US1458043A - Method of and apparatus for loading material - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1923. 3,458,043 F. S. FOLLANSBEE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 26 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, 1923. 11,458,043

F. s. FOLLANSBEE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 26 1921 s sheessheet 2 IA I km) i \P/" A g u W g a g 3 )3 i Q I 3 M I A? v Q t "1 g I A i F) g: i I i 5 June 5:, 1923. I 1,4 ,58fl43 F. S FOLLANSBEE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING MATERIAL Filed Nov. 26 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm k w P? W N Nm H B H S I HE U: U: x

Patented June 5, i923.

FRANK S. FOLLANSBEE, OF GRANT TOWN, WEST VIRGINIA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING MATERIAL.

Application filed November 26, 1921.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK S. FoLLANsnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grant Town, in the county of Marion and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Loading Ma terial, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel method of and apparatus for removing material from mines and while the invention is designed primarily for use in coal mines, the principles thereof may equally as well be carried out where other material is to be mined. The present practice, in coal mining for example is to run a loading machine into the drift from which the coal is to be removed, run a single car into the drift in position to receive the coal taken up and delivered by the loading machine, draw this car from the drift, run another car into the drift, load the same and withdraw it, repeating this operation until all of the loose coal has been removed from the drift. This is a laborious and time consuming method of procedure however for it is only possible to load one car at a time because but one car can be positioned within the drift in loading relation to the loading machine. It is obvious that if a train of cars could be introduced into the drift and all cars of the train loaded with the coal tobe removed in practically a single operation, much time and labor would be saved and it would be possible to perform the task by the employment of a less number of workmen. Therefore it is the primary oi ject of the present invention to evolve a method and devise an apparatus whereby the loading operation may be carried on in the manner stated, and with this object in view the invention contemplates the use of the ordinary loading machine employed in the usual manner, and the provision of means whereby the coal or other material taken up by this machine may be loaded onto the successive cars of a train, and the entire train of loaded cars withdrawn from the drift in one operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel construction'of apparatus for carrying out the method above outlined in a most expeditious manner.

Serial No. 517,958.

In the accompanyinodrawings;

Figure 1 is a semi- Tiagrammatic View illustrating the apparatus embodying the invention and the method by which the mined material is transferred from the loading machine to the train of cars;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the delivery section of the conveyor mechanism comprising the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of said section;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of an intermediate portion of the apparatus;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a similar View on the line 77 of Figure 5.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates in a general way the method and the apparatus by which the mined material is transferred from the loading machine to a train of cars, the view representing, for the purpose of illustration, a gangway or gallery indicated by the reference letters G and a drift D which leads from the gallery G in the usual manner and terminates in the breast B. The

reference letter T represents the usual track rails which are laid in the gallery G and drift D and over which the loading machine, indicated in general by the reference letter L, and the mine cars indicated in general by the reference letter C, are to be moved. Heretofore it has been customary to run the loading machine L along the track T through the gallery G and into the drift D and to a point close to the breast B where it might operate to take up the mined material broken down from the breast. After so positioning the loading machine, the practice has been to run a single mine car into the drift along the track T and to a position in rear of the loading machine L in which position it would receive the mined material delivered from the said machine. When this car had been filled it would be drawn along the track from the drift and into the gallery and another car would then be coupled onto the mine locomotive and driven into the drift to loading position. However this operation required considerable time particularly in the switching back and forth of the empty and loaded cars. As previously provided, in addi indicated however the present invention contemplates running a train of empty cars along the track T into the drift D in position rearwardly of the loading machine L, and then loading the material delivered from the machine into the first car of the train or more specifically that car nearest the locomotive and the most remote from the loading machine, advancing the train the length of one car after this first car has been loaded,

and continuing the operation until the entire train of empties has been loaded.

For the purposes of the invention there is 't1on to the rails comprising the track T, a rail R which extends parallel to and between the first mentioned rails so that the composite track thus provided embodies in effect a track of standard gauge and a narrow gauge track, one of the rails of the track T constituting a component rail for the rail R, in the latter instance, as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. At a point adjacent the entry to the drift D, a rail R is led off from the specifically mentioned track rail T, and the rail R is led parallel to the rail B so .as to provide a sid ing extending parallel to the main track and longitudinally within the drift, this siding being indicated by the reference letter S.

The apparatus embodying the invention is in the nature of a conveyor preferably of the endless belt type which conveyor comprises a number of line sections indicated in gen eral by the numeral 1, and a delivery section indicated by the numeral 2, The construction of the line sections is best illustrated in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings and each of these sections comprises front and rear trucks, indicated respectively, in general, by the numerals3 and 4 which trucks are connected in suitably spaced relation by an underframe or reach bar indicated by the numeral 5. The trucks are provided with wheels 6 which are designed to travel upon the track rails R and R and the trucks are therefore of narrow gauge. The trucks 3 and 4 of each section 1 support the conveyor mechanism of the respective section and this mechanism comprises a bed frame including side sills which are indicated by the numeral 7 and which are suitably connected and relatively spaced and preferably of the angle iron construction shown in Figures 6 and 7 each sill including the usual web portion 8 and outstanding upper and lower flanges 9. The bed frame 7 is supported upon a bolster 10 upon the front truck 3 and upon a bolster 11 upon the rear truck 4, and if desired one or the other of these bolsters may be'rendered vertically adjustable by the provision of supporting jack screws 12'as illustrated for example in the instance of the forward truck 3 in Figure 5 of the drawings. By reference to this figure it will be observed that the bed frame of the tends part way over the rear end of the sec tion 1 immediately in advance of it so that the coal or other material being transferred will be delivered from the forward end of one section onto the rear end of the section in advance thereof and so on throughout the entire train or line of sections.

The endless conveyor belt of each of the conveyor sections 1 is indicated in general by the numeral 18 and this belt is supported for travel in a manner to provide an upper conveyor stretch 14 and a lower idle stretch 15, The belt is trained over a drive roll 16 at the forward end of the bed frame 7 and over an idle roll 17 at the rear end of said bed frame, it being understood that the upper stretch 14 may be passed over suitable intermediate idle rolls or roll assemblages indicated by the numeral 18 and be thus afforded support throughout its length. The roll 16 is fixed upon a shaft 19 journaled in suitable bearings upon the side sills of the bed frame at the front end therof, and by reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 it will be observed that the upper stretch 14 of the belt travels between the said side sills and substantially in a plane with the upper sides of said sills. The lower stretch of the belt is passed over an idle roll 20 upon the bolster 10, over a similar idle roll 21 upon the bolster 11, and beneath an idle roll 22 mounted upon the under frame or reach bar 5 as shown in Figure 5. In order that the belt may be driven, a pulley 23 is fixed upon one end of the shaft 19, and a belt 24 is trained over this pulley and over a pulley 25 fixed upon one end of a shaft 26 journaled in suitable bearings upon the side sills of the bed frame. A pulley 27 is fixed upon the shaft 26, and a belt 28 is trained. over this pulley and over a pulley 29 upon the shaft of an electric motor 30 which is supported in any suitable manner between the said side sills.

The coal or other material to be transferred is carried by and upon the upper stretch of the conveyor belt between the side plates 31 supported by suitable standards 32 mounted upon the side beams of the bed frame of the conveyor. The side plates 31 preferably occupy upwardly diverging planes and their loweredges are extended longitudinally above the lateral marginal portions of the upper stretch 14 of the conveyor belt and in order to prevent any of the material being laterally discharged from the said stretch of the belt while being conveyed thereby, an apron 33 of leather or other suitable material or composition of mainate somewhat short of the rear end of the said belt so that when the conveyor sections are being drawn around a curve in the track upon which their trucks are mounted for travel, the front and rear ends of adjacent ones of the sect-ions will not interfere with each other but may assume suitable relatively displaced positions. However when the sections are in alined position it is desirable that the space between the rear ends of the side plates 31 of each conveyor section and the forward ends of the side plates of the next adjacent section in rear thereof, be closed so that none of the material can escape and be wasted as it is discharged from the front end of one section onto the rear end of the other section. With this end in view there is provided at the rear end of each conveyor section, means which will now be described. The said means comprises side plate sections which are indicated by the numeral 34 and which are slidably disposed against the inner or opposite faces of the re s ective side plates 31, being provided upon t eir outer faces with slides 35 which engage over the upper edges of the respective side plates 31 and serve to support and guide the plat sections 34. The slides 35 are located at the forward end portions of the plate sections 34, and the rear end portions of these late sect-ions are supported, by outstanding bracket members 36 which project laterally outwardly from the lower rear corner portions of the plate sections 34 and which at their outer ends are bent to provide portions 37 engaging slidably about the upper flanges 9 of the respective side sills of the conveyor bed frame. In this manner the side plate sections 34 are supported in upright position and "they may be slid forwardly or rearwardly with relation to the associated side plates 31 and when slid in a forward direction as shown in dotted lines'in Figure 5 of cours provide clearance for the relative disolacement of the forward end of the associa't ed conveyor section. When slid rearwardly to the full line position shown in this figure and in Figure 4, they will overlap, at their upper rear corner portions, the projecting forward end of the portions of the side plates of the associated conveyor sections so that when they occupy this latter position, substantially a closed trough is provided continuously throughout the series of conveyor sections. As the sections of the conveyor are inclined upwardly from their rear ends to their forward ends, it is desirable that means be provided for preventing any loss of 'the coal or other material which might result from the material shifting baclrwardly upon the upper stretch of the conveyor belt at the time it is discharged from the forward end of one section onto the rear end of the other sect-ion, and this means, in the drawings, comprises a b-afiie plate 38 which is disposed to extend transversely between the side plate sections 34 and is inclined upwardly and rearwardly and has its lower edge positioned close to the upper side of the upper stretch 14 of the conveyor belt,

the upper or rear edge of the baffle plate 38, when the plate is in the full line position shown in Figure 5, being located relatively close to the portion of the conveyor belt of the rear conveyor section which passes over the drive roll 16.

From the foregoing it will be understood that coal or other material deposited onto the upper stretch of the; conveyor belt of the rearmost conveyor, considering the direction of travel of the upper stretches of the belts of the several sections, will be carried upwardly by the upper stretch of the respective belt, and discharged onto: the upper stretch of the belt of the next succeeding section in line. In this manner the coal or other material is carried continuously from the receiving end of the conveyor, as a whole to the delivery section of the conveyor upon which latter section it will be discharged into the car or cars to be loaded.

The delivery section of the conveyor which is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, comprises front and rear trucks indicated respectively in general by the nu merals 39 and 40, these trucks embodying wheels 41 for travel upon the track rails of the narrow gauge track heretofore referred to. The trucks 39 and 40 are connected by an under frame or reach bar 42, and a turntable 43 is mounted upon the rear truck 40 and is provided with spaced pedestals 44 between which is supported the rear end of the bed frame of the said conveyor section, The said bed frame comprises, as in the former instance, side sills 45 which in this instance have their forward portions extended substantially horizontally and their rear portions directed downwardly at an angle as at 46. A shaft 47 is journaled in suitable bearings in the rear ends of the portions 46 of the side sills and projecting ends of this shaft are mounted in the pedestals 44 so that the bed frame may have upward tilting movement about the shaft 47 as a center for a purpose to be presently explained. The shaft 47 also supports a drive roll 48 over which the conveyor belt 49 of this section is trained, the upper stretch of the belt, indicated by the numeral 50 passprising the ingfrom the roll 48 over an idler roll 51 and then about an idle roll 52 located at the front end of the bed frame. The lower stretch of the belt 49, indicated by the numeral 53, passes from the roll 52 beneath an idle roll 54 located in advance of the truck 39, over an idle roll 55 located within the bed frame above and at the rear of the said truck 39, and thence to the roll 48. Drive mechanism 56, of the general construction and arrangement illustrated and described in connection with the line sections of the conveyor is arranged, as illustrated in Figure 3, between the roll 48 so as to impart travel to the belt 49. Also this section of the conveyor is provided with side plates 57 corresponding to the side plates 31 previously described and with slidably adjustable side plate sections 58 corresponding to the plate sections 34.

When the delivery section of the conveyor is in aligned position above its supporting trucks 39 and 40, its intermediate or forward portion will rest upon and be supported by the frame structure of the truck 39 but because of the provision of the turntable 43 this section of the conveyor is adapted to be swung laterally in the manner shown for example in full lines in Figure 1 and dotted lines in Figure 2, so as to be out ofalignment at its forward end with the line sections 1 of the conveyor and discharge the material at a point out of line with these sections. Under these conditions the for ward ordischarge end of the delivery section will probably be supported by the engagement of a hook 59, located at its forward end, over a rod or cable 60 which extends between posts or uprights 61 which may be arranged and supported in any suitable manner within the drift in which the material transferring operation is to take place.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be evident that the loading operation may be carried on in the following manner: The loading machine L is run into the drift over the track T to a point adjacent the breast 15 and in working relation to the material tobe loaded. At this time or after the loading machine has been properly disposed, the conveyor apparatus comline and delivery sections is likewise run into the drift and past the switch and onto the siding S. Then the train of cars C to be loaded-is run into the drift over the main track rails and in position parallel to the line sections of the conveyor. The

delivery section 2 of the conveyor is then swung laterally so as to bring its discharge end above the end car of the train, and the apparatus is set in operation so as to cause the loading machine L to take up the material and deliver it upon the endmost line the rear portions 46 of the sills of the bed frame and serves to drive section 1 of the conveyor, convey it from one to another of these sections throughout the series, and finally deliver it through the medium of the delivery section 2 into the end car of the train. When this car has been loaded the train is advanced substantially the length of one car so as to bring the next empty car into position to receive the material discharged from the delivery section, and this operation is continued until all of the cars of the train have been loaded whereupon they may be drawn from the mine.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A conveyor comprising a plurality of line sections arranged to deliver material from one to another, the delivery end of one section being positioned above the receiving end of the next adjacent section in line, each of said sections embodying an endless conveyor belt and means for imparting travel thereto, side plates extending longitudinally of the conveyor stretch of the belt, the delivery end of one section being spaced from the adjacent ends of the side plates of the other section to permit of relative displacement of said sections in a lateral direction, and plat-e sections slidably associated with the side plates and adjustable to position spanning the space between the delivery end of one section and section.

2. A conveyor comprising a plurality of line sections arranged to deliver material from one to another, the delivery end of one section being positioned above the receiving end of the next adjacent section in line, each of said sections embodying an endless conveyor belt and means for imparting travel thereto, side plates extending longitudinally of the conveyor stretch of the belt, the delivery end of one section being spaced from the adjacent ends of the side plates of the other section to permit of relative displacement of said sections in a lateral direction, and a baflie plate extending between the said plate sections above the conveyor stretch of v the belt.

3. A conveyor comprising spaced trucks a turntable upon one of the trucks, a conveyor flight including a frame structure mounted at one end upon the turntable whereby to adapt it to be swung laterally about the axis of the table, the other truck constituting a support for the said framev structure of the conveyor flight when the flight is in alignment with the trucks, and means independent of the last mentioned truck for supporting the said flight when the flight is adjusted to extend laterally at an angle. a

4. The method of loading material in a mine drift which comprises operating a loading machine substantially at the breast of the drift, positioning a train of cars to be the side plates of the next loaded in rear of said machine and on a ing machine to the endmost car of th trackway extending into the drift and from and advancing the train car by car along the drift into a gallery of the mine, 0perat the first-mentione d traekway and outwardly 10 ing a conveyer Within the drift on a trackfrom the drift into the gallery, as the suc- 0 Way branching from the first-mentioned C SS VG 0 's thereOf are loaded.

trackWay and extending parallel thereto In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. whereby to convey material from the load- FRAN K S. FOLLANSBEE. [11. s.]

e train,

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