Mining equipment

Claim 2

A loading member for mounting adjacent to a cutter on a mining machine, including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define an air flow passage having an air flow inlet positioned adjacent to one margin of the said first component assembly, and air flow inducing means including a nozzle for directing an air flow inducing spray along the said passage.

Claim 3

A loading member according to claim 1, in which the said second component assembly defines two air flow passages each having air flow inducing means, the passages having air flow inlEts positioned adjacent to two margins of the said first component assembly, respectively.

Claim 4

A loading member according to claim 2, in which the said two margins are at opposite ends of the loading surface.

Claim 5

A loading member according to claim 3, comprising control means to control the flow of fluid to the nozzles so that fluid is sprayed along only one of the said passages at any one time.

Claim 6

A loading member for mounting adjacent to a cutter and mining machine, including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define two air flow passages having air flow inlets positioned adjacent to two margins of the said first component assembly, the two margins being at opposite ends of the said first component assembly, air flow inducing means including nozzle means for selectively directing air flow inducing sprays along the said passages, control means for controlling the flow of fluid to the nozzle means so that fluid is sprayed along only one of the said two passages at any one time, and door means for selectively closing the air flow inlets.

Claim 7

A loading member for mounting adjacent to a cutter and mining machine, including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define two air flow passages having air flow inlets positioned adjacent to two margins of the said first component assembly, the two margins being at opposite ends of the said first component assembly, air flow inducing means including nozzle means for selectively directing air flow inducing sprays along the said passages, control means for controlling the flow of fluid to the nozzle means so that fluid is sprayed along only one of the said two passages at any one time, and door means for selectively closing the air flow inlets.

Claim 8

A loading member according to claim 5, in which the door means includes two doors associated with the two air flow inlets, respectively, each door being urged open by the fluid supply to the associated nozzle means.

Claim 9

A loading member according to claim 6, in which the doors are biassed towards the closed position.

Claim 10

A loading member for mounting adjacent to a cutter on a mining machine, including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define an air flow passage having an air flow inlet positioned adjacent to one margin of the said first component assembly, and air flow inducing means including a nozzle for directing an air flow inducing liquid spray along the said passage, and means for separating liquid from the induced air flow discharged from the said passage.

Claim 11

A loading member for mounting adjacent to a cutter on a mining machine, including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define an air flow passage having an air flow inlet positioned adjacent to one margin of the said first component assembly, and air flow inducing means including a nozzle for directing an air flow inducing liquid spray along the said passage, and means for separating liquid from the induced air flow discharged from the said passage.

Claim 12

A loading member according to claim 8, in which the said means are baffle means in the form of a wire mesh screen.

Claim 13

A mining machine having a rotary cutter and a loading member mounted adjacent to the said rotary cutter, the loading member including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define an air flow passage having an air flow passage having an air flow inlet positioned adjacent to one margin of the said first component assembly, and air flow inducing means including a nozzle for directing an air flow inducing spray along the said passage.

Claim 14

A mining machine having a rotary cutter and a loading member mounted adjacent to the said rotary cutter, the loading member including a first component assembly having a loading surface which in use when the loading member is mounted on the machine is adjacent to the cutter, a second component assembly associated with the said first component assembly to define an air flow passage having an air flow passage having an air flow inlet positioned adjacent to one margin of the said first component assembly, and air flow inducing means including a nozzle for directing an air flow inducing spray along the said passage.