GB2212193A

GB2212193A - Coal excavating machinery

Info

Publication number: GB2212193A
Application number: GB8826460A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Hirst Walker; Neville John Harper Sleigh
Original assignee: Dowty Mining Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Dowty Mining Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-11
Filing date: 1988-11-11
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Also published as: GB8726350D0; DE3838354A1; GB8826460D0

Description

1 1 22 12 191-') COAL EXCAVATING MACHINERY This invention relates to coal

excavating machinery and in particular to a means of mounting such equipment.

Coal excavating machinery, particularly front end coal winning units, such as those described in GB 2138467 are con-nonly mounted by means of a stationery pivotal pin arrangement.

This means that the cutting end of the winning unit will not traverse a flat plane in its cutting motion. Therefore, in operation the cutting end will describe an arc, which shape 'in turn will be imDarted to the mine face. This can lead to problems with the working of, or coal excavation fro m the mine face.

In order to reduce the effects of this problem the distance between the mine cutting head and its pivot point can be extended so as to increase the effective diameter of the circle sector defined. However, in view of the space criteria present in 2 a mine a balance has to be struck between machinery dimensions and the available space.

The present invention is concerned with providing machinery which will impart a flat mine face during coal excavation.

In accordance with the present invention coal excavating machinery comprises:

a coal winning unit; and a base member; wherein the coal winning unit and the base member are interconnected by means of at least one lemniscate link arrangement.

The use of the lemniscate link arrangement, or a number of such arrangements, means that the coal winning unit, or at least the coal cutting member thereof, travels in a vertical plane with respect to the mine face.

A Z 3 The problems which are encountered as a result of the imparting of an arc shape to the mine face are thereby avoided.

Coal excavating machinery made in accordance with the present invention has the advantage that it provides a flat cut mine face and enables a compact design of machinery.

Preferably, the coal excavating machinery is provided with two lemniscate link arrangements. Preferably, these arrangements are positioned at opposing end of the equipment.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a coal excavating machine made in accordance with the present invention 4 Figure 2 shows an end view of the coal excavating machine shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a plan view of the coal excavating machine shown in Figure 1.

Now referring to the drawings, a coal excavating machine 1 made in accordance with the present invention comprises:

a base section 2; a coal winning section 3 having a mounting means 4; two lemniscate link arrangements each of which has a dual upper link array 5 and a lower link 6 which are pivotally mounted to, and interconnect, the base section 2 and the coal winning section 3, wherein the lemniscate link arrangements are mounted at longitudinally opposed ends of the excavating machine 1; and - two hydraulic rams 7 mounted so that they act between the base section 2 and the coal winning section 3 to effect relative movement of the coal winning section 3 with respect to a coal mine face The base section 2 of the excavating machine 1 comDrises:

a base plate 8 which extends over the length of the excavating machine; two upwardly extending plates 9, one mounted at each longitudinally opposed end of the excavating machine 1 and each of which has a respective support bracket 9a; lower mounting plates 10 to which the respective lower link 6 of the lemniscate link arrangement is pivotally mounted; 6 upper mounting plates 11 to which the respective dual upper link array 5 of the lemniscate link arrangement is pivotally mounted; ram mounting means 12, to which a respective hydraulic ram 7 is mounted; and - a longitudinally extending inclined plate 13 which extends longitudinally along the length of the excavating machinery.

The coal winning section 3 of the excavating machinery 'L comprises:

a longitudinally extending arm member 14 to which at longitudinally opposed ends thereof a mounting bracket 15 is attached so as to enable the pivotal attachment of the upper and lower links 5, 6 of the lemniscate link arrangement; a face plate 16 operated by a ram 7a, and through which the longitudinally extending c 7 41 arm member 14 protrudes; and - three winning units 17 mounted onto the longitudinally extending arm member 14 and equi-spaced along the length thereof.

The mounting bracket 15 and the arm member 14 co-operate to provide the mounting means 4 of the coal winning section 3.

Each of the winning units 17 is mounted onto the longitudinally extending arm member 14 by a rail and socket engagement arrangement.

This engagement arrangement comprises a central tubular member 18 having mounted thereon four equi-spaced longitudinal extending rail members 23.

Further the arm member 14 extends through the tubular member 18 to effect mounted of the engagement arrangement Each of the winning units 17 comprises:

8 a coal cutting member 19 which engages with the mine face f; upper and lower casing members 20, and - two chain mounting pins 22, one on each of the lower and upper casing members 21, 20.

The upper and lower casing members 20, 21 are each provided with two grooves 22 into which a respective rail member 23 slidably engages. Each of the winning units 17 is thereby held into position.

The lower surface of the lower casing member 21 is shaped to be a complimentary shape to the inclined plate 13. In this way as the winning units 17 are moved along the rails 19, coal collecting on the inclined plate 13 is moved along the inclined plate 13. Obviously, the amount of coal moved under this action is dependent upon the height setting of the machinery, and the lower the height the greater the efficiency of movement of the r 9 1"i coal.

The height of the machinery is set by the action of the two hydraulic rams 7.

Both the upper and lower casing members 20, 21 are provided with a chain mounting pin 22. The chain mounting pins 22 of each of the winning units 17 engage with the links of a chain 24 which is used to effect the longitudinal movement of the winning units 17 along the rails 23.

In operation, the chain 24 is tensioned by means of hydraulic cylinders or jacks (not shown).

Further, in operation the arm member 14 extends through each of the winning units 17, and abuts the mine coal face f to limit the depth of cut of the coal cutting member 19.

As the coal is cut from the mine face f it falls onto the inclined plate 13, where under the action of the winning units, i.e. their movement along the rails 23, it is forced into collecting conveyors. The collecting conveyors will eventually transport the cut coal to the surface.

k 11

Claims

Coal excavating machinery which comprises:

a coal winning unit; and - a base member; wherein the coal winning unit and the base member are interconnected by means of at least one lemniscate link arrangement.
2. Coal excavating machinery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coal wlnning unit and the base member are interconnected by means of two lemniscate link arrangements.
3. Coal excavating machinery as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lemniscate link arrangements are at longitudinally opposed ends.
4. Coal excavating machinery substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

Published 1989 atThe Patent Office, State House, 66 71 Hig. - Le r. a on V,7C 1 R 4 TIP Fin- th e r w D 1 e a",' b e c b cwre c:I- c rn Th e Pate n t Offi c e Sales Branch. St MarT Cra:v. OrDinator. Kern B-' P,I,fA