TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a mining system. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive application to an underground coal mining system.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0003] Underground coal mines include a series of roadways (i.e. mined out tunnels) of varying mine plan layout to suit the reserve of coal being mined. The roadways are supported, in the roof strata and/or in the side-walls called“ribs”, to enable the safe passage of personnel to enter and exit the mine. The supported roadways stay safely open for the passage of equipment, for the installation of services (compressed air, water, electrical power infrastructure), and for the carriage of mine ventilation air throughout the mine.

[0004] A series of unmined coal‘blocks,’ or unmined coal reserve areas, are located between the roadways, with the roadways also providing access to these unmined coal ‘blocks’. A series of fixed conveyors are provided which transport the coal being mined from the‘blocks’ away from the mining areas. The conveyors interconnect and take the coal from the active mining area to the surface of the mine.

[0005] In recent times, a penetrating block extraction (PBE) method of mining has been deployed by the Applicant which involves the mining of extended tunnels (or “Plunges”) of varying length into the coal seam (i.e. the unmined‘blocks’) as described in PCT/AU2015/050531.

[0006] The PBE method of mining of the‘blocks’ uses continuous mining equipment and some form of connected flexible conveyor system which carries the coal away from the continuous miner to the fixed conveyors elsewhere in the mine - i.e. away from the Plunge tunnel being mined. [0007] The continuous flexible conveyor system is suitably designed and constructed such that it can continuously convey and transport coal in both a straight line and around the“corner,” at which the plunge tunnel is angled from the underground roadway which is immediately adjacent to the Plunge tunnel.

[0008] At the commencement of mining a Plunge tunnel, the continuous miner first enters the Plunge which is to be formed (at the desired angle off the developed roadway adjacent to the Plunge), by cutting the coal out in front of its advance. The continuous miner then continues to cut the coal as it advances in the desired direction of the planned Plunge tunnel. The first conveyor modules of the flexible conveyor system follows directly behind the continuous miner into the mined-out Plunge tunnel as the continuous miner advances, since it is connected to the continuous miner via a suitably strengthened coupling at the rear of the continuous miner unit.

[0009] Each of the subsequent conveyor modules of the flexible conveyor system need to travel along the developed roadway adjacent the Plunge tunnel to be mined, and then must travel through a designated travel pathway in order to enter the Plunge tunnel being mined without striking either the adjacent equipment, or the‘ribs’ of the Plunge tunnel being mined.

[00010] The preferred embodiment provides a means for controlling the continuous miner coupled to the flexible conveyor system, including withdrawal from the plunge once it has been fully mined.

[00011] The preferred embodiment provides a means for controlling the continuous miner coupled to the flexible conveyor system to avoid striking either the adjacent equipment, or the‘ribs’ of the Plunge tunnel being mined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[00012] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mining system including:

a continuous miner for forming plunge tunnels from a roadway;

a flexible conveyor system coupled to the continuous miner for conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels; and a controller for controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path.

[00013] Advantageously, the controller may control the drive and steering (including turning maneuvers) of the continuous miner and each conveyor module of the flexible conveyor system along the predetermined path to avoid striking either any adjacent equipment (e.g. another conveyor), or the‘ribs’ of a plunge tunnel being mined.

[00014] The system may further include another conveyor in the roadway for receiving the mined material from the flexible conveyor system. The controller may further control advancement of the other conveyor along the roadway as the continuous miner forms the plunge tunnels. Advantageously, the other conveyor is advanced along the roadway as the continuous miner forms the plunge tunnels avoiding the need to otherwise diassemble and re-assemble a fixed conveyor.

[00015] The controller may include a path planner for planning the predetermined path for the continuous miner and flexible conveyor system. The path planner may plan paths for respective conveyor modules of the flexible conveyor system. The path planner may plan the formation of the next plunge tunnel proximal to a head of the other conveyor.

[00016] The system may further include a location sensor for sensing location of the other conveyor. The continuous miner may include an inertial navigation unit.

[00017] The system may further include a side discharge conveyor for discharging the mined material from the side of the flexible conveyor to the other conveyor.

[00018] The flexible conveyor system may include serially interconnected flexible conveyor modules. Each conveyor module may include wheels. The wheels may include 2 or 4 wheels. Each conveyor may include a driver for driving the wheels. The driver may be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. Each conveyor may include steering for steering the wheels. The steering may be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. The steering may include rams or rotary actuators.

[00019] Each conveyor module may include a proximity sensor for sensing the proximity of one or more walls of a plunge tunnel in which it is located. [00020] Alternatively, each conveyor module may include endless tracks for improved traction and lower ground pressure.

[00021] Preferably, the continuous miner is unmanned. The controller may be located remote from the other conveyor.

[00022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mining method involving:

forming plunge tunnels from a roadway with a continuous miner;

conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels using a flexible conveyor system coupled to the continuous miner; and

controlling the continuous miner and the flexible conveyor system to travel along a predetermined path.

[00023] Any of the features described herein can be combined in any combination with any one or more of the other features described herein within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00024] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[00025] Figure 1 is a plan view of a mining system in accordance with an

embodiment of the present invention;

[00026] Figure 2 is an electrical block diagram of the mining system of Figure 1 ;

[00027] Figure 3 is a perspective close-up view of a flexible conveyor system of the mining system of Figure 1 ; and

[00028] Figure 4 is a perspective close-up view of the undercarriage frame of the flexible conveyor system of Figure 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[00029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a mining system 100 as shown in Figure 1. The system 100 includes a continuous miner 102 for serially forming plunge tunnels 104 along a roadway 106. A flexible conveyor system 108 is coupled to the continuous miner 102 for conveying mined material from the plunge tunnels 104. A remote wireless controller 1 10 is provided for controlling the continuous miner 102 and the flexible conveyor system 108 to travel along a

predetermined path coinciding with the roadway 106 and plunge tunnels 104, including those yet to be formed in the unmined block 1 12.

[00030] Advantageously, the controller 1 10 controls the drive and steering (including turning maneuvers) of the continuous miner 102 and each conveyor module 1 14 of the flexible conveyor system 108 along the predetermined path to avoid striking either any adjacent equipment (e.g. a rigid transfer conveyor 1 16, guides 1 18, etc.), or the‘ribs’

120 of a plunge tunnel 104 being mined.

[00031] The system 100 further includes a side discharge conveyor 122 for discharging the mined material from the side of the flexible conveyor system 108 to the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16. The rigid transfer conveyor 1 16 is located in the roadway 106 and receives the mined material from the flexible conveyor system 108 thereby allowing the coal to flow continuously away from the plunge tunnel 104 being mined.

The controller 1 10 further controls advancement of the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16 along the roadway 106 as the continuous miner 102 forms the plunge tunnels 104, which advantageously avoids the need to otherwise continually disassemble and re-assemble a fixed conveyor in the place of the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16. Each time the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16 is moved along the length of the developed roadway 106, it is located precisely relative the plunge tunnels 104 that have already been mined, and the plunge tunnels 104 that are designed to be mined as per the mine plan and associated predetermined path.

[00032] T urning to Figure 2, the controller 110 includes a path planner 200, including a processor and software, for planning the predetermined path for the continuous miner 102 and flexible conveyor system 108. The path planner 200 plans waypoint paths for respective conveyor modules 1 14 of the flexible conveyor system 108 and stores them in planner database 202. The controller 1 10 controls the continuous miner 102 and flexible conveyor system 108 to go back and forth forming successive plunges tunnels 104, whilst making their way along the unmined block 1 12.

[00033] The system 100 further includes a rigid transfer conveyor location sensor 204 for sensing the location of the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16. The location sensor 204 may take several forms and can include physical or mechanical points or markers, or electronic device points or markers (such as RFD tag devices for example). The planner 200 also plans the formation of the next plunge tunnel 104 proximal to the sensed head location of the moving rigid transfer conveyor 1 16 which acts as a geometric reference point.

[00034] The unmanned continuous miner 102 includes an inertial navigation system 206 for navigating during formation of the plunge tunnels 104. The inertial navigation system 206 includes sensors for sensing characteristics including angle (e.g. horizon control) or positioning (e.g. heading). Once the start point of the inertial navigation system 206, the system 100 establishes precision guidance control and positional location of the system 206 relative to that starting point. The relative position of the continuous miner 102 is therefore always known by using this system 206, and this relative position is another important geometric reference insofar as establishing a further input for the derivation of the designated travel pathway that each plunge conveyor module 1 14 must travel along.

[00035] The distance that the plunge conveyor system 108 and continuous miner 102 have travelled along the developed roadway 106 adjacent to the plunge 104 and into the mined plunge 104 can also be measured by reference to several factors and by several means - which may include by reference to the known positional devices fitted to the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16, or by separate means from another known location device/tool that is configured and successively relocated along the length of the developed roadway 106 as the miner 102 advances from plunge 104 to plunge 104 (or periodically from groups of plunges etc). The continuous miner 102 also includes a gamma detection device 208 for detecting the boundary of the coal seam during excavation.

[00036] Similarly, each serially interconnected conveyor module 1 14 includes a proximity sensor 210 for sensing the proximity of one or more walls of a plunge tunnel 104 in which it is located. Each module 1 14 may also be fitted with additional environmental sensors, one of which may be capable of measuring the distance of the plunge conveyor module 1 14 from the adjacent coal‘rib’ 120 to the side of each module 1 14. The location of the plunge conveyor module 1 14 relative to the adjacent coal‘rib’ 120 is another important geometric reference insofar as establishing a further input for the derivation of the designated travel pathway that each plunge conveyor module 114 must travel. Further, each conveyor module 1 14 includes a motor driver 212 for driving its wheels. The driver may be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. Each conveyor module 1 14 also includes steering 214 for steering its wheels. The steering may be electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic, and can include rams or rotary actuators.

[00037] Turning to Figure 3, each conveyor module 1 14 of the flexible conveyor system 108 is alike in construction. Each conveyor module 1 14 includes an inclined endless belt 300 for transporting the mined material so that material serially passes along the flexible conveyor system 108. The conveyor modules 1 14 are pivotally connected together.

[00038] As can best be seen in Figure 4, each conveyor module 1 14 includes two wheels 400a, 400b, although four can also be provided. One wheel 400a is driven to rotate about a vertical axis 402, whereas the other wheel 400b is driven to rotate about a vertical axis 404 and a longitudinal axis 406.

[00039] An automated mining method using the system 100 of Figure 1 is briefly described.

[00040] Initially, the planner 200 plans the predetermined path for the continuous miner 102 coupled to the flexible conveyor system 108.

[00041] The controller 110 commands the continuous miner 102 to form plunge tunnels 104 from the roadway 106 in accordance with the predetermined path. Mined material is conveyed from the plunge tunnels 104, using the flexible conveyor system 108 coupled to the continuous miner 102, as the controller 110 controls the continuous miner 102 and the flexible conveyor system 108 to travel along the predetermined path.

[00042] The controller 1 10 further controls advancement of the rigid transfer conveyor 1 16 along the roadway 106 as the continuous miner 102 serially forms the plunge tunnels 104. [00043] The controller 110 uses the system inputs 204, 206, 208, 210 to precisely control the system outputs 212, 214 and ensure that the flexible conveyor system 108 and the continuous miner 102 precisely follow the predetermined path without‘fouling’ or hitting either the coal‘rib’ 120 or the adjacent equipment 116, 1 18 in the developed roadway 106 adjacent the plunge 104 to be mined.

[00044] Feedback from each of the system devices/tools/sensors can be utilised as ‘inputs’ into a specifically coded logic software and process control system, which can process such inputs to determine the location of the plunge conveyor modules 1 14 relative the designed travel pathway that they should be travelling along (to suit the intended plunge tunnel 104 to be mined), and hence corrective action/control inputs can be forwarded to the wheels 400 of the plunge conveyor system 108 which can then be power rotated and driven to control the particular plunge conveyor module 114 accordingly.

[00045] The entire system of feedback sensors and control devices, once

established, operate automatically without human operator interface or control inputs - to control the steering of the plunge conveyor modules 1 14, thereby enabling the efficient operation of the mining process.

[00046] Each conveyor module 1 14 is independently driven and, by rotating the wheels 400 at designated locations, is capable of travelling back and forth along the designated travel pathway with adequate clearance maintained at all times from interferences and impacts.

[00047] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

[00048] In one embodiment, each conveyor module 114 can include endless tracks for improved traction and lower ground pressure than wheels 400.

[00049] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. [00050] Reference throughout this specification to‘one embodiment’ or‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases‘in one embodiment’ or‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.