An industrial machine comprising a chassis, a cutting head supported by the chassis, and a controller. In one embodiment, the controller, having an electronic processor and memory, is configured to receive an input via an operator, indicating at least one selected from a group consisting of a desired volume of a material to be mined and a desired weight of the material to be mined, determine a sump depth of the cutting head based on the input, and control the industrial machine based on the sump depth.

The present invention relates to a mining system. The system includes a continuous miner for forming plunge tunnels from a roadway. A flexible conveyor system is coupled to the continuous miner for conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels. A controller is provided for controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path. Advantageously, the controller may control the drive and steering (including turning maneuvers) of the continuous miner and each conveyor module of the flexible conveyor system along the predetermined path to avoid striking either any adjacent equipment (e.g. another conveyor), or the ‘ribs’ of a plunge tunnel being mined.

A method for operating a continuous mining machine having a device continuously providing provisional roof support, wherein the mining machine a rolling roof-protection portion which is fixed on a main machine frame of the continuous mining machine via a front column structure and a rear column structure. While the machine is cutting, the roof-protection device performs continuous load holding on a roof, and after cutting, performs support operations, thereby achieving simultaneous performance of cutting and support operations, and improving tunneling efficiency. Different support strengths are configured according to the hardness, completeness, and quality indicators of rock on a mine roof, such that the device is able to effectively support the roof.

A hydraulic system arranged to control at least two hydraulic actuators via a metering control valve assembly. The hydraulic system is advantageous to control a pivoting arm of an undercutting mining machine according to at least two modes of operation including an idling mode and a cutting mode. In particular, the hydraulic actuators may be controlled by quantitative variation of fluid flow speed and pressure.

The present invention relates to a system for recovering a continuous miner arrangement from a tunnel. The system includes a coupler for coupling the continuous miner arrangement to a pulling apparatus. The pulling apparatus pulls the continuous miner arrangement from the tunnel. Advantageously, the pulling apparatus may pull the continuous miner arrangement from the tunnel, either fully or partially until the continuous miner arrangement may once again retract from the tunnel under its own power.

A hydraulic system arranged to control at least two hydraulic actuators via a metering control valve assembly. The hydraulic system is advantageous to control a pivoting arm of an undercutting mining machine according to at least two modes of operation including an idling mode and a cutting mode. In particular, the hydraulic actuators may be controlled by quantitative variation of fluid flow speed and pressure.

Methods and systems for controlling the heading of a mining machine while the mining machine performs a cutting operation. One system includes a cutting system and a set of left and right tracks of the mining machine. The system also includes a lidar sensor mounted to the mining machine. The system also includes an electronic processor configured to receive the data from the lidar sensor. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a current heading of the mining machine based on the data received from the lidar sensor and compare the current heading to a target heading of the mining machine. In response to the current heading not being different from the target heading of the mining machine by a predetermined amount, the electronic processor is configured to control the mining machine to adjust the current heading of the mining machine.

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for sensing wear in machines designed to reduce or break-down material. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for sensing wear of reducing elements used by excavation machines such as surface excavation machines. The present disclosure relates to a wear sensing system including a multi-level wear sensor protection system. The multi-level wear sensor protection system includes a first level of protection, a second level of protection, and a third level of protection.

A heading machine includes first and second rotating cutting heads each having an axis of rotation extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the machine, a first cutting roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially horizontal and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the machine, and a further cutting device supported on the cutting frame and arranged to cut off the cusps of unmined material left on side wall. The machine further includes a side stabilizer, and can cut a rectangular profile without leaving cusps left on the side wall.

A heading machine includes first and second rotating cutting heads each having an axis of rotation extending substantially in a longitudinal direction of the machine, a first cutting roller having an axis of rotation extending substantially horizontal and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the machine, and a further cutting device supported on the cutting frame and arranged to cut off the cusps of unmined material left on side wall. The machine further includes a side stabilizer, and can cut a rectangular profile without leaving cusps left on the side wall.