Patent ID: 8262167

Claim:
A method of mining underground coal comprising: (a) locating an underground seam of coal; (b) digging a main shaft toward the underground seam of coal wherein the main shaft extends into the seam of coal; (c) constructing a ventilated underground control center within the seam of coal, wherein the underground control center is located adjacent to the main shaft; wherein the ventilated underground control center comprises an overhead comprising a ceiling section and roof bolts, a plurality of walls depending from the ceiling section, and a floor section for receiving the walls; wherein the overhead, the plurality of walls and the floor section define a substantially airtight space; and wherein the control center further comprises a computerized control panel; (d) obtaining an extendable, rotatable, hollow drill shaft wherein the drill shaft has a proximal end and a distal end; and wherein the drill shaft is operatively connected to the ventilated underground control center at its proximal end; (e) obtaining a drill head wherein the drill head is operatively connected to the drill shaft at the distal end of the drill shaft; (f) obtaining a power source wherein the power source is operatively connected to the computerized control panel by power source electrical means; wherein the power source is located adjacent to the ventilated underground control center; and wherein the power source is operatively connected to the drill head by means of the extendable, rotatable, hollow drill shaft; (g) obtaining a stationary first hydraulic shield wherein the first hydraulic shield is located between the underground control center and the seam of coal; (h) obtaining a movable second hydraulic shield; wherein the second hydraulic shield is located behind the drill head; (i) obtaining a movable resin roof bolting machine; wherein the resin roof bolting machine is located behind the movable second hydraulic shield; (j) operating the computerized control panel wherein the power source activates the drill head, and wherein the drill head bores into the seam of coal; (k) obtaining an above-ground coal collection unit; (l) obtaining an above-ground coal slurry pump house; (m) obtaining a transfer means wherein the transfer means operatively connects the coal slurry pump house to the coal collection unit; (n) obtaining a coal slurry pipe; wherein the coal slurry pipe operatively connects the hollow drill shaft to the coal slurry pump house; wherein the hollow drill shaft contains the coal slurry; (o) transporting the coal slurry to the above-ground coal slurry pump house; and (p) removing the coal slurry from the coal slurry pump house to the coal collection unit by the transfer means.