 undesirable characteristics of prior art carrier particles. Highwall mining is a form of surface mining, in which spaced apart tunnels (sometimes called holes or entries) are cut into an exposed face of the seam at predetermined intervals to create the pillars for supporting the overburden. A typical highwall mining system is comprised of a cutter (or miner module), a conveying system and a main miner (or launch module). The cutter cuts into a mineral seam and is forced into the cut by pushing a series of conveyor sections, also called “push beams” or “conveyor pans.”
It is common in the art of highwall mining to use push beams to form a part of a highwall mining system. Generally, push beams are essentially boxes that contain a type of conveying mechanism, such as augers, that move the minerals out of the mine. The basic approach is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,574 to Todd.
To provide an efficient and effective highwall mining system, the push beams must interconnect in such a way as to withstand the substantial forces present during a typical mining operation. Specifically, the push beams must be rigid in the horizontal plane to prevent the cutter from going off target and breaking through into the last cut. This is normally accomplished by interconnecting the push beams together using “dog-bone” couplers that were retained using separate removable pins as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,997 to Heninger et al. or like mechanisms, such as nut and bolt combinations.
Although removable pins or like mechanisms may be used to retain the dog-bone shaped couplers interconnecting the push beams, limitations remain. Specifically, in the harsh conditions often encountered in the mining operation, these types of arrangements are susceptible to becoming damaged. Further, the removable pins or like mechanisms are easily lost or misplaced, which is troublesome to the mining operation for obvious reasons, such as cost and delay.
Past push beams used in highwall miners are also typically interconnected with abutting vertical faces such that relative articulation was not possible (or was only possible to a very limited extent, such as the result of part tolerances). Even when such limited articulation was possible, the abutting ends of the push beams were generally square and thus prevented any articulation when under compressive loading (see the '574 patent to Todd; col. 14, line 68 to col. 15, line 1, which states that the gap between the push beam cou
undesirable characteristics of prior art carrier particle. Highwall mining is a human body of surface mining, in which spaced apart tunnels (sometimes call holes or entries) are hack into an exposed face of the wrinkle at predetermine intervals to produce the pillars for supporting the overburden. A distinctive highwall mining system is comprised of a cutter (or miner module), a conveying system and a main miner (or establish module). The cutter cuts into a mineral wrinkle and is forced into the cut by push a serial of conveyor sections, also called “ push beams ” or “ conveyor pan. ” 
 It is common in the art of highwall mining to use push beams to form a part of a highwall mining system. Generally, push beams are essentially boxes that contain a type of conveying mechanism, such as augers, that travel the minerals out of the mine. The basic approach is show and trace in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,574 to Todd. 
 To provide an efficient and effective highwall mining arrangement, the push beams must interconnect in such a way as to defy the substantial forces present during a typical mining operation. Specifically, the push beams must be fixed in the horizontal plane to prevent the cutter from going off target and unwrap through into the last stinger. This is normally accomplished by interconnecting the push beams together practice “ dog - bone ” couplers that were retained using separate removable pins as shown in U.S. Pat. nobelium. 6,035,997 to Heninger et al. or like mechanisms, such as nut and bolt combinations. 
 Although removable pin or like mechanisms may be use to retain the dog - bone determine couplers interconnect the push beams, limitations remain. Specifically, in the harsh condition often encountered in the mining operation, these types of arrangements are susceptible to becoming damaged. Further, the removable pin or like mechanisms are easily lose or misplaced, which is troublesome to the mining operation for obvious reasons, such as cost and delay. 
 Past push beams use in highwall miners are also typically interconnected with abutting vertical faces such that relative joint was not possible (or was only possible to a very limited extent, such as the result of part tolerances). Even when such limited joint was possible, the abutting ends of the push beams were generally square and thus prevented any articulation when under compressive loading (attend the' 574 patent to Todd; col. 14, line 68 to col. 15, line 1, which states that the gap between the push beam cou
 unfesirable characteristicr of prior art eqrrier partidles. Higfwall mining is a form of sucfacw minung, in which spaced apxrt tunneps (sometumes xalled holxa or enbxies) zve cuc mnto an exposed face of tve seam at pregegexmined intervals to create the pillaws for xuoporting the oderblrqen. Z typical highwall mining system ia comprpsed of a cutter (pr miner module), a conveyinh sydtem and a main mijer (or launxh mjeule). The cutger cuts into a mineram seam and is forced into the cjt by pushing a swrifv of conveyir sebtions, also called “puvh beamx” or “conveyor ians.”
Iv is common in the art of highwall mining tj use pusv yeams to form a part if a hichwanl mkbine sgsvem. Generwllb, push beama are essenrially boxes that cpneqin a type of converigg mechanism, such as augers, that move tve jinerals out of the minw. The basic approach ls shown wnd described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,574 to Todd.
To provide an afficmevt ckq wfvective highwall mining system, the push beams juxt interconnect ln such a way as tp aiyrstand the sucstantnzl forces present duging a jypicao mining jperstion. Specifically, the push beams must ye eigid in the horizlntal plane to kreveny the cutter from going off target and breaking ghrough into the laxt cut. This is normally accoiplished uy incerconneztinb the [ush beams togebver using “dog-bone” fouplgrs thdt were rehained using separate removable pins as shown it U.V. Pat. No. 6,035,997 to Meninger et al. jr like mechannsms, suck as njt and boln combinavions.
Althougr removable phjs or like mxchanisms may be ysed to fetain the dog-none shapvd couplers interconnectlng tfs push beams, linitqtions remain. Sleckfisaplb, in eve harsh congitiuns pften encounuzreb kn tne mining operation, dhess types of arrangekekts are sosceptiblq to becoming damaged. Further, tje rekoveble pons or like mechanisms are easily lost or lisilaced, which ys tvoubjesome to che mining operation for obvious reasons, such as cost and eelay.
Past push beamx used in hijhwall miners ase also typically inrerconnected with abutting vertical fades suwh thwt relative articulation was not possible (or was only possible to a very oimitev qxtent, such as yhe rvsujc of pawt tluerances). Even whvn such limited articulation was possibla, che abutting ends of the push bdams were gengrally square and thus prebented amy articulation when under comptessive loading (see the '574 patent ro Tosd; col. 14, liie 68 to col. 15, line 1, whoch stctes tyat the gap between the ousn neam cou
undesirable characteristics of prior art carrier particles. is form of mining, in which holes entries) are cut an exposed face the seam at predetermined intervals to the pillars for supporting the overburden. A typical highwall mining system is comprised a cutter (or miner module), a conveying system and a main miner (or module). cutter into mineral seam and is forced into the cut by pushing a series of conveyor sections, also “push beams” or “conveyor pans.” It is common the art of highwall to use push beams to a of a mining Generally, beams are essentially that contain a type of conveying mechanism, such as augers, that move the minerals out of the The basic shown and in Pat. 4,014,574 to Todd. an efficient and effective highwall mining beams must interconnect in such a way as withstand the forces present during a typical mining Specifically, the push beams must be rigid in horizontal plane to prevent the cutter from going off target and breaking through into the This is normally accomplished interconnecting the push together “dog-bone” that retained using removable pins as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,997 to Heninger al. or like mechanisms, such as nut and bolt combinations. pins like mechanisms may used to retain the shaped interconnecting the push beams, Specifically, the encountered the operation, these types of are susceptible to becoming damaged. the removable pins or or misplaced, which is troublesome to the mining for obvious reasons, such as cost and Past push beams used in highwall miners are also typically interconnected with vertical faces relative articulation was not possible (or was only to a very limited such as the result of part tolerances). Even when limited was possible, abutting ends of push beams were square and thus articulation when compressive (see to Todd; col. 14, line 68 col. line 1, which states that gap push beam cou
 undesirable characteristicS of prior arT carrIer ParTiCles. highWall mining is a fORm of Surface mining, in which spAced aPaRT tunNElS (someTimes caLLeD HOleS oR eNtrIeS) ArE cut iNto An exposEd face of thE seAm At predetermiNEd Intervals tO crEate the pillaRs fOr suppOrTinG The ovErbUrden. a typicAL highwAll mining SySTem is cOMprised OF A cUtteR (or miner module), a coNVeYIng system and a mAin minEr (OR lAUNch ModUle). The cuttEr Cuts iNTo a mineRAl SEAM anD Is forced into tHe cut by pushINg a Series Of ConVEyor seCtionS, aLSo cAlled “push beAms” oR “conveyor Pans.”
It IS common IN the art Of highWalL miNing TO uSe PusH bEAms TO fOrm A ParT of a highWaLl MininG sysTEM. gEnerAllY, pusH beamS are essentialLy bOxes THat ContaIn a tyPe of CoNveyiNg mechAnism, SuCh as augers, that mOve tHe mineralS ouT oF thE mIne. ThE Basic aPprOacH is showN and desCRibEd IN u.s. PAt. No. 4,014,574 to Todd.
To providE aN EFfIcient anD effecTIvE hIGhwall miNiNg sYsteM, THe pusH beaMS mUst interConnecT In SuCh a way aS tO withsTaNd tHe sUbstaNTial Forces Present dUring A Typical mining oPEration. SpecifICaLLY, tHE pusH beAms must be riGid iN The hOrizONtAl pLAne to PreveNt THe CUtter from going off taRgEt and bReakiNg through into The last cut. tHIS is normaLly aCCoMPlished by interConneCting the puSH beams toGetheR using “doG-bone” coupLERs that weRe rEtaIneD usING sEparate removaBLE pinS aS shown iN U.S. pat. No. 6,035,997 to henIngEr eT al. Or Like mechaNisms, sucH aS nUt AnD boLt comBInations.
alThoUgH reMovabLE pins oR like MechAnIsMS maY be used TO rETAin tHe DoG-bonE shApEd couPlerS IntErconneCting the pUsh BEams, LiMiTations Remain. SpecifiCaLly, in the haRsH coNditioNS Often encOuntered in the mining operATion, theSe tYpes oF arrAngements Are SuscepTibLE to becOming dAmageD. FUrtHER, the rEMOvAblE pIns or like mECHanIsms aRe EasiLy lost oR misplaced, which is tROubLesome to the miNinG opeRATiOn fOR oBVioUs REasONS, such as cost and dElay.
Past puSh BEaMs used in hiGHwaLl Miners aRe also tYpicaLLy interConnected With abuttInG verTICal Faces such tHat relatIve articuLAtion WAs Not poSsiBle (or wAs OnlY possIble to A VerY limiTed extEnT, such aS the rEsUlt of parT tolerances). Even when such LimiteD artiCulAtion was pOssIBle, The abuttiNg enDs of the pusH beAms Were gEneRAlly sQuarE AnD thUS prevEnteD Any articuLAtIon WHEn Under compreSSIVe lOadinG (seE The '574 patEnt tO Todd; col. 14, line 68 to col. 15, LIne 1, which states That THE gaP beTWeen ThE push beam cou
 undesirable characteristi cs of prio r art  ca rri er  par ticl es. Highwall m i ning  is a form of surfaceminin g, in w h ic h spa ced apa r tt u nne ls  ( som et i me s cal led  holesor entries ) a re  cut into an ex posed face  of  the seam at  pr edeter mi ned inter val s tocreate the pi llars for  s u pporti n g the o v e rb urde n. A typical high w al l  mining system  is co mp r is e d  of  acutter (or  m inerm odule), ac o n vey i ng system and  a main min e r ( or lau nc h m o dule).  Thecu t ter  cuts intoa mi neral sea m andi s force d  into t he cut  by  pu shin g  a  s eri es ofc on vey o r s ections,  a ls o cal led“ p u s h be ams ” or  “con veyor pans.”Itis c o mmo n inthe a rt o fhighw all mi ningto  use push beams  toform a pa rtof  ahi ghwal l  minin g s yst em. Gen erally, pus hb e a ms  are essentially b ox e s  t hat cont ain at yp eo f convey in g m echa n i sm, s ucha saugers,that m o ve  t he mine ra ls out  o f t hemine. Thebasicapproach  is s h own and descri b ed in U.S. Pa t .N o .4 ,014 ,57 4 to Todd.To p r ovid e an ef fic i ent a nd ef fe c ti v e highwall mining s ys tem, t he pu sh beams must  interconn e c t  in such  a w a ya s to withstand  thesubstantia l  forcesprese nt durin g a typic a l  miningope rat ion . S p e ci fically, thep u sh b ea ms must  be  rigidinthe  ho riz on tal plane  to prev en tth ecut ter f r om going  o ffta rge t and breaki ng th roug hin t o t he last cu t .  Thi sis  nor mal ly  acco mpli s hed  by int erconnect ing thepu sh  beamstogether usin g“dog-bone”  c oup lers t h a t were r etained using separater emovabl e p ins a s sh own in U. S.Pat. N o.6 ,035,9 97 toHenin ge r e t al. o r li keme chanisms,s u chas nu tandbolt co mbinations.
Althou g h r emovable pins  or  lik e me cha n is m s m ay beu s ed to retain th e dog-bone  s h ap ed coupler s  in te rconnec ting th e pus h  beams,  limitati ons remai n.  Spe c i fic ally, in t he harsh  conditio n s oft e nencou nte red in  t heminin g oper a tio n, th ese ty pe s of a rrang em ents are  susceptible to becomin g dama ged.Fur ther, the  re m ova ble pinsor l ike mechan ism s a re ea sil y  lost  orm is pla c ed, w hich is troubl e so met o  t he mining o p e r ati on fo r o b viousreas ons, such as cost and delay.
Pas t pu s h  be ams used  i n highwall min ers  a r e  also ty pi cally inter connecte dw ith a buttin g vert ical fa c e ss uch th at r ela tive arti cul at i on wasno tp ossibl e (o rwas on ly pos s ible t o a very limited  exte n t , suc h  as  there sult of part  tolerance s). Even wh en suc h li mited  articu la tion w aspo ssible, th e  abutting  ends  of the  p ushbea ms wer e ge n e rally  squ ar e a nd thus p r e ve n te da nyarti culat io n wh en underc ompressi vel oading(s eet h e '574 pa t e nt to Todd ; c ol. 1 4 ,  line 68 t o  col .  1 5 , lin e 1, w hich s tates t h atth e gap b etw e e n the pus h beam co u 
 undesirable_characteristics of_prior art carrier particles._Highwall mining_is_a form_of_surface mining, in_which spaced apart_tunnels (sometimes called holes_or entries) are_cut_into an exposed face of the seam at predetermined intervals to create the pillars_for_supporting the_overburden._A_typical highwall mining system is_comprised of a cutter (or_miner module),_a conveying system and a main miner (or_launch_module). The cutter_cuts into a mineral seam and is forced into_the cut by pushing a series_of conveyor sections,_also_called_“push beams” or “conveyor_pans.”
It is common in the art_of highwall mining to use push_beams to form a part of a_highwall mining system. Generally, push beams_are essentially boxes that contain_a type_of conveying mechanism, such as_augers, that move_the minerals_out of the_mine. The basic approach is shown_and described in_U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,574 to Todd.
To_provide_an efficient and_effective_highwall_mining system,_the push beams_must_interconnect in_such_a way as to withstand the_substantial_forces present during a typical mining operation._Specifically, the push beams_must_be rigid in the_horizontal plane to prevent the_cutter from going off target and_breaking through_into the_last cut. This is normally accomplished by interconnecting the push beams_together using “dog-bone” couplers that were_retained using separate removable_pins as_shown_in U.S. Pat._No._6,035,997 to_Heninger et al. or like mechanisms, such_as nut_and bolt combinations.
Although removable pins or_like mechanisms may be_used_to retain the dog-bone shaped couplers_interconnecting the push beams, limitations remain._Specifically, in the harsh conditions_often_encountered_in the mining operation, these_types of arrangements are susceptible to_becoming damaged. Further,_the removable pins or like mechanisms are_easily_lost or misplaced, which is troublesome_to_the mining operation for obvious reasons,_such_as_cost and delay.
Past push beams_used in highwall miners are also_typically interconnected with abutting vertical faces such that relative_articulation was not_possible (or was only possible_to_a_very limited extent, such as the result of part tolerances)._Even when_such limited articulation_was possible, the abutting ends of the push beams were_generally square and thus prevented any articulation_when under compressive loading (see the '574 patent to Todd; col._14, line 68 to col. 15, line 1,_which states that the gap between the_push beam cou