Mining machine including means for utilizing vacuum at working face and methods of operation thereof

Claim 2

In the mining of coal including the step of disintegrating coal accompanied by the liberation of methane from the mine face, the improvement which comprises establishing a zone of subambient air pressure in the region immediately adjacent the mine face and closely spaced from the mine roof and in open fluid communication with the surrounding atmosphere, sweeping the mine roof with a current of air passing into said zone, admixing said liberated methane therewith, removing said methane by application of suction at a point adjacent the mine roof, maintaining a second zone of subambient air pressure in the region immediately adjacent the mine face and closely spaced from and in open fluid communication with the surrounding atmosphere, sweeping the mine floor with a current of air passing into said second zone, admixing freshly liberated carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and dust with said current of air, and passing the resulting mixture in a confined stream to a locus remote from the mine face.

Claim 3

In a mining machine, the combination comprising a mobile cutter head support means, a controllable cutter head extending forwardly of said support means for mine face engagement, said cutter head being operative to engage the mine face and to frActure mine material therefrom in the form of lumps, a vacuum shield means proximately spaced from and substantially enclosing said cutter head and also substantially contacting said mine face, a first air suction conduit connecting with said shield means, air pump means connecting with an air suction whereby ambient air entering said shield means picks up said lumps directly as they are disintegrated from the mine face by said cutter head and the lumps are pneumatically conveyed through said first suction conduit, receptacle means to receive said lumps remote from the mine face, an upper methane scavenging system comprising a second air suction conduit having an open end positioned immediately to the rear of said cutter head and proximately spaced from the mine roof, whereby methane freshly liberated from the mine face is immediately picked up by an ambient air stream entering said second suction conduit and transported through said second conduit to a site remote from the mine face, and a lower third air suction conduit having an open end positioned immediately to the rear of said cutter head and proximately spaced from the mine floor, whereby ambient air entering said third conduit picks up dust and remaining noxious fumes and pneumatically conveys the latter through said third conduit to a site remote from the mine face.

Claim 4

In a mining machine, the combination comprising a mobile cutter head support means, a controllable cutter head extending forwardly of said support means for mine face engagement, said cutter head being operative to engage the mine face and to frActure mine material therefrom in the form of lumps, a vacuum shield means proximately spaced from and substantially enclosing said cutter head and also substantially contacting said mine face, a first air suction conduit connecting with said shield means, air pump means connecting with an air suction whereby ambient air entering said shield means picks up said lumps directly as they are disintegrated from the mine face by said cutter head and the lumps are pneumatically conveyed through said first suction conduit, receptacle means to receive said lumps remote from the mine face, an upper methane scavenging system comprising a second air suction conduit having an open end positioned immediately to the rear of said cutter head and proximately spaced from the mine roof, whereby methane freshly liberated from the mine face is immediately picked up by an ambient air stream entering said second suction conduit and transported through said second conduit to a site remote from the mine face, and a lower third air suction conduit having an open end positioned immediately to the rear of said cutter head and proximately spaced from the mine floor, whereby ambient air entering said third conduit picks up dust and remaining noxious fumes and pneumatically conveys the latter through said third conduit to a site remote from the mine face.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cutter includes means adapted to fracture said mine material in lumps of from about 1 inch to about 2 inches in size.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said machine includes receptacle means remote from the mine face and said receptacle means includes grinding means adapted to reduce the size of said lump to less than 1 inch.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said grinding means is carried by said moble cutter head support means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in the provision of means to vary the elevations of said second and third air suction conduits.