GB700384A - Improvements in or relating to mechanical cutting and loading in mines - Google Patents

Abstract

700,384. Endless conveyers. VALANTIN. A. A. M. May 30, 1951 [March 23, 1951], No. 12792/51. Class 78 (1) [Also in Group XXI] A mining machine comprises a conveyer, running parallel to the face of the seam to be cut and consisting of elements mounted end to end and capable of being relatively inclined in a vertical plane so that the conveyer can be adapted to undulations in the terrain, and a chain, capable of changes of direction in the vertical and horizontal planes and travelling in guides fixed to the sides of the conveyer and guiding the chain in all directions, which chain is provided with scrapers (a) for making a cut at least equal in height to the conveyer and (b) for raising and delivering the products of the cut onto the conveyer, the chain passing around a driving wheel at one end of the machine and around a loose wheel at the other with a bracing means to move the two wheels apart and tension the chain. In one form, Fig. 2, a flight conveyer 1 runs in direction F, within troughs 2 which may be moved slightly in a vertical direction relative to one another. The conveyer is surrounded by a chain 19 passing round a free drum 17 and a driven drum 18 and carrying alternate cutting members 22 and scrapers 23 provided with raising and deflecting surfaces 34, 35, 36, 36<SP>1</SP> (Fig. 5) for delivering the products of the cut to the conveyer 1. The return side of the chain runs in a tunnel 38 open on the conveyer side. The machine is moved into the face by simultaneously rotated screw jacks 53 bearing against props 52. Modifications to enable the machine to be used for opening up, Fig. 7, comprise running the chain around two wheels 18, 18<SP>1</SP> raising the end 1<SP>1</SP> of the main conveyer so that the products therefrom are discharged on to a secondary conveyer 57. In a further form, Fig. 10, the secondary conveyer 60 has a cutter drum 61 at its head, a worm 62 also being fitted.