GB692884A - Improved method and apparatus for mining coal or other materials - Google Patents

Abstract

692,884. Mining-machines. OELLRICH. A., (trading as MASCHINENFABRIK UND EISENGIESSEREI A. BEIEN). Nov. 27, 1950 [Nov. 25, 1949; April 19, 1950; April 19, 1950; Sept. 13, 1950], No. 28962/50. Class 68 (i) [Also in Group XXX] In a method of mining using an apparatus in which cutter tools such as a chain cutter 3 extend over the length of a face the chain being in combination with and at the front of a face conveyer, the tools 15, 24 and conveyer are pressed by a wedge-shaped supporting slide 4 into the face in such a manner that the tools are applied to a short portion x only of the face at any given instant, the zone of cutting continuously progressing longitudinally of the scraper as the slide is moved. The apparatus comprises a bucket or equivalent conveyer comprising flexibly jointed sections 1 and having the runs arranged one above the other and a chain cutter 3 having similarly arranged runs, the guide-housing of the chain being in a plurality of sections corresponding and coupled to the conveyer sections. A common motor 27 drives independently through suitable gearing the conveyer and the cutter chain at differing speeds and in opposite directions and a shoot may be provided at the end opposite to the general delivery end of the conyever whilst separate tensioning means are provided for the conveyer and the cutter chain. At intervals along the chain are disposed open bracket-shaped links 14, each of which on the closed side is formed as a holder for cutting tools 15, 44 and a projection 17 from a spherically formed guide shoe 18 is bolted between the open limbs 16 of the link. One face of the tool holder slides on the horizontal surfaces of the guide housing its movement being constrained by a face of the tool holder and the inner side of the projection of the guide shoe engaging an upstanding ledge 13a on said surfaces. The cutter tools may be interchangeable with scrapers that may have one or more operative faces. Each portion of the chain guide housing may be built up'from a number of types of channel section. The central channel section is clamped between an upper and lower channel section to separate the upper and lower runs of the chain. Each section is secured to the conveyer sections by interlocking spigots 11 and connecting bolts 10 which may act as the clamping means of the channel sections. Adjacent sections of the centre profile have tongues and grooves to permit angular positioning of the sections.