Patent ID: 7331735

Claim:
An apparatus for supporting a gate entry for underground retreat longwall mining, the apparatus comprising: a support member comprising a head plate configured to engage a mine roof, a foot plate configured to engage a mine floor, and a hydraulic extension member configured to selectively engage the mine roof of a gate entry with the head plate and the mine floor of the gate entry with the foot plate and support a front abutment loading; a controller in communication with the support member, the controller configured to extend the hydraulic extension member to engage the mine roof and mine floor and retract the hydraulic extension member to disengage the mine roof and mine floor; a lateral extension member configured to extend and retract laterally to selectively engage a wall of the gate entry in response to a control signal to define a passage way between the wall of the gate entry and the apparatus, the lateral extension member comprising a side plate and two or more hydraulic rams coupled to the side plate, the lateral extension member configured to maximize the size of the passage way to facilitate safe ingress and egress of personnel; a vehicle connected to the support member and controller, the vehicle configured to move the support member in response to a motive force acting on the vehicle; and wherein the support member, controller, and vehicle are independent of a mining face conveyor.