US1583665A

US1583665A - Coal gathering and loading machine

Info

Publication number: US1583665A
Application number: US43245A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter E Cox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-07-13
Filing date: 1925-07-13
Publication date: 1926-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1943-05-04

Description

1925 4 sheets-sheet Q INVENTOR. 71570029 n ATTORNEY.

W. E. COX

COAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed July l5 May 4, 1926.

A Waffe May 4 1926. v

w. E. cox

COAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Fileddul A TTORNE Y.

w. E. cox

COAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE May 1926.

Filed July 13, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

- I N VEN TOR. lib/e755? 00X,-

A TTORNEY.

May 4 1926. 1,583,665

W. E. COX

CAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. COX, F PRINCETON, INDIANA.

COAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Application led July 13, 1925. Serial No. 43,245.

I expeditiously gathering and loading coal under ground.

A further object of the invention is to v provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a machine of the class referred to,capable of being adjusted to various active positions whereby the gathering and loading operations can be had over a large area of the coal vein or bed.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a coal gathering and loading machine, which is comparativ y simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, comp-act, adjustable, having means for conveying it from point to point, thoroughly eiiicient in its use, conveniently operated, and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

view, the invention' consists of the novel construction, combination and arran ement of parts, as hereinafter more speci cally `described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be `understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the apron.

carriage. With the foregomg andv other objects in 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in plan, of a portion ofthe gathering mechanism.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5 5, Figure 4.

Figure 6` is a perspective view of the Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective, ofa conveyor.

A coal gathering and loading machine, in

accordance with this invention, travels during its operation upon a pair of track rails l, 2, and includes front and rear conveyor mechanisms capable of being simultaneously and independently adjusted, a -gathering mechanism carried at the forward end of the front conveyor mechanism, an apron assoc iating with the front conveyor and gathering mechanisms, an; adjustable lower supporting` element, an adjustable upper supiportng element, the lower element constitutlng a support for the upper element and for the front conveyor mechanism, the upper element providing a support for the rear conveyor mechanism, a travelling truck or carriage forming a common support for said mechanisms and elements, operating means respectively forV the front and rear conveyor mechanisms and for the gathering mechanism, and driving means for the truck or The machine further includes other elements of structure to be, hereinafter pointed out. The machine is designed primarily for working under ground and when operating gat-hers the coal and conveys it so that the coal can be. loaded in a car or elevator.

The truck comprises a body portion 3 of the desired len th and which has the forward portion o its top bevelled downwardly as at 4, towards the forward end of the' truck.- Journalled in the body portion I3 is a pair of spaced axles 5, 6, each carrying v a pair of fwheels 7. Extending longitudinally of the body portion, centrally thereof, is a worm sha t 8 piovided with a pair of spaced Worms 9, meshing with worm gears 10, carried by the axles 5 and 6. The wheels 7 travel on the track rails l, 2 and when' the shaft 8 -is actuated the truck is driven. Carried by the body portion 3 is mechanism 12 controlled by a pawl and lever mechanism 13. The top of the body portion 3 has secured thereto aci'rcula'r bearing plate 14 provided with a collar 15, and said plate 14 forms an element of a turn table to be hereinafter referred to. Any suitable means is provided for controlling the operations of he motor 11. The lower supporting element is connected `to and carried by the truck. The connection between the lower supporting element and the truck is had through the medium of the turn table of Awhich the plate 14 forms an element.

' The plate 14 is suitably fixed to the truck,

and arranged in superposed relation with respect to said plate 14 is a plate 16 provided with a collar 17 which rides on the collar 15. The plate 16 is maintained in spaced relation with respect to the plate 14 by depending pairs of brackets 18 and bearing rollers 19. Each pair of brackets 18 carries a bearing roller 19 and the latter travels on the upper face of the plate 14. The plate 16 is coupled to the plate 14 by a vertically disposed pivot bolt 20, extending through the collars 15 and 17 and provided with a securing nut 21. The collar 17 shifts on the collar 15 when the plate 16 is revolved. The elements 14 to 21 both inclusive provide a turn table whereby the lower supporting element lcan be adjusted relative to the truck and the plate 16 forms a part of the lower supporting element, as said plate 16 is xedly secured to the lower face of the body portion 22 of said lowersupporting element. The body portion 22 is rectangular in plan and projects forwardly with respect to the forward end of the truck. Theforward part of the v'body portion 22- is of triangular contour, as at 23, and the inclined portion 24 of saidy part 23 op-poses and is spaced from the bevelled portion 4 at the forward end of the top of the truck. Secured to the forward end of the body portion 22,'as well as depending therefrom is a support 25 for a purpose to be presently referred to.

The upper supporting element is positioned in superposed spaced relation with respect to the lower supporting element and comprises a rectangular skeleton body portion 26. Interposed between the upper and lower supporting elements is a turn table referred to generally by the reference character 27, and which is constructed in the same manner as that referred to with respect to the turn table interposed between the lower supporting element and truck.

The front conveyor mechanism is connected with and carried by t-he lower supporting element, and said mechanism includes two pairs of channel irons forming housings for the conveyor chains as well as supports for the idler rolls for the conveyor chains. Thev channel irons of oneI pair are indicated at 28, 29, and those of the other pair at 30, 31. One pair of channel irons is spaced from the other as well as being oppositely disposed with respect thereto. The channel iron 28 opposes the channel iron 30, and the 4channel iron 29 opposes the channel iron 31. The channel irons 29 and 31 extend upwardly and rearwardly at an inclination for the major portion of their length,

as at 32, and the rear or remaining portion of the length of each of said channel irons, as indicated at 33, is disposed in parallelism with respect to the lower supporting element and also extends over the forward end portion of 'the rear conveyor mechanism. The forward ends of the channel irons 29 and 30 are fixedly secured to the forward end of the lower supporting element, and the forward ends of said channel irons extend into the forward end of the lower supporting element. See Figure 1.

The channel irons 28 and 30 oppose each other, and the former is arranged in alignnient with the channel iron 29 to provide a continuation of the latter, and a like arrangement is had with respect to the channel irons 30 and 31. The channel irons 28 and 30 extend forwardly with respect to the lower supporting element and at a downward' inclination,. and are p-ivotally connected to the forward end of said lower supporting element, as at 34, and by such connection the forward end of the front conveyorl mechanism can be elevated from the position as shown in Figure 1. The means for elevating the forward end or forward section of the front conveyor mechanism, as well as for lowering said forward end or section, will be presently referred to. The channel irons 28 and 29 provide a housing for a conveyor chain, and the channel irons 30 and 31 provide a housingffor a conyeyor chain. One of the conveyor chains is indicated at 35, Figure 1, and the other at 36, Figure 5. Each of the conveyor chains is of the link type, as indicated at 37 in Figure 7, and the chains 35 and 36 have arranged therebetween, as well as connected therewith, an endlessk conveying belt 38 provided with spaced transversely extending partition members 39. The belt 38 and partition members are xedly secured to the chains by hold-fast devices 40. The partition members 39 provide the belt throughout with compartments 40.

The idler rolls for the conveyor chains are indicated at 41 and are supported by the channel irons 28 to 31 both inclusive. Tensioning means for the chains and belt is indicated at 42 and is connected to the idler roll at the rear end of the channel irons 29 and 31. The idler roll at the forward ends of the channel irons 28 and 30 is indicated and has the shaft thereof extended at each end and provided with a sprocket pinion, and the said pinions are indicated at channel irons 29 and 31, intermediate the" ends thereof. lThe-shaft 46 is provided 'with a pair of sprocket pinions 47 which engage in the. chains 35 and 36 for the purpose of driving them. The projecting ends of the shaft 46 carry pinions 48 which mesh with and are Vdriven from the gears 49 carried by a shaft 50, support-ed in hangers 51 depending from the'channel irons 29 and 3l. The shaft 50, intermediate 'its ends, carries a worm pinion 52 meshing with a worm 53 formed on the forwardly projecting end of the shaft 54 of ai motor 55, which is secured to the upper supporting element'. Any suitable means can be employed for controlling the operation of the motor 55.

Secured to the top throughout of the channel irons 28 and 30, as well as to the forward terminals of the bottom .of said irons, is a yoke-shaped apron provided at its forward end with a rearward extension inclining downwardly for the major portion of its length. The apron consists of ya fiat head 56 of substantial width and length and which has projecting rearwardly therefrom a pair of

flat arms

57, 58 of substantial width and of a length to extend to the rear end of the channel irons 28 and 30. The head 56 andl arms 57 58 are mounted on and secured to the channel irons 28, 3() by thehold-fast devices 59. The inner edges ofthe

arms

57, 58 are flush with the inner edge of the top of the channel irons 28 and 30. See Figure 3. The head 56, at the front thereof, merges into the rearward extension and which is an integral part of the apron and comprises a rearwardly extending downwardly inclined portion 6() and a straight portion v,61, which is positioned against the bottom of the channel irons 28, 30, at the forward ends thereof, and further secured therewith by the holdfast devices 62. The apron acts as a means to protect the forward end of the front conveyor mechanism and to also receive the coal as it is gathered. The gathered coal is conveyed to the head 56 and shifted therefrom on the belt 38. The apron also constitutes a support for the gathering mechanism.

The gathering mechanism includes a pair of oppositely extending brackets 63, 64, one of which is secured to and projects laterally from the channel iron 28 and the otheiof which is secured to and projects laterally from the channel iron 30. The brackets are Vformed with tubular free ends 65, and extending upwardly through one of said ends is a vertical shaft 66, and through the other tubular end 65 a vertical shaft 67.

Stop collars 68 are secured to the lower ends of said shafts below the brackets. Each of said shafts extends upwardly through an arm of the apron. The openings in the arms, for the passage of said shafts, are indicated at 69 and are arranged in proximity to the head 56. Each of the arms of the yoke is formed with a vertically disposed lug 70 formed with an opening 71, having a threaded wall, and said lugs are arranged in advance of the openings 69. The head 56 in advance of the lug 7 0 1s provided with openings 72.l The openings 72 are arrangedin alignment with the openings 69. The upper portion of the shaft 66, as well as the shaft 67 is of greater diameter thanthe lower portion thereof, as indicated at 73 in-Figure 5, and secured to the enlarged portion 73 of each of said shafts .is a sprocket pinion 74. Extending through each of the openings 72 is the reducedy terminal portion 75 of a headed bolt 76. The reduced portion 75 is provided with a securing nut 77 which abuts against the lower face of the head 56. Positioned on the head 56 is a pair of slotted tensioning blocks 78, 79, through which .extend the bolts 7 6. Each block 78 is arranged forwardly of and in alignment with the sprocket pinion 74, and mounted upon the aligning block and pinion is'a cover plate 80, through which extends a bolt 76 and one of the shafts 66 or 67, and each of said shafts is provided with a head 81 which abuts against the outer face of the plate 80. The head of the bolt 76 abuts against the plate 80. The blocks 78 are adjusted as well as maintained in adjusted position by adjusting screws 82, which have threaded engagement with the walls of the openings 71 in the lugs 70. See Figure 5.

The block 78 and that sprocket 74 which it aligns with are surrounded by a cutter vcarrying endless chain 83 provided with a series of spaced laterally extending critters 84 forming coal gathering elements. The chain 83 is of the link type and is operated through the medium of the sprocket pinion 74. The forward end of each block 78 is rounded, as at 79. See Figure 4. The blocks 78 are adjusted for the purpose of maintaining the chains 83 taut. The cutters 84 are so set up that when operating they will travel in the direction of 'the arrow 85', Figure 4, whereby the coal will be conveyed towards the center of the head, as well as moved therefrom rearwardly onto the forward end of the front conveying mechanism. The cutters 84 have curved .free ends 85 which extend forwardly. The shaft 66 as well as the shaft 67, intermediate its ends, isprovided with a worm gear 86, operated through the medium of a worm 87 carried by a shaft 88 journalled at one end in the hanger 89 depending from one of the armsof the yoke and at its other end in a bearing carried by a channel iron 28 or 30. The shaft 88 is provided with a sprocket 90 operated by a link belt 91, driven from a sprocket 44 or 45, carried by a projecting end of the shaft of the idler roll 43.

The gathering mechanism includes a pair of gathering devices provided by the cutter chains and the cutters carried thereby together with the operating means for the cutter chains. in opposite direct-ions with respect to each other, but are simultaneously operated, dur- 'ing the operation of the front conveyor mechanism. The gathering mechanism, as well as the apron, bodily moves with the channel irons 28 and 30 when they are adjusted from and to the position shown in Figure 1, and the adjusting of said channel irons i's had through the medium of an interiorly threaded tubular member 92, having one end pivotally connected, as at 93, to a bracket 94 which depends from the channel irons 28 and 30. Adjustably engaging in the other end of the tubular member 92 is a threaded bar 95, having a universal joint connection 96 with the shaft 97 of a motor 98, carried by the support 25. The operation of the motor can be controlled in any suitable manner. Owing to the manner of setting upl the members 92 and 95, they can be manually adjusted relatively to each other when desired, but preferably the adjustment is had on the operation of the motor 98. l

The rear conveyor mechanism has the forward portion thereof pivotally connected with the upper supporting element and extends under the rear end of the front conveyor mechanism. The forward end of the rear conveyor mechanism is positioned rearwardly with respect to the motor 55 and said rear conveyor mechanism extends a substantial distance from the rear ends of the upper and lower supporting elements and the rear end of the truck. The rear conveyor mechanism comprises a pair of spaced oppositely extending channel irons 99, 100, and each of which is formed with a @wnwardly inclined intermediate portion 101 and a pair of end portions 102, 103, extending in parallel planes and with the end portion 103 of materially greater length than the end portion 102, the latter being the forward end portion. The channel irons 99 and 100 constitute housings for the endless conveyor chains 104, and journalled in said housings are spaced idler rolls 105 for the conveyor chains and belt 106. The conveyor chains 104 and belt 106 are constructed in a manner shown in Figure 7 and transversely extending partition members 107 are secured to the chains to provide the belt 106 throughout with compartments in the same manner as that referred `to withrespect to the front conveyor mechanism. The rear idler roll The gathering devices operate' 105 is provided with an ad usting4 mechapism 108 for keeping the chains and belt aut.

Depending from the channel irons 99, 100, at the forward part of the end portion 103, are hangers 109 for supporting a motor 110 which can' be controlled in any sutiable manner. The motor 110 is bodily carried with the rear conveyor mechanism when the latter is adjusted. The conveyor chains 104 are operated from, the motor 110 by a driving mechanism 111, constructed and arranged in the same manner as the driving mechanism for the front conveyor mechanism. The channel irons 99 and 100 are pivotally connected, as at 112, to provide for the swinging of the rear conveyor mechanism at an inclination with respect to the upper supporting element, and the said upper supporting element is of skeleton form.

The rear conveyor mechanism is prevented from tilting on the upper supporting element through the medium of a pair of links, each of which is pivoted at its upper end, as at 113, to a channel iron 99 or 100 and is provided with openings 114 with which selectively engages a locking pin 115 carried by an extension 116 at the rear of the supporting element 26. See Figures 1 and 2. As before stated, the turn table for the lower supporting element is constructed in the same 'manner as the turn table for the upper supporting element, and for the purpose of locking the turn table from movement after one or both of the supportin` elements has been adjusted to the desire position, the opposed plates of each turn table are formed with a series of openings, and the openings in one plate are adapted to align with the openings on the other plate and adaped to extend through two pairs of alignin openings are removable locking pins 11%.

All the shafts are to run in suitable bearing boxes and are to be made of suitable size and material to insure sufiicient strength. All chains, both cutters, sprocket and conveyor, are to be made of standard material to insure against breakage- The pair of gathering devices each revolves to the center and are intended to cut their way under a pile of loose coal or into a standing shot, and in doing this, causes the coal to be carried to the center of the apron at the forward end thereof and from there it will be deposited onto the front conjusting the conveyor mechanisms to. the

point desired and further provide whereby the conveyor mechanisms can be simultaneousl; adjusted or adjusted independently yof eac other. vThe pivoted section of the front conveyor permits of the same being adjusted to various inclined positions from the position shown in Figure 1. Themal chine can be shifted to the desired fpoin't through the medium of the driving mechanism for the truck and can also be shifted into a pile of loose coal or towards a standmg shot during the operation of the gathering and conveying mechanism.

It is thou ht that the many advantages of a coal gat ering and loading machine, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood. that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is i 1. In a coal athering and loading machine, a motor riven truck, an upper and a. lower supporting element arranged in superposed Ispacedv relation above and extending lengthwise of the truck, said lower element extending forwardl of the front end of the truck, a turn ta le interposed between the lower of said elements and the truck, a turn table interposed between said elements, said turn tablesproviding for the independent shifting of said elements, a front conveyor mechanism for receiving coal from gathering devices and having an adjustable -forward Aportion and a rear portion rigidly secured to the forward end of said lower element, a rear conveyor mechanism supported on and extendin rearwardly from and further adjustab y connected to said upper element and having its forward end overlapped by and spaced from the rear end of the front conveyor mechanism; and means carried by the forward end of said lower element and connected with the forward portion of the front conveyor mechanism for adjusting the same.

2. In a coal gathering and loading machine a motor driven truck, a supporting element extending lengthwise thereof, ar-

ranged thereover in spaced relation with respect thereto and further projecting from the forward end of the truck, a turn table interposed between said element and the truck, a conveyor mechanism secured intermediate its ends to the forward end of said lsupporting element, that part of said conveyor mechanism extending forwardly of said element being adjustable, and means supported from the forward end of said element and connected with that portion' of said mechanism extending forwardly of said element for angularly adjusting such portion.

3. In a.l coal gathering and loading machine a motor driven truck, a supporting element extending lengthwise thereof, arranged thereover in spaced relation with respect thereto and further projecting from the forward end of the truck, a turn table interposed between said element andthe truck, a conveyor mechanism secured intermediate its ends to the forward end of said supporting element, that part of said conveyor mechanism extending forwardly of said element being adjustable, a motor driven. means supported from the forward end of said element and connected with that portion of said mechanism extended forwardly of said element for angularly adjusting such portion.

4, In a coal gathering and loading machine a front conveyor mechanism. formed of an inclined and a longitudinal portion, a rear conveyor mechanism formed of a short and a long longitudinal portion and an inclined intermediate portion, a motor driven truck, a pair of supporting elements arranged in superposed, spaced relation and positioned over said truck andv further extending lengthwise thereof, means .fo-r con- In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signa.

ture hereto.

WALTER E. cox.

'90 necting the inclined portion of the front