DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SETTING OF CUTTING HORIZON FOR EXTRACTING MINING MACHINE Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: mining machinery and equipment. SUBSTANCE: this relates to setting machine, namely, coal plough for cutting horizon at boundary of coal-rock at underground coal mining operation. Device has work face conveyor installed at stope of coal seam with guide member for extracting machine, and hydraulic cylinders for advancing. These hydraulic cylinders are kinematically interconnected and each of them is secured on rod which is pivotally attached to work face conveyor. Rod is resting on section of self-advancing support movable in direction of cutting. Device for control of hydraulic cylinders has sensing elements, and electronic unit for processing and control which processes measuring signals from sensing elements. These sensing elements are made up of identification probes which touch up coal-rock boundary. Probes are created by optical sensor heads which percept different reflecting capacity of rock and coal. They are installed over length of guide member at distance from each other and close to seam floor. Sensor heads are connected by wires to electronic processing and control unit. EFFECT: higher efficiency. 10 cl, 6 dwg