Patent ID: 6957166

Claim:
An apparatus for monitoring the dynamic loading rate for a mobile roof support unit used in an underground mine to withstand abutment pressure, the apparatus comprising: at least one load sensing device adapted to be coupled to one or more hydraulic support systems of the mobile roof support unit used in the underground mine; a programmable controller for processing pressure change information for the one or more hydraulic support systems of the mobile roof support unit, wherein the pressure change information is determined via information received from said at least one load sensing device; and a plurality of sensory indicators located in the vicinity of said at least one load sensing device and controlled by said programmable controller, wherein the plurality of sensory indicators located in the vicinity of said at least one load sensing device indicate loading rate for the mobile roof support unit on a real-time basis during mining operations as determined via the pressure change information for the one or more hydraulic support systems of the mobile roof support unit, wherein indicating loading rate for the one or more of the hydraulic support systems of the mobile roof support unit comprises providing timely warning indications used as an aid in determining when to install additional support systems and alert miners of dangerous loading conditions on the support systems of the mobile roof support unit.