TOROIDAL SUPPORT OF BREAKAGE FACE Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: mining industry, underground excavation of coal. SUBSTANCE: wt.% toroidal support includes sectional frame, adjustable tori, torus shifter in the form of closed hose with protrusions over external surface and guiding rollers of closed flexible hose. Support also has row of unadjustable tori, each being provided with closed flexible tie-shifter with protrusions over external surface and driving roller linked to sectional frame in space between adjustable tori. Closed flexible tie and driving roller may have mobile branch of closed flexible tie in internal plane of torus in vertical plane and immobile branch under torus on ground of seam. Axles of guiding rollers can be made as one unit with mechanism for transmission of rotation from them to driving rollers of closed flexible ties. Given toroidal support makes it possible to win seams of medium thickness with smooth lowering of roof and to contribute to lesser sinking of ground surface in mine and to better environmental control. EFFECT: winning of coal seams of medium thickness and improved environmental control. 2 cl, 5 dwg