[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States provisional patent application serial no. 62/057,644, filed September 30, 2014, for LAUNCH VEHICLE WITH A TILTED DECK FOR HIGHWALL MINING, incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Embodiments of this invention relate to highwall mining, and more particularly to a launch vehicle adapted for use in highwall mining of downward angled seams of mineable material, such as coal. More specifically, the provided launch vehicle includes a substantially horizontally oriented control deck, a launch deck pivotally attached to the control deck, and a substantially horizontally oriented conveyor belt. A miner and at least one conveyor car are positioned on the launch deck while the launch deck is in a substantially horizontal orientation, then the launch deck is tilted upward relative to the conveyor belt to substantially match a planned entry dip angle of the seam to be mined. As the miner and at least one conveyor car advance into the seam, the launch deck is returned to a substantially horizontal orientation, an additional conveyor car is added to the launch deck, and the launch deck is again tilted to substantially match the entry dip angle of the seam to connect the additional conveyor car as the rearmost car in the conveyor train.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Embodiments of this invention are directed to a highwall mining arrangement in which a plurality of conveyor cars are linked together in series to form a conveyor train led by a mechanical miner. The miner and train of conveyor cars progresses into a seam (e.g., an elongate hole) that is created or mined into a vertical wall of a hillside. The miner loosens and extracts coal, or some other mineable material. The conveyor cars then pass the material along the train and out of the seam where the material may be collected and hauled away.

[0004] Highwall mining systems are known to efficiently mine near surface coal from seams with a low excavation cost, high yield, and low level of environmental damage. In highwall mining methods, the surface of the hillside is vertically excavated to the vertical level of the coal seam as is the case with a conventional surface mine. A vehicle, which may be referred to as a "launch vehicle", is placed near or adjacent to the exposed vertical wall of the seam. A mobile mining machine, referred to as a "miner", is launched into the exposed face of the seam. As the miner progresses in loosening and removing the coal from the seam, it forms an elongate hole that may be up to, for example, about eleven and one-half feet in width (as determined by the width of the miner's cutter drum) and up to about sixteen feet in height (as determined by the height of the layer of coal or other material being mined). Using a miner of this size, it is possible to mine seams of up to twenty-eight feet in height when the mining is performed separately for an upper section and a lower section of the seam. Smaller miners may be used with smaller seams of mineable material. In some embodiments, the hole may extend to over 2000 feet in length.

[0005] The miner used in highwall mining may be the same as is used in traditional underground coal mines. The miner may include a cutter apparatus which moves up and down the face of the coal seam, loosening and extracting coal in a perpendicular direction away from the face. The conveyor cars carry the extracted coal from the miner to the launch vehicle. Propulsion cylinders in the launch vehicle may guide the mining apparatus into the coal seam. These propulsion cylinders may also withdraw the mining apparatus out of the seam after the mining of the coal has been completed. As the mining arrangement advances into the seam, conveyor cars are sequentially added to the back of the train. These conveyor cars transfer the coal back from the miner to the launch vehicle on conveyor belts. From the launch vehicle, the coal may be collected and carried away by dump trucks for off-site processing.

[0006] One advantage of highwall mining is that there is no need for people to enter the coal seam, which may be a hazardous environment, as is well known. Because no people are physically at risk, the mining operation may be conducted without any roof support. One or more cameras in the area of the miner may be used to produce video images of the mining operation, and these video images may be viewed in real time by the operator of the launch vehicle. One or more cables or chains may extend from the launch vehicle to the conveyor cars and the miner while the miner is in operation. These cables or chains may be used to assist in advancing the train into the seam, or pulling the train out of the seam, as required.

[0007] A problem is that none of the currently available highwall mining systems are efficient and practical in mining seams having relatively steep slopes, e.g., slopes over about 15 degrees. The existing prior art systems are also, in general, relatively cumbersome to move from one location to another. Often, relocation requires substantial dismantling of these complex systems over a time span of several days. U.S. Patent 6,652,035 to Chisholm discloses the use of hydraulic cylinders for tilting and changing the elevation of an entire launch vehicle to substantially match a dip angle. Accordingly, the coal conveyor belt of the launch vehicle carries the coal at an upward angle away from the seam, allowing the force of gravity to cause some of the coal to fall backward on the conveyor belt or fall off of the conveyor belt. Moreover, when conveyor cars are loaded onto and unloaded from the launch vehicle, a front end loader must awkwardly hold the conveyor cars at the same angle at which the launch vehicle is oriented (e.g., at the dip angle). In addition to the difficulty this presents to the operator of the front end loader, there is also the risk that the conveyor car may flip over off of the front end loader when supported at such a steep angle.

[0008] In view of the known methods described above, there is a need for a highwall mining system capable of efficient and practical operation in steep dip seams, e.g., seams oriented at angles of over about 15 degrees relative to the horizontal direction.

SUMMARY

[0009] The present invention is a highwall mining system including a launch deck that may be pivoted relative to a fixed conveyor belt such that the conveyor train may be aligned with the entry dip angle of the seam in which the conveyor train is inserted.

[0010] The invention comprises, in one embodiment thereof, a launch vehicle for a highwall mining system including a substantially horizontally oriented control deck, a launch deck, wherein the launch deck is pivotally attached to the control deck, a conveyor belt carried on the control deck, the conveyor belt extending in substantially horizontal directions, and a deck lift assembly configured to effect controlled lifting and lowering of the launch deck to tilt the launch deck relative to the control deck, and to return the launch deck to a

substantially horizontal orientation, wherein the control deck remains substantially horizontally oriented during the tilting of the launch deck by the deck lift assembly.

[0011] The invention comprises, in another embodiment thereof, a method of highwall mining a steep dip seam, including the steps of providing an elongated launch vehicle having a launch deck and a conveyor belt, aligning the launch vehicle with a planned location of a seam to be mined, placing a miner and at least one conveyor car on the launch deck while the launch deck is in a substantially horizontal orientation, tilting the launch deck upward relative to the conveyor belt to substantially match an entry angle of the seam to be mined, using the miner to cut material from the seam being mined and moving the cut material to the conveyor belt by use of the conveyor car.

[0012] Disclosed in a further embodiment is a highwall mining system particularly suitable for steep dip seams and of the type wherein multiple conveyor cars are connected together to form a conveyor train which extends into a seam being mined, including an elongated launch vehicle including a substantially horizontally oriented control deck including an electric power control cabin configured to control power to and operation of the highwall mining system, a launch deck for receiving and supporting a conveyor car which is to be added to or removed from an outer end of the conveyor train when in mining operation, wherein the launch deck is pivotally attached to the control deck, a conveyor belt supported by the launch deck, the conveyor belt extending in substantially horizontal directions, and a deck lift assembly including a deck lift assembly secured to the launch deck at one end and secured to the control deck at an opposite end, the deck lift assembly configured to effect controlled lifting and lowering of the launch deck and to tilt the launch deck relative to the conveyor belt as desired to substantially match an entry angle of the seam to be mined, and to return the launch deck to a substantially horizontal orientation, a plurality of conveyor cars forming the conveyor train and adapted to convey mined material outwardly to the conveyor belt and a miner attached to an inner end of the conveyor train for cutting material from the seam being mined and moving the material to the inner end of the conveyor train for conveyance by the conveyor train outwardly to the conveyor belt.

[0013] An advantage of the present invention is that the launch deck may be placed in a substantially horizontal orientation when conveyor cars are being added or removed. Thus, the addition and removal of conveyor cars is less cumbersome for the operator of the front loader which carries the conveyor cars, and the risk of the conveyor cars flipping over is minimized.

[0014] Another advantage is that the launch deck may be placed in a tilted orientation at a dip angle aligned with the entry angle of the seam to facilitate the entry of conveyor cars into the seam.

[0015] Another advantage is that the conveyor belt may carry the coal or other material being mined in a substantially horizontal direction despite the launch deck being tilted to match the entry angle of the seam.

[0016] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of the concepts that are described in further detail in the detailed description and drawings contained herein. This summary is not intended to identify any primary or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Some or all of the described features may be present in the corresponding independent or dependent claims, but should not be construed to be a limitation unless expressly recited in a particular claim. Each embodiment described herein is not necessarily intended to address every object described herein, and each embodiment does not necessarily include each feature described. Other forms, embodiments, objects, advantages, benefits, features, and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to one of skill in the art from the detailed description and drawings contained herein. Moreover, the various apparatuses and methods described in this summary section, as well as elsewhere in this application, can be expressed as a large number of different combinations and subcombinations. All such useful, novel, and inventive combinations and subcombinations are contemplated herein, it being recognized that the explicit expression of each of these combinations is unnecessary. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of one embodiment of highwall mining system of the present invention in mine mode.

[0019] FIG. IB is a schematic side view of another embodiment of highwall mining system of the present invention in mine mode.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the highwall mining system of FIG. 1 A in move mode.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the highwall mining system of FIG. 1 A in mine mode.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view of the highwall mining system of FIG. 1A in mine mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to selected embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. At least one embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features or some combinations of features may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

[0024] Any reference to "invention" within this document herein is a reference to an embodiment of a family of inventions, with no single embodiment including features that are necessarily included in all embodiments, unless otherwise stated. Further, although there may be references to "advantages" provided by some embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that other embodiments may not include those same advantages, or may include different advantages. Any advantages described herein are not to be construed as limiting to any of the claims.

[0025] Specific quantities (spatial dimensions, angles, dimensionless parameters, etc.) may be used explicitly or implicitly herein, such specific quantities are presented as examples and are approximate values unless otherwise indicated. Discussions pertaining to specific compositions of matter are presented as examples and do not limit the applicability of other compositions of matter, especially other compositions of matter with similar properties, unless otherwise indicated.

[0026] Referring now to FIGs. 1 A, 2, 3 and 4, there is shown one embodiment of a highwall mining system 10 of the invention in a mining mode of operation. Highwall mining system 10 may be particularly suited for operations with mineable mineral seams, such as coal seams, having a steep dip angle. Mining system 10 includes a train of conveyor cars 12 extending into a seam 14 of coal or other material being mined. System 10 further includes an elongate launch vehicle 16 having a control deck 17 and a launch deck or "tilt deck" 18 pivotally attached thereto at a first or front end 21 of the launch deck 18. The control deck is positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation, defined herein as less than about 5 degrees from horizontal. Launch deck 18 is configured for receiving and supporting a conveyor car 12 when in a substantially horizontal orientation, as depicted in FIG. 2.

[0027] The control deck 17 carries and supports a conveyor belt or "belly belt" 20 in a substantially horizontal orientation to receive coal which has been transported along the conveyor train and discharged from the rearmost conveyor car. Conveyor belt 20 conveys and discharges the coal from the rear of launch vehicle 16. Conveyor belt 20 is typically parallel to the control deck 17 and, in some embodiments, is angled 2 degrees to 5 degrees from horizontal to raise mined material as it is moved from the front to rear of the launch vehicle 16. A discharge conveyor or stacking conveyor (not shown) may carry the coal away from the rear of conveyor belt 20 and may move the coal into containers or alternatively simply form a pile of the coal on the ground. In some embodiments, conveyor belt 20 extends up to or substantially the full length of launch vehicle 16 and may be trained about and supported on drive and idler rollers (not shown) in a conventional manner. Conveyor belt 20 may be textured with spaced-apart raised projections on its outer surface. These projections may provide increased friction in engaging the aggregate coal so that the coal may be efficiently carried along with the moving belt 20.

[0028] As is evident from a comparison of FIGS. 1A and 2, launch deck 18 is pivotable relative to conveyor belt 20 between a horizontal orientation illustrated in the "move mode" of the launch vehicle 16 depicted in FIG. 2 and a tilted orientation illustrated in the "mine mode" of the launch vehicle 16 depicted in FIG. 1A. More particularly, a deck lift assembly 22 may lift the rear end 19 of launch deck 18 while the front end 21 of launch deck 18 remains anchored at or near the vertical level of conveyor belt 20. In some embodiments, the deck lift assembly 22 comprises at least one elongated hydraulic cylinder 23 secured to the launch deck 18 at one end and secured to the control deck 17 at an opposite end. In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A, 2, 3 and 4 the deck lift assembly 22 comprises two elongated hydraulic cylinders 23 positioned beneath the launch deck 18. In other embodiments, the hydraulic cylinders 23 may be positioned on either side of the launch deck 18 and be mechanically connected thereto. In further embodiments, the deck lift assembly 22 may be a winch hoist coupled to cables, a rack and pinion mechanism, a rotary actuator or other operable mechanism. The cylinders 23 may perform controlled lifting and lowering of the rear end of launch deck 18 and may pivot launch deck 18 to a dip angle 24 which substantially matches the entry angle 25 of seam 14. Cylinder 23 may be obscured by conveyor belt 20 in FIG. 2 and thus is not plainly visible in FIG. 2. However, it is to be understood that, in FIG. 2, cylinder 23 may remain inclined slightly upward from a horizontal orientation such that longitudinal expansion of cylinder 23 causes cylinder 23 to pivot from the near-horizontal orientation to the orientation shown in FIG. 1 A. In some embodiments, dip angle 24 may be greater than 5 degrees, greater than 15 degrees or greater than 30 degrees. In the embodiment illustrated, launch deck 18 is pivoted to a dip angle 24 that substantially matches the entry angle 25 of seam 14. A ramp 26 may provide a continuous transition from the front end 21 of launch deck 18 to the mouth of seam 14. In some embodiments, the ramp 26 is pivotally coupled to the front end 21 of the launch deck 18.

[0029] A windlass 28 may be employed in conjunction with wire cables or metal chains 30 to support the weight of the train of conveyor cars 12 and prevent the weight of the train from pushing the train farther into seam 14 than is desired. Chains 30 may be securely attached to both of the opposite lateral sides of each conveyor car 12 and to both of the opposite lateral sides of a miner 34. Thus, chains 30 may be used to pull the train out of seam 14. Chains 30 may be stored in and unwound from a chain hopper 32. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. IB, chains 30 may be replaced by wire ropes or cables 31 , which may be stored on a winder 33 instead of hopper 32. For example, two cables 31 each about 2.5 inches thick may support a conveyor train weighing about 600 tons on a 30 degree incline. In some embodiments, the windlass 28 is attached to the launch deck 18, and chains or cables 30, 31 extend from the windlass 28 and releasably couple to the miner 34, conveyor cars 12 or both.

[0030] Conveyor cars 12 may be mechanically and electrically interconnected end-to-end, and this train of conveyor cars 12 may extend during use from the miner 34 disposed at the inner end or front end of the train. The train of conveyor cars 12 may extend rearwardly and outwardly to a last conveyor car 12 positioned on launch deck 18. Each conveyor car 12 may have its own powered longitudinally extending slightly inclined car conveyor belt (not shown). Each of the car conveyor belts operates so as to convey the coal received at the low front end to the high rear end where the coal is discharged from the conveyor car. The car conveyor belts in the conveyor train may be adjacent to and/or overlapped with each other at the adjoining ends of the conveyor cars 12 such that the mined coal may be conveyed in an uninterrupted manner from one conveyor car 12 to the next until the coal is deposited onto the conveyor belt 20.

[0031] A conveyor car control system 35 may be used to assist in advancing and retracting conveyor cars, groups of conveyor cars, or the entire conveyor train. In the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the conveyor car control system 35 is a pair of elongated hydraulic conveyor car drive cylinders 48 mounted to launch deck 18 on opposing sides thereof and may flank the rearmost or last conveyor car 12 on launch deck 18. These conveyor car drive cylinders 48 may each include a ram or hold back bar having an actuatable conveyor car engaging device 37 mounted to the distal end thereof. In forward operation, when the conveyor car engaging devices are actuated to connect to the last conveyor car 12, and the drive cylinders 48 are actuated, they may hold back the train of conveyor cars such that the force of gravity advances the train into seam 14 in a controlled manner. In reverse operation, the conveyor car engaging devices and the drive cylinders may pull or retract the train of cars out of seam 14. In one embodiment, the hold back bar is in the form of a push/pull plate

(although it is to be understood that the train is not pushed down the steep incline) that may advance the conveyor train in either direction.

[0032] Miner 34 may be attached at the inner end or front end of the conveyor train and may include a rotating cutter head drum for supporting a number of cutting bits. The cutter head drum may be rotatably mounted on arms that are pivotally mounted to the main frame of miner 34. The main frame of miner 34 may be supported for movement along the floor of seam 14 by a pair of skids. In operation, miner 34 may be advanced into coal seam 14, and the cutter head drum may be rotated by a motor. As miner 34 advances into seam 14, the arms may be pivoted thus causing the rotating cutter head to be raised and lowered.

Accordingly, coal is cut from the face of seam 14 by the cutting bits. The removed coal may then be delivered by the miner to the lead or front conveyor car 12 of the conveyor train to convey the coal outwardly along the train as described above.

[0033] Miner 34 may include one or more video cameras (not shown) to enable the operator in an electric power control cabin 36 to view the operation of miner 34 via video monitors and control the power to and operation of the launch vehicle 16 and miner 34 via operator's controls (not shown). Cabin 36 may be mounted to launch vehicle 16 such that cabin 36 remains level regardless of the entry angle 25 of seam 14 and the dip angle 24 to which launch deck 18 has been pivoted.

[0034] Each conveyor car 12 may include its own drum motor (not shown) for driving the car's conveyor belt. All of the conveyor cars 12 may be connected together electrically such that power from a power source located in the launch vehicle 16 may be supplied to the drum motors of all of the individual conveyor cars 12 for simultaneous operation at a substantially equal speed and/or constant speed.

[0035] The conveyor belts on cars 12 may be textured with spaced-apart raised projections on their outer surfaces. These projections may provide increased friction in engaging the aggregate coal so that the coal may be efficiently carried along even with a dip angle 24 of up to thirty degrees.

[0036] Each conveyor car 12 also includes coupling devices (not shown) at its opposite ends which securely and substantially rigidly couple conveyor cars 12 together and the lead conveyor car to miner 34. These coupling devices connect the conveyor cars together with enough rigidity to enable the conveyor train to be pushed forwardly into seam 14 while at the same time preventing substantial deviation of the conveyor train in directions perpendicular to the straight-line path defined by seam 14. However, a small amount of angular movement of one conveyor car relative to another in a vertical plane is enabled and may be desirable. When conveyor cars 12 are connected together by the coupling devices, conveyor cars 12 may remain in a relatively straight line behind miner 34 during operation. This may be particularly advantageous because, as an example, up to forty-one conveyor cars 12 of forty feet in length may be connected together to reach into a seam 14 that is about 1640 feet long. Nevertheless, a small degree of angular freedom of motion between adjacent conveyor cars is permitted to enable the conveyor train to follow slight contours in seam 14.

[0037] Launch vehicle 16 includes launch deck 18 for receiving and supporting a conveyor car 12 which is added to or removed from the rear or outer end of the conveyor train during operation. Launch vehicle 16 may also include an upper equipment deck 38. Also included in launch vehicle 16 are front extendible support columns 40 and rear extendible support columns 42 for supporting the upper equipment deck 38, each having a pair of hollow telescoping sections which enable the lengths of columns 40, 42 to be adjustable. In some embodiments, the upper equipment deck 38 is lowered by retracting the columns 40, 42, reducing the total height of the launch vehicle 16 to avoid contacting overhead wires or other obstacles while moving the launch vehicle 16. The upper equipment deck 38 is raised by extending the columns 40, 42 when the launch vehicle 16 is positioned for mining in order to provide clearance so that conveyor cars 12 can be loaded onto the launch deck 18 beneath the upper equipment deck 38. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper equipment deck 38 is generally U- shaped when viewed from above, with the launch deck 18 passing between the "arms" of the U-shape when tilted upwards. [0038] The launch vehicle upper equipment deck 38 may include a canopy 44 and an electric power center 46 which may contain the relatively heavy equipment that provides miner 34 and conveyor cars 12 with electrical power and other supplies. This heavy equipment may include various transformers, electrical controls and safety equipment. In some embodiments, the electric power center 46 provides electrical power to the miner 34, which is electrically connected in series to the following conveyor cars 12. When used with relatively long conveyor trains, electrical power may be provided to the miner 34, and, for example, to every 10 ^th , 15 ^th , or 20 ^th following conveyor car 12, with each directly powered miner 34 or conveyor car 12 being in electrical connection with following conveyor cars 12 in series.

[0039] An advantage of highwall mining system 10 is that it can relatively easily be moved laterally (e.g., in directions into and out of the page of FIGS. 1A, IB and 2, and directions left and right on the page of FIGS. 3 and 4) to an adjacent seam to be mined, which may be typically about twenty to forty feet away. With launch deck 18 in the horizontal position of the move mode (FIG. 2) the entire launch vehicle 16 may be hydraulically slid on skids in a lateral direction with launch deck 18 supporting the full weight of conveyor car(s) 12 and miner 34. Thus, conveyor car(s) 12 and miner 34 are likely to securely stay in place during the lateral movement.

[0040] Tables 1, 2, and 3 below list various types of hardware systems that may be employed in conjunction with highwall mining system 10 of the present invention. More specifically, Table 1 lists four options for anchor points of metal chains or cables 30, 31 on constituents of the conveyor train. Table 2 lists six types of systems or methods for providing traction on conveyor cars 12. Table 3 lists eight types of conveyance systems for moving mined material which can be mounted on the conveyor cars 12.

TABLE 1 ANCHOR POINTS FOR CABLES OR CHAINS

Al ANCHOR TO CONTINUOUS

MINER

A2 ANCHOR TO STEERING UNIT

A3 ANCHOR TO FIRST CAR

A4 ANCHOR TO EVERY CAR

TABLE 2 TRACTION ON CARS

Tl TRACK DRIVE ON EVERY CAR

T2 TRACK DRIVE ON MULTIPLE,

BUT NOT ALL, CARS

T3 TRACK DRIVE ON A SPECIAL

TRACTION CAR

T4 NO TRACTION WITH WHEELS T5 NO TRACTION WITH TRACK

BELTS

T6 NO TRACTION WITH SKIDS

(RUNNERS)

TABLE 3 CONVEYANCE ON CARS

[0041] An "anchor point" may generally refer to the point at which the chain or cable 30, 31 is attached to the conveyor cars 12. The chain or cable 30, 31 may be attached to or

"anchored" to the outmost conveyor car in the train, or may be attached to each car in the train in order to spread out the force on the chain/cable between multiple anchor points.

[0042] A steering unit may be used for changing the angle, in a plane parallel to the floor of the seam, between the miner 34 and the linear train of conveyor cars 12. For example, the miner 34 and the innermost conveyor car 12 may be pivotably coupled to each other by a vertical or upright pin therebetween. More force or tension may be applied to the cable or chain 30, 31 on one side or the other of the conveyor cars 12 in order to exert more pulling force on one side of the miner 34 and thereby turn the miner 34 one way or the other. For example, if more tension or force is applied to the cable or chain 30, 31 on the left side of the conveyor cars 12, then the miner 34 may be turned to the left, and vice versa. Another example of a suitable steering unit is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,573,705. An inertial navigation system on the miner may provide feedback in the form of the instantaneous heading direction of the miner. Radiation detectors, as known in the art, may be used to locate the edges of a seam of coal or other mineable material.

[0043] The "Sandwich Belt" in Table 3 refers to an arrangement in which the coal or other mined material is sandwiched between two conveyor belts on a conveyor car, one belt positioned above the material and the other belt positioned below the material. This arrangement may facilitate conveying the material up a steep incline.

[0044] Table 4 below lists types of conveyor car control systems 35 that may be employed in conjunction with highwall mining system 10 of the present invention, along with the types of hardware systems from Tables 1-3 which may be employed with each of these types of conveyor car control systems. For example, the first type of conveyor car control system listed in Table 4 is "drive cylinders", also known in the industry as "propulsion jacks," which is the control system shown in the drawings. As indicated in the right-hand column of Table 4, no anchor points are used with a drive cylinders-type of conveyor car control system. As also indicated, all six types of traction systems listed in Table 2 may be used with a drive cylinders-type of conveyor car control system 35. As further indicated, all eight types of conveyance systems listed in Table 3 may be used with a drive cylinders-type of conveyor car control system 35.

TABLE 4 CONVEYOR CAR CONTROL SYSTEMS

[0045] During set up, launch vehicle 16 may be moved into alignment with the planned seam to be mined. Also, optionally, the upper equipment deck 38 may be raised or lowered. Deck lift cylinder 23 may then extend to pivot launch deck 18 as required to align launch deck 18 with the seam 14 to be mined. The planned dip angle 24 may be based upon surface drilling samples which indicate the angle at which the vein of coal is oriented within the ground. In some situations, the vein may be only about ten feet thick, so miner 34 could easily diverge from the vein if an inaccurate dip angle 24 is selected. Accordingly, the planned dip angle 24 may be selected such that miner 34 may remove as much of the desired material (for example, coal) from seam 14 as possible. Various electrical power and control cables (not shown) are connected to miner 34, the lead conveyor car 12 and, optionally, other conveyor cars 12 under remote control of the operator, and the mining operation begins.

[0046] During use, miner 34 and the lead conveyor car are advanced in a forward direction by drive cylinders 48 or other control systems listed in Table 4 to commence mining.

Generally, because the force of gravity pulls the miner 34 and conveyor car(s) 12 in an advance direction with launch deck 18 in the tilted position, it is to be understood that the drive cylinders 48 may actually operate to hold back the conveyor train in a controlled manner, rather than positively push the conveyor train in the advance direction. Because the stroke of typical drive cylinders 48 (in some embodiments, about eight feet) may be shorter than the length of a conveyor car 12 (in some embodiments, about twenty- four feet), the drive cylinders 48 may need to be disengaged from the conveyor cars, re-positioned, and then reengaged with the conveyor cars for an additional stroke one or more times to effect the addition of a single conveyor car 12. Chains or cables 30, 31 may serve to hold back the conveyor train when the drive cylinders are thus disengaged and launch deck 18 is in the tilted orientation. There may be a need for holding back the conveyor car train with other conveyor car control systems listed in Table 4, namely, with "Strand Jacks with Single Strand," "Strand Jacks with Multiple Strands," and "Push/Pull Carriage on Launch with Hydraulic Driven Cable Loop," as well. Hold back mechanisms other than chains or cables 30, 31 may be utilized within the scope of the invention. For example, in a steep dip of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees (as opposed to an ultra-steep dip of greater than 15 degrees), a block may be placed in front of the wheels of one or more conveyor cars 12 in order to prevent the train from further advancing into seam 14. With the conveyor train thus placed in the desired position along seam 14, the conveyor car(s) 12 and conveyor belt 20 may be operated to convey the mined material out of seam 14.

[0047] In one embodiment, the conveyor car drive cylinders 48 may each include two hold back bars, with at least one of the two hold back bars always being engaged to a conveyor car 12 at all times. Thus, one of the two hold back bars may be disengaged from the conveyor car 12 during the re-positioning of the drive cylinders 48, while the other hold back bar remains engaged with the conveyor car 12 to prevent the train from rolling into seam 14 in an uncontrolled manner.

[0048] After miner 34 has advanced far enough that another conveyor car 12 can be added, deck lift assembly 22 may be operated in an opposite direction to reverse the pivoting of launch deck 18 and return launch deck 18 to a substantially horizontal orientation. A front end loader (not shown) may then place another conveyor car 12 on launch deck 18. The newly added conveyor car 12 may be electrically and mechanically connected to the previously rearmost conveyor car 12 by a cable and connector (not shown). With the newly added conveyor car 12 securely connected and operational, deck lift assembly 22 may be operated to pivot launch deck 18 to the desired dip angle 24, as illustrated in FIG. 1A.

[0049] The above-described process may be repeated many times until the seam's maximum depth has been reached. The conveyor train may then be pulled out of seam 14 one conveyor car 12 at a time by employing the above-described process in reverse. For example, each conveyor car 12 may be sequentially pulled back by use of the drive cylinders 48, electrically disconnected, and then removed from a horizontally-oriented launch deck 18 by a front end loader. This unloading procedure may be repeated until miner 34 has been removed from seam 14, at which point the entire launch vehicle 16 may be hydraulically slid in a lateral direction on skids to a new location at which mining of the next seam may begin.

Alternatively, this unloading procedure may be repeated until only a portion of the conveyor train has been removed, for example, to replace a damaged or inoperable conveyor car 12 in the middle of the conveyor train. Furthermore, the latter portion of a conveyor train may be remotely disconnected, mechanically and electrically, from the remaining portion of the conveyor train. The unloading procedure could then be used to remove the latter portion of the train, then subsequently remove the remaining portion of the conveyor train. By pulling the conveyor train out of the seam 14 in portions, the launch vehicle 16 need not pull the weight of the entire conveyor train.

[0050] Various aspects of different embodiments of the present invention are expressed in paragraphs XI, X2 and X3, as follows:

[0051] XI. One aspect of the present invention pertains to a launch vehicle for a highwall mining system comprising a substantially horizontally oriented control deck, a launch deck, wherein the launch deck is pivotally attached to the control deck, a conveyor belt carried on the control deck, the conveyor belt extending in substantially horizontal directions, and a deck lift assembly configured to effect controlled lifting and lowering of the launch deck to tilt the launch deck relative to the control deck, and to return the launch deck to a

substantially horizontal orientation, wherein the control deck remains substantially horizontally oriented during the tilting of the launch deck by the deck lift assembly.

[0052] X2. Another aspect of the present invention pertains to a method of highwall mining a steep dip seam, comprising the steps of providing an elongated launch vehicle having a launch deck and a conveyor belt, aligning the launch vehicle with a planned location of a seam to be mined, placing a miner and at least one conveyor car on the launch deck while the launch deck is in a substantially horizontal orientation, tilting the launch deck upward relative to the conveyor belt to substantially match an entry angle of the seam to be mined, using the miner to cut material from the seam being mined, and moving the cut material to the conveyor belt by use of the conveyor car.

[0053] X3. A further aspect of the present invention pertains to a highwall mining system particularly suitable for steep dip seams and of the type wherein multiple conveyor cars are connected together to form a conveyor train which extends into a seam being mined, comprising an elongated launch vehicle including a substantially horizontally oriented control deck including an electric power control cabin configured to control power to and operation of the highwall mining system, a launch deck for receiving and supporting a conveyor car which is to be added to or removed from an outer end of the conveyor train when in mining operation, wherein the launch deck is pivotally attached to the control deck, a conveyor belt supported by the launch deck, the conveyor belt extending in substantially horizontal directions, and a deck lift assembly including a deck lift assembly secured to the launch deck at one end and secured to the control deck at an opposite end, the deck lift assembly configured to effect controlled lifting and lowering of the launch deck and to tilt the launch deck relative to the conveyor belt as desired to substantially match an entry angle of the seam to be mined, and to return the launch deck to a substantially horizontal orientation, a plurality of conveyor cars forming the conveyor train and adapted to convey mined material outwardly to the conveyor belt, and a miner attached to an inner end of the conveyor train for cutting material from the seam being mined and moving the material to the inner end of the conveyor train for conveyance by the conveyor train outwardly to the conveyor belt.

[0054] Yet other embodiments pertain to any of the previous statements XI, X2 or X3 which are combined with one or more of the following other aspects.

[0055] Wherein the conveyor belt remains substantially horizontally oriented during the tilting of the launch deck by the deck lift assembly.

[0056] Wherein the conveyor belt is fixed in a substantially horizontal orientation during operation.

[0057] Wherein the conveyor belt is fixed in a horizontal orientation during operation.

[0058] Wherein the control deck is fixed in a substantially horizontal orientation during operation.

[0059] Wherein the control deck is fixed in a horizontal orientation during operation.

[0060] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises a conveyor car control system mounted to the launch deck and remaining in parallel relation thereto and to a rearmost conveyor car when supported on the launch deck throughout all tilt angles of the launch deck.

[0061] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises a conveyor car control system mounted to the launch deck and remaining in parallel relation thereto throughout all tilt angles of the launch deck.

[0062] Wherein the conveyor car control system includes at least one conveyor car drive cylinder, the conveyor car drive cylinder including a ram having an activatable conveyor car engaging device thereon such that actuation of the conveyor car drive cylinder in conjunction with the engaging device causes a conveyor car to be selectively advanced into the seam or retracted therefrom.

[0063] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises a windlass attached to the launch deck, the windlass being configured to releasably couple to the conveyor car to prevent the conveyor car from advancing into the seam when the conveyor car drive cylinder is disengaged from the conveyor car.

[0064] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises at least one cable or at least one chain releasably coupled to the conveyor car, the cable or chain being configured to prevent the conveyor car from advancing into the seam when the conveyor car drive cylinder is disengaged from the conveyor car.

[0065] Wherein the at least one cable or at least one chain comprises two cables or two chains, each cable or chain being attached to a respective side of the conveyor car.

[0066] Wherein the conveyor car drive cylinder is configured to prevent the conveyor car from advancing into the seam when the conveyor car drive cylinder is engaged with the conveyor car.

[0067] Wherein the conveyor car control system includes at least one conveyor car drive cylinder, the conveyor car drive cylinder including a ram having an activatable conveyor car engaging device thereon such that actuation of the conveyor car drive cylinder in conjunction with the engaging device causes the conveyor cars to be selectively advanced into the seam or retracted therefrom.

[0068] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises at least one conveyor car drive cylinder mounted to the launch deck and remaining in parallel relation thereto and to a rearmost conveyor car when supported on the launch deck throughout all tilt angles of the launch deck, the conveyor car drive cylinder including a ram having an activatable conveyor car engaging device thereon such that actuation of the conveyor car drive cylinder in conjunction with the engaging device causes the conveyor cars to be selectively advanced into the seam or retracted therefrom.

[0069] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises a windlass attached to the launch deck, the windlass being configured to releasably couple to the conveyor train to prevent the conveyor train from advancing into the seam when the conveyor car drive cylinder is disengaged from the rearmost conveyor car.

[0070] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises at least one cable or chain releasably coupled to the conveyor train, the cable or chain being configured to prevent the conveyor train from advancing into the seam when the conveyor car drive cylinder is disengaged from the rearmost conveyor car.

[0071] Wherein the at least one cable or chain comprises two cables or two chains, each cable or chain being attached to a respective side of the rearmost conveyor car. [0072] Wherein the conveyor car drive cylinder is configured to prevent the conveyor train from advancing into the seam when the conveyor car drive cylinder is engaged with the last of the conveyor cars.

[0073] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises a ramp pivotably coupled to the first end of the launch deck, the ramp being configured to support the conveyor train between the first end of the launch deck and the seam.

[0074] Wherein the launch vehicle further comprises a ramp pivotably coupled to the launch deck, the ramp being configured to support a conveyor train between the launch deck and the seam.

[0075] Wherein the launch deck is tiltable at a dip angle of up to about thirty degrees relative to a horizontal direction.

[0076] Wherein the launch deck is tiltable at a dip angle approximately equal to an entry angle of the seam.

[0077] Wherein the dip angle is at least 5 degrees.

[0078] Wherein the dip angle is at least 10 degrees.

[0079] Wherein the dip angle is at least 15 degrees.

[0080] Wherein the dip angle is greater than or equal to 15 degrees.

[0081] Wherein the entry angle is at least 5 degrees.

[0082] Wherein the entry angle is at least 10 degrees.

[0083] Wherein the entry angle is at least 15 degrees.

[0084] Wherein the entry angle is greater than or equal to 15 degrees.

[0085] Wherein the control deck includes an electric power control cabin configured to control power to and operation of the highwall mining system.

[0086] Wherein the control deck is supported by a plurality of support columns.

[0087] Wherein the control deck is supported by front and rear extendable support columns.

[0088] Wherein the tilting includes keeping a front end of the launch deck in a substantially fixed location while pivoting a rear end of the launch deck upward, the pivoting being about the front end of the launch vehicle.

[0089] Wherein the deck lift assembly is at least one extendible hydraulic cylinder secured to the launch deck at one end of the hydraulic cylinder and secured to the control deck at an opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder

[0090] Wherein the method comprises the further steps of tilting the launch deck until the launch deck returns to the substantially horizontal orientation, placing an additional conveyor car on the launch deck while the launch deck is in the substantially horizontal orientation, and again tilting the launch deck in the vertical plane relative to the conveyor belt to substantially match the entry angle of the seam being mined.

[0091] Wherein the method comprises the further steps of lowering the rear end of the launch deck until the launch deck returns to the substantially horizontal orientation, placing an additional conveyor car on the launch deck while the launch deck is in the substantially horizontal orientation, and again tilting the launch deck in the vertical plane relative to the conveyor belt to substantially match the entry angle of the seam being mined.

[0092] Wherein multiple conveyor cars are connected together to form a conveyor train which extends into a seam being mined.

[0093] Wherein aligning the launch vehicle includes positioning an end of the conveyor belt adjacent to a location where the conveyor train exits a mouth of the seam.

[0094] Wherein the system further comprises at least one elongated hydraulic conveyor car drive cylinder mounted to the launch deck and remaining in parallel relation thereto throughout all tilt angles of the launch deck, the conveyor car drive cylinder including a ram having an activatable conveyor car engaging device thereon such that actuation of the drive cylinder in conjunction with the engaging device causes the conveyor cars to be selectively advanced into the seam or retracted therefrom.

[0095] Wherein the control deck and the conveyor belt remain substantially horizontally oriented during the tilting of the launch deck by the deck lift assembly.

[0096] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.