US1378361A - Mining and loading mechanism - Google Patents

Description

'N. D. LEVIN. MINING AND LOADING MECHANISM. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. I915- RENEWED JULY 31,1920. 1,328,361 Patented y 17,1921

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

01 11v VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

N. n. LEVIN.

MINING AND LOADING MECHANISM. APPUCATION FILED APR.7,19I5. RENEWED JULY 31,1920.

1 ,3?8,86l a Patented May 17, 1921.

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A TTORNIEX N. D. LEVIN.

MINING AND LOADING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. I915, RENEWED JULY 3I, 19 20.

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' INVENTOR- BY ,0. I 1

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ATTORNE Y.

N. 0. LEVIN, v MINING AND LOADING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, I9I5- RENEWED JULY 31,1920.

1,378,361 a ed May 17, 1921.

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1 aveaz ar N. D. LEVIN. MINING AND LOADING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1915. RENEWED JULY 31,1920. 378,361,

Patented May 17, 1921.

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HQE m v @WN m Mww FEE 9 W W D UNITED "wins 1). LEVIN, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

MINING AND LOADING MECHANISM.

To all whom. it 9710?] concern:

Be it known that I, NILs D. LEVIN, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Columbus, in the county-ofFranklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining and Loading Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings; j

The invention. relates especially to'niining and loading mechanisms of the class in which each comprises means for forming a transverse horizontal kerf at the base of the coal face, means for breaking down the coal thus undercut, and a conveyer arranged to extend into the undercut and to receive and carry away the coal which 18 broken down.

A number of mechanisms of this general character have already been invented by myself and others, and the object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of this class which shall be free from some of the disadvantages incident to the earlier ma chines.

Most of the earlier machines can be divided into two distinct sub-classes, as follows: (1st) those in which the coal face is attacked along lines perpendicular thereto, the machine as a wholebeing fixed against lateral movement while operating. Some of the machines of this sub-class were intended to be moved laterally between cuts so as to be thus advanced along the coal face and across the room; and other machines and others being adapted for movement along curved linesiparallel. to a curved face.

lVIachines embodying my present inven-- 'tion belong to the secondof the above mentioned classes. ()ne of the characteristic features of d fference between this machine and earlier machines is that it 18 free for movement either inward or along the coal face, and is provided with means'for cutting a .kerf during movements in either of the said directions. Tlie'machine is actuated,

guided and controlled entirely by means of flexible cables which permit it to be moved, a's'desi ed under the control of the operator Specification of Letters Patent.

. for a machine of mechanism.

1. 1g. '5 is a sectional Patented Ma 17, 1921.. 31, 1920. Serial No. 400,546.

to conform to the varying conditions of the coal to be mined and oaded. i v

One object of the invention, therefore, is

to provide a continuously operating mining and loading machine which canbe moved while operating either inward to make a sumpin cut or parallel'ly to the coal face, preferably in either direction. Another obect is to provide, in combination with the cutting, breaking down and loading devices, improved actuating, guiding and controlling elements. A further object is' to,pi;ovide an improved general arrangement of parts this character. A still further object is to provide a combined ineclianisn'i comprising improved conveying devices supplemental to the primary con-. veyer which initially receives the broken down coal] Further objects will be apparent from the following specification and claims. 0

In the accompanying drawings I have .illustrated one embodiment of the inventhe cutting, breaking down and loading parts of the Fig. 2 is a side view .on a smaller scale, looking toward the left of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view with some of the parts in section, showing the cutting chain and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is a combined elevational and sectional view taken along the line 45- 4: of

view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of Fig. 1, the cutter chain being removed for the-sake of simplicity.

Fig. 8 IS a fragmentary sectional viewtaken alongthe line 8-8 of Fig. l, the

cutter chain being removed for the sake of simplicity.

Fig. 9 is a detailed view of the support for the breaking down device. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Fig.3.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view.

of the stop tion, of the final or delivering conveyer.

- ways thus formed.

F igs.- 16 to 23 are diagrammatic views illustrating one 'manner of. using the mech-. anism.

The machine comprises a main base frame adapted to slide over the floor of the mine in any direction, a cutting mechanism projecting from the inner end of the base frame, propelling and guiding upon the base frame, a conveyer attached to the cutting mechanism to be carried thereby into the kerf produced in the coal body, a motor mounted upon the base frame, suitable driving connections between the motor and the cutting mechanism, the conveyer, the propelling and the guiding mech anisms respectively, and a breaking down device mounted upon the base frame and adapted to breakthe coal down upon the conveyer.

Referring to the construction in detail, the base frame comprises a bottom plate 1 adapted to slide over the floor of the mine. This plate 1 is attached to the depending flanges 2 of the bed frame casting 3 upon which are mounted the other parts of the machine. Si'ipported by the depending brackets 3" from the under side. of the bed frame casting, and adapted to limited longitudinal movement thereon, is a cutter frame 4.. The cutter frame comprises a bot tom plate 5 on which are placed a chain guide bar (5 and stiffening bars 7 and 8. Upon these bars are placed the top plates 9 and 10, and all of'thepalts are securely riveted together, as shown.. Guide strips 11 are secured along the edges of the plates 'to engage the links of the chain 12 to prevent their accidental removal from the guide The chainj'12 can be of standard construction audit need not be described in detail. It is provided with cutters 12. The outer surface of the guide bar (3 is protected by a renewable wearing strip 13 over which the chain slides. The top plate 9 is cut away at 14 to form a slot the edges of which engage the aforesaid bracket 3, which carries an adjusting screw 15 in threaded engagement with the nut casting .16 attached to the bottom plate 5. By means of the screw 15 it is. possible to move the cutter frame for the adjustment of the ten- 'sion of the cutter-chain 12 in the manner devices mounted the lower commoirto chain cuttermining machines.

The cutter frame is extended laterally and Y rearwardly along theright hand side of holding the parts in their proper working relation.

Mounted upon the base frame casting 3 is an electric motor 22 having all-armature 23 .mounted in suitable bearings 24 and 25.

Secured to the shaft of this armature is a spur pinion 26' engaging with a spurgear 27 mounted upon a shaft 28 journaled in bearings on the base frame casting. The spur gear 27 is connected through a friction disk safety device 29 with a bevel pinion 30 which meshes with the master bevel gear 31. A ny overload transmitted to the bevel pinion 30 from the master gear 31 will cause a slippage of the friction disks of the safety device 29 and prevent the over- .oicing of the motor. The master gear :nis fixed on a vertical'shaft 32 which journaled in the bearings 33 of the base frame. casting and in the bearing 34- of'an auxiliary frame secured thereto. Mounted upon sprocket wheel 35 by which the cutter chain .12 is driven. Suitable clutch mechanism is interposed between the sprocket wheel 35 and the vertical shaft 32 by which they may be connected or disconnected as the co'ndi tions of operation may require. As concerns this clutch there can lie-variation, but for purposes of illustrationl have shown the shaft 32 as provided with air-aperturial flange 32". The sprocket wheel 35 is slim-- ,larly aperturcd and in a central recess of the wheel is a ring which carries vertical pins 35 adapted to extend through both sets of apertures. When the pins are in the position shown the sprocket wheel is connected to the shaft, but by lifting the pins they can be disengaged from the flange 2-52, thus breaking the power connection to the sprocket wheel 35.

Formed on the-hubof the'bevel gear 31 is a worm 36 which engages the worm wheel 37 keyed to the shaft 38 extending across the machine and supported in the bearings 39, 40 and 41' attached to the base frame casting 3. Mounted upon this shaft '38 is a cable winding drum 42 upon which may be wound the cable 43 by which the machine m'ay be moved and guided about the end of the vertical shaft 32 is a .Working place as will be later explained.

Upon one side of this drum 42 is formed the driven member 44 of a friction clutch of thewell known Weston multiple disk type,

'the driving member 45 of which is keyed 'to the shaft38.

Attached to theclutch member'44 is an inavard extending flange 46 provided with a/central scrern threaded aperture engaging similar threads on the hub of a spur gear '47. The gear 47 is freely mounted upon the shaft 38 in-su'cha manher that the rotation of the gear 47. relative Convenient means for the manipulation of to the cluthmembe'r-44, in one direction will actuate the clutch to drive the drum and in the other direction will release it.

the spur gear 47 is provided in the pinion 48 attached to the shaft 49 journaled' in suitable bearings of the machine frame, and

having its end squared t0v fit a convenient wrench for manual rotation.

A second friction clutch 50, similar to the I clutch above described, ismounted on the shaft 38 and upon the driven member of this is formed a spur pinion 51 which engages a spur gear 52 keyed. to the shaft 53. A spur gear wheel 54 is provided for the manipulation of the. clutch 50, and this gear is controlled by'the spur pinion 55 attached to the shaft 56 adapted to be controlled with a hand .wrench in the same manner as the first described clutch. To the shaft 53 is fixed a pinion 57 engaging the gear wheel 58 to I machine to its work as will be plalned.

drive the feed shaft 59 and with it the feed drum 60. A feed cable (51 is attached to the drum 60 to be wound thereon to feed the later ex- Positioned at suitable points about the machine are .guide sheaves G2, 53, (34, (i5, and 66 by which the feed cable 61 may be led in vany desired direction for the proper manipulation of the machine, as will be fully set forth, and a swiveled sheave 67 -is provided adjacent to the drum 42 by which the cable 43 maybe guided in either direction.

- A convenient reverse switch 68 is provided,

by which the direction of rotation. of the armature 23 may be controlled. U Starting and stopping of the motor is effected by the starting box 69 having a handle 70 located convenient to the hand of the operator.

Q The conveyer is of the endless chain and scraper type andviscarried by a self-contained structure havinga forward hor zontal part lying in a recess of the cutter frame and anl inclined rearward portion extending along the right hand side of the. motor frame;-

" to a point in the rear of the feed and guiding mechanism to discharge thecoal into any receptacle placedconveniently to receive t.- T he forward horizontal portion ofthe structure comprises twoparallel side rails 71 which have secured to them the angle bars 72. To these angle bars are'attached theplate 78 which forms the bottom of the conveyer trough. Formed in the side rails 71 are notches adapted to engage the squareheaded studs 74 fixed to the'bottom plate 5 to prevent longitudinal movement of the conveyer structure. Cover plates 7 5, bolted to the upper frame, engage the upper edges of these side rails to hold them in place. .Tle chains of'the conveyer are indicated by 7-9 and are provided with rollers 78. Be- -ause of the difficulty ,of properly lubricating the bearings of a revolving shaft con-. tinually exposed to dust in the limited space available'at the forward end of the cutter frame, the foot shaft 76. is fixed to the side rails 71 and upon the surface of this shaft are formed two circular flanges 77 upon the periphery of which the rollers 78 of the conveyer chains 79 travel. The carrier strand of the conveyer chains 7 9 and the cross bars .80 travel on the plate ,73 topush the coal along the trough, and the return strand travels over the bottom plate 5 to a point 81.

near the foot shaft 76 where the plate is cut away to afford additionalclearance.

- The lnchned rear portion of the conveyer structure comprises two side plates 82 and- 83, attached at their forward ends to the side rails 71. To these side plates are fixed'the angles 84 which support the trough plate 73, and the angles 85 which support the return strands of the chains 79. Angles 86 secured 'to the side plates 82 and 88' protect the chains from contact with the coal in the trough. Channel bars 87 and 88, secured to the main frame 3 of the machine, and vertical angle bars 89 secured to these channels form a structure which supports the rear end of the conveyer. plates 82 and 83 near their rear end, are ad- Secured to the side too justable journal boxes 90 of the type conrmonly used in conveyer practice to affordmeans for tensioning the conveyer chains, and n these is ournaled thehead shaft 91 having suitable sprocket wheels which en the conveyer. 'A removable side plate 99 is provided foruseat the forward end of the conveyer after the completion of the sumpiing cut. Secured to the back of this plate 99 are "attachment lugs 100 adapted to be in- 'serted in apertures 101' provided for their reccption'in the plates and bars of the cutter frame'. The'use of this removable plate will appear in the description of the operation of the machine as hereinafter set forth.

.As concerns the breaking down mechanism, there can be wide variati0n,.but I prefer amechanism which, consists of a mechanically operated pick of any suitable type, such asis commonl'y'used for underacylinder 102 within which is a piston .hose 104 and eontrolledby a conveniently, placedlvalve 105.

carrying a tool 103 adapted to reciprocatory motion. Compressed air is supplied'from any convenient source through a suitable air Formed 'on' the sides of the cylinder .102 at about'its center of weight are trunnions 106 adapted to be supported in suitable bearings of a yoke 107 which is pivoted for rotation in a horizontal plane, in the hub 1081-of the goose neck bracket 10$).

- Convenient handles 110.. attached to the rearward end ofthe cylinder 102. afford means to direct tl e blows of the pick against any desired point in the coal face.

Formed at the other end of the bracket 109 is a hub 111 in which are mounted theball' bearings1l2, .113, and 'llsh the inner races of which engage the pivot'post'115 fixed in the top'and bottomplates 116 and 117 ofthe horizontally oscillatable arm 118, affording a support for the bracket 109 and the parts carried thereby. The ball bearlngs. being sufficiently massive. afford .an

abutment for the thrust of the pick against the coal. face as transmitted through the trunnions 100, the yoke 107 and the bracket 10$). Hinged to the bracket 10!) is a latch 1'19 adapted to engage with notches in the Segmental plate 121 attached to the arnr 118 concentric.with the pivot post 115 to prevent the. rotation of the bracket about the pivot. A cord 122 attached to the latch 11!) and leading around the guide sheave 123 to the hand of the operator at the handle 110. affords means for disengaging the latch when such rotation is desirable.

The arm 118 is built up of the top and bottom plates 116 and 117 and the channel bars 121, and is pivotally attached to the supporting platform 125 by the pivot bolt- 120. The platform 125 comprises the plate 127 supported from the motor frame 22 by two Sections of channel bar 128 bolted to the motor frame and riveted to the plate 127, and of an angle bar 1229 fixed to the forward edge ofthe plate 127 and extending above the. conveyer and along the right hand side of theinachine and supported by angle bars and 80. of the machine frame.

Spaced apertures inthe angle bar 129 are adapted to receive the lugs 131 of thestop block 132 by which the oscillation of the arm 1 18 may be limited.

In mines adapted for the room and pillar system of mining, entries or passages, along Which'the coal is transported, are excavated in the. coal bodyand from these-entries open rooms in which, the principal mining operations are conducted. Tracks are laid along' .the entries for the passage of the cars in which the coal is'hauled, and from these tracks extend branches into the rooms. For reasons which it isnot necessary to recite at. this time, these branch tracks are usually laid along one side of the room, and as the mining operations extend across the end of the room much of the coal must be carried a considerable distance to be loaded into cars standing upon such tracks. ()n, this-account Ihave found it advisable to use anauxiliary conveyer, extending along the working face in such relation thereto that it will receive the coal discharged from the 'machine conveyer, asit is advanced across the face, and deliver the same to an auxiliary loading conveyer which in turn delivers it to the cars.

As illustrated-in Fig. 13, ,the auxiliary face conveyer comprises a trough-133, of similar construction to'that used in the inclined portion of the conveyer upon the mining machine, which is supported at either end on pedestals 134 and 135, each provided with a sole plate 136 and 137 respe -tively adapted to slide over thefioor of the mine in any direction, to facilitate plac- -ing the conveyer in working relation with themining machine. Along thetrough 133 travel two endless strands of the chains 138 connected together at intervals by cross bar scrapers 1391) which the coal is propelled along the trough. A head shaft 140and a 106 foot shaft 111 are provided at the ends of the trough to guide the chains 138 in the manner comnion to conveyer practice. A driving shaft 1-1-2. jpurnaled in suitable bearings supported by the trough structure,

carries sprocket wheels 1413 which engage the return strands of the chains 138 to drive them. and idler sprockets 144, suitably mounted,- hold the chains 138 in working engagement with thesprocket wheels 143.

,-lhe"drive shaft 112 is connected through the sprocket wheels 145, the chain 1 16 and the sprocket wheel L 17 with the motor 148,- mounted in the pedestal 134.

though not necessarily, similar to that forming a part of the mechanism shown and described in my co-pending application for mining and loading machines, Serial No. 782,522, filed August 1st, 1913.; It is illustrated in Fig. 15, and comprises two sections of trough 149 and 150, the former, of which extends in an upward inclined' direcy tion while the latter extends in an approxi- 1 matcly horizontal direction above the cars 151 standing on the'rails 152 of the mine track. These trough sections are connected together by a horizontal hinge 153 to admit of a certam amount of vertical adjustment of the delivery end of the trough 150. Se-

The loading conveyer is preferably; 115

cured to the trough 150 are, forward ex-' I supported on a structure comprising a hopper casting 168, adapted to slide over the floor of the mine, and a steel framework 179, built up of structural shapes suitably connected together and to the hopper casting according to the practice of structural steel construction. An axle 180 and wheels 181, adapted to travel onthe rails 152 of the mine track, are provided to support the Weight of the rear portion of the framework 179 and to facilitate the positioning of the conveyer for service. The hopper casting 168 is shaped to form the forward portion of the conveyer trough, and is provided with suitable bearings in which is journaled the foot shaft 182. At the rearward extremity of the horizontal section 150 are fixed journal boxes 183 of the ordinary adjustable type commonly used in conveyer practice to regulate the tension of theconveyer chains 184. The conveyer chains 184 pass around the sprocket wheels of the head and foot shafts in the manner common to scraper conveyers, and are connected together at intervals by the cross bar scrapers 185 which slide over the bottom plates of the troughs 149 and 150 to propel the coal therethrough. Mounted in'suitab'le bearings of the structural frame 179 is a shaft 186 which is so positioned that the line of the return strand of the conveyer chain 184 is approximately tangential to the periphery of the sprocket wheels 187 mounted thereon. These sprocket wheels 187 engage the chains 184 to drive them, a sufficient amount of slack being provided to insure engagement with the teeth of the wheels. The shaft 186 is driven through suitable gearing from the motor 179 mounted upon the framework 179.

As illustrated in Fig. 16,'according to the preferred method of use, the machine is placed near the right hand rib, adjacent theworking face, with the forward end of the cutting frame as close up into the corner as is convenient. The feed cable (his then drawn out from the drum 60. passed around the guide sheave 62 and secured to a suitable jack 188 at the face. The guide cable 43 is then drawn out from the drum 42. passed around the swivelcd sheave 67 and the guide sheave 65 and anchored at 189 adjacent the right rib. lVhen the machine is started, and the feed cable 61 wound upon the drum 60, the machine will be caused to move forward'to make the sumping, or entering, cut,

the manipulation of the friction clutches 44and 50, the drums 42 and 60 may be causedto wind their- respective cables 43 and 61, to hold them against un-- winding or to allow them to freely unwind as the operator may desire. By such manipulation of the clutches the guide ropes will be controlled to bring the machine into the position shown in Fig. 17.

As soon as the cutter frame, with the forward end of the machine ,conveyer, is

sufficiently advanced beneath the coal, come pressed air will be admitted to the breaking down mechanism, and as its tool 103 reciprocates, the operator will direct its strokes against the desired point in the coal face to break out fragments upon the conveyer to be removed thereby. I 1

While the machine is operating as illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17 the face conv'eyer 133 is adjusted to receive the coal from the delivery end of the machine conveyer and the loading conveyer is adjusted to receive coal from the face conveyer and deliver it to a car 151 placed to receive it.

After the machine has been drawn the maximum distance into the coal, the jack 188 is removed to a point adjacent the left rib, as illustrated in Fig. 18, and the feed cable 61 is connected thereto. The rope .or

cable feeding and guiding mechanism i then manipulated to feed the machine across 1 the face. As the machine advances the pick mechanism breaks down the coal. and the conveyers carry it to the car. The operationwill thus be continued until practically the entire width of the room has been traversed,

and the machine will be in theposition indicated in Fig. 19. If now thefeed drum 60 be held against rotation and the guide cable 42 be wound up, the rearend of the ma-.

chine will be drawn toward the right, and forward end of the cutter frame forced to the left to finish the cut, as illustrated in Fig. 20.

The feed rope 61 will then be passed around the guide sheaves 63, (34, 65' and 66 to the anchor jack 189 positioned as illustratedv inl ig. 21, and the machine again I sumped into the coal to the position .iIlustrated in Fig. 22. The conveyors will then be again adjusted relative to the mining,

machine and the operation repeated in the reverse direction, as illustrated in Fig. 23.

lVhen mining machines of the usual weight and dimensions are used, and it is desired to out first in one direction and then m the other, it has been found necessary to reverse the cutter bits in the cutter chain and reverse the d1rect1on=of the chain, to

prevent the bit reaction from forcing the machine away from the coal face, and I do not mean to exclude constructions of this sort. But experience with the machine embodying my invention as described has demonstrated-that the additional weight of the breaking down and conveying mechanisms prevents the movement of the machine by such reaction and it is possible to. cut in both directions without changing the bits or reversing the chain.

As soon as the sumpin'g cut is completed either side of the room the removable plate 99 isadjusted to bonfine the broken coal to the conveyer, and when the out has been completed across the room this plate will be again removed to be out of the way while sumping.

I am aware of the fact that machines for mining and loading have been heretofore made or proposed, each of -which had in combination chain'underrutters, conveyers, and reciprocating picks for breaking down means; but the machines referred to were of the breast class; that is to say, had their parts so designed and related that the kerf was formed by a thrust of the cutting apparatus directly inward from the front face, the kerf across the face being, as an entirety, composed of a series of these direct inward thrust cuts. The machines did not cut continuously along the face.

The pick mechanisms 'used with these earlier machines were not arranged in such a way as to form a widely extended and inwardly extended vertical broken face running from the normal front face to the vertical plane of the inner end of the cut. The picks were designed to break down the front face over an area of the width of that of the under-cut. In the present case the purpose is to continuously form a uniformly wide nnderkerf extending along the face (in contradistinction from a.crescent-shaped or archshaped out), and while this kerf being: made to apply powerful blows to the coal in such a way that the breaking down action shall occur along a newly formed v rticii face which is transverse to or into he front face so that the coal'can he rccei and carried away by a conveyer. and w the apparatus much simpler and more compactly arranged than that found nccessany with the earlier machines of the other "lass referred to.

As above indicated, the cutter. mechanism is arranged so that, when looked at in plan view, it travels in a path having the part A which is inclined to the vertical longitudinal planes of the part B which is approximately parallel to said planes, and the part C which is transverse thereto. l hc coal breaking pick mechanism is so positioned that the lines on which the blows from the pick are delivered can be close to lines that-are perpendicular to the vertical plane of that part of the cut which is made by that part of the cutting apparatus indicated by A. When the frame with the undercutter is being advanced to make the sumping cut into the coal, the pick mechanism is also advanced, and begin to machine. the.

a /ass].

make the shear cut next to the right hand rib, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17; and, the "efore, when the time comes to re-adjust the feeding and checking mechanism to make the cross cut, the pick has opened up ,a vertical chamber, as shown in Fig. 18, which exposesa face inclined to the normal, or front face of the coal, and the pick operates toward this inclined face while the machine is being propelled toward the left. lVhen it reaches the predetermined extremity of its travel the inclined part- A of the cutter path permits the machine as an entirety, to swing around and make a perfectly square rib or room wall at the left hand side as shown in Fig. 2'0 The pick, being mounted, in the way devised, acts as above stated so as to break down the coal above thc undercut up to the line of the left hand wall or rib, it being possible to adjust it so that its pivots are on lines perpendicular to the face,

outside of the coal face and yet its longitudinal axial line will perpendicular.to the vertical plane of the line of the part A of the cutterpath.

The pick, being mounted on a frame or support such as described, can be thrown bodily forward or backward. By swinging the supporting frame or arm 11.8 forward or backward, the main positioning can be effected. Then, by adjusting the arm 109 around in relation to the part 118, a still closer positioning to the desired points can be attained for the pick.

lVhat I claim is:

l. in a machine for undercutting, breaking down and loading coal, the combination ,of a .lmrizontal cutter frame, a kerf cutting mechanism having operative parts,at the front and at the inner end of the said frame, whereby a kerf canbe cut when the frame moving either inward or forward, a conveyor having itsreceiving end positioned 'within the o ntlines of the frameiand between the upper and lower o 'uttingplanes of the said cutting" mechanism and having its dclivcry cnd above thesaid planes. and means above the receiving end of the conveyerfor breaking down the coal.

O in a machine for undercut-ting. breaking down and loading coal, the combination 3. In a rzachine for undercuttin breakbe approximately 'ing down and loading coal, the combination wvhereby a kerf can be cut when the frame is moving either inward or forward, a conveyer having its receiving endpositioned Within the outlines of the frame and between the upper and lower cutting planes of the said cutting mechanism and having its delivery end above the said planes, means above the receiving end of the conveyer for breaking down the coal, and a removable plate adapted to be secured at the rear of the conveyer when the machine is moving forward.

4. In a machine for undercutting, breaking down and loading coal, the combination of a horizontal cutter frame, a kerf cutting mechanism having operative parts at both sides and at the inner end of the said frame, whereby a kerf can be cut when the frame is moving either inward or in either direction parallelly to the coal face, a conveyer having its receiving end positioned within the outlines of the frame and between the upper and lower planes of the said cutting mechanism and having its delivery end above the said planes means above the receiving end of the conveyer for breaking down the coal, and a removable plate adapted to be secured at whichever side of the conveyer, is rearmost when the machine is moving parallelly.

to the coal face. i

5. In a machine for undercutting, breaking down and loading coal. the combination with a main frame adapted to be moved in any direction relative to the coal face, power actuated devices mounted upon said main frame to move and guide said main frame. a horizontally extending cutter frame carried by the main frame, cutting devicescarried by said cutter frame and adapted to cut a kerf near the base of a coal vein when the machine is moved longitudinally inward or laterally in either direction, a continuously acting conveyer having a receiving portion disposed within the bounding planes of the kei'f cutter and extending to near its inner extremity, and breaking downdevices comprisrng a riu-iprocating pick mounted; upon 'a universally adjustable pick holder permanently attached to the main frame, said pick beingadapted to strike the coal on lines ex- .tending either parallel to or transversely of the main frame is advanced as aforesaid, a hain cutter moving around the cutter frame, a conveyer positioned in vertical planes at the side and parallel to the vertical longitudinalplanes of the main frame and having its receiving end positioned Within the outline of the cutter frame and adapted to move in the said bottom kerf, a breaking down mechanism comprising a reciprocating pick and cylinder bodily adjustable laterally and inward and outward relatively to the I receiving end of the conveyer, and a support for the breaking down mechanism comprisv mg a horizontally swinging arm pivoted to the main frame, and a manually controllable lock for securing the arm in either of several positions.

7. The combination of the main frame, the power devices thereon, the horizontally projecting undercutting mechanism, means for moving the frame and the undercutter bodilyalong the coal face, the'coal breaking a pick mechanism,-an(l the support for the pick mechanism adjnstably connected to the main f aim to position the pick mechanism bodily either outside theve'rtical planes of the coal face or inside of said planes.

S. The combination of the relatively wide main frame, the power devices thereon, the horizontally projecting undercntter mechanism, the conveyer on the frame having its receiving end adapted to enter the kerf of the undercntter, means for moving the frame with the aforesaid parts along the face of the coal, and the coal breaking pick 0 mechanism mounted on the frame and adapted to be bodily adjusted from positions out: side of the planes of the normal coal .fae to positions inside of said planes.

S). In a mechanism for under-cutting, 10a

breaking down and loading coal;"the combi-' nation of I a main frame, power actuated m ans thereon for moving said frame later I ally along the face of the coal, a cutter frame projecting horizontally forward from T the main frame and adapted to travel therewith laterally in a kerf near the bottom of the coal, an endless chain cutter traveling around said frame in a path having a section at the inner end'approximately parallel to the coal w'face, a section inclined inward and lmclnvard relatively'to the longitudinal lines of the m'ain frame-and a. section which is approximately parallel to saidlongitudinal lines, a breaking down mechanism comprising a reciprocating pick and a holder breaking down and loading coal, the combination of the mam frame, propelling devices adapted to advance said frame toward a coal face on lines inclined to the latter, or to propel it on lines approximately parallel thereto, a cutter frame extending forward and also laterally backward from the main frame, a chain cutter traveling around said cutter frame, a conveyer in vertical planes at the side and parallel to the'vertical longitudinal planes of the mainframe and inter:

v secting the front part of the cutter frame,

said, conveyer having its inner end adapted to travel in a kerf at the bottom of the coal,

tally adjustable frame projecting laterally from the main frame and across the vertical longitudinal planes of the conveyer for supporting the breaking down mechanism, said breaking down mechanism having a reciprocating pick and pick holder, the pick betending in either of two opposite directions from the normal front face to the vertical planes of the inner terminal of the undercut.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. NILS D. LEVIN.

ing arranged to form a broken coal face eX-

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