Patent ID: 6644753
Filing Date: 2003-11-11
Classification: E21C,E21F

Abstract:
A method of navigating a mining machine operatively connected to a conveying machine, independently of the relative position of a mine excavation, comprising:bracing the conveying machine between side walls of a mine opening independently of the mining machine by a first set of braces fixedly mounted on the conveying machine; bracing the mining machine between the side walls of said mine opening independently of said conveying machine by a second set of braces fixedly mounted on the mining machine; determining a first relative position of the conveying machine and the mining machine by measuring at least three geometrical parameters of a general quadrilateral formed by two predetermined geometrical points fixed with respect to the mining machine and two predetermined geometrical points fixed with respect to the conveying machine; releasing the mining machine; moving the mining machine away from the conveying machine; bracing the mining machine between the side walls of said mine opening independently of the conveying machine by said second set of braces; determining a second relative position of the conveying machine and the mining machine by measuring at least three geometrical parameters of said general quadrilateral; releasing the conveying machine; and moving the conveying machine toward the mining machine.