Randall D Peterson
Engineers in Sandy, UT

6505892, Jan 14, 2003

Jun 30, 2000

09/609568

Joseph Chryst Walker - Albany CA 94710-1211
Randall D. Peterson - Sandy UT 84092
Brandon H. Woolley - Provo UT 84606
Jonathan Wayne Wittwer - Provo UT 84604
Joel Brian Mundt - Provo UT 84601
Jesse Tate Olson - Provo UT 84604
Brian Douglas Gate - Provo UT 84606
Nathan L. Baker - Lehi UT 84043
K. S. Mortensen - Provo UT 84602-4102

E21C 2740

299 32, 299 31, 299 33, 405145

A softwall mining method and device. Each of a plurality of mining devices comprise a supporting portion, an earth moving portion and a coupling mechanism for advancing the earth moving portion into a mining face, and for advancing the supporting portion toward the earth moving portion. Supporting portions of the devices are locked together to anchor movement of the earth moving portions, and earth moving portions of the devices are separately locked together to anchor the movement of the supporting portions.

5997101, Dec 7, 1999

Feb 17, 1998

9/024438

Randall D. Peterson - Sandy UT

E21D 912, B65G 4102

299 64

A system for providing utilities and support infrastructure on a continuous basis from the surface to the cutting face of an underground operation. A flexible belt structure system incorporates water supply and discharge lines, power and communication cables, hydraulic supply and return lines, bulk lubrication delivery systems, and belt support structure for underground coal haulage. The system consists of modular components that are added at the surface and connected underground to form a continuous support structure to the working area, such that the infrastructure necessary for the mining operation is expanded or reduced to keep up with the position of the mining face without interruption of operation. The belt structure is mounted on a stationary rail fixed to the roof of the mine and is rolled forward or backwards in the belt entry as the mine advances or retreats, as applicable.

6086159, Jul 11, 2000

Apr 7, 1999

9/287885

Randall D. Peterson - Sandy UT

IMC-Agrico MP, Inc. - Northbrook IL

E21C 2718

299 17

Slurryable ore where the overburden is unstable and subject to collapse is mined from substantially parallel elongated main trenches connected by a perpendicular trench at the bottom of the mineral seam. A plurality of softwall mining devices supported by face equipment is placed in the perpendicular trench. The devices slurry the mineral material and move into the mineral seam as the overburden sloughs behind the mining devices. The subsided overburden is supplemented as necessary with injected material. Slurried mineral flows to the parallel trenches for removal to the surface. After the softwall devices have advanced the length of the parallel trenches, the devices are withdrawn and placed in additionally developed trenches elsewhere in the ore reserve.