A cutting assembly for a mining machine includes a central hub having at least one arm extending radially outwards from the central hub. The arm includes at least one cutting means carrier movably arranged for radial movement along the arm and a primary actuator configured to control the radial position of the cutting means carrier. The cutting assembly further includes a locking means movable between an unlocked and a locked position, wherein the locking means in its locked position locks the cutting means carrier to the arm such that radial movement of the cutting means carrier is prevented. The locking means includes at least one locking member provided on the arm such that the locking member is movable between an extended position and a withdrawn position. The locking member in the extended position extends to engage the cutting means carrier such that movement of the cutting means carrier is prevented.

Disclosed herein is a system for controlling a mining machine within an underground mine. A rotatable laser source sends laser light and return light sensor receives reflected laser light and provides an indication of distance and return light intensity at multiple different rotation angles. A co-ordinate reference point comprises a pattern of varying reflectivity and provides at least a 2D co-ordinate position. A processor determines an absolute co-ordinate position in space of the mining machine as the mining machine moves through the underground mine. The processor collects intensity values of reflected laser light for multiple respective rotation angles and detects the pattern of the reference point in the multiple intensity values of reflected laser light, and determines the absolute co-ordinate position in space of the mining machine based on spatial information of the detected pattern.

A lidar-based convergence deformation monitoring system for surrounding rock around a TBM shield region, including a data acquisition module. The data acquisition module includes: a lidar, a push-rod motor, an H-bridge circuit, a power supply module, an ARM chip, a guide rod, a linear bearing, a tempered glass cover and a protective case. The lidar and the push-rod motor are connected to a lidar connector to acquire raw data of the surrounding rock and store the raw data in the ARM chip. A middle portion of a top plate of the protective case allows the lidar to extend out of the protective case. The protective case is fastened to an inner wall of the TBM shield through two mounting brackets on both sides of the protective case, and the inner wall facilitates the lidar to extend out of the protective case to perform a measurement.

An apparatus includes a current excitation source, a roadheader telescopic protection cylinder, an electric rotating apparatus, auxiliary cutting teeth, a cutting head entity, a transmission shaft, an optical fiber ring protective housing, an optical fiber ring, an optical fiber current sensor control unit and a recovery electrode. The apparatus transmits an auxiliary current I.sub.e and a monitoring current I.sub.d to a coal seam. The auxiliary current I.sub.e and the monitoring current I.sub.d are homologous currents that are incompatible, and the auxiliary current I.sub.e squeezes the monitoring current I.sub.d, so the monitoring current I.sub.d monitors the environment of the coal seam. The monitoring current I.sub.d flows to the coal seam as, and a return current I.sub.f flows through the transmission shaft and a roadheader expansion part. The optical fiber ring measures the return current I.sub.f, when the roadheader is heading forward and encounters abnormal geological bodies.

Systems to bore or tunnel through various geologies in an autonomous or substantially autonomous manner can include one or more non-contact boring elements that direct energy at the bore face to remove material from the bore face through fracture, spallation, and removal of the material. The systems can automatically execute methods to control a set of boring parameters that affect the flux of energy directed at the bore face. Systems can further automatically execute the methods to trigger an optical sensor to capture images at the bore face, generate temperature profiles, identify spall fragments and hot zones and/or adjust a set of boring controls. For example, the system can execute methods to adjust a standoff distance between the system and the bore face, and adjust power and/or gas supply to the non-contact boring element.

Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile into a region of geologic material. An interaction between the projectile and the geologic material extends a borehole and forms debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.

Systems for drilling or tunneling include an assembly for accelerating a projectile into a region of geologic material. An interaction between the projectile and the geologic material extends a borehole and forms debris. The debris may be reduced in size by moving the debris to a crushing device. The reduced-size debris is then moved toward the surface using fluid movement. Water jets or other types of devices may be used to cut or deform a perimeter of a region of geologic material before the projectile is accelerated to control the shape of the borehole and the manner in which debris is broken from the geologic material.

A tunnel boring machine having a cutting wheel equipped with a number of excavation tools provided with sensor units and, in a corresponding tunnelling method, only substantially fully worn excavation tools are able to be replaced using a data processing device designed with an advancement planning unit by detecting the current state of the excavation tools and predicting the state of the excavation tools on tool replacement predication planes lying in the advancing direction.

A system and methods are disclosed for providing the location of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) by establishing of a plurality of known locations or “monuments”; from these monuments located at least on, over or within the TBM's start point, known in the art as a “pit”. The present invention provides among other things an integrated navigation system that provides real-time parametric guidance information to the TBM, relative to the tunnel origin, past course and current trajectory, while simultaneously employing a non-contact measuring system in concert with said origin and course information for the final provision of an as-built map of tunnel dimensions and centerline.

A rock breaking seismic source and active source three-dimensional seismic combined detection system uses a tunnel boring machine for three-dimensional seismic combined detection by active seismic source and rock breaking seismic source methods. Long-distance advanced prediction and position recognition of a geological anomalous body are realized using the active source seismic method. Machine construction is adjusted and optimized according to the detection result; real-time short-distance accurate prediction of the body is realized using the cutter head rock breaking vibration having weak energy but containing a high proportion of transverse wave components as seismic sources and adopting an unconventional rock breaking seismic source seism recording and handling method. An area surrounding rock quality to be excavated is represented and assessed. A comprehensive judgment is made to the geological condition in front of the working face with the results of active source and rock breaking seismic source three-dimensional seismic advanced detection.