TENSIONING ASSEMBLY FOR LONGWALL MINING EQUIPMENT

Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to a tensioning assembly for a longwall mining equipment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a stopper for maintaining at least a minimum distance between an implement system (winning machine) of the longwall mining system and a tensioning frame of the tensioning assembly. Background

A longwall mining equipment is commonly used to mine a block of mining material(s), generally called a longwall or a longwall block, at a mine site. The longwall generally includes a mining face from which the mining material is removed. For removing the mining material, the longwall mining equipment includes a longwall shearer/winning machine (implement) that is configured to move along the mining face of the longwall and shear/extract the mining material from the mining face. Further, the longwall shearer/winning machine deposits the sheared mining material onto an underlying scraper chain conveyor of the longwall mining equipment. The longwall mining implement also includes a tensioning assembly with a tensioning frame that is generally telescopically adjustable to a frame of the scraper chain conveyor to adjust a tension of the scraper chain conveyor.

Typically, the tensioning frame is configured to move towards and away from the frame of the scraper chain conveyor to maintain the scraper chain conveyor in a taut configuration. Additionally, the longwall shearer/winning machine is also configured to move towards and away relative to the tensioning frame on a rail system disposed on the frame of the scraper chain conveyor. Such dynamic movement of the winning machine/longwall shearer and the tensioning frame may lead to collision with each other (and collision between systems disposed thereon), causing damage and downtime of the machine. For example, the tensioning frame may move away from the frame of the scraper chain conveyor (to maintain tautness). To scrape the mining material on the area of the longwall facing the tensioning frame, the winning machine may be moved towards the tensioning frame. However, during operation, the tensioning frame may move towards the frame of the scraper chain conveyor leading to collision between the tensioning frame and the winning machine and damage to certain components, which is undesirable.

US patent number 8627948 is directed to a drive and tensioning unit for a scraper chain conveyor. More particularly, US 8627948 discloses a face conveyor for drum cutter-loader mining equipment. The face conveyor includes a telescopically configured machine frame having a machine frame base and a machine frame head, which is displaceable relative to the machine frame base by at least one hydraulic cylinder and has bearing recesses for supporting a chain drum shaft.

Summary of the Invention

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a tensioning assembly for a scraper chain conveyor of a longwall mining equipment is disclosed. The longwall mining equipment includes an winning machine configured to move along a mining face of a longwall, extract a mining material from the mining face, and deposit the mining material onto the scraper chain conveyor disposed along the mining face. The tensioning assembly includes a tensioning frame configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to a main frame of the scraper chain conveyor to maintain the scraper chain conveyor in a taut configuration. The tensioning assembly further includes a first stopper and a second stopper. The first stopper is fixedly coupled to the tensioning frame and is configured to abut the winning machine to maintain at least a minimum predefined distance between the winning machine and the tensioning frame in the retracted position of the tensioning frame. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a stopping assembly for a longwall mining equipment is disclosed. The longwall mining equipment includes a scraper chain conveyor having a main frame, a tensioning frame coupled to the scraper chain conveyor wherein the tensioning frame is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, and a winning machine configured to move along a length of the main frame to extract a mining material from a mining face of a longwall, and deposit the mining material onto the scraper chain conveyor. The stopping assembly includes a first stopper that is configured to be fixedly coupled to one of the tensioning frame and configured to abut the winning machine to maintain at least a minimum predefined distance between the winning machine and the tensioning frame when the tensioning frame is between the retracted position and an intermediate extended position.

The stopping assembly further includes a second stopper that is configured to be coupled to the main frame, wherein the second stopper is configured to abut the winning machine and prevent movement of the winning machine towards the tensioning frame when the tensioning frame is in the extended position.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a longwall mining equipment is disclosed. The longwall mining equipment includes a scraper chain conveyor having a main frame, wherein the main frame includes a first end and a second end defining a length therebetween, a tensioning frame coupled to the scraper chain conveyor and movably coupled to the second end of the main frame wherein the tensioning frame is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position to maintain the scraper chain conveyor in a taut configuration. The longwall mining equipment further includes a winning machine configured to move along the length of the main frame between the first end and the second end to extract a mining material from a mining face of a longwall, and deposit the mining material onto the scraper chain conveyor. The longwall mining equipment also includes a stopping assembly that includes a first stopper fixedly coupled to one of the tensioning frame or the winning machine and configured to abut the other of the tensioning frame or the winning machine to maintain at least a minimum distance between the winning machine and the tensioning frame when the tensioning frame is in the retracted position and a second stopper coupled to the main frame, wherein in the extended position of the tensioning frame, the second stopper is configured to abut the winning machine and prevent movement of the winning machine towards the tensioning frame.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of operating a longwall mining equipment is disclosed. The longwall mining equipment includes a scraper chain conveyor having a main frame, a tensioning frame coupled to an end of the scraper chain conveyor wherein the tensioning frame is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position to maintain the scraper chain conveyor in a taut configuration, and a winning machine configured to move along a length of the main frame to extract a mining material from a mining face of a longwall, and deposit the mining material onto the scraper chain conveyor. The method includes stopping a movement of the winning machine towards the tensioning frame by using a first stopper when the tensioning frame is in between the retracted position and an intermediate extended position of the tensioning frame, wherein the first stopper is coupled to the movable tensioning frame and the first stopper abuts the winning machine to maintain at least a minimum predefined distance between the winning machine and the tensioning frame when the tensioning frame is in between the retracted position and the intermediate extended position. The method further includes stopping the movement of the winning machine towards the tensioning frame by using a second stopper when the tensioning frame is extended beyond the intermediate extended position, wherein the second stopper is fixedly coupled to the main frame of the scraper chain conveyor such that the second stopper abuts the winning machine to prevent the movement of the winning machine towards the tensioning frame and maintain at least the minimum predefined distance between the winning machine and the tensioning frame. Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a portion of an exemplary longwall mining equipment operating at a worksite, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the longwall mining equipment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a scraper chain conveyor of the longwall mining equipment and a tensioning frame of the tensioning assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of the tensioning assembly and a main frame of the scraper chain conveyor when the tensioning frame is in a retracted position;

FIG. 5 illustrates the configuration of the tensioning assembly and the main frame of the scraper chain conveyor when the tensioning frame is in an extended position;

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a rail system and a first stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates the second stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded view of the second stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of a portion of the longwall mining equipment and a perspective view of the tensioning assembly when the tensioning frame is in the retracted position and where the winning machine is abutting the first stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the portion of the longwall mining equipment and a perspective view of the tensioning assembly when the tensioning frame (as disclosed in FIG. 9) has moved away from the main frame and where the winning machine is abutting the first stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the portion of the longwall mining equipment and a perspective view of the tensioning assembly when the tensioning frame (as disclosed in FIG. 10) has moved further away from the main frame and where the winning machine is abutting both the first stopper and the second stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the portion of the longwall mining equipment and a perspective view of the tensioning assembly when the tensioning frame is in the extended position relative to the main frame and where the winning machine is abutting the second stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the portion of the longwall mining equipment and a perspective view of the tensioning assembly when the tensioning frame is in the retracted position and where the tensioning frame is abutting the first stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the portion of the longwall mining equipment and a perspective view of the tensioning assembly when the tensioning frame is in the extended position and where the winning machine is abutting the second stopper of the stopping assembly, in accordance with the alternate embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 depicts a method of operating a longwall mining equipment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Referring now to FIG. 1, an exemplary worksite 100 is illustrated with a longwall mining equipment 102 performing predetermined tasks. The worksite 100 may be a mine site, a landfill, a quarry, a construction site, or any other type of worksite. In the embodiment illustrated, the worksite 100 corresponds to a mine site having block of mining material(s). The mining material blocks may be contained within a longwall 104 of the worksite 100. The longwall 104 may include a mining face from which the mining material may be configured to be removed/scraped/sheared. The mining material contained within the mining face may correspond to one or more of coal blocks, ores such as metals, etc.

The longwall mining equipment 102 may be configured to perform predetermined tasks such as, but not limited to, mining the worksite 100, shearing and extracting mining material contained within the longwall 104, etc. The longwall mining equipment 102 depicted in FIG. 1, for example, may embody a longwall shearing mining system. In various other embodiments, the longwall mining equipment 102 may embody other types of mining equipment.

In an embodiment, the longwall mining equipment 102 may be a manned equipment. In an alternate embodiment, the longwall mining equipment 102 may be a mining equipment known in the art with various level of autonomy, such as a semi-autonomous, a remotely operated, or remotely supervised.

Referring to FIG. 2, the longwall mining equipment 102 may include an operation control system 106, an implement system 120, a scraper chain conveyor 140 (best shown in FIG. 1), a beam stage loader system 160, a crusher system 180, a spray system 184, and a roof support system 186.

The longwall mining equipment 102 may be configured to operate in at least one operational state. The operation control system 106 may be configured to actuate the at least one operational state of the longwall mining equipment 102. More particularly, the operation control system 106 may be configured to actuate a particular mode of operation for the longwall mining equipment 102 to perform a desired operation on the worksite 100. With regards to the exemplary longwall mining equipment 102 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the longwall mining equipment 102 may have a plurality of modes of operation. In the embodiment illustrated, the longwall mining equipment 102 includes a shearing mode, an articulating mode, and an idle state mode. Although three modes are disclosed herein, the number of modes may vary depending on the type of the longwall mining equipment 102, the configuration of operation control system 106 present in the longwall mining equipment 102, and also based on the functions needed to be performed by the longwall mining equipment 102.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the implement system 120 is illustrated in detail. The implement system 120 may be configured to slide on the scraper chain conveyor 140 and engage the mining material source and scrape the mining material contained therein. In the embodiment illustrated, the implement system 120 is a winning machine moving along the mining face of the longwall 104 and engaging with the longwall 104 to scrape/shear and extract the mining material contained therein. For the sake of brevity, the implement system 120 shall be hereinafter be referred to as the winning machine 120. The winning machine 120 may include a cutting drum 122 having a plurality of cutting teeth 124. The plurality of cutting teeth 124 may take a shape or have a profile/contour that is adapted to shear/scrape and extract the mining material from the longwall 104. The cutting drum 122 may be configured to rotate and engage with the longwall 104 to extract the mining material contained within the longwall 104.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cutting drum 122 is configured to rotate and engage with the longwall 104 to extract the mining material contained in the longwall 104 such that the sheared and extracted mining material is received by the scraper chain conveyor 140, which is underlying the winning machine 120, as shown in FIG. 1. The scraper chain conveyor 140 is configured to receive the mining material blocks/pieces and is configured to haul the received mining material blocks/pieces to other subsequent systems of the longwall mining equipment 102.

The scraper chain conveyor 140 includes an armored face conveyor 142 configured to transport the mining material received as a result of shearing of the longwall 104. The armored face conveyor 142 includes a haulage system 144 having a main frame 146. The main frame 146 includes a first end 148 and a second end 150 defining a length‘L’ of the main frame 146 therebetween, as shown in FIG. 2.

The armored face conveyor 142 may include a main drive unit 152 and an auxiliary drive unit 154. The main drive unit 152 and the auxiliary drive unit 154 may be disposed at the first end 148 and second end 150 (of the main frame 146) respectively. The main drive unit 152 and the auxiliary drive unit 154 may be roller or cylinder shaped members configured to rotate around their respective central axis. For example, the main drive unit 152 may rotate around axis l-G extending into the plane of the paper and the auxiliary drive unit 154 may rotate around axis 2-2’ extending into the plane of the paper.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the armored face conveyor 142 further includes one or more link chains 156 that overlap at least a circumference of the main drive unit 152 and the auxiliary drive unit 154 to form an endless link chain (the overlapping of the one or more link chains 156 shown in FIG. 3). The armored face conveyor 142 may further include a plurality of scraper bars 158 spaced apart from each other. The plurality of scraper bars 158 may be placed above the one or more link chains 156. When the winning machine 120 (more specifically, the cutting drum 122 having the plurality of cutting teeth 124) shears the mining material from the longwall 104, the broken pieces of the mining material fall on the underlying scraper chain conveyor 140, as shown in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the mining material may fall in spaces present between the one or more link chains 156 and the plurality of scraper bars 158. At the same time, the operation control system 106 may instruct the main drive unit 152 and the auxiliary drive unit 154 to rotate around their respective axis. This may cause translational motion of the one or more link chains 156 and the plurality of scraper bars 158 along the length‘L’ of the main frame 146 (in a direction towards the first end 148 of the scraper chain conveyor 140). Such movement of the one or more link chains 156 and the plurality of scraper bars 158 causes translation of the entangled mining material

pieces/blocks to the beam stage loader system 160. The beam stage loader system 160 may be configured to transport the mining material blocks/pieces from the armored face conveyor 142 to a belt conveyor 162 of the longwall mining equipment 102. The beam stage loader system 160 may be a chained conveyor unit configured to transport the mining material block/pieces from the armored face conveyor 142 to the belt conveyor 162. The belt conveyor 162 transports the received mining material

blocks/pieces to the crusher system 180.

The crusher system 180 may be configured to reduce the particle size of the received coal blocks/pieces. Further, the crusher system 180 may be configured to liberate the mining material from the gangue (unwanted elements). The crusher system 180 may include one or more of jaw crusher, graytor crusher, roll crusher, impact crusher, hammer mill, rotary coal breaker, etc.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the roof support system 186 is shown. The roof support system 186 may include a plurality of roof structures or supports 188 positioned side-by-side. Individual roof supports 188 may be configured to be advanced in a direction towards the longwall 104 (e.g., after the winning machine 120 performs the desired shearing on the longwall 104) to support a roof surface 190 of the worksite 100. For example, in some

embodiments, each roof support 188 may include a base structure 192. Each roof support 188 may further include one or more vertical hydraulic rams 194

(sometimes referred to as“legs”) extending from the base structure 192 for supporting a canopy 196. The canopy 196 may be manufactured from steel and may be designed to be positioned parallel to and in contact with the roof surface 190. The operation control system 106 may be used to manually and/or automatically move each roof support structure 188 (i.e., each canopy 196 using the hydraulic rams 194).

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the longwall mining equipment 102 also includes the spray system 184. The spray system 184 may be configured to eject a fluid for controlling an amount of dust generated and released during movement of the longwall mining equipment 102 or during shearing operation by the winning machine 120. In an aspect of the present disclosure a tensioning assembly 200 for the scraper chain conveyor 140 is disclosed. FIG. 3 illustrates the tensioning assembly 200. The tensioning assembly 200 may be coupled to one or more of the auxiliary drive unit 154, main frame 146 and the one or more link chains 156. The tensioning assembly 200 is configured to impart tension to the scraper chain conveyor 140 to maintain the scraper chain conveyor 140 in a taut configuration. More specifically, tensioning assembly 200 is configured to impart tension to the one or more link chains 156 and maintain the one or more link chains 156 in the taut configurations so as to ensure that the one or more link chains 156 in conjunction with the plurality of scraper bars 158 can optimally haul the scraped mining material from the longwall 104 to the beam stage loader system 160.

The tensioning assembly 200 includes a tensioning frame 202 and a stopping assembly 204, best shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The tensioning frame 202 is an elongated structure that is movably coupled to the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140. The tensioning frame 202 includes a base 205 and a pair of lateral sidewalls 206, 208. The base 205 includes a first side 210 and a second side 212 defining a breadth‘b’ of the base 205 therebetween. The pair of lateral sidewalls 206, 208 are disposed along a length of base 205 on the first side 210 and the second side 212 respectively.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the auxiliary drive unit 154 may be received within the pair of lateral sidewalls 206, 208 and may be coupled to the tensioning frame 202. The tensioning frame 202 may be configured to move away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 to impart tension to the one or more link chains 156 and maintain the one or more link chains 156 in the taut configuration. In the embodiment illustrated, the tensioning frame 202 is configured to move telescopically out of the main frame 146 to move the auxiliary drive unit 154 away from the main frame 146 of scraper chain conveyor 140 and remove the slack present in the one or more link chains 156. Thereby, keeping the one or more link chains 156 in a taut configuration. In the embodiment illustrated, the tensioning frame 202 may be configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. The retracted position of the tensioning frame 202 may correspond to a position of the tensioning frame 202 relative to the main frame 146 when there exists a minimum distance between the tensioning frame 202 and the main frame 146, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The extended position of the tensioning frame 202 may correspond to a position of the tensioning frame 202 relative to the main frame 146 when tensioning frame 202 has telescopically moved out from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 by a maximum possible extent, as shown in FIG. 5.

The stopping assembly 204 is configured to maintain at least a minimum distance between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120 such that the two do not engage with each other. The minimum distance corresponds to a distance such that there exists a clearance between one or more components/systems of the longwall mining equipment 102 (especially a clearance between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202), a clearance that prevents any tangible interactions/collision between the components/sy stems. The stopping assembly 204 includes a first stopper 214 and a second stopper 216, as shown in FIG. 4. The first stopper 214 is fixedly coupled to the tensioning frame 202. The second stopper 216 is coupled to the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140, as shown in FIG. 5. The first stopper 214 includes a first member 218 and a second member 220 detachably coupled to each other.

The first member 218 may be a substantially L-shaped plate. The first member 218 includes a frame coupling end 222 and a member coupling end 224, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The first member 218 includes a D-shaped slot proximal to the member coupling end 224. The first member 218 also has a thickness‘T’, as shown in FIG. 7.

The second member 220 is a plate shaped structure that includes an abutting end 226 and a coupling end 228. The second member 220 includes an oval shaped slot extending through a thickness of the second member 220. The coupling end 228 of the second member 220 defines a U-shaped profile forming a grooved region 230 between the U shaped profile.

As shown in FIG. 8, the member coupling end 224 is configured to be received within the grooved region 230 formed in the coupling end 228 of the second member 220. The first member 218 and second member 220 may be coupled to each other by using one or more fasteners 270 as shown in the illustration. In an alternate embodiment, the first member 218 and the second member 220 may be coupled with each other via use of a welding process or via a form- locked joint (i.e. interference fit/tight fit of the member coupling end 224 when received within the grooved region 230). In yet another embodiment, the first member 218 and the second member 220 may be integrally formed as a single entity.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the second stopper 216 is disclosed. The second stopper 216 may be a cuboidal structure or a box-like structure having a width‘w’. The second stopper 216 further includes a first projection 232 and a second projection 234. The first projection 232 extends in a direction towards the tensioning frame 202 and the second projection 234 extends in a direction away from the tensioning frame 202. In the embodiment illustrated, the first projection 232 of the second stopper 216 is fixedly coupled to the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140, as shown in FIG. 4 - FIG. 5. The second stopper 216 includes a through-hole extending through the width‘w’ of the second member 220. The through-hole may be defined by an internal surface 236 of the second stopper 216. The through-hole of the second stopper 216 may be configured to slidably receive the first stopper 214 during various operational stages of the longwall mining equipment 102, as shown in FIG. 4.

The detailed explanation of how the stopping assembly 204 maintains at least the minimum distance between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 9 - FIG. 12. Let us assume that the tensioning frame 202 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3. The stopping assembly 204 is in the configuration as shown in FIG. 4 where the through-hole of the second stopper 216 receives the first stopper 214. In such a configuration of the tensioning frame 202, the operation control system 106 may operate the winning machine 120 and move the winning machine 120 towards the tensioning frame 202 of the tensioning assembly 200 to scrape off the mining material on the longwall 104 (especially the area of the longwall 104 facing the tensioning assembly 200). As the winning machine 120 moves towards the tensioning frame 202, the distance between the first stopper 214 and the portion of the winning machine 120 (sliding on a rail system 240 disposed on the scraper chain conveyor 140) decreases, eventually culminating in abuttance of the first stopper 214 and the portion of the winning machine 120, as shown in FIG. 9. For the purpose of better

understanding‘the portion’ of the winning machine 120 sliding on the rail system 240 shall hereinafter be referred to by the reference numeral 120’.

Since the first stopper 214 is coupled to the tensioning frame 202, the abuttal between the first stopper 214 and the portion 120’ (of the winning machine 120) maintains at least a minimum predefined distance (i.e. ample clearance) between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202 and/or the auxiliary drive unit 154, ensuring that none of the components collide with each other. In such a position of the tensioning frame 202 relative to the main frame 146, a portion of the first stopper 214 extends beyond second stopper 216 in a direction away from the tensioning assembly 200.

During operation of the longwall mining equipment 102, the one or more link chains 156 may elongate due to various tensioning forces acting on the one or more link chains 156. Such elongations may cause the one or more link chains 156 to slack, reducing the efficiency of the mining process. To counteract the slack and maintain the one or more link chains 156 in a taut configuration, the operation control system 106 may instruct the tensioning frame 202 to move away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 i.e. the tensioning frame 202 extends to a first position (as shown in FIG. 10) where the first position corresponds to a position of the tensioning frame 202 such that at least a portion of the first stopper 214 still extends beyond the second stopper 216 in a direction away from the tensioning assembly 200. The movement of the tensioning frame 202 moves the auxiliary drive unit 154 away from the main drive unit 152, imparting tension to the one or more link chains 156. Thereby, removing the slack of the one or more link chains 156. The movement of tensioning frame 202 away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 causes the first stopper 214 to move in a direction away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140. The movement of the first stopper 214 permits the winning machine 120 to move further towards the tensioning frame 202 (as can be seen from a comparison of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10).

During operation of the longwall mining equipment 102, the one or more link chains 156 may elongate further and the tensioning frame 202 may move even further away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 to maintain the one or more link chains 156 in a taut configuration. During such movement of the tensioning frame 202, the portion of the first stopper 214 extending beyond the second stopper 216 decreases. After the tensioning frame 202 has moved away from the main frame 146 by a certain distance i.e. the tensioning frame 202 has moved to an intermediate extended position, no portion of the first stopper 214 extends beyond the second stopper 216. More particularly, when the tensioning frame 202 moves to an intermediate extended position, an end of the first stopper 214 (i.e. the abutting end 226 of the second member 220) and an end 282 of the second stopper 216 lies in the same plane, as shown in FIG. 11. Now when the tensioning frame 202 extends beyond the intermediate extended position, second stopper 216 extends beyond the first stopper 214 in a direction away from the tensioning assembly 200, as shown in FIG. 12 (where the tensioning frame 202 is in proximate to the extended position). In such a configuration the portion 120’ (of the winning machine 120) sliding on the rail system 240 abuts the second stopper 216 to maintain at least the minimum distance between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202 and/or the auxiliary drive unit 154.

In an alternate embodiment, the tensioning assembly 200 includes a stopping assembly 204’, as illustrated in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. The stopping assembly 204’ includes a stopping projection 260 provided on the tensioning frame 202. The stopping assembly 204’ includes a first stopper 214’ fixedly coupled to the winning machine 120 and a second stopper 216’ coupled to the main frame 146. In such a configuration the first stopper 214’ is configured to abut the stopping projection 260 of the tensioning frame 202 to maintain at least a minimum distance between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202 when the tensioning frame 202 is in the retracted position.

As the tensioning frame 202 moves away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140, the stopping projection 260 on the tensioning frame 202 also moves away from the main frame 146. This allows for the winning machine 120 to move towards the tensioning frame 202. However, after the tensioning frame 202 has moved away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 by a maximum possible distance i.e. is in the extended position, the second stopper 216’ abuts the winning machine 120 and maintains the clearance between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202. Thus, in the extended position of the tensioning frame 202, the second stopper 216’ is configured to abut the winning machine 120 and prevent movement of the winning machine 120 towards the tensioning frame 202.

Industrial Applicability

Generally during operation of typical longwall mining equipment, the tensioning frame may be configured to move towards and away from the main frame of the scraper chain conveyor to maintain the scraper chain conveyor in a taut configuration. Additionally, the winning machine is also configured to move towards and away relative to the tensioning frame on the rail system disposed on the main frame of the scraper chain conveyor. Such dynamic movement of the winning machine and the tensioning frame may lead to collision with each other (and collision between systems disposed thereon), causing damage and downtime of the machine. For example, the tensioning frame may move away from the main frame of the scraper chain conveyor (to maintain tautness). To scrape the mining material on the area of the longwall facing the tensioning frame, the winning machine may be moved towards the tensioning frame. However, in conventional mining equipment, the tensioning frame may move towards the main frame of the scraper chain conveyor due to loss of pressure or other working conditions. Such movement may lead to collision between the tensioning frame and the winning machine and cause damage to each other.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the tensioning assembly 200 having the stopping assembly 204 is disclosed. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method 1500 of operating the longwall mining equipment 102 is disclosed, as shown in FIG. 15. The method 1500 and the tensioning assembly 200 obviates the collision between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120. Let us try to understand how the tensioning assembly 200 prevents collision between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120 with an exemplary situation. Let us assume that the longwall mining equipment 102 is in the configuration as shown in FIG. 12. A sudden anomaly/defect in a hydraulic system for the tensioning frame 202 may take away a force required by the tensioning frame 202 to stay in an extended position relative to the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140. This may cause sudden movement of the tensioning frame 202 towards the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140. Such movement of the tensioning frame 202 towards the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 causes the first stopper 214 to move towards the main frame 146. After a certain point the first stopper 214 abuts the portion 120’ (of the winning machine 120) and maintains the minimum distance between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120. Thereby avoiding collision between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120.

Let us now understand the working of the method 1500 with the help of an exemplary situation. Let us assume that the tensioning frame 202 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 9. The stopping assembly 204 is in the configuration as shown in FIG. 4 where the through-hole of the second stopper 216 receives the first stopper 214. In such a configuration of the tensioning frame 202, the operation control system 106 may operate the winning machine 120 and move the winning machine 120 towards the tensioning frame

longwall 104 (especially the area of the longwall 104 facing the tensioning assembly 200). As the winning machine 120 moves towards the tensioning frame 202, the distance between the first stopper 214 and the portion of the winning machine 120 (sliding on the rail system 240 disposed on the scraper chain conveyor 140) decreases, eventually culminating in abuttance of the first stopper 214 and the portion 120’ of the winning machine 120, as shown in FIG. 9 (Step 1502).

During operation of the longwall mining equipment 102, the one or more link chains 156 may elongate due to various tensioning forces acting on the one or more link chains 156. Such elongations may cause the one or more link chains 156 to slack, reducing the efficiency of the mining process. To counteract the slack and maintain the one or more link chains 156 in a taut configuration, the operation control system 106 may instruct the tensioning frame 202 to move away from the main frame 146 of the scraper chain conveyor 140 i.e. the tensioning frame 202 extends beyond the intermediate extended position. Now since the tensioning frame 202 extends beyond the intermediate extended position, second stopper 216 extends beyond the first stopper 214 in a direction away from the tensioning assembly 200, as shown in FIG. 12 (where the tensioning frame 202 is in the extended position). In such a configuration the portion 120’ (of the winning machine 120) sliding on the rail system 240 towards the tensioning frame 202 abuts the second stopper 216 to maintain at least the minimum distance between the winning machine 120 and the tensioning frame 202 and/or the auxiliary drive unit 154 (Step 1504).

The stopping assembly 204 as disclosed in the present disclosure also allows for variable stroke of the tensioning frame 202. For example, the stopping assembly 204 as disclosed in the present disclosure would work (to maintain at least the minimum distance between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120) for a lOOOmm stroke of the tensioning frame 202i.e. for a 1000mm stroke of the tensioning frame 202 in a direction away from the main frame 146. The same stopping assembly 204 would also work (to maintain at least the minimum distance between the tensioning frame 202 and the winning machine 120) for a 500mm stroke of the tensioning frame 202 in a direction away from the main frame 146.

While aspects of the present disclosure have seen particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.