MXPA99003218A - Swing tail assembly for miner - Google Patents

Abstract

A swing tail assembly rotates a swing tail conveyor (20) relative to a miner conveyor (9) including a mounting assembly (38) mounting a drive arrangement on a swing tail conveyor (20). The drive arrangement includes a hydraulic motor (30), a differential planetary speed reducer (31) and a sprocket (33) connected to said differential planetary speed reducer (31). A fixed pin/rack arrangement (35) is connected to the fan section (10) of the miner conveyor (9) and the sprocket (33) cooperates with the pin/rack arrangement (35) to rotate the swing tail conveyor (20) relative to the miner conveyor (9).

Description

OSCILLATING TAIL ASSEMBLY FOR RATIO MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to a continuous mining machine having an articulated oscillating tail conveyor rotatably connected to the outlet end and, more particularly, to an oscillating tail assembly mounted thereon. Exit end of the mining machine to adjust the angular position of the oscillating tail conveyor in relation to the longitudinal axis of the mining machine.

The invention has a variety of applications where loose material is transferred from a conveyor in a machine such as a cutting machine to a conveyor in another machine or on a load conveyor. The invention is described hereinafter in relation to a drum-type mining machine but is not limited to use with said machine.

In short, this type of mining machine consists of a frame mounted on tracks to crawl along a mine floor and to sink the cutting drum into a mine face. The cutting drum has a plurality of cutting elements mounted removably therein and is mounted for rotation about its transverse axis at the entrance end of the frame of the mining machine. The drum is mounted on the free ends of the parallel support arms which are mounted rotatably on the frame. The cutting elements in the drum cut the full height of the carbon beta between the floor and the ceiling by rotating the arms in relation to the frame to raise and lower the rotating drum.

The mining machine includes a collecting platform in the front of the frame below the cutting drum that collects the mined material. The collecting heads are mounted on the platform to direct the loose material mined on a centrally positioned conveyor extending backward from the input end of the mining machine to the output end of the mining machine. The loose material is transferred to an oscillating tail conveyor at the exit end of the central conveyor so that it can be directed to the transportation equipment to move it to either another position in or within the mine. 2. Summary of the Invention The invention is an oscillating tail assembly for an oscillating tail conveyor that is in operative communication with the outlet end of the central conveyor on the mining machine. The oscillatory tail conveyor rotates around a needle to allow the free end of the oscillating tail conveyor to move relative to the longitudinal axis of the mining machine. The pivot needle has a substantially vertical axis so that the output end of the oscillating tail conveyor can be adjusted through an arc in relation to the exit end of the mining machine to direct the loose material from the conveyor of the mining machine up to the conveyor in another machine or on a drag system placed in the mine.

The oscillating tail assembly of the invention is not expensive and is mechanically simple and requires minimal maintenance. The oscillating tail assembly consists of a needle / rack arrangement on the fan section of the output end of the conveyor of the mining machine and a rotary transmission pinion at the input end of the oscillating tail conveyor cooperating with the arrangement of needle / rack for rotating the oscillating tail conveyor around the pivot needle in relation to the exit end of the conveyor of the mining machine.

A full understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the reference characters identify similar parts therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a side elevation of a continuous mining machine having an oscillating tail conveyor mounted thereon; Figure 2 is a planar view of the continuous mining machine illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a planar view of the fan section of the output end of the conveyor of the mining machine and the input end of the oscillating tail conveyor rotatably connected thereto; Figure 4 is a lateral elevation of the oscillatory tail assembly; Figure 5 is a planar view of an oscillating tail assembly; Y Figure 6 is a lateral elevation of the transmission rack of the oscillating tail assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREDILLE EXAMPLE With reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the continuous mining machine 1 is mounted on tracks 2 and has a rotating horizontal cutting drum 3 at its front end with cutting tips thereon (not shown). The drum is mounted on the ends of a pair of spaced arms 5 which are mounted rotatably on the frame of the machine for movement in an arc to raise and lower the drum 3 to cut coal from the face between the floor and the ceiling of the mine. A collection tray 6 is placed under and slightly behind the drum 3 to collect the coal that is mined from the face. The tray 6 will have self-assembled pick-up arms or disks that move the mined ore towards the center and back to the inlet end of a central conveyor 9 which is positioned between the tracks 2 and extends from the tray 6 to the end of the track. output of the mining machine 1. The output end of the conveyor 9 is formed with a fan section 10 and the oscillatory tail conveyor 20 is rotatably mounted in the fan section 10 by a vertical pivoting needle 11 extending to through the fan section 10 of the conveyor of the mining machine 9 and through the input end of the oscillatory tail conveyor 20 to connect the two for a relative arcuate movement of the oscillatory tail conveyor relative to the longitudinal axis of the mining machine.

As illustrated in Figures 3 to 6 of the drawings, the oscillating tail conveyor consists of a frame having spaced lateral members 21 and a lower platform 22 between the side members. A continuous chain conveyor 24 extends between the side members 21 along the length of the oscillating tail conveyor. The central conveyor 9 in the mining machine 1 moves coal rearwardly from the collection tray 6 on the entrance end of the oscillating tail conveyor from where it is transported backwards in the opposite direction to the mining machine to another drag system to move it to another position in the mine or outside the mine. The rotary adjustment of the output end of the oscillating tail conveyor makes it possible to deposit the mined coal in positions other than the outlet end of the mining machine 1 which are not aligned longitudinally with the conveyor of the mining machine. Thus, the oscillatory tail conveyor rotates about a pivot needle li through an arc of about 45 ° on each side of the longitudinal central axis of the conveyor of the mining machine 9 to adjust to the position of the tail end of the tail conveyor. oscillatory in relation to the exit end of the conveyor of the mining machine.

The oscillating tail assembly rotates the oscillating tail conveyor around a pivot needle 11 for articulation in a substantially horizontal plane. The oscillating tail assembly is a compact arrangement that replaces the traditional prior art hydraulic cylinder used to rotate the oscillating tail conveyor. The removal of the hydraulic cylinder allows the mining machine to operate in a more limited space and with a smoother articulation movement of the oscillating tail conveyor than is possible using the hydraulic cylinder of the prior art to adjust the oscillating tail conveyor.

The oscillatory tail assembly illustrated in. Figures 3 through 6 of the drawings includes a hydraulic motor 30 having a vertical transmission shaft, a planetary speed reducer, differential 31 and a spout 33, all of which are mounted on an adjustable motor mounting assembly 38 mounted on the input end of the oscillatory tail conveyor 20. A retainer cover of the jet 34 is fixed at the lower end of the transmission shaft of the differential planetary speed reducer 31 to maintain the jet 33 in its place at. the arrow. The spout 33 is fixed to rotate with the arrow of the planetary differential speed reducer 31 by means of keys and / or screws of the assembly. A needle / rack arrangement 35 is coupled to the fan section 10 of the conveyor of the mining machine 9.

The needle / zipper arrangement 35 illustrated in the drawings has 26 substantially vertical needles 36 spaced approximately two radial degrees in an arc of approximately 90 ° from a circle of the conveyor fan section of the mining machine 10. Thus, the rotation of the spout 33 will cause the relative rotation of the output end of the oscillating tail conveyor through an arc of approximately 45 ° in each direction relative to the longitudinal central axis of the mining machine. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the number of needles and the degrees of spacing between the adjacent needles will vary according to the number of degrees in the arc through which the oscillating tail conveyor will turn.

The hydraulic motor 30 is a motor with high torque and low speed that gives power to the planetary differential speed reducer 31. The speed reducer drives a transmission shaft carrying the jet 33. The teeth of the jet travel around the array needle / rack 35 for rotating the oscillating tail conveyor 20 around the pivot needle 11. The oscillating tail assembly uses the same hydraulic power supply and return hoses that are present in a slitting machine having a hydraulic cylinder for rotating the oscillating tail conveyor and, therefore, it is not necessary to redesign the hydraulic system to install an oscillating tail assembly according to the invention in a mining machine. A direct exchange of the hydraulic motor can be done by the hydraulic cylinder. SL is desired ^ a flow control valve can be connected in the hydraulic system to vary the speed of the hydraulic motor to adjust the rotation speed of the oscillating tail conveyor around the pivot needle 11.

The planetary speed reducer 31 is mounted on a motor mounting assembly 38 that is adjustably mounted on the input end of the oscillating tail conveyor 20 by means of bolts 39 to position the jet in relation to the needle / rack arrangement 35 in the fan section 10 of the central scoring machine conveyor 9. The adjustable mounting of the motor mounting assembly 38 allows the spout 33 to be positioned exactly in relation to the needle / rack arrangement 35 of the fan section. 10 It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the oscillating tail assembly provides an efficient and relatively inexpensive arrangement for rotating the oscillating tail conveyor 20 around the pivot needle 11. The assembly requires a minimum of space so that the Assembly does not extend laterally beyond the dimensions of the conveyor fan section of the mining machine or interfere with the operation of the mining machine. The oscillating tail assembly provides a substantial degree of articulated movement of the oscillating tail conveyor in the horizontal plane.

In the present description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications to the invention can be made without departing from the concepts published herein. Said modifications must be considered included within the following claims, unless the claims by their language expressly state otherwise. In accordance with the foregoing, the particular copies are illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention to be given in the broadest sense of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims (19)

1. CLAIMS: 1. An oscillating tail assembly for rotating an oscillating tail conveyor in relation to a mining machine having a central conveyor with an outlet end having a fan section, said oscillating tail assembly includes: an assembly of motor assembly for mounting on an oscillating tail conveyor; a transmission arrangement mounted on said motor assembly assembly, said assembly arrangement includes a hydraulic motor, a planetary differential speed reducer and a jet operatively connected to said differential planetary speed reducer; and a fixed needle / rack arrangement adapted to be mounted on a fan section of a mining machine conveyor; whereby the spout cooperates with said fixed needle / rack arrangement to rotate an oscillating tail conveyor relative to a fan section of a scraper conveyor.
2. 2. An oscillating tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said transmission arrangement includes a differential planetary speed reducer positioned between said hydraulic motor and said spreader and a transmission shaft operatively connecting said speed reducer to said spreader to rotate said spreader.
3. 3. An oscillating tail assembly for rotating an oscillating tail conveyor in relation to a slitting machine having a central conveyor with an outlet end having a fan section, said oscillating tail assembly includes: an engine mounting assembly for mounted on an oscillating tail conveyor; a transmission arrangement mounted on said motor assembly assembly, said assembly arrangement includes a hydraulic motor, a planetary differential speed reducer and a jet operatively connected to said differential planetary speed reducer; and a fixed needle / rack arrangement adapted to be mounted on a fan section of a mining machine conveyor; by means of which said spreader cooperates with said fixed needle / rack arrangement for rotating an oscillating tail conveyor relative to a fan section of a conveyor of a mining machine, and wherein said needle / rack arrangement includes a plurality of substantially vertical vertical needles arranged in an arc.
4. 4. An oscillating tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said needle / rack arrangement includes 26 separate needles.
5. 5. An oscillating tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said plurality of needles is separated by approximately two degrees of distance.
6. 6. An oscillatory tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of needles is spaced approximately two degrees apart from each adjacent needle.
7. 7. An oscillating tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said needle / rack arrangement extends over an arc of approximately 90 °.
8. 8. A continuous mining machine having an inlet end and an outlet end, a rotary cutting drum mounted adjustably to said inlet end, a centrally positioned conveyor extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, a fan section at said outlet end of said centrally positioned conveyor, a needle / rack arrangement fixed to said fan section of said mining machine conveyor, a substantially vertical pivoting needle extending through said fan section, a oscillating tail conveyor having an outlet end and an entrance end rotatably mounted on said pivot needle for an articulated movement about said pivot needle and said conveyor of the mining machine in a substantially horizontal plane, an oscillating tail assembly for rotating said oscillating tail conveyor around said pivot needle, said oscillatory tail assembly includes rotatable transmission means mounted on said oscillating tail conveyor for contacting said rack needle arrangement in said section of fan, and power means for rotating said rotary transmission means, by means of which the rotary transmission means are coupled to said needle / rack arrangement and the rotation of said rotary transmission means by means of said power means said oscillatory tail conveyor rotates about said pivot needle to adjust the position of said output end of said oscillatory tail conveyor in a horizontal plane.
9. 9. A continuous doctoring machine as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said power means includes a hydraulic motor, a differential planetary speed reducer operatively connected to said hydraulic motor and said rotary transmission means are operatively connected to said speed reducer. planetary differential for rotating said rotary transmission means.
10. 10. A continuous mining machine as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said rotating transmission means is a spreader.
11. 11. A continuous mining machine, comprising: an inlet end and an outlet end; a rotating cutting drum mounted adjustably on said inlet end; a centrally positioned conveyor extending from said inlet end to said outlet end; a fan section at said outlet end of said centrally positioned conveyor; a needle / rack arrangement fixed to said fan section of said mining machine conveyor; a substantially vertical pivot needle extending through said fan section; an oscillating tail conveyor having an outlet end and an entrance end mounted rotatably on said pivot needle for an articulated movement about said pivot needle and said mining machine conveyor in a substantially horizontal plane; and an oscillating tail assembly for rotating said oscillating tail conveyor about said pivot needle, said oscillating tail assembly includes rotatable transmission means mounted on said oscillating tail conveyor for contacting said needle / zipper arrangement in said section. of fan, and power means for rotating said rotary transmission means, by means of which said rotary transmission means are coupled with said fixed needle / rack arrangement and the rotation of said rotary transmission means by means of said means of energy rotates said oscillating tail conveyor about said pivot needle to adjust the position of said output end of said oscillatory tail conveyor in a horizontal plane; and wherein said needle / rack arrangement includes a plurality of separate substantially vertical needles arranged in an arc.
12. 12. A continuous doctor machine as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said needle / rack arrangement includes 26 separate needles.
13. 13. A continuous sharpening machine as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said plurality of needles are separated by approximately two degrees of distance.
14. 14. A continuous sharpening machine as set forth in Claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of needles are separated by approximately two degrees of distance from each adjacent needle.
15. 15. A continuous doctor machine as set forth in Claim 8 wherein said needle / cream array extends over an arc of approximately 90 ° from the periphery of said fan section of said conveyor of the mining machine.
16. 16. An oscillating tail assembly for rotating an oscillating tail conveyor in relation to a slitting machine having a central conveyor with an output end having a fan section, said oscillating tail assembly includes: a mounting assembly for mounting said oscillatory tail assembly on an oscillating tail conveyor; a transmission arrangement in said assembly assembly, said transmission arrangement includes a hydraulic motor and a spreader; and a fixed needle / cream arrangement, by means of which said spreader cooperates with said needle / cream arrangement. It was fixed to rotate the oscillating tail conveyor in relation to the conveyor of the mining machine.
17. 17. An ostilatory tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 16 wherein said needle / cream array is adapted to be connected to the fan section of the conveyor of the mining machine.
18. 18. An oscillating tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 16 wherein said needle / rack arrangement includes a plurality of separate needles configured to engage said spout.
19. 19. A ostilatory tail conveyor assembly as set forth in Claim 18 wherein said needles are arranged in an arc. EXTRACT OF THE INVENTION An oscillating tail assembly rotates an oscillating tail conveyor (20) in relation to a mining machine conveyor (9) that includes a mounting assembly (38) that mounts a transmission arrangement on a tail conveyor oscillatory (20). The transmission arrangement includes a hydraulic motor (30), a differential planetary speed reducer (31) and a spreader (33) connected to said differential planetary speed reducer (31). A fixed needle / cream arrangement (35) is connected to the fan section (10) of the conveyor of the mining machine (9) and the nozzle (33) cooperates with the needle / cream array (35) to rotate the oscillating tail conveyor (20) in relation to the conveyor of the mining machine (9)