Method and Device for Mining Subsurface Deposits

Abstract

In a method for mining underground deposits using a mining machine, wherein an upper and a lower drift are driven, which extend on both sides of the deposit to be mined, and a preliminary bore is sunk between the two drifts, a supporting device is fixed at the mouth of the preliminary bore in the upper drift. A mining machine supported on the supporting device is positioned at the mouth of the preliminary bore so as to be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore, and the mining machine is advanced from the upper drift to the lower drift corresponding to the course of the preliminary bore.

1 . A method for mining underground deposits using a mining machine, comprising the steps of:
 driving an upper drift ( 1 ) and a lower drift ( 2 ), which extend on both sides of a deposit to be mined,   sinking a preliminary bore ( 3 ) between the upper drift ( 1 ) and the lower drift ( 2 ),   fixing a supporting device ( 4 ) at a mouth of the preliminary bore ( 3 ) in the upper drift ( 1 ), and   positioning a mining machine ( 5 ) supported on the supporting device ( 4 ) at the mouth of the preliminary bore ( 3 ) in the upper drift ( 1 ) so as to be oriented in a longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore ( 3 ),   wherein the mining machine ( 5 ) is braced by extractable props ( 6 ) in the supporting device ( 4 ),   the supporting device ( 4 ) comprises a frame-shaped structure, and   the mining machine ( 5 ) is advanced from the upper drift ( 1 ) to the lower drift ( 2 ) corresponding to a course of the preliminary bore.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of pulling the mining machine ( 5 ) back to the upper drift ( 1 ) using a wire rope hoist, after the mining machine ( 5 ) has reached the lower drift ( 2 ). 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of removing extracted material towards the preliminary bore ( 3 ) using a clearing tool provided on the mining machine ( 5 ), whereby the extracted material falls down through the preliminary bore ( 3 ) and reaches a haulage device arranged in the lower drift ( 2 ). 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the removal of the extracted material occurs during the advance of the mining machine ( 5 ) from the upper drift ( 1 ) to the lower drift ( 2 ). 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein material is excavated using disc or roller tools which operate by undercutting. 
   
   
       6 . A device for mining underground deposits, in a deposit to be mined located between an upper drift ( 1 ) and a lower drift ( 2 ) extending on both sides of the deposit to be mined, with a preliminary bore ( 3 ) sunk between the upper drift ( 1 ) and the lower drift ( 2 ),
 comprising:   a mining machine ( 5 ) and   a supporting device ( 4 ) for supporting the mining machine ( 5 ) in the upper drift ( 1 ) in a region of a mouth of the preliminary bore ( 3 ) in a position oriented in a longitudinal direction of the preliminary bore ( 3 ), wherein   the supporting device ( 4 ) comprises extractable props ( 6 ),   the mining machine ( 5 ) is arranged to be braceable by the extractable props ( 6 ) in the supporting device ( 4 ), and   the supporting device ( 4 ) comprises a frame-shaped structure.   
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mining machine ( 5 ) is fastened to the supporting device ( 4 ) by a carrying device. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the carrying device is comprised of a chain hoist or a wire rope hoist. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mining machine ( 5 ) carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on a pivotable cantilever arm ( 7 ), and the disc or roller tools operate by undercutting. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cantilever arm ( 7 ) carries clearing tools for removing excavated material towards the preliminary bore ( 3 ). 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the disc or roller tools are fixed to a head ( 8 ) drivable for rotation,   an axis of rotation of the head ( 8 ) extends substantially in a direction of an axis of the cantilever arm ( 7 ), and   said axis of rotation of the head ( 8 ) is mounted on a frame of the machine so as to be pivotable about an axis crossing an axis of the cantilever arm ( 7 ) and extending upstream of a pivot axis of the cantilever arm arranged transversely to a driving direction, viewed in the driving direction.   
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 11 , wherein a pivot bearing ( 9 ) of the cantilever arm ( 7 ) is arranged on a carriage displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the machine frame. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein the machine frame is formed to be braceable between a floor and a roof of the upper drift ( 1 ) by a plurality of props ( 6 ), wherein
 props ( 6 ) are arranged on both sides of a longitudinal central plane of the machine frame, and   at least one additional prop is arranged on the carriage in a region of the pivot axis of the pivot bearing ( 9 ) so as to be adjustable relative to the roof and the floor of the upper drift ( 1 ).   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of removing extracted material towards the preliminary bore ( 3 ) using a clearing tool provided on the mining machine ( 5 ), whereby the extracted material falls down through the preliminary bore ( 3 ) and reaches a haulage device arranged in the lower drift ( 2 ). 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein material is excavated using disc or roller tools which operate by undercutting. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein material is excavated using disc or roller tools which operate by undercutting. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the mining machine ( 5 ) carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on a pivotable cantilever arm ( 7 ), and the disc or roller tools operate by undercutting. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 8 , wherein the mining machine ( 5 ) carries disc or roller tools rotationally mounted on a pivotable cantilever arm ( 7 ), and the disc or roller tools operate by undercutting. 
   
   
       19 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the disc or roller tools are fixed to a head ( 8 ) drivable for rotation,   an axis of rotation of the head ( 8 ) extends substantially in a direction of an axis of the cantilever arm ( 7 ), and   said axis of rotation of the head ( 8 ) is mounted on a frame of the machine so as to be pivotable about an axis crossing an axis of the cantilever arm ( 7 ) and extending upstream of a pivot axis of the cantilever arm arranged transversely to a driving direction, viewed in the driving direction.   
   
   
       20 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein the clearing tools are clearing shields.