U.S. patent application number 11/989814 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for method and device for mining subsurface deposits.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sandvik Mining and Construction G.m.b. H.. Invention is credited to Bernhard Ebner, Peter Kogler.
Application Number | 20090230755 11/989814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37025027 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090230755 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kogler; Peter ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Method and Device for Mining Subsurface Deposits
Abstract
In a method for mining underground deposits using a mining
machine, wherein an upper and a lower drift are driven, which
extend on both sides of the deposit to be mined, and a preliminary
bore is sunk between the two drifts, a supporting device is fixed
at the mouth of the preliminary bore in the upper drift. A mining
machine supported on the supporting device is positioned at the
mouth of the preliminary bore so as to be oriented in the
longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore, and the mining
machine is advanced from the upper drift to the lower drift
corresponding to the course of the preliminary bore.
Inventors: |
Kogler; Peter; (Knittelfeld,
AT) ; Ebner; Bernhard; (Knittelfeld, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
111 WEST MONROE STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60603
US
|
Assignee: |
Sandvik Mining and Construction
G.m.b. H.
Zeltweg
AT
|
Family ID: |
37025027 |
Appl. No.: |
11/989814 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
July 25, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT2006/000314 |
371 Date: |
January 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/10 ;
299/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 7/28 20130101; E21C
41/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
299/10 ;
299/76 |
International
Class: |
E21C 41/00 20060101
E21C041/00; E21C 25/00 20060101 E21C025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 3, 2005 |
AT |
A 1313/2005 |
Claims
1. A method for mining underground deposits using a mining machine,
comprising the steps of: driving an upper drift (1) and a lower
drift (2), which extend on both sides of a deposit to be mined,
sinking a preliminary bore (3) between the upper drift (1) and the
lower drift (2), fixing a supporting device (4) at a mouth of the
preliminary bore (3) in the upper drift (1), and positioning a
mining machine (5) supported on the supporting device (4) at the
mouth of the preliminary bore (3) in the upper drift (1) so as to
be oriented in a longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore
(3), wherein the mining machine (5) is braced by extractable props
(6) in the supporting device (4), the supporting device (4)
comprises a frame-shaped structure, and the mining machine (5) is
advanced from the upper drift (1) to the lower drift (2)
corresponding to a course of the preliminary bore.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
pulling the mining machine (5) back to the upper drift (1) using a
wire rope hoist, after the mining machine (5) has reached the lower
drift (2).
3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
removing extracted material towards the preliminary bore (3) using
a clearing tool provided on the mining machine (5), whereby the
extracted material falls down through the preliminary bore (3) and
reaches a haulage device arranged in the lower drift (2).
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the removal of the
extracted material occurs during the advance of the mining machine
(5) from the upper drift (1) to the lower drift (2).
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein material is excavated
using disc or roller tools which operate by undercutting.
6. A device for mining underground deposits, in a deposit to be
mined located between an upper drift (1) and a lower drift (2)
extending on both sides of the deposit to be mined, with a
preliminary bore (3) sunk between the upper drift (1) and the lower
drift (2), comprising: a mining machine (5) and a supporting device
(4) for supporting the mining machine (5) in the upper drift (1) in
a region of a mouth of the preliminary bore (3) in a position
oriented in a longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore (3),
wherein the supporting device (4) comprises extractable props (6),
the mining machine (5) is arranged to be braceable by the
extractable props (6) in the supporting device (4), and the
supporting device (4) comprises a frame-shaped structure.
7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the mining machine (5) is
fastened to the supporting device (4) by a carrying device.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the carrying device is
comprised of a chain hoist or a wire rope hoist.
9. A device according to claim 6, wherein the mining machine (5)
carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on a pivotable
cantilever arm (7), and the disc or roller tools operate by
undercutting.
10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the cantilever arm (7)
carries clearing tools for removing excavated material towards the
preliminary bore (3).
11. A device according to claim 9, wherein the disc or roller tools
are fixed to a head (8) drivable for rotation, an axis of rotation
of the head (8) extends substantially in a direction of an axis of
the cantilever arm (7), and said axis of rotation of the head (8)
is mounted on a frame of the machine so as to be pivotable about an
axis crossing an axis of the cantilever arm (7) and extending
upstream of a pivot axis of the cantilever arm arranged
transversely to a driving direction, viewed in the driving
direction.
12. A device according to claim 11, wherein a pivot bearing (9) of
the cantilever arm (7) is arranged on a carriage displaceable in a
longitudinal direction of the machine frame.
13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the machine frame is
formed to be braceable between a floor and a roof of the upper
drift (1) by a plurality of props (6), wherein props (6) are
arranged on both sides of a longitudinal central plane of the
machine frame, and at least one additional prop is arranged on the
carriage in a region of the pivot axis of the pivot bearing (9) so
as to be adjustable relative to the roof and the floor of the upper
drift (1).
14. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of
removing extracted material towards the preliminary bore (3) using
a clearing tool provided on the mining machine (5), whereby the
extracted material falls down through the preliminary bore (3) and
reaches a haulage device arranged in the lower drift (2).
15. A method according to claim 2, wherein material is excavated
using disc or roller tools which operate by undercutting.
16. A method according to claim 3, wherein material is excavated
using disc or roller tools which operate by undercutting.
17. A device according to claim 7, wherein the mining machine (5)
carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on a pivotable
cantilever arm (7), and the disc or roller tools operate by
undercutting.
18. A device according to claim 8, wherein the mining machine (5)
carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on a pivotable
cantilever arm (7), and the disc or roller tools operate by
undercutting.
19. A device according to claim 10, wherein the disc or roller
tools are fixed to a head (8) drivable for rotation, an axis of
rotation of the head (8) extends substantially in a direction of an
axis of the cantilever arm (7), and said axis of rotation of the
head (8) is mounted on a frame of the machine so as to be pivotable
about an axis crossing an axis of the cantilever arm (7) and
extending upstream of a pivot axis of the cantilever arm arranged
transversely to a driving direction, viewed in the driving
direction.
20. A device according to claim 10, wherein the clearing tools are
clearing shields.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method for mining underground
deposits using a mining machine, wherein an upper and a lower drift
are driven, which extend on both sides of the deposit to be mined,
and a preliminary bore is sunk between the two drifts, as well as a
device for carrying out said method.
[0002] For mining underground deposits, machine types have been
developed, which in most cases are displaceable along haulage means
parallelly with the seam or deposit. Depending on the mightiness of
the seam, different configurations have become known, which, as a
rule, are fixed in the drift by the aid of chains or wire rope
hoists. From DE-OS 38 09 768, a method for mining underground
deposits has, for instance, become known, in which a preliminary
bore is sunk between the two initially driven tracks and a milling
procedure using contradirectional milling rolls is performed by the
aid of a chain or wire rope hoist from the lower driven track to
the upper driven track. Due to the steepness of the drift, the
exposed or excavated material can each fall down onto a conveying
means provided in a driven track.
[0003] Another method for mining underground deposits is described
in AT 410 001 B. Prior to the beginning of the mining process, two
galleries are again initially driven on different levels, with the
seam extending in the region between those two galleries. After
this, a first connection gallery is driven along the seam
corresponding to the seam thickness, to which end conventionally
designed driving machines or even explosive drilling methods may be
employed. In the upper of the two driven galleries, a ramp is
formed to support a cable winch so as to enable a mining machine
mining the material starting from the first connection gallery to
emerge from the seam and be again maneuvered back into the
extraction region in an accordingly offset manner. The mining
machine employed is, for instance, designed as a so-called "narrow
reef miner", which renders feasible the efficient and economic
mining of particularly low seams using the undercutting principle
and which also enables the extraction of hard material in the
course of the seam track. The undercutting tools used in such
mining machines, in particular with hard material, allow for an
increased cutting performance due to a substantially higher portion
of broken material, wherein such tools working according to the
undercutting principle, due to the lumpy parts excavated, enable
tunnel driving and mining not only more rapidly and more
efficiently, but also with a substantially reduced dust
development. With the mining machine known from AT 411 481 B, layer
by layer is radially removed from the interior outwards in an
undercutting manner by tools fastened to a rotationally driven
drill head.
[0004] In accordance with the invention, the previously described
mining methods are to be improved to the effect that, departing
from a preliminary bore between an upper and a lower drift, also
the mining of very steeply extending deposits will be feasible in a
simple manner, whereby, in particular, also the extraction of
material in nearly perpendicularly extending seams is to be
feasible while, at the same time, ensuring the safe positioning of
the mining machine.
[0005] To solve this object, the method according to the invention
is characterized in that a supporting device is fixed at the mouth
of the preliminary bore in the upper drift, that a mining machine
supported on the supporting device is positioned at the mouth of
the preliminary bore so as to be oriented in the longitudinal
direction of the preliminary bore, and that the mining machine is
advanced from the upper drift to the lower drift corresponding to
the course of the preliminary bore. By arranging a supporting
device in the upper drift at the mouth of the preliminary bore, the
prerequisite is provided for the positioning of the mining machine
in the upper drift prior to the start of the break-in procedure and
prior to the immersion into the seam, corresponding to the
inclination of the course of the seam, so as to enable the mining
machine to be arranged and supported at any angle of inclination
while, in particular, enabling inclinations of up to 90.degree.,
such that even the mining of very steeply located seams will be
feasible directly from the upper drift. In this case, the advance
of the mining machine is effected from the supporting device in the
direction of the preliminary bore from the upper drift to the lower
drift. The method according to the invention, thus, merely requires
to initially sink a preliminary bore between the upper and the
lower drift, with the extraction by the mining machine being
already feasible immediately thereupon.
[0006] When the mining machine has reached the lower drift, it is
provided according to a preferred mode of operation that the mining
machine is pulled back to the upper drift by the aid of a wire rope
hoist. The mining machine is, thus, able to completely emerge from
the seam and be again supported on the supporting device. After
this, the supporting device can be moved in the upper drift to the
next mining position desired so as to enable the mining machine to
be maneuvered back into the mining region in an accordingly offset
manner.
[0007] For the haulage of the extracted material, no separate
haulage device is necessary in the mining region according to a
preferred mode of operation, but it is provided that the extracted
material is removed towards the preliminary bore, or in the
direction of the already excavated region, by the aid of a clearing
tool provided on the mining machine so as to cause the extracted
material to fall down through the preliminary bore, or the already
excavated region, and reach a haulage device arranged in the lower
drift. The material broken loose will, thus, fall into the lower
drift by its own weight as soon as it is moved into the preliminary
bore by appropriate clearing tools. The removal of the extracted
material may advantageously take place during the mining procedure
such that material is excavated and the extracted material is
removed and hauled in a single operation. Hence results an
extremely efficient and time-saving mode of operation.
[0008] According to a preferred mode of operation, it is proceeded
in a manner that material is excavated using disc or roller tools
operating on the undercutting principle, thus ensuring a
particularly efficient and economic mode of operation as already
pointed out in the beginning.
[0009] In order to ensure the safe support of the mining machine in
the upper drift even with very steep and, in particular, nearly
perpendicular seams, it is preferably proceeded in a manner that
the mining machine is braced within the supporting device designed
as a frame-shaped structure by means of extractable props. Such a
frame-shaped support structure is, thus, fixed at the mouth of the
preliminary bore in the upper drift and, for instance, delimits an
interior space whose dimensions in the vertical direction of the
mining machine approximately correspond to the thickness of the
seam to be worked on. Within the space defined by the frame-shaped
support structure, the mining machine can be braced by the aid of
the extractable props so as to enable an accordingly precise and
safe positioning of the mining machine even at a very steep course
of the seam. The frame-shaped support structure in this case must
be positioned in the upper drift in such a manner as to enable the
mining machine braced within the frame-shaped support structure to
be arranged corresponding to the inclination of the course of the
seam.
[0010] The device for carrying out the method according to the
invention is characterized by a mining machine as well as a
supporting device for supporting the mining machine in the upper
drift in the region of the mouth in a position oriented in the
longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore. As already
mentioned, the supporting device may be designed as a frame-shaped
structure within which the mining machine is braceable by the aid
of extractable props. To return the mining machine after having
reached the lower drift, the mining machine is preferably fastened
to the supporting device by the aid of a carrying device, said
carrying device advantageously being comprised of a chain hoist or
a wire rope hoist. The supporting device in this case is, for
instance, provided with a cable winch, by which the mining machine
can be pulled back.
[0011] As already mentioned, a mining machine operating on the
undercutting principle is preferably arranged, to which end the
configuration is advantageously further developed such that the
mining machine carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on
a pivotable cantilever arm and operating on the undercutting
principle. In this respect, a configuration according to AT 411 481
B may, for instance, be chosen, and it is, therefore, preferably
provided that the disc or roller tools are fixed to a head drivable
for rotation, whose axis of rotation extends substantially in the
direction of the axis of the cantilever arm, said axis of rotation
of the head carrying the tools being mounted on the machine frame
so as to be pivotable about an axis crossing the axis of the
cantilever arm and extending upstream of the pivot axis of the
cantilever arm arranged transversely to the driving direction,
viewed in the driving direction. Further improvement results from a
preferred further development, according to which the pivot bearing
of the cantilever arm is arranged on a carriage displaceable in the
longitudinal direction of the machine frame. Such a configuration
allows the mining machine to remain braced within the frame-shaped
support structure at the beginning of the break-in procedure and at
the beginning of the immersion into the seam, since it will do to
advance the carriage along with the disc or roller tools in the
longitudinal direction of the machine relative to the machine frame
while thereby driving the disc or roller tools into the seam. The
support of the mining machine within the support frame can, thus,
be maintained at the beginning of the break-in procedure so as to
enable the occurring forces to be taken up by the support structure
via the extractable props. It is only when the maximum advance of
the carriage has been reached that the machine will have to be
reset. In order to achieve as stable a positioning of the mining
machine as possible within the machine frame and the seam,
respectively, the configuration is preferably further developed in
a manner that the machine frame is braceable between the floor and
the roof via a plurality of props, wherein props are arranged on
both sides of the longitudinal central plane of the machine frame,
and that at least one further prop is arranged on the carriage in
the region of the pivot axis of the pivoting mechanism so as to be
adjustable relative to the roof and the floor.
[0012] In order to ensure the haulage of the extracted material
simultaneously with the excavation of the material, the
configuration is advantageously devised such that the cantilever
arm carries clearing tools, preferably clearing shields, for
removing the excavated material in the direction of the preliminary
bore. Thereby, the removal of the extracted material is
simultaneously effected at a pivotal movement of the cantilever arm
carrying the cutting tools, wherein the cantilever arm is pivoted
in the direction towards the preliminary bore such that the
excavated material will fall down via the preliminary bore onto the
lower drift, from where it can be transported off by a separate
haulage device.
[0013] In the following, the invention will be explained in more
detail by way of an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated
in the drawing.
[0014] Therein, FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the mining
method by which an inclinedly extending seam is mined between two
drifts driven on different levels;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged illustration of the upper drift;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view of the upper drift along arrow III of FIG.
2 at the beginning of the mining operation; and
[0017] FIG. 4 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 3 with the
mining operation being further advanced.
[0018] From FIG. 1 it is apparent that, prior to the beginning of
the mining operation, two drifts, namely an upper drift 1 and a
lower drift 2, are initially driven on different levels, with the
seam extending in the region between these two drifts 1 and 2.
Subsequently, a preliminary bore 3 is formed along the seam,
wherein the inclination a of the preliminary bore 3 between the
upper and lower drifts may be up to 90.degree.. FIG. 2, on an
enlarged scale, depicts the upper drift 1, which is joined by the
preliminary bore 3. In the region of this juncture or mouth, a
supporting device 4 is provided, which is designed as a frame-like
structure. The frame-like structure 4 is inclined in accordance
with the longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore. At the
beginning of the mining operation, the mining machine 5 is braced
within the supporting frame 4 by the aid of props 6 such that the
mining machine 5 will likewise be arranged in accordance with the
inclination of the preliminary bore 3.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top view on the mining machine 5, from which it
is apparent that props 6 are arranged on both sides of the
longitudinal axis of the machine. On the front end of the machine 5
is arranged a cantilever arm 7 whose rotating head 8 carries disc
or roller tools. The cantilever arm 7 is fixed to the machine
frame, or a carriage displaceable relative to the machine frame, so
as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 9, the pivot drive being
formed by hydraulic cylinder piston units 10. By pivoting the
cantilever arm 7, a region 11 adjoining the preliminary bore 3 is
exposed, wherein, at a pivotal movement, the extracted material is
removed towards the preliminary bore 3 by clearing tools fixed to
the cantilever arm 7, falling down to the lower drift 2 through
said bore. While the mining machine 5 in the illustration according
to FIG. 3 is still braced in the frame-like support structure 4 by
the aid of the props 10, FIG. 4 depicts a further advanced position
of the mining machine 5, in which the machine is braced against the
roof and the floor within the seam.
* * * * *