GB106366A - Method of and Apparatus for Mining Coal. - Google Patents

Abstract

106,366. Kuhn, H. A. July 27, 1916. Coal-cutting machines; excavating.-An undercut or other cut is made in the wall or seam of coal, and then, by explosive charge or otherwise, the coal is expanded or disrupted, after which a cut or opening is made, with a vertical lifting force, in the settled mass, so dislodging it for removal by the conveyer. The apparatus employed consists of a primary cutting unit 36, Fig. 7, and a secondary cutting and conveying unit 2, Figs. 6 and 7. The primary cutting unit is of ordinary endless-chain construction, actuated, for example, by an electric motor 35. When a primary cut or undercut is to be made. the cutter is run off the machine 2 to the position required, and after the cut has been made, its feed-rope is connected to the hook 46, and it is drawn back by its own power on to the machine 2, where its motor is brought into gear with the clutch box 33 to effect the operation of the secondary machine. After disruption of the coal by explosive &c., the machine 2 is advanced to the settled mass, and the endless conveyer 54 is actuated to excavate the loosened coal and convey it to the pit wagon 59. The machine 2 is supported by two driving-wheels 5 and a forward castor-mounted roller 47; the roller 47 can be turned by the rope 48 from the crank-handle 51, to direct the machine to the desired position. The wheels 5 are driven from the motor 35 through the spur gearing 31, 30, 28, 27, worm gearing 25, 24, chain gearing 22, 21, 20, and friction gearing 8, 7, the friction disk 8 with the chain-wheel 20 being hung on links 10 connected to a toggle-mechanism 12, 13, 16, whereby, by operating a hand-lever on the axis 17 of the member 16, the friction disk 8 can be put into or out of gear with the disk 7. Drills 70, connected by flexible stem 71 to driving spindles 72, are provided for drilling the shot holes. A pivoted dog 65, toothed at its end 66, can be thrown over into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, when it is necessary to force the front of the machine upwards, to clear an obstruction. A pivoted skid 62, which can be turned up, as shown in Fig. 7, when not in use, is provided to facilitate the movement of the primary cutter off and on to the machine 2. The endless conveyer 54 is driven from the motor 35 by the bevel-gearing 61, 60, the flights of the conveyer being provided with tips 55<1> bevelled at their outer ends, and preferably constructed to exert a further upward thrust on the loosened mass of coal during their excavating action. This upward thrust may be effected by the bolts, Fig. 8, which secure the tips 55<1> to the flights, or by projections 56<a> Fig. 9, on the flights. In another form, the tips are integral with the flights and are bevelled at each side as well as the end. In the form shown in Fig. 14, the tip is provided with a transverse shoe 55<a>.