Patent ID: 7931341

Claim:
A launch vehicle for a narrow bench continuous mining system including modular conveyor units that are connected together to form a conveyor train, comprising: a main frame for supporting a rearmost conveyor unit of said conveyor train, said main frame including a first side over which additional conveyor units are added to said conveyor train and a second side; a belly conveyor carried on said main frame that conveys aggregate material received from said rearmost conveyor unit of said conveyor train; a drive assembly for selectively advancing and withdrawing said conveyor train; and a canopy overlying at least a portion of said main frame, said canopy being mounted on forward and rearward supports longitudinally spaced apart a distance less than substantially the length of a conveyor unit, at least one of said supports comprising a cantilever support extending upwardly adjacent said second side of said main frame and having a base attached to said main frame at a longitudinal position of said second side opposite a longitudinal position on said first side over which additional conveyor units are added to said conveyor train, whereby said first side is left open for adding additional conveyor units to said conveyor train.