Highwall mining equipment retrieval and extraction apparatus

Abstract

An extraction and retrieval apparatus for highwall mining equipment which includes a mining head engaged with and proceeded by a series of push beams The apparatus includes a retriever platform having wing braces for bracing the retriever platform against a mine highwall and a hydraulic assembly is mounted on the retriever platform and includes at least a spaced pair of stop blocks securable to the retriever platform at multiple different positions therealong. The hydraulic assembly further includes a pull beam slidable along the retriever platform and having a connection for connecting the pull beam to an outer most exposed push beam of the mining equipment. A spaced pair of hydraulic cylinders are disposed between the pair of stop blocks and the pull beam for pulling a connected mining push beam together with attached mining equipment from the mine shaft.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An extraction and retrieval apparatus for highwall mining equipment which includes a mining head engaged with and proceeded by a series of push beams, the apparatus comprising:
 a retriever platform including wing braces for bracing said retriever platform against a mine highwall;   a hydraulic assembly mounted on said retriever platform and including at least one stop block securable to said retriever platform at multiple different positions therealong;   said hydraulic assembly including a pull beam slidable along said retriever platform and having a connection for connecting said pull beam to an outermost exposed push beam of said mining equipment, and at least one hydraulic cylinder disposed between said at least one stop block and said pull beam for pulling a connected push beam together with attached mining equipment from a mine shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The extraction and retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one stop block is adjustably engaged with said retriever platform by a series of launch point recesses in and along said retriever platform for selectively receiving stop block projections protruding from said at least one stop block at said different positions along said retriever platform. 
     
     
         3 . The extraction and retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , said hydraulic platform including a spaced pair of said stop blocks and a spaced pair of said hydraulic cylinders respectively connected to said stop blocks. 
     
     
         4 . The extraction and retrieval apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said retriever platform, wing braces, pull beam, at least one stop block and at least one hydraulic cylinder are all separable from each other for ease of shipping and transfer.