Mining equipment

Mining equipment adapted for repeated traversing to and fro adjacent to a conveyor arranged along a longwall face in an underground mine, has a mining machine support structure which bridges the conveyor and which has a curtain for guiding airborne dust arising during cutting of mineral by a rotary cutting head mounted on the machine. The air flow passage defined by the curtain has an air flow inducing means therein, such as a fan or water spray.

This invention relates to mining equipment. 
In particular, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to 
mining equipment for use with a mining machine which in use repeatedly 
traverses to and fro winning mineral from a longwall face in a mineral 
seam in an underground mine, the mining equipment tending to control flow 
of airborne dust generated during the mineral winning operation. 
An object of the present invention is to provide mining equipment which 
tends to improve dust control in the vicinity of the mining machine. 
Accordingly the invention provides mining equipment adapted for repeated 
traversing to and fro adjacent to a conveyor arrangeable along a working 
face in an underground mine, the mining equipment comprising a mining 
machine bridge structure adapted to bridge over the conveyor, means which, 
in use, enable at least a portion of the bridge structure to traverse 
along a path spaced from the conveyor, and an airborne dust guide curtain 
adapted to extend from at least a portion of the bridge structure towards 
the conveyor. 
Preferably, the bridge structure comprises a support structure adapted to 
carry and/or guide a mining machine having means which, in use, carry a 
cutter head for winning mineral from the working face. 
Alternatively, the bridge structure comprises a mining machine having means 
which, in use, carries a cutter head for winning mineral from the working 
face. 
Conveniently, at least a portion of the airborne dust guide curtain is 
mounted on a side of the bridge structure remote from the means for 
carrying the cutter head. 
Advantageously, the airborne dust guide curtain is mounted on at least two 
sides of the bridge structure. 
Advantageously, the air flow dust guide curtain extends outwardly beyond at 
least one end of the bridge structure. 
Conveniently, at least a substantial portion of the guide curtain is rigid. 
Preferably, at least a portion of the guide curtain which, in use, is 
adjacent to the conveyor is flexible. 
Preferably, the bridge structure is provided with means for inducing a flow 
of airborne dust. 
Conveniently, the means for inducing the flow of airborne dust comprises a 
hydraulic nozzle adapted to direct an air flow inducing spray adjacent to 
the bridge structure. 
Advantageously, the means for inducing the flow of airborne dust comprises 
a driven fan adapted to urge an air flow adjacent to the bridge structure.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings a ranging drum shearer mining machine 1 is 
shown mounted on and guided by an armoured flexible conveyor 2 extending 
along a longwall face in a mineral seam of an underground mine, in 
operation the machine repeatedly traverses to and fro along the longwall 
face such that a rotary cutter head 4 carried on an arm 5 wins mineral 
from the working face. The arm 5 is pivotally supported on the side of the 
mining machine adjacent to the working mineral face and can be pivotally 
moved under the action of a hydraulic ram (not shown) to vertically adjust 
the cutting horizon of the rotary cutter head. A cut mineral loading cowl 
7 is provided adjacent to the rear of the cutter head which is shown in an 
elevated position winning mineral adjacent to the mine roof 8. 
In FIGS. 1 and 2 the machine is illustrated moving in a cutting direction 
indicated by arrows x, opposite to that of the main ventilation air flow 
as indicated by arrows y. The machine is hauled along a stationary track 
(not shown) engaged by drive mechanism (not shown) provided on the 
machine. The drive mechanism may comprise a driven sprocket drivably 
engaging the stationary track or, alternatively, a reciprocating ram 
mechanism including means for releasably fixedly engaging the stationary 
track. 
In the drawings the mining machine is shown supported on an underframe 
bridge structure 10 bridging the conveyor and comprising a support 
structure having deck plate 11 and two pairs of shoe-carrying legs 13, the 
shoes 15 being slidably and guidably mounted on upper horizontal flanges 
of the armoured flexible conveyor 2. 
In other embodiments of the invention the mining machine constitutes the 
bridge structure and no separate support structure underframe is provided. 
Two airborne dust guide curtains 22 and 24 are mounted along the two side 
portions of the support structure 10, the curtains extending downwardly 
towards the conveyor to define the side walls of an open ended passage 
extending longitudinally beneath the mining machine. The curtains may be 
rigid or flexible. In the case of a rigid curtain eg curtains constructed 
of metal plate it is foreseen that the portion of each curtain adjacent to 
the conveyor will be flexible or deformable in order to facilitate the 
machine negotiating undulations in the conveyor. 
The guide curtain includes an extended portion 26 extending outwardly 
beyond the cutting end of the machine, the extended portion tending to 
guide airborne dust generated by the rotary cutting head during cutting 
towards the passage defined beneath the underframe support structure and 
tending to prevent the dust from entering the main ventilation air flow 
along the face. It will be appreciated from FIG. 2 that the main 
ventilation air flow tends to assist the flow of airborne dust from the 
cutting head towards the passage defined beneath the underframe bridge 
structure. 
The mining equipment also comprises means for inducing airborne dust to 
flow towards the passage beneath the underframe support structure. 
FIG. 1 illustrates three separate means 30, 31 and 32 for inducing airborne 
dust flow, FIG. 2 illustrates two of the means 30 and 31 and FIG. 3 
illustrates the means 30. The means 30, 31 and 32 may be used as 
alternatives. However, in some installations a plurality of the means 30, 
31 and 32 may be used in any desired combination depending upon the 
conditions. 
The means 30 is shown mounted within the passage defined beneath the 
underframe support structure and comprises two water nozzles 34 each 
mounted within an air flow guide tube 35 and arranged to direct an air 
flow inducing spray along a path adjacent to, and longitudinally with 
respect to, the underframe bridge structure. As well as inducing a desired 
air flow the water powered means 30 tend to wet dust particles entrained 
in the air flow and thereby tend to suppress dust generated during 
cutting. 
The means 31 is shown mounted on the end of the mining machine remote from 
cutting end and comprises a driven fan 40 and an enclosed filter panel 41 
for removing dust and water particles entrained in the induced air flow. 
The filter panel includes a layer of filter material which is replaceable. 
The layer of filter material may be continuously washed to remove dust 
particles arrested from the air flow. 
The means 32 is shown mounted beneath the underframe support structure at a 
location above the air flow entry to the passage defined beneath the 
support structure. The means 32 comprises a water spray 42 arranged to 
direct a spray of atomized water in a direction longitudinally of the 
support structure and adjacent thereto. In some installations the means 32 
may be used to wet the dust laden air prior to it being drawn into the 
means 31. 
The first described embodiment of mining equipment also comprises an air 
flow guide 50 extending upwards on the side of the mining machine 1 
adjacent to the cutter head 4. The air flow guide 50 has an air flow inlet 
51 which in FIGS. 1 and 2 is directed towards the working face but which 
could also or alternatively be directed parallel to the working face. 
The air flow guide 50 has an air flow outlet 52 in communication with the 
passage defined beneath the bridge structure so that in use when an air 
flow is induced along the passage an air flow is also induced to flow 
along the air flow guide 50 thus tending to draw airborne dust from the 
vicinity of the air flow inlet 51 into the passage. The airflow outlet 52 
is arranged up stream of the airflow inducing means 30, 31. 
In other arrangements a plurality of air flow guides are provided. 
In operation as the machine traverses along the face in the direction as 
shown by arrows x, dust generated by the rotary cutting head is urged 
towards the passage defined beneath the underframe support structure, the 
cut mineral loading cowl tending to stop dust flowing to the rear of the 
cutting head. Thus a substantial portion of the dust generated during 
cutting passes axially of the rotary cutting head towards the conveying 
track. The curtain extention tends to retain the flow of dust laden air to 
within the conveying track from where it is urged by one or other of the 
means 30, 31 and/or 32 to flow with the induced air flow towards the 
passage defined beneath the underframe support structure. Within the 
passage the dust laden air tends to pass through one or other of the means 
30, 31 and/or 32 where it is suppressed. Thus the air discharged from the 
passage defined beneath the support structure back into the main 
ventilation air flow tends to be relatively free from dust. 
It will be appreciated that the guide curtains along the side of the 
passage tend to control the flow of airborne dust so that substantially 
all the dust laden air is treated by the means 30, 31 and/or 32. 
In other embodiments of the invention only the section of the guide curtain 
extending along the side of the support structure remote from the cutting 
head is used, the face side of the passage being left open to allow dust 
laden air flow to enter the passage along its length. 
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of mining equipment for use with 
a mining machine 60 arranged to traverse to and fro along the mine floor 
on the working face side of an armoured flexible conveyor 61. The machine 
comprises two cutter heads 62 and 63 carried on ranging arms 64 and 65 
pivotally adjustable under the action of hydraulic rams (not shown). 
The machine body is secured to a bridge structure 66 adapted to bridge the 
conveyor 61 and to having guide means (not shown) for guidable engagement 
with the conveyor. 
An air flow guide curtain 68 is mounted on the side of the bridge structure 
remote from the cutter heads, the curtain 68 extending from an upper most 
portion of the bridge structure towards the conveyor. As shown in FIGS. 4 
and 5 the curtain extends beyond both ends of the bridge structure. 
The curtain 68 may be of a rigid construction. Alternatively at least a 
portion of the curtain 68 may be flexible and supported from a rigid 
portion or section. 
The second embodiment of mining equipment also comprises means (not shown) 
for inducing airborne dust flow into the passage defined by the mining 
equipment. 
In the Figures the machine is travelling in the direction indicated by 
arrows x. The direction of the ventilation air flow is indicated by arrows 
y.