Mining hydraulic roof support used as a ranch gate entrance

I noticed this ranch entrance gate as we were approaching the Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery in Western Colorado. My guess is these gates are made from some kind of hydraulic roof bracing device used in the nearby coal mines. Maybe somebody out there has a better explanation?

In September, 2011 "blaster19541 answered my question with this:

"The jacks can hold hundreds of tons Go to youtube---long wall Miner ---and you can find more on the way they are used. JOY is one of the underground mining co. that have videos of them and how they work. Each jack works by its self . So if one fails the jack next to it will carry the weight. That is the beauty of the Long wall system. The men always work under the shield/jack."

Thanks for the info!

Here's my personal webpage about Colorado:
http://www.rogerwendell.com/colorado.html

05-11-2011

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• ranch
• entrance
• gate
• hydraulic
• mining
• roof
• support
• Hotchkiss
• Colorado

[zeekzilch]

@brettharris88

I agree - plus it probably took a bit on engineering to properly set it in place!

[brettharris88]

wow, thats an expensive entrance!!!!



[zeekzilch]

@blaster19541

Thanks for the info! I've added your comment to the video's description and appreciate you taking time to fill me in!

[blaster19541]

The jacks can hold hundreds of tons Go to youtube---long wall Miner ---and you can find more on the way they are used. JOY is one of the underground mining co. that have videos of them and how they work. Each jack works by its self . So if one fails the jack next to it will carry the weight. That is the beauty of the Long wall system. The men always work under the shield/jack.

[zeekzilch]

@blaster19541

Very interesting! However, do you believe these jacks to be strong enough to hold the rood during a complete cave-in or do the jacks, themselves, collapse sometimes during a mine disaster? Thanks!

[blaster19541]

You are right . Their is about 100 to 125 of thees roof jack side by side in what you would call a Long Wall Miner. It is hard to explain how it works . But as the cutting head passes buy each jack the jack is moved forward with hyd. rams in the bottom of each jack. Kinda like a snake. The coal is taken out on conveyor belts. The men work under the jack . After the jacks move forward the roof will fall in .