US2069091A - Material gathering and loading machine - Google Patents

Description

\ J. S. HOUSMAN MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE OxiginaAl Fled Oct. 13, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 26, 1937. n J. s. HoUsMAN 2,069,091

MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 13, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ Jan. 2s, 1937.

J. s. HoUsMAN MATERIAL GATHERING`-AND LOADING MACHINE Original Filed OCt. 15, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y ya J. S. HOUSMAN MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE "Jan, 26, 1937.'

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Oct. 15, 1932 w r MM SSP Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES Ztdl PATENT @FFME MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHNE Application October 13, 1932, Serial No. 637,576 Renewed April 1, 1936 9 Claims.

material gathering and loading machines particularly adapted for operation in spaces of restricted vertical height for loading coal at the working face of a mine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character described particularly adapted for use in thin seams of coal for loading along a long face constructed with a View towards utmost compactness, simplicity, eiiiciency, maneuverability, and ease of operation.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time in the following specification:

My invention may be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a loading machine illustrating one form in which my invention may be embodied, with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details of my invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the rearward portion of the embodiment of my inven- 30 tion shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details of my invention;

Figure 5 is a partial fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the rearward portion of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6 6 of Figure 3; and

Figure '7 is a working diagram of the device embodying my invention.

10 Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures.

Referring now to the details of the machine as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the main elements thereof consist of a skid or main frame It hav- 45 ing up-turned sides and ends and being adapted to rest on the mine bottom for slidable movement therealong, an inclined loading element li extending forwardly of said main frame and carried thereby, and a discharge conveyor I2 eX- 50 tending from beneath the rearward end of said loading element and thence upwardly and rearwardly in an extended overhanging position beyond the rearward end of said main frame so as to discharge material into suitable material con- 55 veying means.

This invention relates to improvements in The inclined loading element H includes a conveyor I4 supported in side frame members I5 on either side of the main frame It and extending forwardly therefrom, which side frame members, besides supporting the conveyor, form a 5 means for retaining material thereon. The conveyor lli is inclined for a portion of its length from a position disposed forwardly of the main. frame Il and its upper portion extends substantially horizontally rearwardly along said 10 main frame to a point adjacent the rearward end thereof above the discharge conveyor l2.

The inclined conveyor lli may be of any suitable construction which requires a minimum amount of vertical space, but is herein preferably 15 shown as being made from a wire mesh belt I6 extending around a direction changing device |11 of a minimum diameter supported at its ends in the side frame members l5 adjacent the lower forward portion thereof and extending upwardly 20 and rearwardly therefrom for a portion of its length along the upper side of a plate i8 and thence horizontally and rearwardly around a toothed drive roller I9. From the toothed drive roller I9, the wire mesh belt extends beneath the plate l 8 along suitable guide means to the direction changing device Il.

The wire mesh belt I6 is of a usual construction made from interlaced strands of wire in a manner similar to woven wire fencing, and its particular advantages are that it forms a suitable eiiicient conveying medium for coal which may pass around direction changing devices of less diameter than other conveyor means and thus makes possible the construction of conveying mechanism of less vertical height than with other conveying mediums and keeps the height of the loading machine down to the minimum vertical requirements necessary for operation in thin seams of coal.

The forward ends of the side frame members l5 are inclined at an angle of incidence with respect to the ground upon which the machine rests greater than the conveyor It and form a means for supporting an inclined apron 2| which 45 extends from a point adjacent the mine bottom and extreme forward lower ends of the side frame members i5 forwardly of the inclined conveyor Ill upwardly along the forward faces of said side frame members on each side of said inclined conveyor. A portion 22 of the inclined apron 2| extends rearwardly from the forward end thereof along the inner sides of the side frame members l5 in alignment with the lower portion of said side frame members to form in effect a shoe for engaging an uneven mine bottom during the loading operation. The forward portion of the inclined apron 2l and lower portion of the forward ends of the side frame members i5 are concavely curved so as to form a curved support for chain guiding members 23. Said chain guiding members are so formed that their contour corresponds with the contour of the apron 2| and are disposed on each side of the conveyor H. The chain guiding members 23 extend beyond the forward end of the conveyor l5 and forwardly of the forward end of the inclined apron 2|.

Thus the chain guiding members 23 may guide suitable endless chains 24 for movement thereabout in a closed. orbital path in such a manner that gathering means carried thereby may engage and move along the ground forwardly of said chain guiding members. The endless chains 24 are constructed in such a manner that they may readily follow the curved conto-ur of the chain guiding members 23, which construction is well known to those skilled in the art so will not herein be shown or described in detail.

The' gathering means carried by the endless chains 24 comprise a plurality of gathering arms 25 mounted thereon in a usual manner for engaging and moving the mined coal onto the conveyor Ul.

An independent motor 2`| is provided for driving each endless chain 24 so said endless chains may be operated independently with respect to each other in a simplified manner, thus eliminating complicated systems of gearing and clutches which necessarily add to the height and bulk of the machine.

Inasmuch as the drive from each motor to each endless chain 25 is similar, the drive from one motor only will herein be described.

The motor 2l is arranged so as to extend longitudinally of the main frame I0 and is substantially parallel to the inclined apron 2| and is supported on the outer side of the side frame member l5 beneath said inclined apron in a` usual'manner well known to those familiar with the art. A bevel armature pinion 23 is pro vided on the motor 2'1, which bevel pinion meshes with and drives a bevel gear 29 on a shaft B substantially perpendicular to the inclined apron 2|. A pinion 3| is cut integral with the shaft 3|! and meshes with and drives a spur gear 33 on a parallel shaft 34. A helical gear is keyed on the shaft 34 adjacent the end opposite the spur gear 33 and meshes with and drives a helical gear 55 on a shaft 3l coaxial with the shaft 3U. A sprocket 3g is keyed on the opposite; end of the shaft 37 and meshes with the endless chain 24 for driving said endless chain.

It may thus be seen that a compact driving arrangement of minimum vertical dimensions has been provided for the endless chains 2li, which driving arrangement is entirely beneath the inclined apron 2| and requires no vertical height additional to the height of the conveyor |4.

Referring now in particular to the means for feeding the inclined loading element into the loose material and moving the main frame or skid Il) about the mine bottom, a plurality of feed drums i0 are provided on each side thereof. The feed drums 40 are coaxially arranged about a shaft 5| disposed transversely of the main frame l5 rearwardly of the discharge conveyor I2 and beneath the conveyor I4.

Each of the drums 5) is adapted to be independently driven from a motor 43, which motor is mounted on the main frame lli adjacent the forward end thereof beneath the conveyor I4 and is provided with an armature shaft M eX- tendingy longitudinallywith respect thereto. A shaft i5 is coaxial with the armature shaft 44 and extends rearwardly therefrom and is journaled in suitable ball bearings in a suitable bearing support and worm and worm gear housing d5 and is operatively connected with the rea-rward end of the armature shaft Mi by means of a suitable 'flexible coupling generally indicated by reference character 41. A worm 58 is cuti integral with the shaft and meshes with and drives a worm gear 49 keyed'on the transversely extending shaft il adjacent the central portion thereof for driving said shaft. The shaft 4| is journaled adjacent opposite sides of the worm gear 59 and is journaled in its ends within hubs 5@ of casings 5| of planetary gear reduction devices generally indicated by reference character 52. The hubs 50 of the casings 5| are in turn journaled in suitable bearing supports generally indicated by reference character 53 secured to aid extending upwardly from the main frame Inasrnuch as each planetary gear reduction device 52 and the drive from said planetary gear reduction devices to the feed drums 4@ is the same, the details of one only will herein be described. A sun gear 55 is keyed on'the shaft f! within the casing 5| and meshes with and drives planetary pinions 56, which planetary pinions in turn mesh with an internal gear 5l:

on the inner periphery of the casing 5|.

The planetary pinions 55 are journaled on suitable stud shafts 59 having enlarged heads 60 abutting the outer side of the planetary pinions 5E and passing through a body portion 6| of the feed drum d@ and having a nut threaded on its opposite end abutting the outer side of said body portion for holding said stud shaft to said body portion. The body portion 6| of the feed drum M is in turn journaled on the shaft 4| by means of suitable ball bearings so said drum may rotate upon rotation of the planetary pinions 56 about the sun gear 55.

Suitable friction means are provided to` engage the outer periphery of 'the casing 5| to hold said casing and the internal gear 51 from rotation or to permit slippage of said casing upon overload which may be of any type but which is herein preferably shown as being a friction band 63 which is engaged with or disengaged from the outer periphery of the casing 5| by means of a suitablesystem of levers in an ordinary manner (not shown).

lt may thus be seen that when the internal gear 5'! is held from rotation by means of the friction band 63, that the planetary pinions 56 will be driven about said internal gear by means of the sun gear 55 which in turn will drive the feed drum 4U through the stud shafts 59, that the speed of rotation of said drum may be varied by varying the pressure of the friction band t3 on the casing 5|, and that, upon overload of said feed drum, the friction band 53 will slip on the outer periphery of the casing 5| which will prevent breakage of the parts in the drive for said feed drum. Y

It may further be seen that the friction band. 63 serves as a clutch means foi` connecting the feed drum @E to the shaft 45 in a simplified manner so it may be driven therefrom and vice versa.

Suitable means are provided for braking the feed drums 40 and forming a means whereby either of said drums may serve as a retarding drum to retard movement of one portion of the machine while it is being moved by the opposite drum to aid in manipulating the machine about the mine, which means comprises friction bands 64 adapted to engage the outer periphery of flanges 65 integral with the outer sides of the feed drums lll] and extending over the casings 5l for a portion of their length so as tobe disposed adjacent the friction bands 63 on the inner side thereof. The friction bands 64 may be engaged with or disengaged from the flanges 65 for holding the feed drums lill from rotation or permitting said feed drums to be fed at a frictionally controlled speed by means of a suitable system of levers in a usual manner (not shown).

It may thus be seen that either of the feed drums 40 may be driven from the shaft l5 at a reduced frictionally controlled speed and that either of said drums may be held from rotation with respect to said shaft when disconnected therefrom to serve as a retarding device.

Suitable flexible feeding members 61 are adapted to be connected to and wound on the feed drums 49. The exible feeding members 61 are adapted to extend forwardly from the' feed drums 49 around guide sheaves E8 outwardly and forwardly therefrom around guide sheaves 69 disposed adjacent the forward outer ends of the main frame I9 for pulling the machine forwardly into the coal or along the face of the coal.

The flexible feeding members 61 may also extend around guide sheaves 1l] in alignment with the guide sheaves: 68 on the outer sides thereof and rearwardly therefrom around guide sheaves 1l to a guide sheave 13 disposed adjacent the longitudinal center line of the main frame IE! adjacent the rearward end thereof for moving the machine rearwardly along the mine bottom.

Referring now to the drive for the wire mesh belt I6 of the conveyor Ill, a shaft 1E.- is coaxial with the shaft @5 and extends rearwardly therefrom. The shaft 19 is driven from the shaft i5 by means of a suitable flexible coupling generally indicated by reference character 15. A worm and worm gear drive, generally indicated by reference character iii, drives a transversely extending shaft 'Il from the shaft 14. The outer end of the transversely extending shaft 11 is splined and engages the inner portion of a splined sleeve 18, which splined sleeve is journaled in suitable bearing supports extending upwardly from the main frame if! and has a sprocket 19 freely mounted thereon. Suitable means are provided for operatively connecting the sprocket 19 with the splined sleeve 18 which may be of any construction but is herein preferably shown as being a jaw clutch of an ordinary type generally indicated by reference character 89. The sprocket 19 is in turn connected with the toothed drive roller I9 for driving said toothed drive roller by means of a suitable chain and sprocket drive generally indicated by reference character 8|.

Thus the motor .13 serves as a means for independently driving both of the feed drums for moving the machine about the mine or feeding the inclined loading element ii into the loose material and as a means for driving the conveyor I4, and said feed drums, motor, and drive therefrom are of a simplified compact construction confined within the vertical limits of the inclined loading device II, effecting an efficient drive for said feed drums and conveyor and maintaining a loading machine of a minimum vertical height.

The discharge conveyor I2 includes a hopper S3 formed integral with the sides thereof beneath the discharge end of the conveyor I4, which hopper is mounted on a supporting member adapted to be supported on the main frame I9 adjacent the rearward end thereof for rotation with respect thereto about a vertical ax1s.

The supporting member 85 includes a bottom plate 86, a plate 81 spaced upwardly therefrom, and a cylindrical support member 88 supporting the plate 81 on the bottom plate 86. The bottom plate 86 is circular and is adapted to rest on an annular bearing member 89 and is guided within a circular guide 99 formed integral with the main frame I0 and extending upwardly therefrom. An annular bearing member 9| is adapted to rest on the top portion of the bottom plate 86 and its upper surface is engaged by a suitable annular ring 92 forming a guide means for the bottom plate 8S so said plate and the discharge conveyor I2 may be rotated about a vertical axis for discharging material at various angles with respect to the conveyor I4.

The discharge conveyor I2 is of the wire mesh belt type and a suitable wire mesh belt 93 is driven from a motor 94 on the underside thereof by means of a suitable chain and sprocket drive in an ordinary manner and generally indicated by reference character 95.

With reference to Figure '1 and a preferred form of the use and operation of the device of my invention, the loading machine is shown in solid as being disposed adjacent one side of a mined coal face with its gathering arms 25 being fed into the mined coal. Both of the flexible feeding members B1 are connected to jacks 96. The rearward end of the discharge conveyor I2 is disposed over a suitable conveying mechanism generally indicated by reference character 91. As power is applied to the feed drums 40, the gathering arms 25 being driven about the guide members 23, the flexible feeding members 61 feed the inclined loading element II into the loose material. The loose material moved onto, the conveyor I4 by the gathering arms 25 is discharged into the discharge conveyor I2 from where it is discharged into the conveying mechanism 91.

As the loading machine progresses into the coal, the conveying mechanism 91 is moved therewith. As the conveying mechanism is moved with the loading machine, said loading machine is simultaneously turned by manipulating either or both of the feed drums 40 until said machine is positioned so it may be moved substantially parallel with the coal face, the jacks 95 being moved as the loading operation progresses. The loading mechanism being so positioned, is moved along the face of the coal so as to continuously load and discharge the mined coal into the conveying mechanism 91, which conveying mechanism in turn loads said loose material onto suitable material carrying means, such as mine cars or other conveyors, for transportation from the mine. The conveying mechanism 91 is then positioned as is indicated by broken lines, parallel with the face of the coal and disposed a distance from the mined coal so that the discharge conveyor i2 may discharge material therein when disposed at right angles to the skid HJ.

It may now be seen that a new and improved device has been provided for loading coal in mines which is constructed with a View towards utmost simplicity and compactness especially with regard to vertical dimensions, said machine being so arranged as to eliminate all supporti wheels or traction drive means which necessarily add to the height of the machine. It may alsolv be seen that said loading device is of a relatively simple construction and may readily be' continuously fed into the material and is particularlyadapted for loading into conveyors or other continuous material transporting mechanisms. f

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specic form illustrated, excepting as it may be specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a loading mechine, a main frame, and gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyer, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor and extending forwardly of said conveyer, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains and having a `drive connection therewith.

2. In a loading machine, a main frame, and gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyer, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyer and extending forwardly of said conveyer, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains and having a reduced geared drive connection therewith.

3. In a loading machine, a main frame, and gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyer, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyer and extending forwardly of said conveyer, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains on the underside of said apron, said motors having their axes extending generally longitudinallyof said apron and having a drive connection with said endless chains.

4. In a loading machine, a main frame, and gathering and loading mechanism thereof comprising an inclined conveyer, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyer, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyer and extending forwardly of said conveyer, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains on the underside of said apron, said motors having their axes extending generally longitudinally of said apron, and a drive connection from each of said motors to said associated endless chains including a bevel gear and pinion and a plurality of reduction gears.

5. In a loading machine, a main frame adapted to rest on and slide along the mine bottom, a conveyor extending Vfrom a point disposed forwardly of said main frame upwardly and horizontally to a point adjacent the rearward end of said main frame, an apron disposed to each side of and extending forwardly of said conveyor, a pair of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon guided on said apron and extending forwardly of said apron, and a motor on said main frame beneath said conveyor and apron and having a motor shaft extending longitudinally thereof, a pair of feed drums having flexible feed members. thereon, disposed beneath said conveyor and adapted to form a means for moving said main frame along the ground, a selective drive connectionl from said motor to said feed drums comprising a worm in alignment with and driven by the forward end of said motor shaft, a' worm gear driven thereby and a separate planetary geared connection between said worm and each of said drums, and another drive connection to said conveyor comprising a worm in alignment with and driven from said motor shaft and a worm gear driven thereby.

6. In a loading machine, a main frame comprising a skid adapted to rest on and slide along the mine bottom, and gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardlyY of and on each side of said inclined conveyor, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon, said orbitally guided endless chains being guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor and extending forwardly of said apron, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains and having a drive connection therewith.

'1. In a loading machine, a main frame comprising a skid adapted to rest on and slide along the mine bottom, andrgathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyor, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon, said orbitally guided endless chains being guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor and extending forwardly of said apron, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains and having a reduced geared drive connection therewith.

8. In a loading machine, a main frame comprising a skid adapted to rest on and slide along the mine bottom, and gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyor, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon, said orbitally guided endless chains being guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor and extending forwardly of said apron, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains on the underside of said apron and having their axes extending generally longitudinally of said apron.

9. In a loading machine, a main frame comprising a skid adapted to rest on and slide along the mine bottom, and gathering and loading mechanism therefor comprising an inclined conveyor, an inclined apron disposed forwardly of and on each side of said inclined conveyor, a plurality of orbitally guided endless chains having gathering arms thereon, said orbitally guided endless chains being guided in guide means mounted on said apron on each side of said inclined conveyor and extending forwardly of said apron, and individual drive means for each of said endless chains for driving said endless chains independently or simultaneously of each other comprising a separate motor disposed beneath each of said endless chains on the underside of said apron and having their aXes extending generally longitudinally of said apron and a bevel gear and pinion and a plurality of reduction gears connected between each of said motors and its respective endless chain.

JOHN S. HOUSMAN.

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