J. H. Fletcher & Co., Inc.

Sean Joseph McQuerrey

Henry Eugene Wilson

Robert G Anderson

Adam Richard Teator

Gregory E Hinshaw

Sean Casey Farrell

Muhammad Usama

A drilling machine, including a drill and a boom, are used for drilling boreholes in the face of a mine. A sensor may scan the mine and create a virtual environment representing the mine based on that scan. The drilling machine may include a computer for moving the drill and the boom from a first position to a second position based at least partially on evaluation of the kinematic redundancy of the drill and boom. This may be used to avoid a collision in moving the drill and boom from the first position to the second position.

Automated system for face drill machines

A system for drilling one or more boreholes in a face of a mine passage including markers attached to the mine passage. A drilling machine includes one or more drills for drilling the one or more boreholes, and a first sensor for sensing a position of the markers. Based on the sensed position of the at least two markers, a computer determines: (i) a survey vector generally parallel to the line; and (ii) a face plane generally orthogonal to the survey vector and coincident with a location where the survey vector intersects the face. A controller may be provided for automatically controlling the feeding of the drill(s) based on the location of the face plane and the back plane to form the boreholes in the face. A back plane may also be determined to ensure that all boreholes are drilled to a corresponding depth. Related methods are also disclosed.

Mine drilling system and related method

An apparatus for use in connection using a drill having a drilling element for forming a borehole in a face of a mine passage includes a drill guide for engaging the drilling element while permitting the drilling element to move toward the face for forming the borehole. The drill guide includes a keeper for keeping the drilling element in a desired position, which keeper is biased for pivoting movement upon the application of a manual force between an active position for capturing the drilling element and a retracted position for releasing the drilling element. A low profile drill guide is also disclosed, as is a guard for a drill guide, and also related methods.

Drilling apparatus with drill guide

A pump collects waste fluid and debris from the drilling of a borehole in a mine and for disposing of the waste fluid in a controlled manner. The pump collects the waste fluid into the pump housing through a grate. The pump also includes a centrally located hole which allows a drilling shaft to pass through the body of the pump. The pump further includes a funnel-shaped collar for collecting waste fluid that is dispersed from the mine borehole. A drill head may be attached to the pump for powering the drilling shaft, and for powering an impeller within the pump.

Pump for use with mine drill and related methods

An apparatus abates noise from the operation of a drill head including a drilling element for engaging a face of a mine passage during a drilling cycle in which the drill head moves from a first position farther from the face to a second position closer to the face. The apparatus includes a collapsible barrier capable of moving between an extended condition to cover a portion of the drilling element during the formation of the borehole and a retracted condition in which the portion of the drilling element covered in the extended condition is exposed. A holder is adapted for releasably coupling with the barrier in the extended condition. Related methods are also disclosed.

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South Charleston, WV, United States of America

Sean Joseph McQuerrey