US1185277A - Mining-machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. BALL.

MiNlNG MACHINE.

m ucmou FILED 001.9. 1906.

Patented May 30,1916- 6 SHEETSSHEETI ent-4:-

Inventar aZAM- M A. BALL.

MINSNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED our. 9. 190a.

Pamnted May 30,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witnesses.

A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, 1906.

laten ted May 30, 1916.

6 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Invenlor.' W M by i M fllgs.

U M M W mwy A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9, I905- 1,185,277. Patented May 30, 1916. k- 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Inventor. Wflw z 24 k) y A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9,1906- 1,].85,277. Patented May 30, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N @o g p} Q R f A i \e v? N L witnesses. Inventor Q M W fiwa A. BALL.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FlLED OCT-9,1906- 1,1 85,277. Patented May 30,1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

71 FJ 'gLIO k ml" .lv

2117066 6 e s [rz 8/672 Zor: ma Q.@MMw/) award Bail;

4 M j/-4 Q9 may Qua-sum a w-nJuns-a I c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT BALL, OF CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT BALL, a citi- -Zen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented an Im rovement in Mining-Machines, of which t e following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to machines provided with cutting mechanism and with means for feeding the same along the wall in which the cut or kerf is being made.

Among the objects of my invention are improved means for controlling and handling such machines, particularly improved constructional features providing a machine of compact form, great strength and effectiveness, and convenience of arrangement, all of which are points of desirability in machines of this class.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a mining machine embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view on a reduced scale showing in outline the entire machine; Fig. 3 is a central, longitudinal ection taken through one end of the machine along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1 and looking from the wall side of the ma- "chine; Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing the remaining portion of the opposite end of the machine; Fig. 5 is a transverse section, partially broken away, taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the irregular line 66 in Fig. 1 and showing the feed transmission gearing; Fig. 7 shows the cam slide rod; Fig. 8 is a section in elevation on an enlarged scale taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 1: Fig. 9 is a section in elevation on an enlarged scale taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan showing the arrangement of the machine for cutting in a direction opposite to that indicated in Fig. 2: and Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing partly in section the relation of the clutch to the cutter chain sprocket Wheel.

In the drawings I have shown for the purpose of illustrating the various features of my invention an electrically driven chain mining machine of the so-called long Wall type. That is to say, a machine which is adapted to make a continuous out while traveling close to the face of the wall, the top of the mine being either posted or permitted to drop except in the narrow space in which the machine travels.

In the particular type of machine illustrated there is provided a cutter bar and a cutting mechanism which, during the cutting operation, is swung to approximately a right angled relation to the side of the machine. The cutting mechanism is driven through suitable transmission devices by an electric motor which also acts to drive suitable feeding mechanism for the simultaneous traverse of the machine under its own power. In the specific type of machine shown the machine is caused to slide along the mine bottom upon a suitable bottom plate or shoe and without the necessity of tracks or the like. the feeding taking place through appropriate engagement with a fixed feeding chain having anchored ends in accordance with the general principles disclosed in U. S. patent to Mitchell No. 656.414.

\Vhile certain features of my invention as herein disclosed relate more particularly to others to machines of the long wall type, vet in many of its features and combinations it has and is intended to have general and broad application to mining and other machines of quite dissimilar types.

Referring to the drawings and to the specific embodiment of the invention therein shown. the principal operating parts are mounted on and secured to an underlying frame member consisting of the flat bottom plate or shoe A. In the present instance this is constructed of wrought iron and extends substantially the entire length and breadth of the main body of the machine so as to underlie the same and form a firm and solid support therefor during sliding contact with the mine bottom.

The body .of the machine comprises primanly the motor frame re resented at B, which is bolted directly an' rigidly to the bottom plate or shoe (Fig. 4), and the main frame or casting C, which is bolted at one end to the motor frame or casting and at its opposite end is bolted to and supported upon the pillars or posts C, (only one of said p1llars appearing on Fig. 3) which are erected near the opposite end of the bottom plate. The motor frame has secured to it the field magnet pieces B and is provided with substantial. journal bearings B at one end of the machine for the motor shaft. The casting C provides journal bearings B for the opposlte end of the motor shaft (Fig. 3) and also provides support forthe principal power transmitting elements of the machine in such an elevated position, however, that between the said frame and the bottom late (Figs. 3 and 5) there is provided asufli dient space for the cutter chain to operate and for the cuttingsto pass through.

Referring first to the cutter chain and its driving mechanism, the chain (shown in Fig. 1), which may be of any suitable construction, is mounted to travel along gibbed ways in opposite sides of the cutter bar D, the latter having a pivoted attachment upon the machine. The outer end of the cutter bar carries the usual idle sprocket wheel (not shown) over which the chain passes, and at its inner end is provided with the driving sprocket wheel d (Figs. 3 and 5) through which the chain is driven, the driving sprocket wheel being mounted co-axially with the swiveling of the cutter bar. The cutter bar, as well as the cutter chain, except as hereinafter referred to, may be of any suitable or usual construction. The inner end of the cutter bar is provided with a removable cap (1, by which it may be clamped to a pivotal support upon the bottom plate A. This pivotal support (Figs. 3 and 5) is in the form of a flanged sleeve (1 firmly riveted to the bottom plate A, there being provided a necked portion (i between which and the bottom flange the cutter bar has a swinging movement about the removable lining or bushlng d. The sleeve 0. is also provided with an interior bushing d shoulderedat its upper end and providing in conjunctlon with the bottom bearing washer d a lower step bearing for the upright sprocket wheel driving shaft E. The sprocket wheel 03 is loosely and revolubly mounted on the hub e of the beveled driving gear 6. but may be clutched to or unclutched therefrom bythe toothed clutching device e which latter is vertically slidable. The gear hub is apertured at intervals and the upper face of the sprocket wheel is notched as at 6 so that the teeth e The r sprocket wheel has the removable bushing Or binding (2 and is retained upon the hub of the gear by the flanged collar e, bolted to the lower face of, the gear hub. The upper end of the clutch member presents an inturned annularshoulder e which is engaged byarc-shaped feet a the latter carried by depending plungers vertically slidable in the main frame and connected each to an overhead operating lever 6 (Figs. 1 and 3) by means of arms e and the rock shaft c (Fig. 1) whereby the clutch may be raised or lowered at will. B raising or lowering the hand lever 6 the di'iving gear may be unclutched from or clutched to the cutter chain sprocket wheel, the lever being retained in its assigned position by the engagement of the spring arm 6 with the upright notched post e The bevel gear 6 meshes with the driving pinion 11 secured to the motor so that the cutter chain is driven directly from the motor through the interposition of the bevel gears e and I) only. This disposition of the operating elements permits the motor to be disposed horizontally at one end of the machine and the cutter bar to extend laterally from the upright sprocket wheel driving shaft at the opposite end of the machine, the feed transmitting parts, to be more fully described, being supported therefor upon the frame over the cutter bar and at the opposite end of the machine from the motor.

One provision of importance is the provision of ample bearing surface for the main upright driving shaft E and the provision of an adequate bearing both above and below the cutter chain sprocket wheel and the driving gear. In the present instance the upper bearing is provided by the elongated journal box 0, formed in the main casting, and the lower journal by the journal sleeve (1 already described. In the described machine I have provided means whereby the cutter bar may be swung to a position somewhat away from and at either side of a true right angled relation to the machine. In Fig. 1 the cutter bar is inclined about 9y forwardly in the direction of cutting. which latter is shown by the arrow. This causes the bar to hold the machine to the coal as the machine is traversed without any special guiding devices other than the feeding chain instead of being thrown away from the coal by the action of the cutters as would be the tendency were the relation exactly right angled.

In this machine, which is adapted for cutting while the machine is traversing in i i -"yclination shown in Fig. 1, or in opposite but like inclination for cutting in a reverse direction.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 5 and 9, the upper frame plate C is provided with a flanged portion 0 which is reinforced by.

the plate (1" and provided with a pair of adjacent recesses or notches a, 6". Vhen the cutter bar is to be locked for cutting operation a- .heavy latching bolt 0 is inserted in one of the notches and the. cutter bar swun about until the bolt passes through a registering aperture of like formation in the cutter bar. The lower part of the latch ing bolt enters and is held by a similar notch in the underlying locking plate a (Fig. 5) secured to the upper edge of the bottom plate A. The two sets ofnotches in the upper frame plate and the underlying locking plate are so arranged that in cooperation with the latching bolt they serve to lock the cutter bar in the correct position andwith the proper inclination for cutting in either the one or the other direction. In addition to the latching bolt 0" the cutter bar D may also be held fixed by the threaded bolt 0 the latter having threaded engagement with a tapered nut 0 (Fig. 5) retained in the underlying latching plate the frame plate being provided with two apertures for the bolts 0", one of which registers with the single aperture in the cutter bar in one position of the latter and with the other in the second position. For loading the machine upon the trucks it is desirable to turn the cutter bar to a generally longitudinal position and in such longitudi nal position the bar may be locked by passing the threaded bolt 0 through the aperture indicated at 0 (Fig. 1).

While other methods of feeding or causing the travel of the machine during the cutting operation, .or at other times may be employed, I have herein shown the feed chain K, which is so engaged by a suitable sprocket wheel on the main sprocket wheel driving shaft that the machine is given a continuous uninterrupted feeding movement while cutting. With the machine cutting in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1 the chain is associated with the machine in the fashion shown in Fig. 2. That is to say the leading end k of the chain, which is anchored to a fixed support in advance and close to the face of the wall. passes to an idler wheel is carried on the removable and adjustable brace rod la at the leading end of the machine and closely adjacent the Wall, thence about the idlers I0 and thence to the chain driving sprocketwheel L (Figs. 3 and 6). From the sprocket L it asses over another idle wheel is carried on an adjustable and removable arm it: which holds ing as follows:

the rear end of the chain out toward that side of the machine opposite the wall side thereof. The chain then passes to a ratchet and pawl mechanism (not shown) by which the slack may be taken in or let out as desired. 'ith the chain in this relation the machine is held up to the face of the wall by its own traversing action upon the chain. It will be seen that this machine is capable of cutting and feeding in either direction and that a change from a cut in one direc tion to a cut in the opposite direction may be. made by readjusting the cutter bar as described and reversing the position of the cutters or the cutter chain on the cutter-bar, but without turning or reversing the position of the machine as a whole. an operation which on account of the narrow working space is usually dillicult and undersirable For the sake of mechanical simplicity, these two portions of the chain are herein' shown united into one continuous length of chain. \l'heu it is desired to cut in the opposite direction the leading end of the chain may be led directly to its anchor support without the'intervention of the idle roll in and the rear end of the chain directly to the ratchet and pawl mechanism without the use of the guiding roll Z'. liy adjusting the cutter bar to an inclination in the opposite direction and reversing the movement of the driving mechanism and the inclination of the cutter bits the machine can cut in the opposite direction. being held to the wall as before by the leverage exerted by the feeding chain. The space occupied by the bevel gear is protected from the space immediately beneath. through which pass the coal cuttings during the operation of the machine. by the plate or cover C.

Referring more particularly to Fig. (3. driving movement is transmitted to the. sprocket wheel from the sprocket wheel driving shaft F. through the train of gear- Near the upper end of the upright driving shaft there is provided a driving pinion m. which is driven through an overhead yieldable transmission device hereinafter described. This pinion meshes with and drives the gear or on -the idler shaft m the latter having keyed thereto at its lower end the pinion meshing with the idler gear m. The latter meshes with and drives the gear a. keyed to the lower end of the high speed driving shaft 21'. which carries loosely mounted thereon the driving pinion n meshing directly with the large sprocket wheel driving gear 1, keyed to the sprocket wheel L. The latter is revolubly mounted upon the upright fixed sprocket shaft 12.

Splined to the upper end of the shaft n to rotate therewith is a sliding clutch sleeve a having a toothed lower face which may be depressed to clutch with and drive the pinion n, the latter having a corresponding toothed upper face. When thus clutched the pinion drives the sprocket wheel directly at the higher speed.

For obtaining the slow feeding move ment, which is used during cutting, the constantly rotating clutch member a has gear teeth 11. which mesh with the large intermediate gear 0, the latter loosely journaled upon a reduced portion of the sprocket shaft 12. The gear 0 has secured'to it the smaller overhead pinion 0', which meshes with the smaller idle pinion 0 the latter driving the larger gear 19, which is loosely journaled on the upright slow speed driving shaft p. The gear 12, which is thus constantly driven at a reduced rate of speed, may be clutched to drive the shaft ;0 by depression of the sliding clutch member 17 the latter on depression having toothed en the upper face of the gear hu l). When thus clutched the shaft p drives the pinion p which is keyed thereto, and, the pinion meshing with the sprocket driving gear Z, drives the sprocket wheel L at a relatively slow rate of speed. In other words, with the clutch member a raised and the clutch member 79 lowered, as shown in Fig. 6, the sprocket wheel is driven at the slow or cutting speed. With the clutch member 11.

- lowered and the clutch member 12* raised, the

an interlocking or toothed engagement with the gear 0, may be readily withdrawn on removal of the gear plate.

For engaging or disengaging the clutch members at will there is provided the sliding controller rod r (Figs. 6,7 and'8) having suitably formed cam grooves in its face, which grooves are caused to engage lugs r and 1' respectively, carried by the sliding clutch members n and 72 The lugs 1' and 1' are formed respectively upon sleeves 1" and r (Fig. 6,) and these sleeves are retained each upon a reduced portion of its respective clutch member by flanged threaded caps 1' and 1. The formation of the cam grooves is such that when the rod is moved to the left as shown in Fig. 6, the clutch member 17 is depressed and the clutch member 21. raised, giving the slow cutting speed. W'hen moved to the right, the reverse condition falls, giving the high speed. The rod 1' slides in guide-ways formed in the top of the frame plate C and is moved in one diagement withwhen a given load on the feeding chain is exceeded. This comprises a cup-shaped member 8, formed integrally with the pinion m, and having a cone-shaped friction surface engaglng with the corresponding surface of a driving member s, which latter is splined to the drive shaft but free to slide 7 lengthwise the same{ During cutting movement these two members are pressed together by a spring 8 seated in a pocket in the driving member s, the pressure of said spring being regulated by an adjusting nut 8 which may be set to the degree of compression required for transmitting the desired load. v

When moving the machine about, in order to avoid slippage at the transmission device there is provided means for placing pressure upon the transmission device in addition to that of the spring. For this purpose there is threaded upon the upper end of the driving member s a nut s, between which and the Washer 8 upon the driving member there is provided a collar 8 having a pair of diametrically opposite trunnions (Fig. 3) jointed to the swiveled split ring frame sf, the latter being pivoted at 8 upon the machine. The opposite end of the ring frame is prolonged into the arm 8", which carries the 'bracket 8 through an opening in which passes the cam shaft 8. The latter is provided with an eccentric cylindrical cam s" which works within the bracket and bears against an underlying plate 8 (Fig. 5). The plate 6 is pressed upwardly by the stiff spring 8 carried by the yoke s, the latter sustained by the bolts 8 depending from the bracket. The cam shaft 8 is provided at its outer end (Fig. 1) with the hand lever 8 By turning the hand lever, the cam roll 8 may be turned to increase or diminish the pressure upon the underlying plate a, this in turn acting through the yoke s and the ring frame to detract from or add to, the

pressure-already exerted between the memv bers of the yieldable transmission by the spring 8 By merely depressing the ring frame through the hand lever s" the transmission device may be made to transmit more than the normally assigned load and thus avoid slippage at the high speed, such control over the friction between the.trans mission members, however, being exerted through the yielding, though relatively stifi' spring a which thus acts to make the action of the controlling lever less abrupt.

In order to prevent pressure in addition to that of the spring from being placed upon the transmission device during the cutting speed, a cam shaft 8 (Fig. (3) mav be provided, with 3 lug t, which in the low speed position of the slide rod 1* is caused to underlie the overhanging lug f carried by the side of the rod. This prevents movement of the cam shaft in a direction to increase the pressure on the transmission device when the machine is traveling at the slow cutting speed.

It will be understood that during the cutting operation the entire machine all delicate parts are protected by sheet iron covers or protection plates from falling coal or stone. dust. grit or the like.

\Vhile I have here shown and described one form of my invention for illustrative purposes, it will be understood that the same is not limited to the specilic form and arrangement of parts or the particular (lo-- tails of construction shown, but that eX- tensive modifications in these respects may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims: A

1. A mining machine having a bottom plate, flexible guiding means for guiding the machine along the work, a cutter bar, means to fix the cutter bar laterally upon the plate and at a forward inclination relatively to the line of advance of the machine, and feed transmission devices for causing the travel of the machine during the cuttin operation, said devices being supported over one end of said cutter bar.

2. A long wall mining machine having flexible guiding means to hold the machine to the work, said means being adjustable to reverse its relation to the machine and provide for travel of the machine in either direction, a cutter bar, means to fix said cutter bar laterally upon the machine at a slight forward inclination relatively to the line of advance of the machine irrespective of its direction of travel, a cutter chain operatively supported by the cutter bar, an electric motor disposed horizontally upon the machine and driving connections between the motor and the cutter chain.

3. A long wall mining machine having means permitting the same to slide along the mine bottom, an electric driving motor mounted longitudigally and horizontally upon said plate near one end thereof, an upright sprocket wheel driving shaft near the opposite end of the plate and having a lower journal bearing thereon, an upper frame plate in which said shaft has an up per journal bearing, a cutter bar pivoted upon sale uprlght sprocket wheel driving shaft between said upper plate and said lower plate, means for locking said cutter bar while extended laterally from the machine, a bevel gear secured to said sprocket driving shaft, a beveled pinion upon the motor shaft meshing therewith, and a clutching device for clutching said beveled gear to said sprocket wheel.

4. A long wall mining machine having means permitting the same to slide along the mine bottom, an electric driving motor mounted longitudinally and horizontally upon said plate near one end thereof," an upright sprocket wheel driving shaft near the opposite end of the plate and having a. lower journaled bearing thereon, an upper frame plate in which said shaft has an upper journaled bearing, a cutter bar pivoted upon said upright sprocket wheel driving shaft between said upper plate and said lower plate,- means for locking said cutter bar while extended laterally from the machine, a bevel gear secured to said sprocket wheel driving shaft, a beveled pinion upon the motor shaft meshing therewith, a clutching device for clutching said bevel gear to said sprocket, and feed transmission gearing supported upon said upper frame plate and driven from said sprocket driv-- ing shaft.

5. A mining machine having cutting mechanism and means for operating the same, feeding mechanism, means for operating the feeding mechanism at relatively ditl'erent speeds, a yieldable transmission device effective at the lower speed for limiting the power transmitted to the feeding mechanism. and elastic means for varying the power transmitted through said yieldable transmission device to secure a higher speed.

(i. A mining machine havin feeding mechanism, means for transmitting power thereto at a plurality of speeds, a yieldable transmission device through whlch said power is transmitted, said device comprising a driving and a driven member having frictional engagement,adjustable means for enforcing pressure between said members, additional means for increasingthe pressure between said members, and a cushioning spring between said additional means and said friction members.

7. A mining machine having an electric motor, cutter bar extending laterally from the machine, a cutter chain operatively supported by the cutter bar, driving connections between the motor and the cutter chain, and a bottom plate or shoe upon which the machine is adapted to slide along the mine, said plate extending benea h said motor and one end of said cutter bar, and the latter having a pivoted support upon the said plate.

8. A mining machine having an electric motor disposed horizontally lengthwise of the machine, a cutter bar extending laterally from the machine, and an upper frame member, a lower frame member between which said cutter bar is pivoted, said machine bcing adapted to slide along the mine bottom on the said lower frame member and flexible guiding means to hold the machine to the Work.

9. A mining machine having an electric motor, a cutter bar mounted adjacent to said motor and extending laterally from the machine, a cutter chain operatively supported on the cutter bar, a driving sprocket Wheel connected to drive the chain, a bottom plate extending beneath said motor and one end of said cutter bar, and bearings for said sprocket Wheel receiving support from the bottom plate.

10. A mining machine having supporting means permitting the same to slide along the mine bottom, flexible guiding means to hold the machine to the work, an upper frame member, a cutter bar pivoted between said upper frame member and said supporting means, locking devices for fastening the cutter bar slightly at one side of a r1 htangled relation to the machine, and eed transmission devices above one end of the cutter bar and supported by the upper frame member.

11. A. mining machine having means permitting the same to slide along the mine bottom, an electric motor disposed horizontally lengthwise the machine, a cutter bar mounted adjacent the motor and extending laterally from the machine, a cutter chain, a driving sprocket wheel for the chain, and a journal bearing for the sprocket Wheel both above and below the same.

12. A mining machine having supporting means permitting the same to slide along the mine bottom. a cutter bar mounted at substantially right-angles to the machine duringthe cutting operation, a cutter chain operatively supported thereon, a sprocket wheel, a sprocket Wheel driving shaft, an upper frame member, said sprocket wheel driving shaft having an upper journal bearing in the upper frame member and a lower journal bearing in said supporting means, an electric motor disposed horizontally upon the machine and gearing connections between the motor and the sprocket Wheel.

13. A long Wall mining machine having supporting means upon which the same is adapted to slide along the mine bottom, an electric driving motor, a cutter bar presented laterally from the machine during the cut ting operation, means for causing the machine to travel and to cut in one direction or to travel and cut in the opposite direction, whereby the machine may be reversed without turning the same around.

14. A mining machine having a cutter chain, a cutter bar supporting the same, an electric driving motor arranged with its shaft at right angles to the sald cutter bar,

feeding mechanism, means foroperating the feeding mechanism at relatively different speeds, a yieldable transmission device effective at .the lower speed for limiting the power transmitted to the feeding mechanism, and elastic means for varying the power transmitted through said yieldable transmission device to secure a hi her speed;

15. A mining machine iiaving anv electric motor disposed horizontally lengthwise the machine, supporting means upon which the machine is adapted to slide along the mine bottom, a frame member above the supporting means, and a cutter bar extending laterally from the machine and pivoted between said frame member and said supporting means.

16. A mining machine having a bottom plate an electric driving motor, a cutter bar pivoted directly upon and above said plate, and a locking bolt for locking said bar at either side of a rightangled relation to the machine.

17. A mining machine having a bottom plate, an electric driving motor, a frame member above the plate, a cutter bar pivoted between the plate and the upper frame member and means engagin the cutter bar, plate and frame member or locking said bar in any one of a plurality of positions.

18. A mining machine having a bottom plate, an electric driving motor, feeding means upon the machine, a flexible feeding device with which the same is adapted to engage to cause the travel of the machine along the mine bottom, a cutter bar pivoted upon the plate and means for locking said cutter bar at either side of a right-angled relation to said machine.

19. A mining machine having a bottom plate upon which the machine is adapted to slide along the mine bottom, an electric driving motor, and a cutter bar pivotally mounted at one end of the plate and at substantially right angles thereto, said machine having an open space above the bottom plate and on either side of the cutter bar to permit the passage of the cuttings through the machine.

20. A long wall mining machine having supporting means upon which the same is adapted to slide along the mine bottom, an electric driving motor, and flexible guiding means for holding the machine to its work during the cutting operation, the same presenting two flexible portions connected each to a fixed support, one on the advancing side of the machine and the other on the receding side thereof. one connected to the machine near the wall or cutting end and the other relatively near the opposite end thereof, the connections of said flexible guiding means to the machine being reversible Whereby its relation may be reversed, and the driving mechanism for the machine being also reversible whereby the machine may be cutter bar to permit the passage of the cut caused to travel and cut in either direction. tings through the machine.

21. A mining machine having supporting In testimony whereof, I have signed my means upon which the machine is ad-a ted to name to this specification, in the presence of; 5 slide along the mine blpttom, an electric drivtwo subscribing witnesses.

in motor, a cutter ar pivotally mounted at one end of the supporting means, and ALBERT BALL power transmission means supported over Witnesses:

one end of said cutter bar, said machine E. J. BURCHARD, 10 having an open space on either side of the L.WILLs0N HALL

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