METHOD OF MINING THICK GENTLY DIPPING COAL SEAMS Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: mining industry, particularly, coal mining industry. SUBSTANCE: upper layer of pillar is extracted by strips along the strike within blocks confined by support pillars with distance between block pillars of not in excess of limit value of length of stable roof caving cantilever, which are extracted in mining of lower layer after their breakage by rock pressure. Broken coal from support pillars is extracted by use of giant jets and partially mined and released part of lower layer between reclaimed pillars are drawn by mechanohydraulic combine. In mining of support pillars in lower layer, they are separated along longitudinal axis into two parts, each of which is mined from adjacent released and partially mined extraction block, and development workings of this layer are driven beyond boundary of support pillars. EFFECT: higher safety of operation, reduced labor input and power consumption in processes of preparation for and mining of upper layer of thick gently dipping seam. 3 cl, 3 dwg