GB2161186A - Mining machines having rotary cutter heads - Google Patents
Mining machines having rotary cutter heads Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2161186A GB2161186A GB08417329A GB8417329A GB2161186A GB 2161186 A GB2161186 A GB 2161186A GB 08417329 A GB08417329 A GB 08417329A GB 8417329 A GB8417329 A GB 8417329A GB 2161186 A GB2161186 A GB 2161186A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cutter head
- pump
- formation
- machine
- machine body
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 21
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 9
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21C35/00—Details of, or accessories for, machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam, not provided for in groups E21C25/00 - E21C33/00, E21C37/00 or E21C39/00
- E21C35/22—Equipment for preventing the formation of, or for removal of, dust
- E21C35/23—Distribution of spraying-fluids in rotating cutter-heads
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21C25/00—Cutting machines, i.e. for making slits approximately parallel or perpendicular to the seam
- E21C25/06—Machines slitting solely by one or more cutting rods or cutting drums which rotate, move through the seam, and may or may not reciprocate
- E21C25/10—Rods; Drums
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
Abstract
A number of pump devices (19) are mounted on a rotary cutter drum (2) of a mining machine (1). Each pump device has an activating plunger (22) which is urged to activate the associated pump by contact with a formation (25) defining a cam profile. The formation is provided on a cut-mineral loading member (13) which is swung about the cutter head at the end of each machine traverse. The arrangement ensures that high pressure jets are directed only from the cutting side of the cutter head. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Mining machines having rotary cutter heads
This invention relates to mining machines having rotary cutter heads provided with nozzle means for directing fluid towards material won by the cutter head.
It has been proposed to mount a plurality of pump devices in a rotary cutter head and to fixedly mount a stationary, inclined swashplate on the mining machine body adjacent to the rotary cutter head and co-axial with the rotary axis ofthe cutter head. Each pump device comprises a piston and cylindercomponents with the piston contacting the inclined swashplate such that when the cutter head rotates the piston repeatedly is urged into and then out ofthe cylinder.
The pump device is fed with water at relatively low mains pressure such that the piston is urged to move out ofthe cylinder underthe action ofthe low pressure thereby, charging the cylinderwith water. As the cutter head rotates the action ofthe swashplate urges the piston into the cylinder and the charge of water is fed at relatively high pressureto discharge nozzle means provided on the cutter head. Thus, as the cutter head rotates relatively high pressure water is sprayed at material won by the cutter head, the arrangement of the swashplate, activated pumps and nozzle means ensures that high pressure water is sprayed only from one side ofthe rotating cutter head.
Unfortunately, such a proposed arrangement suffers from the disadvantage thatwater always is sprayed from the same side ofthe cutter head. This limits the cutting operation of the mining machine to one direction along the working force. Thus, such an arrangement is not suitablefor use in the universally accepted bi-directional cutting operation ofthe mining machine.
An object of the present invention is to provide a mining machine which tends to overcome the above mentioned disadvantage enabling the machinetowin mineral by bi-directional operation.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a mining machine comprises a body, a rotary cutter head mountable on the machine body oron an arm extending from the machine body, fluid discharge nozzle means mounted on the cutter head, a number of pump devices mounted on the rotary cutter head for supplying pressure fluid to the discharge nozzle means, each pump device having a pump activating plunger reciprocal movement of which operatesthe pump device, a formation rotatably mounted on the machine body or on said arm extending from the machine body such that in use, the formation can be arranged on one or other sides ofthe cutter head, the formation being adapted to cause pump activating movementofthe plungerswhen, in use, the cutter head rotates.
According to a second aspect ofthe present invention, a mining machine comprises a body, a rotary cutter head mountable on the machine body or on an arm extending from the machine body, fluid discharge nozzle means mounted on the cutter head, a number of pump devices mounted on the rotary cutter head for supplying pressure fluid to the discharge nozzle means, each pump device having a pump activating plunger reciprocal movementofwhich operates the pump devices, a cut mineral loading member including a cut mineral guide arrangeable, in use, adjacent to the currently non-cutting side of the rotating cutter head, the loading member further including a support for the cut mineral guide, the support having a component rotatably mounted on the machine body or on said arm extending from the machine body such that, in use, the guide can be swung from one side ofthe cutter head to the other side of the cutter head to permit bi-directional operation of the cutter head, and a formation mounted on the loading member support, the formation being adapted to cause pump activating movement of the plungers when, in use, the cutter head rotates.
Conveniently, the formation is adapted to cause pump activating movement of the plungers in one direction only, each pump feeding pressure fluid to the associated discharge nozzle means during a portion of each rotation ofthe cutter head.
Advantageously, return movement of each plunger is underthe action offluid pressure or resilient means.
Advantageously, each pump device comprises a piston component and a cylinder component, the associated plunger being constituted by one of the components or being drivably connected to one of the components.
Preferably, the formation defines a cam profile, the plungerfollowing the cam profile.
Byway of example, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an incomplete cross-sectional plan of a portion of a mining machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in an operational position;
Figure 2 is an incomplete side elevation of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is an incomplete end view of detail of
Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 1 and 2 show a portion of a longwall, shearer type, mining machine having a body 1 (only a small portion of which is shown in Figure 1) and a rotary cutter head 2 mounted on an arm 3 extending from the machine body 1. A drive motor (not shown) housed within the body drives gearing extending along the arm 3to drive epicyclicgearing housed in a gearbox4 mounted on a drive shaft 5 extending from the arm 3 which, in turn, rotates the cutter head. In other embodiments, the cutter head is mounted directly on the machine body.
The rotary cutter head comprises a hub 6 located in the gearbox 4, a barrel component7 supported
around the hub by means of annular plates 8, and cut
mineral loading vanes 9 extending around the circumference ofthe barrel. Cuttertools 10 (only some of which are shown) are provided in holders 11 mounted on the loading vanes 9 and an annular back plate 12.
A cut mineral loading member 13 is providedto assist loading of cut mineral from the region around the cutter head onto a conveyor (not shown) extend ingalongthelongwallface.Theloading memberl3 comprises a cut mineral guide 14arranged adjacentto the currently non-cutting ortrailing side ofthe cutter head and a support 1 Sforthe cut mineral guide,the support having an annularcomponent 16 rotatably mounted on a bearing housing provided on the arm 3 such that, in use, the guide can be swung from one side ofthe cutter head to the other side ofthe cutter head to permit bi-directional operation of the cutter head. Thus, as the machine traverses to and fro along the longwall facethe cutter head wins mineral from the working face in both directions oftransverse.
Upon reaching one end of a traverse along the longwall face the cut mineral loading member is swung from one side ofthe cutter head to the other so that when the machine begins its next traverse in the opposite direction the loading member is adjacent the currently non-cutting ortrailing side of the cutter head.
The mining machine further comprises fluid discharge nozzle means including banks of nozzles 17 mounted on the cutter head adjacent to the cutter tools. Each bank of nozzles is fed with pressure fluid along a feed line 18from one of a plurality of pump devices 19 mounted on the rotary cutter head. The pump devices are located between the barrel and hub component of the rotary cutter head and are angularly spaced around the head as seen in Figure 2. Also as shown in Figure 2 each pump device feeds pressure fluid to a bank of noales mounted on a diametrically opposed portion of the cutter head. Each pump device
19 comprises a piston and cylinder component20, the piston 21 being drivably connected to a plunger 22 reciprocally mounted in a support bush 23.
Figure3showstheend ofthe plungerremotefrom the pump device to comprise a roller24which engages a formation 25 defining a cam profile 26, the roller moving along the formation in the direction indicated byarrowx. As seen in Figure 3the defined cam profile has a portion of relatively low profile 27 and a portion of increasingly high profile 28followed by a short portion of rapidly falling profile 29. Figure 2 showstheformation 25to extend around the support forthe loading member and Figure 1 indicates the portion 28 ofthe information on the part ofthe support adjacent to the trailing side ofthe cutter head.
Figure 1 shows pressurised fluid, typically water, is fed to each pump device via a feed pipe 30 from a distributor31 mounted on the end ofthe drive shaft.
Pressurised water is fed to the distributor via a tube 32 extending along a bore provided in the drive shaft and a receiving adaptor33 mounted on the arm 3. A hose 34 (only a small partofwhich is shown) feeds pressure fluid from the water mains (not shown) or from a pump (not shown) mounted on the machine. The distributor may supply further discharge nozzles (not shown) directly, ie these fu rther noules are fed with water at the relatively low supply pressure suitable for suppressing dust generated during the cutting operation.
In operation, the machine traverses along the longwall face with the cutter head 2 rotating in the
direction indicated byarrowYandwinning mineral from the working face 35, the won mineral being
loaded on to the conveyor underthejoint scrolling
action ofthe loading vanes and the cut mineral
loading member.
As the cutter head rotates the rollers on the plungers
ofthe pump devices are run around the formation as
indicated in Figure 3. Upon each roller starting to ascend the increasingly high portion 28 of the formation,the associated plunger is urged away from the mining machine such thatthe associated piston
rod is urged into its cylinder thereby increasing the
pressure ofthefluid in the cylinder. The high pressure fluid is fed to the associated bank of discharge nozzles which direct high pressure jets towards the working mineral face. The jets are of sufficiently high pressure (eg 2,500 psi) to assistthe cuttertools in winning mineral from the working face. It will be appreciated thatthe roller on the plunger reaches the bottom of the portion 28 substantially as the associated bank of nozzles are approaching the working face.Thus, by thetimethe roller is about halfway up the inclined cam face the nozzle means substantially are mid-way through mineral winning travel. The linear inclination ofthe cam face ensures a substantially constant pressure is fed to the nozzles throughoutthe mineral winning operation, checkvalves (not shown) being provided in lines 30 to ensure high pressurefluid is not fed backto the distributor 31.
Upon reaching the rapidly falling portion 29, the piston is permitted to move out of its cylinder thereby drawing a new charge offluid into the cylinder.
Whilethe roller is travelling along the low profile portion 27 oftheformation the charge is held in the cylinder but little fluid is discharged from the associated nozzles which now are in the non-cutting portion ofthe cutter head in the vicinity ofthe loading member guide. By the time the roller re-engagesthe inclined portion ofthe cam profile the associated bank of nozzles once again is approaching the cutting or leading side ofthe cutter head and the charge offluid is fed to the discharge nozzles.
Upon the machine reaching the end of its traverse along the longwall face, the loading member is swung about its mounting to be re-located on the opposite side ofthe cutter head, now the non-cutting side. As the loading member is swung through approximately 1800,theformation on the loading member support is also swung to its diametrically opposed side. Thus, the increasingly high portion 28 of the formation now lies on the opposite side ofthe cutter head such that the discharge nozzles ofthe new cutting side ofthe cutter head are fed with high pressure fluid from the pump devices.
Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention provide a single and reliable meansforchanging the side ofthe rotary cutter head fed with high pressure fluid. The invention ensures that onlythose nozzles directed towards the working face are activated. As the nozzles on the currently non-cutting side of the cutter head are not fed with high pressure fluid, potentially dangerous high pressure jets are not directed towards workmen situated on the longwall face. The invention enables the machineto operate bi-directional working with high pressure jets associ ated with the currently cutting side ofthe cutter head irrespective of the direction of machine traverse.
In other embodiments of the invention the discharge nozzles forthe high pressure jets are mounted in the cutter tool. In still other embodiments ofthe invention the mineral is won bythe high pressure jets; the cutter tools being dispensed with altogether are only having a substantially minor role in the mineral winning operation.
In other embodiments of the present invention the formation for reciprocating the plungers is not mounted on the loading members support. For example,theformation may be mounted on an annularcollarcarried by a bearing housing supporting the cutter head drive shaft. Alternatively, the formation may comprise two cam components associated with opposite sides of the cutter head, respectively, the two cam components being reciprocated to and fro into or out of pump activating positions.
Claims (8)
1. A mining machine comprising a body, a rotary cutter head mountable on the machine body or on an arm extending from the machine body, fluid discharge nozzle means mounted on the cutter head, a number of pump devices mounted on the rotary cutter head for supplying pressurefluid to the discharge nozzle means, each pump device having a pump activating plunger reciprocal movement of which operates the pump device, a formation rotatably mounted on the machine body or on said arm extending from the machine body such that in use, the formation can be arranged on one or other sides ofthe cutter head, the formation being adapted to cause pump activating movement of the plungers when, in use, the cutter head rotates.
2. A mining machine comprising a body, a rotary cutter head mountable on the machine body or on an arm extending from the machine body, fluid discharge nozzle means mounted on the cutter head, a number of pump devices mounted on the rotary cutter head for supplying pressure fluid to the dischargenozzle means, each pump device having a pump activating plunger reciprocal movement of which operatesthe pump devices, a cut mineral loading member including a cut mineral guide arrangeable, in use, adjacent to the currently non-cutting side ofthe rotating cutter head, the loading memberfurther including a support forthe cut mineral guide, the support having a component rotatably mounted on the machine body or on said arm extending from the machine body such that, in use, the guide can be swung from one side of the cutter head to the other side of the cutter head to permit bi-directional operation of the cutter head, and a formation mounted on the loading member support, the formation being adapted to cause pump activating
movement ofthe plungers when, in use, the cutter
head rotates.
3. A mining machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the formation is adapted to cause pump
activating movement of the plungers in one direction
only, each pump feeding pressure fluid to the
associated discharge nozzle means during a portion of
each rotation ofthe cutter head.
4. A mining machine as claimed in claim 3, in which a return movement of each plunger is underthe action offluid pressure or resilient means.
5. A mining machine as claimed in claim 2,3, or4, in which each pump device comprises a piston component and a cylinder component, the associated plunger being constituted by one of the components or being drivably connected to one of the components.
6. A mining machine as claimed in any one preceding claims, in which the formation defines a cam profile,the plungerfollowing the cam profile.
7. Amining machine as claimed in claim 6, in which a roller is provided on each plunger.
8. A mining machine substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08417329A GB2161186A (en) | 1984-07-06 | 1984-07-06 | Mining machines having rotary cutter heads |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08417329A GB2161186A (en) | 1984-07-06 | 1984-07-06 | Mining machines having rotary cutter heads |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8417329D0 GB8417329D0 (en) | 1984-08-08 |
| GB2161186A true GB2161186A (en) | 1986-01-08 |
Family
ID=10563542
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08417329A Withdrawn GB2161186A (en) | 1984-07-06 | 1984-07-06 | Mining machines having rotary cutter heads |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2161186A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2216158A (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-10-04 | Sasol Mining | High pressure water assisted mining and tunnelling machine |
| WO2019109577A1 (en) * | 2017-12-05 | 2019-06-13 | 山东科技大学 | Cutting unit of shearer, provided with double-speed rollers |
-
1984
- 1984-07-06 GB GB08417329A patent/GB2161186A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2216158A (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-10-04 | Sasol Mining | High pressure water assisted mining and tunnelling machine |
| AU608694B2 (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1991-04-11 | Sasol Mining (Proprietary) Limited | High pressure water assisted mining and tunnelling machine |
| US5114213A (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1992-05-19 | Sasol Mining (Proprietary) Limited | High pressure water assisted mining and tunnelling machine |
| WO2019109577A1 (en) * | 2017-12-05 | 2019-06-13 | 山东科技大学 | Cutting unit of shearer, provided with double-speed rollers |
| US10954784B2 (en) | 2017-12-05 | 2021-03-23 | Shandong University Of Science And Technology | Shearer cutting unit with double-speed rollers |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8417329D0 (en) | 1984-08-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |