Method and apparatus for monitoring the thickness of a coal rib during rib formation

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870348

Mowrey, Gary L ^[1]; Ganoe, Carl W ^[2]; Monaghan, William D ^[3]

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1. Jefferson Boro, PA
2. Pittsburgh, PA
3. Dravosburg, PA

Apparatus for monitoring the position of a mining machine cutting a new entry in a coal seam relative to an adjacent, previously cut entry to determine the distance between a near face of the adjacent previously cut entry and a new face adjacent thereto of a new entry being cut by the mining machine which together define the thickness of a coal rib being formed between the new entry and the adjacent previously cut entry during the new entry-cutting operation. The monitoring apparatus; includes a transmit antenna mounted on the mining machine and spaced inwardly from the new face of the coal rib for transmitting radio energy towards the coal rib so that one portion of the radio energy is reflected by the new face which is defined at an air-coal interface between the new entry and the coal rib and another portion of the radio energy is reflected by the near face of the coal rib which is defined at an air-coal interface between the coal rib and the adjacent previously cut entry. A receive antenna mounted on the mining machine and spaced inwardly of the new face of the coal rib receives the one portion of the radio energy reflected by the new face and also receives the another portion of the radio energy reflected by the near face. A processor determines a first elapsed time period equal to the time required for the one portion of the radio energy reflected by the new face to travel between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna and also determines a second elapsed time period equal to the time required for the another portion of the radio energy reflected by the near face to travel between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna and thereafter calculates the thickness of the coal rib being formed as a function of the difference between the first and second elapsed time periods.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by Secretary of (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5500649
• OSTI ID: 870348
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
monitoring
thickness
coal
rib
formation
position
mining
machine
cutting
entry
seam
relative
adjacent
previously
cut
determine
distance
near
thereto
define
formed
entry-cutting
operation
transmit
antenna
mounted
spaced
inwardly
transmitting
radio
energy
towards
portion
reflected
defined
air-coal
interface
receive
receives
processor
determines
elapsed
time
period
equal
required
travel
thereafter
calculates
function
difference
periods
adjacent thereto
elapsed time
coal seam
monitoring apparatus
time required
time period
receive antenna
mining machine
energy reflected
time periods
transmit antenna
spaced inwardly
cutting operation
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