MINING MACHINE AND METHOD

摘要

A mining machine (7) is provided which moves from side-to-side in sequential passes across a seam of material to be mined. The machine (7) is carried on rail means (19) and co-ordinate positions of the rail means (19) are measure d at locations along the length of the rail means. A trailing part of the rail means (19) is then moved by rail moving means (25) to a new position for a next pass, and the distance of moving is determined from the co-ordinates of the positions previously measured. By knowing the co-ordinates of the positions, the rail means (19) can be moved to assume a desired profile, so that a desired profile of the face of the seam can be achieved on the next pass of the machine (7). Desirably the profile is a straight line. Co- ordinates of the up and down movement of a shearing head (9) can also be measured and stored with the co-ordinates of the positions along the rail means to provide a profile of the seam being cut, and so that on a next pass the intended position of the shearing head (9) can be predicted and moved accordingly. A method of mining embodying the above is also provided.