inclined installation between the base and the caving shield has the least efficiency in
supporting the roof.
Based on this concept, there are four types of powered support, that is, the frame,
chock, shield, and chock shield, in order of evolution of their development. However,
it must be noted that the trend of development in each type is such that it becomes less
distinguishable in terms of application.
The four types of roof supports can be obtained for either longwall retreating or
advancing systems, and they are available in standard, one-web-back, and immediate
forward support (IFS) versions.
With the standard system, the winning machine takes a cut or a slice, and the
armored face conveyor is pushed over by the hydraulic rams that are fixed to the
support units. The support units then are advanced sequentially to the conveyor. With
the one-web-back system, a support is set back from the conveyor by a device that
automatically keeps the leading edge of the support at a fixed distance from the
conveyor .This allows easy access through the face and employs the standard method
of advancing; I. e., pushing the conveyor first, and then advancing the support.
With the IFS system , the support unit is advanced to the conveyor immediately
after the cutting machine has passed , and the forward canopy of the support unit is
long enough to support both the recently and newly exposed roof sections . After the
supports have been advanced, the conveyor is pushed over.
FRAME
The frame support is an extension of the single hydraulic props conventionally
used underground. Thus it is the first type developed in modern self-advancing
hydraulic powered supports .It involves setting up two hydraulic props or legs
vertically in tandem that are connected at the top by a single or two segmented
canopies .The two segmented canopies can be hinge-jointed at any point between the
legs or in front of the front leg .The base of the two hydraulic legs may be a circular
steel shoe welded at bottom of each leg or a solid base connecting both legs (Fig. 8.8).