The invention relates to a launch vehicle for a mining system. The invention also relates to a mining system including such a launch vehicle as well as a method for mining.

Mining and, more specifically, high-wall mining may be conducted for removing coal, minerals, ores or other materials in seams or veins under an overburden that may be accessed from an exposed edge of the material seam or vein. Such type of mining is applicable where the appropriate machinery can be placed in-line with the vein to be mined (e.g. in a cut or bench), to extend a cutterhead. For deeper penetration of the cutter head in the vein, as is practised in high- wall mining, the cutter head is followed by a train of conveyor segments or units as the cutterhead advances, into a substantially horizontal shaft under the overburden. The conveyor segments are also known as push beams, as they are not self-propelled; rather they are pushed into the mine. Each conveyor segment has transporting means such as one or more screw conveyors ("augers"), conveyor belts or chain/scraper conveyors to move the mined material from its lead end to its rear end and further onto the next rearward conveyor segment and, ultimately, to the launch bed. The screw conveyors, conveyor belts or chain/scraper conveyors can be powered by shafts connected from one conveyor segment to the next that are ultimately turned by a motor on the launch vehicle, by a separate power generating unit that is connected to the launch vehicle or by a motor at the cutterhead end of the train.

The prior art launch vehicles may comprise a frame structure including a conveyor segment transfer mechanism that handles the conveyor segments with a gripper frame as well a launch frame. The frame structure is detachable in multiple segments to be transported to and from mining locations, as the structure as a whole is too large for transportation in it entirety over longer distances. For self propelled relocation of a launch vehicle over shorter distances on a mining location and on relative flat surfaces the frame structure is normally carried by at least four tracks that support the frame structure at its corners. Such prior art launch vehicles are among others known from WO 95/300676, WO 2005/116402 and US 5,682,807. Optionally the launch vehicle also may comprise anchoring mechanisms, a gas supply and/or discharge equipment. The present invention has for its object to provide a launch vehicle for a mining system, a mining system and a method for mining that provides an enhanced manoeuvrability and that enables mining at reduced costs. The invention provides for this purpose a launch vehicle for a mining system

comprising: a base frame provided with tracks; an upper frame rotatable connected to the base frame around an substantially vertical axis of rotation; a launch frame connecting to the upper frame; a crane unit; and drive means for driving the tracks, launch frame and/or crane unit. For such a mining vehicle use can be made of a standard basis of existing high performance shovels or cranes (in practise also referred to as high performance tracked vehicles or engineering vehicles with continuous tracks), e.g. with a power of 1500, 1600 or 2000 kW. In stead of a dedicated designed launching vehicle now use can be made of relative easy to acquire and relative easy to service equipment. The launch vehicle is also far better to manoeuvre than the prior art launching vehicles leading to serious savings in time and costs during repositioning a launching vehicle and during manoeuvring from the same globally launch vehicle position like e.g. "Rig-Up" for make and enter Horizontal or Steep (Slant) seam mining access angles in one or more multi-passes. For example, instead of dismantling and enabling a launch frame now the launch vehicle can easily be moved as a complete unit. This may even be realised at sloping surfaces. In this text the base frame provided with tracks is also referred to as "a tracked vehicle base frame", both having an identical meaning.

Another advantage of the launching vehicle as disclosed here is that is may also be dismantled by detaching the launch frame, a crane unit, and/or a tracked vehicle or engineering vehicle with continuous tracks, and may be reequipped with other features (e.g. booms, sticks, buckets, backhoe) and so to be able to execute different functions from a launch vehicle. An example of such an alternative use may be as an engineering vehicle, like a shovel, to prepare contour benches. In an exemplary embodiment, an advantage of the launch vehicle according the present invention is that it enables a broader use or field of application especially steep and deep mining. With the known launching equipment for highwall mining only mining of seams up to 12° relative to a pit floor level of maximum 8° has been possible. The disclosed invention provides the opportunity for mining to even up to seams up to 30°, or more, relative to horizontal plus or minus 8°. Likewise with the prior art launching equipment for highwall mining only mining of seams up to 300 meter length was possible. The present invention provides the opportunity for mining of seams up to 500 meters length, or more (penetration measured from the seam entry).

In an exemplary embodiment a crane unit is mounted to the launch frame. The advantage of such a connection is that the launch frame and crane unit are even simpler to connect and disconnect with the upper frame. In this context the "crane unit" is to be understood as to incorporate all types of high performance tracked vehicles or other types of engineering vehicles with continuous tracks. A further advantage is that the forces exerted by the crane unit will be absorbed by the launch unit and have thus less influence on the upper frame. For easy handling of equipment parts such as conveyor segments like push beams, the crane may, in an exemplary embodiment, be provided with a gripper frame or unit on the free end of a boom. A gripper unit is already known to be used in mining equipment but now the gripper unit may simply be attached to a boom (stick) of a crane arm to provided all the desired equipment handling. Also this crane unit is very use full for supporting purposes during maintenance and/or safe repair handling by exchange the gripper frame with a typical lifting hook on the crane arm. In another exemplary embodiment the base frame and the upper frame are connecting with an intermediate bearing ring. Such construction is long-lasting and robust while still provided the requested freedom of movement. In an exemplary embodiment the base frame will be provided with two tracks as this enhances the manoeuvrability relative to the known base frames with more than two tracks.

The drive means may comprise an internal combustion engine but, as an alternative, may also comprise an electric drive that is powered by an independent electric power source. Normally the internal combustion engine/electric drive is used to at least partly convert the available energy to hydraulic.

The upper frame may simply be connected to the launch frame at dynamic couplings that are normally standard parts of existing high performance shovels or crane units, (including as already started before other types of high performance tracked vehicles and other types of engineering vehicles with continuous tracks). For providing a further enhanced manoeuvrability of the launch frame (e.g. with the intention to mine seams under steep angles) the upper frame may be connected to the launch frame with at least one intermediate cylinder thus providing the possibilities for positioning the launch frame relative to the upper frame.

In an exemplary embodiment, the invention also provides a mining system that comprises a launch vehicle as disclosed above with at least one conveyor segment connecting to the launch frame of the launch vehicle and a cutterhead connecting to the train of conveyor segments opposite the side connecting to the launch vehicle. Such a system may be applied for surface mining. In case the mining system also comprises a train of conveyor segments connecting to the launch vehicle the system may be used for highwall mining. Further advantages may be realised by providing the mining system with a gas feed running from the base structure to the cutterhead for guiding inert gas to the environment of the cutterhead thus to reduce the risk of exploding gasses/dust in the environment of the cutterhead.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention further relates to a method for mining using a launch vehicle as disclosed before wherein the launch vehicle is driving a train of conveyor segments under an angle of 8° to about 30° relative to horizontal in a mining shaft and, more preferably at an angle of about 0° to about 35° relative to horizontal. Also the launch vehicle may be driving a train of conveyor segments with a length of more than 300 meters, preferably more than 350 meters, or even more than 500 meters, in a mining shaft (the so called "Drive"). In an other exemplary embodiment of the invention the launch vehicle is driving a train of conveyor segments at step angles of about 0° to about 35° relative to horizontal to create one or multi-pass mining shafts from one global launch position without relocation and/or pit-floor or earth moving preparations. In such a method the advantage is that savings a re realise due to the less relocation/earth moving.

Other objects, features, advantages and details appear, by way of example only, in the following detailed description of the embodiments in connection with the

accompanying drawings, wherein:

- figure 1 shows a schematic view of a launch vehicle as part of a mining system according the invention used in surface mining;

- figure 2 shows a schematic view of the mining system as partially shown in figure 1 modified for use in steep, directional high wall mining, and

- figure 3 shows a schematic view of the mining system as partially shown in figure 2 now used in horizontal directional high wall mining.

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

In an exemplary embodiment, figure 1 shows a view of a launch vehicle 1 as part of a mining system provided with a tracked vehicle base frame 2. An upper frame 3 is rotatably connected to the base frame 1 around a substantially vertical axis 4 of rotation. A launch frame 5 is mounted to the upper frame 3 and a rear support beam 5.3 of the launch frame 5 extends transversely of the launch frame 5 and may include a crane unit 6 mounted thereon. A drive system (not shown) for operating the launch vehicle 1 may be integrated in the upper frame 3. On the upper frame 3 a cabin 7 for an operator is provided as is an engine-generator room 23 containing power and gearing systems (not shown).

The mined material will be fed to the back side of the launch frame 5 where is may be discharge with a transporting system 16 or by directly dumping the material in trucks 18. For handling any equipment the crane unit 6 may, on it outer end, be provided with a gripper frame 8. The launch vehicle 1 is shown in an open pit 9 where the material to be mined 10 is excavated.

In an exemplary embodiment, figure 2 illustrates a mining system 19 comprising the launch vehicle 1, as show in figure 1, but now driving a cutterhead 11 in a steep shaft 12 in an overburden 13 (or as an not illustrated alternative in a direct surface steep access shaft entry). As is only partially visible in figure 2, the mining system 19 is provided with a train of conveyor segments 14 connecting to the launch frame 5 of the launch vehicle 1. The launch frame front support beam 5.2 extends transversely of the launch frame 5 and may be support reels 15 for a power line and a hose. The power line may be used to provide electric or hydraulic power to the train of conveyor segments 14 or to the cutterhead 11. The hose may be for feeding inert or venting gasses to the environment of the cutterhead 11 and/or for the discharge of fluid (dewatering) from the shaft 12.

Figure 3 shows the mining system 19 of figure 2 adapted for use in a horizontal mining shaft 20. A rear discharge boom 24 or belt conveyor may be mounted between the tracks 2 of the launch vehicle 1 (engineering vehicle) in the area 28 defined by the undercarriage ground clearance (or launch frame 5 clearance) for further transport of mined material by means of an additional stacker conveyor belt with receive hopper 28 as shown under the launch frame 5 in figure 2.

Figure 3 is useful for illustrating the connection between the upper frame 3 and the launch frame 5. The upper frame 3 is provided with dynamic coupling positions 21 holding segmented coupling arms 22 that incorporate cylinders 26 (ex. Hydraulic cylinders) for positioning the segmented coupling arms 22. As an alternative the upper frame 3 may be kinetically connected to the launch frame glide and lift platform by segmented coupling arms 22 attached to dynamic and kinetic coupling positions 21 located thereon.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.