An apparatus and method for protecting a person servicing a longwall shear such changing bits on a drum, embodiments relating to a base plate to be secured to an underside of a shield canopy and a slide plate movably connected to the underside of the base plate such that the slide plate can advance out from the shield canopy to allow a person to service a longwall shear while being protected by the slide plate from falling rock and other debris, and the slide plate can then retract back under the shield canopy.

A fluid spray for an underground roof support includes a first housing portion, a spray outlet, a second housing portion formed integrally with the first housing portion, and a service port. The first housing portion includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a first fluid passage extending between the first end and the second end. The spray outlet is positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft. The second housing portion is positioned adjacent the first end of the shaft. The second housing portion includes at least one port and a second fluid passage between the at least one port and the first fluid passage. The service port is aligned with the first fluid passage, and the service port is selectively opened to provide access to the first fluid passage from the first end of the first housing portion.

A fluid spray for an underground roof support includes a first housing portion, a spray outlet, a second housing portion formed integrally with the first housing portion, and a service port. The first housing portion includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a first fluid passage extending between the first end and the second end. The spray outlet is positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft. The second housing portion is positioned adjacent the first end of the shaft. The second housing portion includes at least one port and a second fluid passage between the at least one port and the first fluid passage. The service port is aligned with the first fluid passage, and the service port is selectively opened to provide access to the first fluid passage from the first end of the first housing portion.

A method of controlling a longwall mining system, the longwall mining system including a longwall shearer, a conveyor, and a plurality of roof supports, such that the method includes creating, by a controller, a load profile of the conveyor representing a distribution of mineral along a length of the conveyor, calculating, by the controller, a desired change in the load profile based on the load profile of the conveyor, and controlling, by the controller, the longwall mining system to adjust the distribution of mineral on the conveyor based on the desired change in load profile.

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 fluid spray for an underground roof support includes a first housing portion, a spray outlet, a second housing portion formed integrally with the first housing portion, and a service port. The first housing portion includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a first fluid passage extending between the first end and the second end. The spray outlet is positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft. The second housing portion is positioned adjacent the first end of the shaft. The second housing portion includes at least one port and a second fluid passage between the at least one port and the first fluid passage. The service port is aligned with the first fluid passage, and the service port is selectively opened to provide access to the first fluid passage from the first end of the first housing portion.

A fluid spray for an underground roof support includes a first housing portion, a spray outlet, a second housing portion formed integrally with the first housing portion, and a service port. The first housing portion includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a first fluid passage extending between the first end and the second end. The spray outlet is positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft. The second housing portion is positioned adjacent the first end of the shaft. The second housing portion includes at least one port and a second fluid passage between the at least one port and the first fluid passage. The service port is aligned with the first fluid passage, and the service port is selectively opened to provide access to the first fluid passage from the first end of the first housing portion.

A fluid spray for an underground roof support includes a first housing portion, a spray outlet, a second housing portion formed integrally with the first housing portion, and a service port. The first housing portion includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a first fluid passage extending between the first end and the second end. The spray outlet is positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft. The second housing portion is positioned adjacent the first end of the shaft. The second housing portion includes at least one port and a second fluid passage between the at least one port and the first fluid passage. The service port is aligned with the first fluid passage, and the service port is selectively opened to provide access to the first fluid passage from the first end of the first housing portion.

A fluid spray for an underground roof support includes a first housing portion, a spray outlet, a second housing portion formed integrally with the first housing portion, and a service port. The first housing portion includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a first fluid passage extending between the first end and the second end. The spray outlet is positioned adjacent the second end of the shaft. The second housing portion is positioned adjacent the first end of the shaft. The second housing portion includes at least one port and a second fluid passage between the at least one port and the first fluid passage. The service port is aligned with the first fluid passage, and the service port is selectively opened to provide access to the first fluid passage from the first end of the first housing portion.

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.