Patent ID: 6027175
Filing Date: 2000-02-22
Classification: E21C,E21F

Abstract:
A method of highwall mining comprising the steps of:providing a continuous miner for movement in a predetermined direction and having a chassis with a cutter head mounted for movement generally transverse of and generally parallel to said direction relative to said chassis;attaching to the miner a train of cars to receive mined material provided by the miner, the cars extending from the miner in a direction opposite the normal mining direction of travel of the miner;applying a force to the train at a position remote from the miner so as to provide for advancement of the train down an inclined mine tunnel;providing a hydraulic ram extending between a lowermost one of the cars and said miner to move the miner relative to the lowermost car so that the lowermost car provides a reaction force for forces generated by the miner; and whereinthe cutter head is moved generally parallel to and then transverse to said direction to mine said material.