US1159861A - Mining-machine chain. - Google Patents

Description

G. B. NORRIS & Q, C. MARSHALL.

MINING MACHINE CHAIN. APPLICATION FILED FEB-20.1909. RENEWED APR-7.1915.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. NORRIS AND CURTIS C. MARSHALL, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MINING-MACHINE CHAIN.

Application filed February 20, 1909, Serial No. 479,073. Renewed April 7, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE B. NORRIS and CURTIS C. MARSHALL, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining-Machine Chains, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlhis invention relates to improvements in cutter chains for coal mining or other similar machines. 1

The object of the invention is to provide a chain of strong and simple construction which will furnish rigid support for the cutters and which will run smoothly in its guides. I I

In the drawings-Figure 1 is an elevation of a section of chain embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an end elevation along the line m-m of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the chain comprises a series of cutter carrying links or blocks 1 and strap links 2 connecting the cutter links by means of the pivot pins 3 and 4. Each of the cutter links has a recess 5 between the pivot pins 3 and 4. This recess is so formed that it is adapted to be engaged by the sprocket wheel of the mining machine. Each of the cutter links has an extension at its rear end which is provided with a transverse slot or hole 7 in which a cutter is mounted. The cutters are held in place by the set screws 9. At the rear of each cutter hole is an integrally formed outward projecting boss 6" which serves to give additional support for the outer part-of the cutter. The extension 6 extends transversely to the full width of the chain, so that the bearing faces 10 will engage the outer edges of the strap links 2. The sections 11 of the cutter blocks are provided to give additional support to the inner ends of the cutter and to form a more rigid engagement between the cutter links and the strap links.

The strap links 2 are provided with flanges 12 which are adapted to be engaged by guides of the mining machine. These flanges are tapered at their ends to allow them to enter and leave the guides readily.

Lugs 13 are provided at the upper forward part of each of the cutter links. These are so positioned that each will engage the Specification of Letters Patent.

v of the group Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Serial No. 19,819.

mined by varying the clearance space between the lug 13 and the'extension 6.

The cutter links are preferably arranged in groups of 3, 4, or 5 links each, each link having its cutter in a different plane from the planes of the other cutters of the group. In the drawings we have shown a chain having its links arranged in groups of three. The transverse arrangement of the cutters is shown in Fig. 3.

The mining machine chains commonly used have the cutters supported entirely by the cutter links. The length of the links between the pivotal connections is necessarily short, and the tendency is for the forces acting on the cutters to throw the forward end of the cutter link outward.

This causes a correspondingly greater pressure on the inner end and the tendency of the links to tilt-causes much unnecessary friction. In a chain embodying our invention'the' effect is to increase the length of the base along which the force from any one cutter'is distributed. This is accomplished by the cotiperation of the cutter and strap links which prevents their bending outward in relation to one another. There is-still some tendency for the forward end of, the cutter link to be thrown outward, but this tendency is more than counteracted by the tendency ,of the rear end of the next preceding stra link to be thrown inward. In this way al the forces between the guide way and the supporting parts of the strap links act in the same direction and there is no tendency toward a tilting of the links.

We are aware that several constructions have been before proposed whereby the force acting upon the cutter may be distributed over morethan one link. However, the construction provided for by our invention is especially advantageous in that the forces acting upon the cutters are transmitted in a direct line to the supporting guideway and also in that the sprocket wheel engages directly with the cutter link.

IVhat we claim is 1. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series of cutter links, and a series of alternate strap links pivotally connected to the cutter links, each of the cutter links having between its pivotal connections a recess adapted to be engaged by a sprocket wheel, and each of the cutter links also having a rearward extending lug provided with cutters and a longitudinal flange on each side adapted to engage and be supported by the adjacenkstrap links, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series of cutter links and a series of alternate connecting links pivotally connected to the cutter links, each of the cutter links having between its pivotal connections a recess adapted to be en gaged by a sprocket wheel, and each of the cutter links also having a rearward eX- tending lug provided with cutters and with a longitudinal flange on each side adapted to engage with and be supported by the adjacent strap links, and each of the said 'strap links having a longitudinal flange adapted to be engaged by a portion of the mining machine, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series of cutter links and a series of alternate connecting links, each of the cutter links having a rearward extending lug with a cutter attached and a projection near its forward end which is adapted to engage the rear lug of the next preceding link and prevent the chain from bending outward beyond a predetermined amount, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cutter chain for mining machines, the combination of a series of cutter links and a series of alternate strap links pivotally connected to the cutter links, each of the cutter links having a recess adapted to be engaged by a sprocket wheel and being provided with a rearward projecting cutter carnieasei rying lug adapted to engage with and be supported by the adjacent strap links, the

cutter links being arranged in groups and the lug on each link of each group having a cutter holding slot arranged transversely of the link in different longitudinal planes from the planes of the cutter holding slots of the other links of the group, substantially as set forth.

5. A cutter chain for mining machines, comprising a series of cutter holding links, and a series of strap links pivotally connecting the cutter holding links, the cutter holding links each having a part adapted to be engaged by a sprocket wheel, and a part adapted for the attachment of a cutter the pivotal connection between each cutter holding link and one of the adjacent strap links being longitudinally intermediate the sprocket engaging part and the cutter engaging part of the link, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cutter chain for mining machines, a series of alternately arranged pivotally connected. cutter carrying links and strap links, each of the said cutter carrying links having aprojection overlapping an adjacent strap link and adapted for the attachment of a cutter and a part in advance of the said projection for engagement with a sprocket wheel, substantially as set forth.

7 In a cutter chain for mining machines, a series of alternately arranged pivotally connected cutter carrying links and strap links, each of the cutter carrying links having a cutter engaging part transversely positioned relative to an adjacent strap link and adapted to engage therewith, and a sprocket engaging part in advance of the said cutter engaging part, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. NORRIS. CURTIS C. MARSHALL. Witnesses H. B. ALEXANDER, CHAS. B. HAYS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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