A monitoring device and method for monitoring a longwall mining system having a plurality of roof supports, each roof support including a pressure sensor to determine pressure levels of the roof support during a monitoring cycle. Pressure data is obtained for the plurality of roof supports. The pressure data includes pressure information for each roof support of the plurality of roof supports over a monitoring cycle. The pressure data is analyzed to determine, for each roof support, whether a first type pressure failure occurred during the monitoring cycle. A fault quantity is generated that represents the number of roof supports determined to have had the first type of pressure failure occur during the monitoring cycle. An alert is generated upon determining that the fault quantity exceeds an alert threshold.

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.

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.

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.

An apparatus for protecting a roof tray when a gob-side entry retaining end support migrates is provided. The apparatus is mounted at a top end position of a hydraulic support, and includes a movable bearing mechanism, an automatic expansion/contraction connecting groove mechanism, and an active reset mechanism. The movable bearing mechanism includes two parallel belts and a plurality of rollers supporting the belts, and the rollers are mounted on and supported by a bearing mechanism. The automatic expansion/contraction connecting groove mechanism is two concave base plates fixed between the two belts, and the two concave base plates are spaced by a distance. The active reset mechanism includes two telescopic rods and reset springs sleeved on the telescopic rods, and the telescopic rod is connected to an end portion of the reset spring to form a synchronous mechanism.

A mine roof support comprises two or more frusto-conical, tubular sections, the sections each flared outwardly from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a skirt portion of a section being received and secured within a neck portion of a section below in a frictional fit to define an interior volume of the mine roof support. A solid, compressible, load-bearing material is located within the volume. Methods of installing a mine roof support and a pre-installation assembly for a mine roof support are also disclosed.

A mine roof support comprises two or more frusto-conical, tubular sections, the sections each flared outwardly from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a skirt portion of a section being received and secured within a neck portion of a section below in a frictional fit to define an interior volume of the mine roof support. A solid, compressible, load-bearing material is located within the volume. Methods of installing a mine roof support and a pre-installation assembly for a mine roof support are also disclosed.

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 mine roof support comprises two or more frusto-conical, tubular sections, the sections each flared outwardly from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a skirt portion of a section being received and secured within a neck portion of a section below in a frictional fit to define an interior volume of the mine roof support. A solid, compressible, load-bearing material is located within the volume. Methods of installing a mine roof support and a pre-installation assembly for a mine roof support are also disclosed.

A mine roof support comprises two or more frusto-conical, tubular sections, the sections each flared outwardly from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a skirt portion of a section being received and secured within a neck portion of a section below in a frictional fit to define an interior volume of the mine roof support. A solid, compressible, load-bearing material is located within the volume. Methods of installing a mine roof support and a pre-installation assembly for a mine roof support are also disclosed.