The present invention pertains to a method for monitoring operation of a mining machine unit, particularly of a longwall mining system, having a shield unit connected to a material removing unit by means of an actuator for adjusting a distance between the shield unit and the material removing unit, the method comprises the steps of determining a position change of the shield unit during an actuating operation of the actuator; and a step of detecting a malfunction of the mining machine unit based on the determined position change.

A cutting assembly for a rock excavation machine including a frame. The cutting assembly includes a boom supported on the frame and a cutting device. In some aspects, the boom includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion includes a first structure and a second structure slidable relative to the first structure. The second portion includes a first member pivotably coupled to the second structure, and a second member pivotably coupled to the first member. The cutting device is supported on the second member. In some aspects, a material handling device is supported independently of the boom and movable between a retracted position and an extended position independent of the boom.

Methods and systems of monitoring and controlling a longwall mining system. One system includes a shearer including a cutter drum and a sensor mounted to the shearer. The system also includes an electronic controller including a processor and a memory, the electronic controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The electronic controller is configured to receive vibration data from the sensor and determine a current vibration level experienced by the cutter drum. The electronic controller is also configured to compare the current vibration level to a target vibration threshold associated with a target material seam. The electronic controller is also configured to provide a visual output to an operator of the longwall mining system when the current vibration level exceeds the target vibration threshold, where the current vibration level exceeds the target vibration threshold when the cutter drum of the shearer cuts outside of the target material seam.

Disclosed is an interference protection device and method for a hydraulic support and a cutting part of a shearer. The device includes: a plurality of dust-proof cases evenly and fixedly provided on a surface of one side of a hauling part of the shearer that faces away from a coal wall, and a dust-proof housing fixed on the hydraulic support. A first ultrasonic transducer and a flash lamp are fixedly provided in each dust-proof case, and a second ultrasonic transducer, a receiver, and a data processing module are fixedly provided in the dust-proof housing. The data processing module is electrically connected to the second ultrasonic transducer and the receiver separately, the first ultrasonic transducers and the flash lamps are all electrically connected to an external single-chip microcomputer, and the data processing module is electrically connected to a hydraulic support control computer. The present invention obtains a distance from the shearer to the hydraulic support by calculation from a difference between time points at which the second ultrasonic transducer and the receiver on the hydraulic support respectively receive an ultrasonic signal and an optical signal, and thus timely controls a guard plate to retract, thereby achieving the advantages of low cost, high applicability and high reliability.

A cutting head for a mining machine includes a drum, a vane, and a cutting bit assembly positioned adjacent a surface of the vane. The drum includes a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, and the drum is rotatable about a drum axis. The vane is coupled to the outer surface of the drum and protrudes radially away from the drum axis. In some aspects, the vane includes a planar member extending at least partially around the drum axis and at least partially between the first end of the drum and the second end of the drum. In some aspects, the drum includes a plurality of planar walls extending between the first end and the second end.

A cutting head for a mining machine includes a drum, a vane, and a cutting bit assembly positioned adjacent a surface of the vane. The drum includes a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, and the drum is rotatable about a drum axis. The vane is coupled to the outer surface of the drum and protrudes radially away from the drum axis. In some aspects, the vane includes a planar member extending at least partially around the drum axis and at least partially between the first end of the drum and the second end of the drum. In some aspects, the drum includes a plurality of planar walls extending between the first end and the second end.

A cable handling system for a longwall mining machine is disclosed. The longwall mining machine includes a shearer configured to move along a pan line to mine material along a mine face. The cable handling system includes a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation. Further, a plurality of interconnected trays accommodates the service line. Moreover, a controller is configured to determine a profile of the pan line; detect one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and determine a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on the one or more parameters exceeding a predefined threshold.

A cable handling system for a longwall mining machine is disclosed. The longwall mining machine includes a shearer configured to move along a pan line to mine material along a mine face. The cable handling system includes a service line configured to carry one or more supply lines to the shearer for facilitating shearer operation. Further, a plurality of interconnected trays accommodates the service line. Moreover, a controller is configured to determine a profile of the pan line; detect one or more parameters associated with the service line in relation to the profile of the pan line; and determine a likelihood of at least a portion of the service line dislodging from the plurality of interconnected trays based on the one or more parameters exceeding a predefined threshold.

Disclosed is an interference protection device and method for a hydraulic support and a cutting part of a shearer. The device includes: a plurality of dust-proof cases evenly and fixedly provided on a surface of one side of a hauling part of the shearer that faces away from a coal wall, and a dust-proof housing fixed on the hydraulic support. A first ultrasonic transducer and a flash lamp are fixedly provided in each dust-proof case, and a second ultrasonic transducer, a receiver, and a data processing module are fixedly provided in the dust-proof housing. The data processing module is electrically connected to the second ultrasonic transducer and the receiver separately, the first ultrasonic transducers and the flash lamps are all electrically connected to an external single-chip microcomputer, and the data processing module is electrically connected to a hydraulic support control computer. The present invention obtains a distance from the shearer to the hydraulic support by calculation from a difference between time points at which the second ultrasonic transducer and the receiver on the hydraulic support respectively receive an ultrasonic signal and an optical signal, and thus timely controls a guard plate to retract, thereby achieving the advantages of low cost, high applicability and high reliability.

Methods and systems of monitoring and controlling a longwall mining system. One system includes a shearer including a cutter drum and a sensor mounted to the shearer. The system also includes an electronic controller including a processor and a memory, the electronic controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The electronic controller is configured to receive vibration data from the sensor and determine a current vibration level experienced by the cutter drum. The electronic controller is also configured to compare the current vibration level to a target vibration threshold associated with a target material seam. The electronic controller is also configured to provide a visual output to an operator of the longwall mining system when the current vibration level exceeds the target vibration threshold, where the current vibration level exceeds the target vibration threshold when the cutter drum of the shearer cuts outside of the target material seam.