A conveyor includes an endless belt, a boot end supporting a portion of the endless belt, a support structure, and a bridge. The endless belt includes a first run and a second run, and the first run extends along a conveyor axis. The support structure includes an end spaced apart from the boot end, a plurality of frames, and a plurality of idler rolls. The frames are spaced apart from one another and aligned with one another in a direction parallel to the conveyor axis. The idler rolls support another portion of the endless belt. The bridge extends between the boot end and the end of the support structure. The bridge is movable in a direction parallel to the conveyor axis relative to at least one of the boot end and the support structure.

Systems and methods for controlling a conveyor in a mining system. The conveyor includes a chain, a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a drive mechanism, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The method includes receiving a first signal associated with a characteristic of at least one of a first sprocket or a second sprocket, determining a value for the characteristic of the at least one of the first sprocket or the second sprocket based on the first signal, receiving a second signal associated with a characteristic of a chain, and determining a value for the characteristic of the chain based on the second signal. The method further includes comparing the value for the characteristic of the at least one of the first sprocket or the second sprocket and the value for the characteristic of the chain and determining the amount of slack in the chain based on the comparison.

Systems and methods for controlling a conveyor in a mining system. The conveyor includes a chain, a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a drive mechanism, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The method includes receiving a first signal associated with a characteristic of at least one of a first sprocket or a second sprocket, determining a value for the characteristic of the at least one of the first sprocket or the second sprocket based on the first signal, receiving a second signal associated with a characteristic of a chain, and determining a value for the characteristic of the chain based on the second signal. The method further includes comparing the value for the characteristic of the at least one of the first sprocket or the second sprocket and the value for the characteristic of the chain and determining the amount of slack in the chain based on the comparison.

A synergistic mining method for underground mining, separation and filling for a close distance coal seam group is applicable to the mining engineering field. Full-mechanized caving mining is carried out for a close distance coal seam group, an underground coal gangue separation system and a filling face are designed according to the yield of gangue in the production process; the gangue produced in the mining process is transported centrally into an underground coal gangue separation chamber, and the separated gangue is transported to the filling face for filling and mining; the gangue produced at the filling face is transported back to the filling face for backfilling after underground washing separation. The method separates nearby and filling at selected locations, reduces the damage and disturbance to the underground rock mass that may be caused by a conventional mining method, and solves problems in treatment of strong dynamic pressure in advance.

A synergistic mining method for underground mining, separation and filling for a close distance coal seam group is applicable to the mining engineering field. Full-mechanized caving mining is carried out for a close distance coal seam group, an underground coal gangue separation system and a filling face are designed according to the yield of gangue in the production process; the gangue produced in the mining process is transported centrally into an underground coal gangue separation chamber, and the separated gangue is transported to the filling face for filling and mining; the gangue produced at the filling face is transported back to the filling face for backfilling after underground washing separation. The method separates nearby and filling at selected locations, reduces the damage and disturbance to the underground rock mass that may be caused by a conventional mining method, and solves problems in treatment of strong dynamic pressure in advance.

A mined material transport vehicle includes: a vehicle main body capable of moving forward and rearward; and a loading platform provided on the vehicle main body, wherein the loading platform includes: a conveyor provided on the vehicle main body and having a conveying surface capable of conveying a mined material in a conveying direction extending in a forward-rearward directions; a pair of movable flaps that extend in the conveying direction on both sides in a vehicle width direction of the conveying surface, form a storage space together with the conveying surface, and are rotatable about lateral axial lines extending in the conveying direction; and lateral cylinders for rotating the movable flaps about the lateral axial lines.

Disclosed are vehicles used in transporting coarse ore in a mine and systems using the same. The vehicles include a drive mechanism for moving the vehicle along a surface; an inclinable conveyor positioned atop the drive mechanism for moving the coarse ore from a loading position to a discharge position; and vertically extending walls positioned along the longitudinal sides of the conveyor. The loading position of the conveyor being offset from the vertically extending walls and the discharge position of the conveyor extends beyond the vertically extending walls so that one vehicle can be positioned with respect to another to form a continuous walled conveyor. The vehicles and systems described herein do not require rails, so they can be manoeuvered within a mine to form a network from the mine face to a coarse ore unloading area.

The present invention relates to a mining system including a continuous miner. The continuous miner mines material and includes a miner navigation system. The mining system further includes a flexible conveyor system for receiving the mined material from the continuous miner. The flexible conveyor system includes a conveyor navigation system. The mining system further includes control means for controlling the miner navigation system and the conveyor navigation system so that the flexible conveyor system receives the mined material from the continuous miner. Preferably, the flexible conveyor system need not be coupled to the continuous miner, and can be extracted separately in the event of a cave-in on the miner.

The present invention relates to a mining system including a continuous miner. The continuous miner mines material and includes a miner navigation system. The mining system further includes a flexible conveyor system for receiving the mined material from the continuous miner. The flexible conveyor system includes a conveyor navigation system. The mining system further includes control means for controlling the miner navigation system and the conveyor navigation system so that the flexible conveyor system receives the mined material from the continuous miner. Preferably, the flexible conveyor system need not be coupled to the continuous miner, and can be extracted separately in the event of a cave-in on the miner.

Apparatus and methodologies of mining hydrocarbons from a target area within a subterranean formation, wherein a first phase involves providing at least one production well having at least one mechanical excavator rotatably disposed therein and rotating the mechanical excavator to convey the mined hydrocarbons from the formation to the surface, and a second phase involves, as the hydrocarbons being mined are depleted, withdrawing the mechanical excavator away from the formation, such that additional hydrocarbons are mined.