A lightweight steel bar extending faceward from the steel supports behind the conveyor. It supports the area between the conveyor and the coal on longwall faces where cutter loaders are carried on armored flexible conveyors. The joint and locking device may consist of a hinge pin and wedge. The standard bar can carry in cantilever a maximum tip load of about 2 st (1.8 t). In general, linked bars are stronger than corrugated straps and wooden bars, and their use is increasing.