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.

The present invention pertains to a method for monitoring operation of a mining machine unit, particularly of a longwall mining system, having a shield unit connected to a material removing unit by means of an actuator for adjusting a distance between the shield unit and the material removing unit, the method comprises the steps of determining a position change of the shield unit during an actuating operation of the actuator; and a step of detecting a malfunction of the mining machine unit based on the determined position change.

The present invention pertains to a method for monitoring operation of a mining machine unit, particularly of a longwall mining system, having a shield unit connected to a material removing unit by means of an actuator for adjusting a distance between the shield unit and the material removing unit, the method comprises the steps of determining a position change of the shield unit during an actuating operation of the actuator; and a step of detecting a malfunction of the mining machine unit based on the determined position change.

Articulated waveguide systems, devices, and methods. Adjacent rigid waveguide segments are connected at an articulating joint. An internal antenna at the joint allows for three hundred sixty degree rotational capability at the joints. Multiple such joints may connect multiple pairs of adjacent waveguide segments to form a robotic waveguide arm. The arm can be articulated to place an energy applicator at the end of the arm in multiple positions and orientations at various speeds and directions of movement. Six degrees of freedom are provided for orienting the applicator using the robotic waveguide arm to transmit energy from a generator to an object, such as rock. The articulate waveguide may be used in a microwave-based system for mining rock having a microwave generator, the articulated robotic waveguide arm, and the applicator.

An apparatus, system, and method for automated support of a gate entry for underground full extraction mining that includes gathering entry data for a condition of a gate entry by way of a gate entry support. The method also includes determining, by way of the gate entry support, the condition of the gate entry, advancing the gate entry support in response to determining that the condition satisfies an entry condition threshold. The method may also signal a halt condition for a production cycle, if the condition fails to satisfy the entry condition threshold.

An apparatus, system, and method for automated support of a gate entry for underground full extraction mining that includes gathering entry data for a condition of a gate entry by way of a gate entry support. The method also includes determining, by way of the gate entry support, the condition of the gate entry, advancing the gate entry support in response to determining that the condition satisfies an entry condition threshold. The method may also signal a halt condition for a production cycle, if the condition fails to satisfy the entry condition threshold.

A system and method for remotely locating a communication error support for hydraulic supports. The system includes a control panel, a support controller, a data converter, and two support drivers of the same type. Each support driver has two bus interfaces. The control panel transmits a control command to the data converter in a form of a WiFi signal. The data converter converts the WiFi signal into a message signal and transmits the message signal to the support controller. The support controller transmits the control command to the two support drivers, respectively. The support drivers transmit the command through CANH twisted pairs and CANL twisted pairs. When a bus for transmitting the command of a certain node has an error, the support controller calculates the fault node according to a formula $n=\frac{pt}{8m},$
and feeds back the fault node onto the control panel.

An apparatus, system, and method for automated support of a gate entry for underground full extraction mining that includes gathering entry data for a condition of a gate entry by way of a gate entry support. The method also includes determining, by way of the gate entry support, the condition of the gate entry, advancing the gate entry support in response to determining that the condition satisfies an entry condition threshold. The method may also signal a halt condition for a production cycle, if the condition fails to satisfy the entry condition threshold.

An apparatus, system, and method for automated support of a gate entry for underground full extraction mining that includes gathering entry data for a condition of a gate entry by way of a gate entry support. The method also includes determining, by way of the gate entry support, the condition of the gate entry, advancing the gate entry support in response to determining that the condition satisfies an entry condition threshold. The method may also signal a halt condition for a production cycle, if the condition fails to satisfy the entry condition threshold.

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.