Recent Patents on Gangue Pneumatic Filling for Coal Auger Mining Method

Background: With the mining depth and width increasing, coal auger mining is prone to collapse accident in the poor existing conditions, which reduces the security and reliability of mining workface and wastes the large amounts of coal resources due to the remaining coal pillars. Objective: To eliminate the prearranged pillars, control the subsidence and collapse and promote the widespread use of coal auger mining method in thin or extremely thin coal seam. Methods: According to the mining geological condition and the mining technology of five-bits coal auger, the whole technology of pneumatic conveying and filling included the technology of gangue pneumatic conveying from surface to underground, the technology of coal and gangue separation during drivaging, and the technology of gangue filling in coal auger mining, was proposed. Results: The filling system for coal auger mining with little space occupation, high production efficiency and simple equipment structure has been developed. The system of pneumatic conveying and filling for coal auger mining was constructed and the pneumatic conveying system and the pneumatic filling system were designed, which could make up the disadvantages of large volume and heavy equipments which limited the traditional filling system to apply in coal auger mining goaf. Conclusion: This system provided design guidance for the pneumatic conveying and filling system for coal auger mining and had strong practical significance to improve the green mining technological system of thin coal seam. In this article, various patents have been discussed.