ends attached to the frame props the goaf shield, the jack being attached with its other end between the caving gate and the lower end of the goaf shield.

3. A self-advancing powered support unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one hydraulic jack having one of its ends attached to the frame props the goaf shield, the jack being attached with its other end between the upper end of the shield and the front part of the canopy.

4. A self-advancing powered support unit as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the shutter of the outage of the caving gate is controlled by the chute which is capable of swinging about its one end attached either to the goaf shield or to its front prop or to the frame, the chute being propped with at least one adjustable prop.