Patent ID: 8905487

Claim:
A mine equipment recovery system comprising: a recovery vehicle configured to ride on a push-beam conveyor in a mine, the push-beam conveyor having a top surface with two edges and two sides with one of the sides joined to the top surface at each edge, the top surface and two sides running the length of the conveyor and enclosing the working elements of the conveyor, the top surface and sides defining the width of the conveyor, said recovery vehicle comprising; a body having a forward end and a rear end and two sides connecting said forward end and said rear end of said body; a drive train mounted on said body, said drive train comprising an axle with a set of wheels, said set of wheels being spaced narrowly enough to ride on the top surface of the push-beam conveyor; a guide on each said side of said body, each said guide extending downward from its respective side to below the level of the top surface of the push-beam conveyor maintaining said vehicle on the push beam conveyor; electrical control boxes mounted on said body, said electrical control boxes comprising communication elements for receiving commands from outside of the mine and transmitting commands to other elements mounted on said body; a power source mounted on said body, said power source powering said drive train and said electrical boxes; an implement mount on said forward end of said body; and, a hitch on said rear end of said body, said hitch for retrieval of said recovery vehicle.