The invention relates to the longwall face support of an underground mine having supports (plates 1-18), which longwall face support comprises camera housings (35) each having two cameras (36), which record a monitoring area of the face having a plurality of plates in the longitudinal direction of the gallery and the most complete registration possible of the cross section of the gallery. The cameras in a monitoring area are assigned to a common power supply unit (48) for the power supply and are equipped with intrinsically safe electronics. The electronics have a radio device for high-frequency data transfer (transmission and reception) together with antenna 39 (W-LAN antenna) for the wire-free connection to the local camera network (Wireless Local Area Network). Each camera and each camera housing is assigned a camera code and an address code, which is added to the identification data. Each radio device is configured such that data marked with an extrinsic camera code and data and signals marked with an extrinsic address code is emitted to be transmitted following reception.

The invention relates to the longwall face support of an underground mine having supports (plates 1-18), which longwall face support comprises camera housings (35) each having two cameras (36), which record a monitoring area of the face having a plurality of plates in the longitudinal direction of the gallery and the most complete registration possible of the cross section of the gallery. The cameras in a monitoring area are assigned to a common power supply unit (48) for the power supply and are equipped with intrinsically safe electronics. The electronics have a radio device for high-frequency data transfer (transmission and reception) together with antenna 39 (W-LAN antenna) for the wire-free connection to the local camera network (Wireless Local Area Network). Each camera and each camera housing is assigned a camera code and an address code, which is added to the identification data. Each radio device is configured such that data marked with an extrinsic camera code and data and signals marked with an extrinsic address code is emitted to be transmitted following reception.

A monitoring device and method for monitoring a longwall mining system having a roof support, the roof support including a pressure sensor to determine pressure levels of the roof support during a monitoring cycle. Pressure information is obtained for the roof support. An electronic processor then determines whether the pressure information is indicative of a first type of pressure failure of the roof support and whether the pressure information is indicative of a second type of pressure failure of the roof support. An alert is generated in response to determining that the pressure information is indicative of at least one selected from the group consisting of the first type of pressure failure and the second type of pressure failure.

A monitoring device and method for monitoring a longwall mining system having a roof support, the roof support including a pressure sensor to determine pressure levels of the roof support during a monitoring cycle. Pressure information is obtained for the roof support. An electronic processor then determines whether the pressure information is indicative of a first type of pressure failure of the roof support and whether the pressure information is indicative of a second type of pressure failure of the roof support. An alert is generated in response to determining that the pressure information is indicative of at least one selected from the group consisting of the first type of pressure failure and the second type of pressure failure.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting face alignment and face steering of a longwall mining system. The system includes a detection device mounted in a maingate roadway and a first indicator device mounted on a shearer of the longwall mining system to indicate a position of the shearer to the detection device. The system further includes a controller coupled to the detection device. The controller determines a shearer path of the shearer as the shearer moves along an ore face. The shearer path is determined based on a signal from the first indicator device received by the detection device. The controller generates an indication of face alignment based on the shearer path.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting face alignment and face steering of a longwall mining system. The system includes a detection device mounted in a maingate roadway and a first indicator device mounted on a shearer of the longwall mining system to indicate a position of the shearer to the detection device. The system further includes a controller coupled to the detection device. The controller determines a shearer path of the shearer as the shearer moves along an ore face. The shearer path is determined based on a signal from the first indicator device received by the detection device. The controller generates an indication of face alignment based on the shearer path.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting face creep of a longwall mining system. The system includes a detection device mounted in a maingate roadway and coupled to the detection device. The controller determines the position of the beam stage loader-armored face conveyor interface based on a signal from the first indicator device, determines a position of a maingate line based on a signal from a maingate indicator device, and determines a position of a belt conveyor based on a signal from a belt conveyor indicator device. The controller further determines a first distance between the position of the beam stage loader-armored face conveyor interface and a maingate line, and a second distance between the position of the belt conveyor and the maingate line. The controller generates an indication of face creep based on the first distance and the second distance.

Systems and methods are provided for detecting face creep of a longwall mining system. The system includes a detection device mounted in a maingate roadway and coupled to the detection device. The controller determines the position of the beam stage loader-armored face conveyor interface based on a signal from the first indicator device, determines a position of a maingate line based on a signal from a maingate indicator device, and determines a position of a belt conveyor based on a signal from a belt conveyor indicator device. The controller further determines a first distance between the position of the beam stage loader-armored face conveyor interface and a maingate line, and a second distance between the position of the belt conveyor and the maingate line. The controller generates an indication of face creep based on the first distance and the second distance.

A method for implementing a centralized control platform of a hydraulic support on a fully mechanized mining working face in underground coal mines, which is used for safety production in the underground coal mines. A Siemens PLC S7-300, a C8051F020 single chip microcomputer, a PowerBuilder tool, an SQLServer database and a multi-protocol communication platform are selected to form the centralized control platform, wherein the PowerBuilder tool is used as a front-end development platform; the Siemens PLC S7-300 and the C8051F020 single chip microcomputer are used as a real-time control platform; the PLC is connected to an electro-hydraulic control system, and a communication protocol thereof is a TCP/IP MODBUS protocol; the PLC acts as a client; the electro-hydraulic control system acts as a server end; an infrared transmission apparatus is mounted on a coal mining machine; a receiving apparatus is embedded into a support controller of the electro-hydraulic control system; and after receiving infrared information, the support controller transmits the information to an explosion-proof computer of the electro-hydraulic control system. The method may satisfy control functions required by an unattended or nearly unattended working face; can reliably complete various control functions based on operation of an adjacent support; can remotely transmit various pieces of information to a ground monitoring center in real time; and can monitor various failures in coal mining process in real time.

A method for implementing a centralized control platform of a hydraulic support on a fully mechanized mining working face in underground coal mines, which is used for safety production in the underground coal mines. A Siemens PLC S7-300, a C8051F020 single chip microcomputer, a PowerBuilder tool, an SQLServer database and a multi-protocol communication platform are selected to form the centralized control platform, wherein the PowerBuilder tool is used as a front-end development platform; the Siemens PLC S7-300 and the C8051F020 single chip microcomputer are used as a real-time control platform; the PLC is connected to an electro-hydraulic control system, and a communication protocol thereof is a TCP/IP MODBUS protocol; the PLC acts as a client; the electro-hydraulic control system acts as a server end; an infrared transmission apparatus is mounted on a coal mining machine; a receiving apparatus is embedded into a support controller of the electro-hydraulic control system; and after receiving infrared information, the support controller transmits the information to an explosion-proof computer of the electro-hydraulic control system. The method may satisfy control functions required by an unattended or nearly unattended working face; can reliably complete various control functions based on operation of an adjacent support; can remotely transmit various pieces of information to a ground monitoring center in real time; and can monitor various failures in coal mining process in real time.