US1706961A - Apparatus for mining coal - Google Patents

Description

March x26, 1929. E c, MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING GOAL 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 5, 1913 KQ kN NNN WKN, mm.

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March 26, 1929.

- E. c. MORGAN vAPPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Original Filed July 5, 1913 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 nzfentar/ Eimuni f/Vmgn/L Patented Mar.. Z6, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,106,961 PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND C. MORGAN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.; OLIVE EUGENIE MORGAN EXECUTRIX GF SAID EDMUND C. MORGAN, DECEASED.

APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL.

Application filed `Tuly 5, 1913, Serial No. 777,486. Renewed November 27, 1925.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for mining coal and other materials, and one of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved and simplified apparatus for miningcoal and other materials,

which will be effective, efficient, reliable and rapid in operation.

Further objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a general View and elevation of a mining machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a general top plan view of the mining machine 'shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a cross section on the line 2a-21 of Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a View partly in section sub,- stantially on the line 3*?) of Figure l, showing the details of the truck and the mechanism by Which various adjustments and movements are imparted to this mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 4 4 of Figures 2 and .10, illustrating the adaptability of the parts to the position of the cutting mechanism in various levels.

Figure 5 is a detail view of a rolling mill joint used between the cutter heads and the driving mechanism therefor.

Figures 6 and 7 arevdetail views of the parts by which the cutting mechanism may be removably attached to the driving mechanism.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on line 8 8 of Figure 2, illustrating the details of one of the yielding cushions to prevent the binding of the cutting mechanisms While the cut is being made.

Figure 9 is anl enlarged vertical View lsubstantially on the line 9-9 of Figures 2 and 10, this view being partly in section and illustrating details of the balancing supports for the cutting mechanism.

Figure 10 is a sectional View substantially on the line 10-10 of Figures 1 and 9.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figures 2 and 12, illustrating the details of the oscillating or reciprocating vertical cutter.

Figure 12 isa sectional viert1 of this mechanism on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 1 3 is a detail fragmentary sectional view on the line 1313 of Figure 2.

Figures14 and 15 are views in elevation line 16-16 of Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a detail of several of the links of oneof the cutting chains.

Figure 18 is a view in diagram illustrating Figure 16 is a detail sectional view on the c a vein or seam of coal into which a plurality of kerfs have been cut in accordance With my improved method.

Figure 19 is also a diagrammatlc view in the direction in which the .cutting operations rests in the vein or seam of coal.

Figure 20 is a dia rammatic sectional View vof the vertical ker s on Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a similar diagrammatic sectional view on the line'21--21 o Figure 19.

In the mining of coal it is particularly dew sirable to cut the coal `into large, regular and uniform blocks so that not only may they be conveniently removed from the mine and packed for transportation but theV coal in large blocks will retain its eliciency much better than if broken into comparatively small particles. In the drawings, and par'- ticularly in Figures 18 to 21 inclusive, I have diagrammatically illustrated my improved method by which the coal may be cut into large bloclgs and -by which these desirable results may be readily obtained. v

Referring to these figures, a indicates a vein or seam of coal which may be representathe line 20-20 of Ative of any vein or seam from which coal is to be mined. These `figures show the operations in the progress of running an entry into the vein. out a plurality of kerfs into the vein or seam a substantial distance in accordance with the requirements and conditions of the particular vein which is to be mined. As shown in the drawings, these kerfs lie in planes disposed at angles with respect to each Aother so that the coal will be divided up into a plurality of blocks of convenient and practicable size. The horizontal kerfs B lie preferably in substantially horizontal planes with respect to the pitch or lie of the vein and preferably extend from one side of the room to the other. These kerfs also extend into the vein longitudinally Whatever' distance is foundto be practicable under the particular conditions.

planes in which these kerfs B are cut are kerf B and all ofthe vertical kerfs C. The

preferably parallel and arranged one above the other, and there may be as many of such kerfs as the conditions require. In the diagram I have illustrated three horizontal kerfs, one along the upper line of cleavage or roof of the room, one along the lower line of cleavage or floor of the mine, and one intermediate the upper and lower ones andpreferably equally spaced therefrom. The thickness of the vein4 and thesize of the blocks t-o be removed obviously determines the number of such kerfs to be made. The vertical kerfs C preferably lie in substantially vertical planes at approximately right angles to the horizontal kerfs and are spaced apart at intervals across the width of the room. These vertical kei-fs may extend into the vein any desired distance but the best results are obtained by extending them slightly beyond the inner edges of the horizontal kerfs, as illustrated more clearly in the dotted lines in Figures 18 and 21 and in full lines in Figure 20. lVhile the vertical kerfs C may be cut so that they will intersect the horizontal kerfs, if desired, and thereby completely separate the blocks of coal, I find it desirable to leave small uncut portions C adjacent the horizontal kerfs, .particularly when the vertical kerfs are cut first and a kerf-cutting or mining machine is used in making all the kerfs. These uncut portions, although relatively thin, serve to hold the blocks against lateral displacement when the strain comes on them during the cutting of the horizontal kerfs. That is to say, as the cutting of the horizontal kerfs progresses from one side of the room to the other the strains or pressure exerted by the cutting mechanism along the line of the horizontal kerfs will not operate to break the blocks loose and move them laterally'even though vthe vertical kerfs C are already cut, for the reason that theuncut portions C serve to hold the blocks in position against this lateral pressure. The uncut portions C do not resist to any appreciable extend the breaking loose of the blocks and the movement of them in a substantially vertical direction when the blocks drop or break loose by reason of their own weight or when, as in some cases, a slight force is found to be necessary to dislodge them. In addition to the Vertical kerfs C I also cut a continuous vertical kerf D in the rear of the horizontal kerfs B and the vertical kerfs C. The number of these vertical kerfs D depends upon the number of horizontal kerfs B which are cut. In the drawings, I have shown three horizontal kerfs, as previously described, and in consequence I cut onlyone kerf D between the upper and lower horizontal kerfs B. The kerf D, as will be noted, lies in a general plane which is substantially transverse to the planes of both the horizontal kerfs B and the vertiit as intersecting the intermediate horizontal kerf D preferably does not extend either upwardly or downwardly far enough to intersect the upper and lower horizontal kerfs B but stops short of these last mentioned kerfs. This leaves the uncut portion D1 along the rear ends of the blocks and the purpose of the kerf D is simply to weaken the portions or ends of the blocks which are attached to the body' of the vein so that the blocks lnay be 'readily broken loose from the body of the vein, either by the force of their own weight, which will cause them to drop downwardly, or by reason of a slight additional force, if such additional force is found to be necessary. In the drawings I have shown the end portions D2 of the kerf D and the end portions of the horizontal kerf B as being cut upon a curve or arc but it is to be understood that this is not necessary and that the end portions of the said kerfs may be given in any configurationdesired. Thesearc-shapedends,however, are of advantage where certain types of mining machines, such as I will hereinafter describe, are used, for the reason that it enables the cutting mechanism to start into the vein at the front ends or front portions of the wall of material, and these arc-shaped end portions also serve to determine the width of the room and to form the side walls thereof. In carrying out my improved method I prefer to cut the vertical kerfs C first, as previously mentioned, and then cut the horizontal kerfs B and the vertical kei-fs D. The horizontal kerfs B may be cut simultaneously' and the vertical kerfs D may also be cut at this time. In cutting the kerfs B and D I prefer to start the cutting mechanism into the vein substantially at the point D3 at one side of the room and carry on the cutting operation gradually from this point across the vein to the other side of the room. As the cutting of the kerfs B and D progresses across the vein there is a tendency for the blocks thus formed to drop of their own weight, but to prevent these blocks from dropping, and binding the cutting mechanism, I support the blocks in their position until at least the cutting mechanism has passed each block. The blocks may be supported in any desired manner and the supports may be left in place, if desired, until all of the blocks in the kerfs have been cut or the supports may be removed as soon as the cutting mechanisln passes the vertical kerfs C and the block allowed to drop one by one. In the machine which I have illustrated in the drawings and which I will hereinafter describe, I provide a support for the blocks which trails along in the kerfs immediately following the cutting mechanism and temporarily supports the blocks in which the kei-fs have been cut beyond said blocks, this 'supporting mechanism gradually moving from under the blocks and allowing them to drop if the condition of the coal is such that they' will break loose of their own weight, or at least leaving the blocks in such condition that t iey may be broken loose by the application o a.slight force.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 17, inclusive, ll will describe my improved mining machine. As shown in the drawings, the entire machine is mounted upon a suitable truck E having wheels 1 so that it may travel along suitable rails or tracks 2 laid in the mine room or entry. These wheels 1 are mounted upon axles 3 having journals in the truck frame E and each axle carries a beveled gear 4. A shaft 5 extends longitudinally of the truck and carries at its end the beveled gears 6, which mesh with the beveled gears et, and 'through the medium of which and the shaft the truck may be propelled along the track. @ne of the gears 4 is disposed at one side of the shaft 5 and thefother beveled gear 4 is disposed at the opposite side of the shaft so that the shaft will rotate both sets of wheels in the same direction, and power will thus be applied to all' of the wheels of the truck so that the tractive effort will be distributed on all the wheels. One of the wheels o f each pair is provided with a brake-shoe 7 (Figure 3) hinged or pivoted at 8 to the truck frame E and adapted to be operated by means of the links 9 which connect Vto the brakesshoes and to a lever 10 centrally pivoted upon a depending-bracket 11 on the frame E. This lever has an upstanding arm or handle 12 by which it may be rotated to throw the brakeshoes into and out of engagement with the wheels and thereby break or release the wheels, as desired.

In order to lock the truck to the track and at the same time permit the truck to travel along the track I provide another set of angularl disposed flanged wheels or rollers 13, the flanges of which, as shown in Figure 1, engage the under side of the ball of the rails 2 and thereby prevent'the truck from being tilted or raised relatively to the track by any strains or undue loads which may come upon the machine and which nnght have a tendency to over-balance it. These locking wheels or rollers 13 are mounted at the lower ends of the depending arms 14, which arms are rotatably mounted upon short studs 15 outstanding from the frame of the truck so that the locking wheels may be swung inwardly away from the tracks to release the truck from the tracks in the event that it is desired to do so on such an occasion as when the machine is to be taken out of the mine or the tracks relaid in other parts of the mine. The bearing portions of these rotary arms 14 have gear-teeth 16 which mesh with and are driven by worms 17, the worms 17 being mounted upon the ends of short shafts 18.

The shafts 18 are journaled in bea-rings 19 on' the truck lframe and carry hand-wheels 20 by which they may be operated. .This conannular rim or flange 21 of comparatively large diameter.v The various parts of the driving and cutting mechanism are primarily supported upon a broad flat platform 25 which has an underhung parallel or sub-platform 26 rigidly fastened thereto. This subeplatform 26 has a depending annular flange or rim 27 similar to the upstanding flange 21. on the truck. The flange 27 is of such diameter that it telescopes within the Harige 21 and the two together, in conjunction with the platform 25, constitute a turn-table, the two flanges 21 and 27 being relatively rotatable. At the same time these flanges constructed in this manner permit the main platform 25 to be raised and lowered with respect to the truck frame E so that the mechanism may be adjusted to various heights. The truck platform E carries a large bushing or member E1 rotatably mounted therein and centrally disposed with respect to the flanges 21 and 27. This bushing has an annular arm or shoulder E2 which holds it in position against the upper side of the truck platform. The bushing projects through'the truck platform and on its lower end has a collar E3 provided with worm gear teeth on its periphery, and this collar is driven to rotate the bushing by means of a worm E4, which is mounted upon a shaft Es journaled in a bearing depending from the platform. The shaft E5 has a handwheel by-which it may be rotated. The snbplatform 26 (Figure 3) rests upon and is supported by alarge nut E. This nut is screwthreaded on its interior and is threaded upon a hollow upstanding portion E7 of the rotary bushing El. Thus by manipulating the hand-wheel on shaft EfI the bushing El may be rotated in either direction and the rotation of this .bushing causes the threaded upstanding portion E7 thereof to screw into or out of the large nut E thereby raising and lowering the platform or turntable 25. In order to` lock the large nut E against rotation it has a depending pin E8 which slides in an opening in the truck frame E. A motor M is mounted upon the platform 25 at one side thereof so as to assist in balancing the machine against the weight Aof the cutting mechanism` which is in general disposed at the opposite side of the platform. This motor-shaft, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, carries a pinion 28 upon its end, which pinion drives a large gear 28El which is mounted upon a shaft 29 supported in bearing standards 3() on the platform. The shaft 29 carries a pinion 31, which pinion drives a train of gears 32 and 33. The shaft 29 may be said to constitute the main shaft ofthe machine and from it the various mechanisms are driven, thelgears 28 and 28a bein of. proper ratio to properly reduce the spee of the motor. The gear 33 is comparatlvely large in diameter and is mounted upon a y,counter-shaft 34 (see also Figures 11 and 12) which counter-shaft is ournaled in bearing standards 35 rising from the platform 25. The intermediate gear 32 of the train 1s mounted upon a shaft'which is suitably journaled in a bearing 36 mounted upon the platthe sha-ft 34 bymeans of an intermediate two- Way clutch member 39 sol that the shaft 34 may be arranged to drive either of` these gears. The clutch mechanism may be of any suitable kind for the purpose. In the drawings I have shown the clutch member 39 as being a longitudinally slidable sleeve feathered to the shaft to rotate therewith, and being adapted to be shifted longitudinally in either direction by means of a hand-lever 40. Thus by shifting the clutch member 39 into engagement with either one of the gears 37 the latter may be connected with the shaft to be driven thereby. The gears 37 and clutch member 39 have corresponding teeth for interlocking the two together. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the shaft 42, upon which the gear 38 is mounted, to be driven in either direction. This shaft 42 is mounted in a bearing 43 rising from the platform 25 and it carries a beveled gear 44 at its other end which drives a similar beveled gear 45, which latter gear is mounted upon a vertical shaft 46 journaled in a bearing outstanding from the platform 25. The shaft 46 projects below the platform 25 and carries at its lower en d a pinion 47 which meshes with and drives a large spur gear 4 8 disposed between the platform 25 and its sub-platform 26 Figure 2). The large gear 48 is mounted upon the upper end of a vertical shaft 49 which is journaled at its upper end portion in the sub-platform 26. The shaft 49 is disposed in the center of the telescoping flanges 21 and 27. Below its upper bearing the shaft 49 is preferably square in cross section and is adapted to slide vertically within a correspondingly square-holed bushing 50. The bushing 50, however, is rotatably journaled in the rotary bushing E2 so that a sliding bearing is thus formed for the lower end portion of the shaft 49 permitting the shaft to adapt itself to the various positions to which the platform 25 is raised or lowered with respect to the truck. The shaft 49, however, on account of its being squared with respect to the bushing 50, will drive the bushing at any position in which the shaftis adjusted. The bushing 50 has a beveled gear 51 on its lower end which meshes wit-h and drives a similar gear 52 on the shaft 5 beneath the tiuck, which shaft transmits power, as before described, through the beveledgears 4 and 6 to the wheels of the truck. By this construction `it will be seen that the power of the motor is transmitted through the various shaft clutches of the gears above described to the wheels 1 of the truck to pro el the truck along the track, the direction o movement of the truck along the track `being controlled, as above intimated, by the clutch member 39 which is ositioned intermediate the beveled gears 3 on the counter-shaft 34. It will be noted, however, that since the large horizontal gear 48 is carried, generally speaking, by the truck, andthe pinion 47, which meshes with this large gear, is carried, generally speaking, by the rotary platform or turn-table 25, there is a tendenc for the pinion 47 to walk around` the arge gear 48 instead of actually rotating or driving the large gear, providing that the resistance offered b the wheels to the movement of the truck a ong the track is greater than that which is offered by the platform 25 to rotary movement about its axis.y In other words, ifthe truck offers reater resistance to being propelled along tide track than the plat-form 25 does to being rotated, the pinion 47 will travel around the large gear 48 and thereby rotate the platform, rather than actually rotate the largeV ear itself to propel the truck alon the trac s. I utilize this very condition or intentionally rotating the platform or turn-table on its axis by simply settngthe brakes 7 (Fig. 3) against the wheels and thereby, in a sense, locking the truck to the track. This has the effect then of practically locking the large gear 48 against rotation, and in consequence when the pinion 47 is driven it will travel around the eripherv of the large gear 48 and the platgorm will thereby be given a rotary movement. This condition of the mechanism also holds good in the other way; that is to say, if the resistance offered by the platform or turn-table to being rotated is greater than offered b the truck to being propelled along the trac the result will be that the large gear 48 will be actually rotated by the pinion 47, and the resultant power will be applied to propel the truck along the tracks. In order, therefore, to insure the resistance to rotary movement of the platform being the greater I provide means by which I may positively lock the platform against rotation upon the truck frame. Figure l shows a boss 53 projecting from the side of the flange 21. This boss is screw-threaded and carries a pin 54 which ma be screwed into or out of any one of a'Y series of elongated openings distributed around the inner liange 27. This pin has a hand-wheel 56, at its outer end by which it may be manipulated. This pin, in conjunction with the holes or openings 55, serves to lock the two flanges against relative rotation and thus lock the platform against rotation. This pin may be withdrawn from whichever opening 55 it happens to have been inserted into, by turning the hand-wheel 56 when it is desired to rotate the platform or turn-table.

`Upstan'ding from the platform or turn-table 25 is a pair of bearings 60 in which is journaled a shaft 61. This shaft carries, and is driven by a gear 62 which meshes with a gear 63 on the counter-shaft 34. A capstan or winding drum 64 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 61 iand is adapted to be connected with or disconnected from the shaft by means of a sliding clutch member 65 having teeth 66 arranged to interlock with corresponding teeth at one en'd. The clutch member 65 may be readily shifted by means of a hand-lever 67. The winding drum may be used independently of the previously described truck propelling mechanism or it may be used in conjunction therewith where the resistance offered to the cutting mechanism is too great to be overcome by the tractive effort of the. truck wheels alone. The manner in which this winding drum may be used is to anchor a cable 68 at a point 69 in the-mine distant from the machine and winding the cable upon the drum. The cable may be anchored at any point in the mine, and in conjunction with the winding drum may be used -to pull the machine along its tracks whether the said tracks be laid in curves or in a straight line, as is the usual practice in mining operations.

The platform 25 carries at one side thereof a rigid upstanding casing or member 70 which forms a guideway vand supporting member for two vertically reciprocable or slidahle members 71, 72 which are bifurcated so as to leave an open space 7 3 (Fig. 9) between their respective bifurcations. These reciprocable members 71, 72 support the upper and lower cutting mechanisms at their upper and lower ends respectively, and by reason of their vertical slidability the cutting mechanisms may be raised and lowered to vary the heightl of the min'e room. In order to reduce to a minimum the power required for reciprocating the members to adjust the cutting mechanisms, I arrange the mechanism so that the weight of the upper cutting mechanism will assist in raising the lower cutting mechanism and one of the bifurcationsof each of the members 71, 72 are provided with gear teeth 74 and 75 vto form racks, the two set-s of teeth or racks being disposed on opposite sides of the opening 73, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10. Between the two racks and meshing there- -'with'is a broad-faced pinion or gear 76, the

hub portions of which are rotatably journals will take the. entire weight of the cutting mechanisms.' Atone end, the hub member 77 of the pinion 76 is provided with a worm gear 78 which is driven by a worm 79; the worm 79 being mounted upon a shaft 80 which is journaled in a bracket 81 on the guideway lnember 7() and which has at its outer end a handwheel 82 for the convenient manipulation thereof. It will thus be seen that by rotating the hand-wheel the pinion 76 may be rotated and the members 71 and 72 reciprocated vertically relatively to each other and to the` pinion 76. It will be particularly noted, also, that the weight of the member 71 and the cutting mechanisms mounted thereon in moving downward will assist in rotating the pinion 76 and cause the pinion to exert, through the rack 75, a lifting action upon the member 72, or vice versa, when the cutting mechanisms are to be adjusted farther apart the weight of the member 72 and its cutting mechanism, in moving downward, will assist in rotating the pinion through the medium of the rack and the pinion will in turn operate upon the rack 74 to assist in raising the member 71 and its cutting mechanism. Thus it will be seen that ltheweights` of the members 71 and 72 and their cutting mechanisms counteract each other and very little power will be required to rotate the pinion to adj ust the cutting mechanisms any desiret]` distance apart. It will be noted also that the worm gear- ings 78 and 79 serve as an automatic locking mechanism to hold the parts in 'any position to which they are adjusted. The pinion 76 and its hub 77 are hollowl and form a bearing for the main shaft 29 which extends through its brackets beyond the hub and carries at its outer e'nd a beveled pinion 83. It will be noted, however, that the shaft 29 is relieved of the weight of the cutting mechanisms since this weight is taken up by the bearings for the hub 77 in the guideway member 70. The pinion 83 meshes with and drives a large horizontally disposed beveled gear 84 (Figures 1, 2, 4 and 10), which gear 84 is carried by and preferably formed integrally with an elongated sleeve 85 and it is through this mechanism that the driving power is transmitted to the cutting mechanisms. The sleeve 85 is journaled in the bearings 86 which are formed in an extension 87 of the main platform 25.

This sleeve carries a removable collar 88- tau ras

of the shafts 89, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The rolling mill joint between the shafts 89 and the sleeve 85 permits a universal movement of said shafts to take care of any inequalities which would be likely to bind the shafts in the event that they were rigidly mounted in the sleeve 85, and they also permit the shafts to move vertically in the sleeve to accommodate the raising and lowering of the upper and lower cutting mechanisms. These rolling mill joints also permit the upper and lower cutting mechanisms to be slightly inclined upwardly or downwardly, as will be later explained. In the machine shown in the drawings I provide three sets of cutting mechanisms, an upper and a lower one and a'intermediate one. These cutting mechanisms are in the form of flat elongated bars comparatively thin and arranged to cut relatively thin kerfs. Each cutter bar or cutting mechanism has an elongated flat frame around the periphery of which the cutting chain travels. The frames of the cutting mechanisms each comprises two main parts or members and 96. The members 96 of these frames form guideways for ofi'- set extensions 97 on the members 95 so that the members 95 and 96 may be adjusted longitudinally relatively to each other for the purpose of tightening or loosening t-he cutting chains, as desired (Figures 1, 2, 4, and 13). The olf-set extensions 97 are in the form of slotted tail pieces which embrace a fixed block 98 on the member 96, which block is positioned in the slot of the tail piece and has two threaded bars 99 extending longi` tudinally of the slot in opposite directions. These threaded bars extend through the end portions 100 of thel tail pieces 97 and each carries at its outer end a nut 101. This mechanism forms av convenient and simple means by which the frame members of the cutting mechanism may be adjusted relatively to each other to tighten or loosen the chain. Each of the central blocks 98 has journaled therein a shaft 102' which has keyed to its upper end a sprocket wheel 103 around which the cutter chain lies and by which the cutting chain is driven. These shafts 102 are carried upon cup-shaped members 104 which are hollow and arranged to form rolling mill joints in conjunction with the other ends 105 of the shafts 89 so that there is universal driving connections between the shafts 89 and the shafts 102. The cup-shaped members 104 are journaled in members 106 extending from the frame members 96. The frame members 96 are supported in cupshaped members- 107 and the connections be- .tween the members 106 and 107 are preferably in the form of bayonet joints so that the upper and lower cuttingmechanisms may be bodily removed from their supports in the event that it is desired to replace them or remove any of their parts. These bayonet joints, as will be seen, are formed by provlding the cup-shaped members 106 with laterally extending segmental flanges 108 which are adapted to engage in the undercut grooves 109 in the cup-shaped supports 107 (see Figures 4, 6 and 7), the rims of the cup-shaped supports 107 being provided with cut-away portions or notches 110 to permit the insertion or removal of the flanges 108. It will thus be seen that by entering the flanges 108 in the notches 110 and rotating the cup-shaped member 106 a portion of a turn the cutting mechanism may be removably attached to the supports 107. The rims of the cup-shaped supports 107 have cams 111 adjacent the notches 110 and these cams are adapted to act upon the segmental flanges 108 to force the two members tightly together. T he direction of rotation necessary to fasten the cutting mechanisms in place by these bayonet joints is opposite to that in which they rotate withthe platform 25 so that the cutting operations will act to tightly set the cutting mechanisms in position on their supports. It is desirable, in a machine of this character, that the cutting mechanisms be capable of being inclined slightly with respect to their supports so that they may be accurately adjusted and to this end I have other supporting members 107 upon the ends of the levers or arms 112. These arms or levers, as will be noticed more particularly in Figures 1 and 9, are pivoted at 113 in lateral extensions 114 of the vertically reciprocable members 71 and 72, and the other ends of the levers or arms 112 are formed as segmental gears 115 which mesh with worms 116. These worms 116 are mounted upon shafts in the'ends of the members 71 and 72 and these shafts are provided wit'h hand-Wheels 117 so vthat by manipulating the hand-wheels 117 the arms 112 may be rocked about their pivots to vary the angular position of the cutting mechanisms. The adjusting mechanism for the lower cutters differs from that of the upper ones only in the fact that the lever 112 is formed as a bell-crank lever so that the hand-wheel 117 and the worm which it drives may be brought up away from the floor of the mine and thus not interfere with the cutting mechanism. The cutting chains need no particular description except to say that they travel around the periphery of the frame member 96, and are provided with side links 118 to guide them on their frame and prevent the chains from becoming displaced. Each chain has a series of cutters or cutting tools 119 spaced at intervals. The intermediate cutting mechanism is similar to the upper and lower cutting mechanism except that 1 t is not attached to its support by bayonet jolnts. It has, however, similar means to the upper and lower cutting mechanisms for tightening and loosening the chain, and the descriptlon yties in the kerfs.

thereof need not be repeated. Its arts 96 and 97, asshowii in Figure 4, are wi er than the corresponding parts of the upper and lower cutting 'mechanism so as to allow room for the driving sleeve 85, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This intermediate cutting mechanism also is notintended to be inclined or adjusted at different angles as is the case of the other cutting mechanisms.

In order to support the blocks and to prevent them from settling upon and binding the cutters while the kerfs are being cut, I provide some of the cutter bars with a number of separators or yielding devices distributed at different points in the surface of the cutter mechanisms. In the present case I employ two of these devices for the cutter bars. These` devices, as will be seen more clearly by reference to Figures 2 and 8, are in the form of two telescoping shells or cups 125, 126 between the bottoms of and within each of which is a spiral spring 127 which constantly urges the two cups or shells apart; that is, urges the devices to expand. These devices are set into suitable openings in the cutting mechanism frame members 96 and when expanded they are somewhat thicker than the thickness of the cutting mechanism and particularly the cutter frame member 96, as clearly shown in F igure. The outer cup members are provided with annular flanges or arms 128 at each end thereof which engage with corresponding shoulders 129 formed in the openings of the cutter bar 95 to prevent the devices from becoming displaced with respect to the cutter bar. The end surfaces 130 of the cups 125 and 126, it will be noted, project beyond the surfaces of the cutter bar frame 95 so that these devices will hold off the blocks of coal from the cutter bar frame-and allow the cutter mechanism to travel unrestrictedly in the kei-fs. The shoulders 129 are so arranged with respect to the flanges 128 that the cutter bar may have some'movement relatively to the separator devices to allow for inequali- It will be noted that the end surfaces of the cups 125 and 126 are pressed against the 'opposing faces of the upper and lower blocks of coal and thus keep the blocks spread apart for the free passage of the cutter mechanism but the cups 125 and 126 are, by reason of the spring127, yieldable with respect to each other which allow them anl variations in the thickness of the kerfs. he lower cup member 126 has a central instanding boss 131 supporting a threaded bolt 132 which passes up through the bottom of a socket or depression 133 formed in the end of the upper cup member 125 and this bolt carries a nut. The purpose of this arrangement is to regulate the distance to which the spring 127 may expand the cup members 125 and 126 so that the devices may be adjusted to the particular distances and requirements. It will be noted that only the intermediate and lower cutter bar mechanisms require these separator devices for the reason that these cutter mechanisms have blocks of coal above them. The upper cutter mechanism, however, does not require these separators because they operate ,along' the roof of the. mine and the roof of the mine sufports itself.

o far I have described only the cutter blocks of coal at their rear ends, I utilize a cutter wheel, such-as indicated at 140 in Figures 1, 2, 11 and 12, but where the rear vertical kerf D is to be made wide or high enough to intersect the upper and lower hoi'- izontal kerfs and completely sever the blocks from the. body of the vein, the structure shown in modification in Figures 1,4 and 15 may be used to better advantage, the reason for this being that in the latter case a cutter wheel 140 of suiiciently large diameter to completely sever the rear ends of the blocks would be too bulky and inconvenient to handle, especially when the curves D2 (Figure 18,) at the ends of the kerf are to be made. The cutter wheel 140 is, as seen clearly in Figures 11 and 12, mounted upon and driven by a lioriontal shaft 141 which projects beyond the extension 87 of the platform 25 to a point substantially in line with the outer ends of the horiontal cutter bars or mechanisms. This shaft is joui'naled at its ends in bearings 142 in a {iatelongated casing 143 which is mounted upon the platform extension 87. -The vertical cutter 140 operates in a flat plane of rotation and since its position is such that it will not freely operate to cut the curves D2 (Figure 18) at the ends of the vertical kerf D, it is necessary, in order that the cutter 140 may freely move in the curved portion D2 of the kerf, that the curved end portions D2 of the kerf be considerably thicker than the normal cutting width of the blades or knives 140 of the cutter 140. For these reasons I' make provision so that the cutter wheel 140 may be given an oscillating movement so that it will cut a thicker kerf than the normal thickness of the cutter wheel, and to this end I mount the elongated casing 143 in guideways 144 on the platform extension 87 so that this casing may be reciprocated longitudinally and thereby oscillate or reciprocate the cutter wheel 140. In order that the shaft 141 may be rotated or driven dui-ing the oscillating movement of itself and the\asing and cutter Wheel I keyvthe large gearglnupon the end of the counter-shaft 34 and I extendjhe hub 34aL of this gear and provide it with a square bore 34b into which the correspondingly squaredv end portion 141l of the shaft 141 is inserted. Thus the shaft 141 may be given a reciprocating movement and it will, at the same time, be driven by the counter-shaft 34. It will be realized that on account of the large diameterof the cutter wheel 140, the cutting knives or tools 140 onl the periphery of the wheel are somewhat removed from the driving shaft 141 and on account of the great leverage thus created the torsional strain on the central shaft 141 will be considerable, and perhaps objectionable. Io preclude any possibility of the shaft or parts frombreaking under the cutting strains I provide a sup lemental driving mechanism for the cutter W eel which will exert its power upon the cutting wheel close to the periphery thereof. In the present machine this supplemental driving mechanism is preferably in the form of two additional shafts 145 disposed Within the casing 143 and parallel with but spaced from the central shaft 141. These Ishafts are journaled in bearings 146 at the ends of the casing 143 so that they will oscillate with the central shaft. The cutter wheel 140 is made hollow and its inner periphery provided with gear teeh 147 to form a hollow gear, and the outer ends of the supplemental shafts 145 carry gears 148 which mesh with the teeth 147 and thereby drive the cutter wheel at points adjacent its outer or cutting periphery. Referring to Figure 12, it will be seen that the large gear 33 is also made hollow and formed as a hollow gear and this hollow gear drives the supplemental shafts 145 byymeans of the gears 149 carried by the inner ends of the shafts 145. The gear teeth 150 of the hollow gear 33 are, as will be noticed, of considerable length so that the gears 149 may remain in mesh and be driven thereby during the oscillation of the shafts. ' Ihe shafts 141 and 145 all lie in the same plane, and the casin 143, which preferably completely encloses t e shafts, is made as ii'at and thin as is necessary to completely enter and move in the intermediate horizontal kerfs, and if desired, this casin may also be provided with a number of yiel ing separator devices K, such as previously described in connection with the horizontal cutter mechanisms. It will. be observed that the oscillating movement'of the vertical cutter 140 is noty really necessary during the time that this `cutter is operating in a straight line, and I prefer, therefore, that the oscillating movement of the Vcutter be subject to the control of the operator so that he may start and stop this oscillating movement as required. I n the machine shown in the drawings I obtain this control as follows: The hub 34* of gear 33 has a pinion 152 formed at its outer end,

and as seen in Figures 2 and 11, this pinion drives a larger gear 153 ositioned above it and mounted upon a sha t 154. One end of this shaft is suitably journaled in a bearing standard 155 rising from the platform extension 87 and the other end is journaled in a horizontal bearing bracket 156 mounted at the side of the platform extension. This shaft 154 carries a cam 157 for oscillating the casing 143, and spaced from this cam is a disc or fiat collar 158 which, in conjunction with the control boss hereinafter described, operates to hold the casing 143 against oscillation. The casing 143 carries a roller 159 which is positioned between the cam 157 and the collar 158. On the casing 143 is a relatively slidable member or bar 160 which may be readily shifted by the handle 161 and which carries spaced rollers 162 and 163.

This sliding bar 160 is intended to be shifted to either of two positions, depending upon whether the cutter is to be oscillated or to remain still, and it may be locked to the casing in either of its positions by means of a removable plug or pin 164 which passes through au opening in the slide-bar 160 and is adapted to enter one of two o enings 165 in the casing according to whic ever position the bar is shifted to. When the bar 160 is placed in the position in which it is shown in Figure 11, it will be noted that the collar 158 is confined between the two rollers 159 and 163, and since the plane of this collar is transverse to the axis of the shaft 154 no oscillating movement will be imparted to the casing 143 and the cutter. However, this position of the bar 160 and roller 162, as is clearly seen, will not be affected by the cam 157, but when the bar 160 is shifted to the right so as to bring the roller 162 closer to the roller 159 the cam 157 will be confined between said two rollers and will impart an oscillating movement to the casing and cutter. It will be noted that when the oscillating movement 1s stopped by shifting the sliding bar 160 by the lever the cutter wheel will always stop at the 4outer end of its oscillating stroke so that it will be in a proper position to continue lts cutting in a straight line from the moment that it leaves the curve and is also ready to start the other curve the moment it is thrown into oscillating movement.

The conditions and grades of coal, as is readily understood, varies in the different veins or mines. The coal in some veins is more likel to break loose of its own weight than in ot 1er mines, consequently in operating a machine of this character in some grades of coal thecoal is likely to drop immediately behind the cutters and perhaps tend to bind the cutter mechanism. Asa protection, therefore, I provide an additional support which trails immediately behind the vertical cutter 140 and the lower horizontal cutter mechanism. This support is preferably constructed lili cer

lill

nvoaeei as a lever which is suitably pivotedat 170` upon a stud outstanding from the platform extension 87. The arm 171 of this lever is long enough to extend almost to the ends of the cutter mechanism and is preferably in the form of a broad dat plate, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 21,` which is pref'- erably slightly thinner than'the thickness of the cutter mechanisms. rllhis supporting plate is positioned to follow immediately be hind the cutter mechanisms and to thereby support' the coal immediately after the'cutting mechanisms have passed. ln order that this supporting plate may yield to the inequalities of the herfs and at the same time be sufficiently rigid to properly support the coal above` it, the aforesaid lever has a short arm 172 upon which' a stid spiral spring 17 3 presses, thereby tending lto raise the plate 171 upwardly. rlhis spring 173 is confined between the end of the lever arm 172 and the head 17d of a vertical bolt 175. rlhis bolt passes through a lug 176 outstanding from the platform extension 87, and carries a nut 177' at its end by which the tension of the springmay be regulated, as desired. l have described the supporting device which is associated with the intermediate cutter mechad nism, and hence it is mounted upon the platform extension 87- and is positioned immediately behind the casing 143 which carries the vertical cutter 140. The lower supporting device,vwhich is associated with the lower horizontal kerf cutting mechanism, is identical in all respects to the one above described, v

and the description thereof need not be repeated 'except to say that it is mounted upon the member 96 of the cutter mechanism frame.

llt may be desirable, under some conditions, to cut the vertical lrerfs-D all the way to the ,upper and lower horizontal kerfs so as to will describe, .this mechanism as operating in conjunction with the above described horizontal lrei'f cutting vmechanisms to completely sever the blocks on all sides but it will be observed that this modied mechanism is of such construction that it may be used by itself to cut, not only the rear vertical lrerf D, but also the horizontal kerfs all in the same operation. lt is possible, however, that if this mechanism were relied upon entirelyl for cutting all of the lteifs in exceptionally hard material the strains upon it might be too great, and this is one of the reasons why ll prefer to use it in conjunction with the above described horizontal hert' cutting;l inechanism` when very hard material is to be cut. Referring to Figures 1d to 17, it `will be observed that the three horizontal herf cutting mechanisms are in general the same as those above described so far as theirconstruction, operation and adjustment are concerned. Some of the details have been slightlyV modied so that the machine may be adapted to the mounting of the modified vertical lre'rf cuttingr mechanism. For instance, it will be noted that the upper and lower horizontal kerf cutting mechanisms are mounted directly upon the lateral extensions llelof the' vertically reciprocating members 71 and 72 insteadA of being mounted upon the pivoted arms 112 for adjustment. The hand-wheel 82 and the parts whichit operates to raise and lower the upper and lower horizontal kerf cutting mechanisms is disposed, as seen in Figure 15, upon' the other side of the guideway casing 7 0 but its operation is the same. vThe main shaft 29 carries a large beveled pinion 200 which drives a similar gear 201 mounted upon a transverse counter-shaft 202 which is journaled in bearings 203, two of the bearings 203 being formed in large massive arms 204: which incline upwardly from the platform extension 87 and which, as will later appear. are arranged tosupport the vertical korf eutting mechanism frame. rl`he counter-shaft 202 carries a pinion 205 at its other end which, through the medium of the gears 200, 207 and 208 and the short shaft 209, drive the counter shaft 34 from which shaft, as above described, the various propelling movements of the truck and the rotary movements of the platform are accomplished in the same manner. rllhe platform extension 87 supports two large rectangular loop-shaped frames ll and lh around the peripheries of which cutting chains 210 and 211 operate. rlhese frames,

as will be noticed, lie in substantially vertical planes but the plane ofthe lower frame is in advance of the upper frame in the direction of movement of the cuttinginechanisms. 'llhe lower reach or side of the-upper frame and the Lipper reach or side of the lower frame are coincident with each other in a horizontal plane, as will be seen in Figure 14, so that they will both enter and move in the intermediate horizontal lrerf which has already been cut or which may be eut by the chain 211 where the horizontal herf cuttingF mechanisms are not used. The upper reach of the upper frame and the lower reach of the lower frame are coincident with the upper and lower horizontal kkerf cutting mechanisms res ectively so that they may travel or move in t 1e upper and lower horizontal lier-fs out by said horizontal kei-f cutting mechanisms or in the upper and lower horizontal herfs made by the chains 210 and 211 where the upper and lower horizontal lrer'f cutting mechanisms are dispensed withB 'llhe upper frame ll has an en' tension or arm v212 and this extension 212 forms a horizontal gulden-'ay for a horiaontal extension 213 on the arm 201i, previously meu reo ' and 213 support the frame U in such manner that it may be shifted bodily horizontally to properly adjust it in this direction. The lower frame is also equipped with a similar extension 214 which forms a similar guideway for the horizontal portion 216 of the other arm 204, above'mentioned. These constructions permit the frames U and L to be bodily adjusted horizontally, 'and in-order that this adjustment may be conveniently accom plished it will be seen that the guideway eX- tensions 212 have slot or openings 217 in their faces and outstanding lugs 128 at their ends.

The horizontal portions 213 and 216 of the arms 204 have outstanding lugs 219 which move in the openings 217. The lugs 219 have openings' through which adjusting bolts 220 pass and these bolts carry nuts 221 and 222 on each side of the lugs 219 so that by manipulating the nutsthe frames U and L may be adjusted horizontally and secured firmly 'in their adjusted positions.

The frames and L are preferably made each in two sections so that they may be readily contracted or expanded in a vertical direction to properly aline with respect to the kerfs and the horizontal kerf cutting mechanisms. The inner vertical reaches 225 of one of the sections of each frame is formed as a bar and these bars 225 are adapted to telescope with or slide verticallyv in the vertical guides 226 of the other section of each frame, as clearly shown in Figures 14 and 16, and the vertical guides 226 are provided with slots or openinrs 227 which accommodate lugs 228 movable tlierein and mounted upon the fiat vert-ical bars 225. The vertical guides 226 having corresponding lugs 229, and these lugs carry adjusting bolts 230 and adjusting nuts 231 which are similar to the boltsand nuts previously described, for obtaining the horizontal adjustment of the frames. The outer ends or vertical reaches 233 and 234, respectively, of the sections of the two frames also telescope with each other, as shown clearly in Figure 14a, which is a section on the line 14a--14a of Figure 14. No adjusting parts are required at the outer ends of the frames since the adjusting bolts 230 and nuts 231 at the inner ends of the frames are-sufficient, as seen clearly in Figures 14-14a and 15. The upper, lower and outer end reaches or sides of, the framesU and L have grooves formed therein and in these grooves the eutting chains 210 and 211 are adapted to travel, the corners of the frames and the grooves therein being preferably rounded, as shown in Figure 14, so that the chain will travel freely. The chains may be const-ructed by means of the side links 235 and intermediate or center links 236 suitably connected together by the hinge 237 It'will be noted, however, that `the center links 236 have lugs 237 outstanding laterally from said links and sprocket wheels 240 (Figure 14).

weasel preferably formed integrally therewith.

These lugs project beyond the faces of the -in the frames in which said chains run. In

other words, the cutting portions or parts 238 of the chains are disposed laterally or on the faces, so to speak, of the frame U and L, and when these frames are swung or moved in a horizontal direction they will cut horizontal kerfs--where the horizontal kei-f eutting mechanism, above described, is dispensed with,vor they will move freely in the horizontal kerfs if such kerfs have already been cut by the above described horizontal kei-f cutting mechanism. When the cutting frames U and L and the above described horizontal kerf cutting mechanisms are used in conjunction with each other, and this is my preference, it will be seen that the cutting frames U and L will not be subjected to the strains of cutting horizontal kerfs as these kerfs will have already been cut by the horizontal kerf cutting mechanisms. The only cutting strains then to which the yframes U and L will be subjected will be that which is necessary to cut inner vertical kerfs D. In

outerends of the frames and the corresponding reaches of the cutting chain will be subjected to cutting strains, which is comparatively small. This construction has an advantage over a single chain operating in only the upper and lower horizontal kerfs and to cut a single vertical kerf D extending between the upper and lower horizontal kerf, this advantage bein obvious because the cutting strains are divided up between the two cutting chains 210 in the present construction.-

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for driving the chains 210 and 211. In the drawings I have shown the chains as being looped around and being driven by two These sprocket wheels are mounted upon the shafts 241 and 242. The shaft 241 is journaled at one end in a bearing 243 formed at the point where the extension 213 joins the supporting arm 204, and at its other end in a bearing 244 rising from theplatform extension 87. The lower shaft 242 is journaled in a single bear ing 245 which is formed at the point where the extension 216 joins t-he lower supporting arm 204. These two shafts receive power from the counter-shaft 202 by means of suite able gearing; the shaft 241 having a largc gear 246 which is driven by a gear 247 on the counter-shaft 202. The lower shaft 242 car- :trooper ries asimilarlarge gear 248 which is driven by the gear 205 on the counter-shaft'202. It will be noted that this driving arrangement is such that the chains 210 and 211 travel in the same direction, as shown by the arrows in Figures 14. rlhe lower reach of the upper chain 210 and the upper reach ot the lower chain 211, being coincident with each other, necessarily travel in opposite directions in the intermediate horzontal kerl, but this obviously is not objectionable because they are not cutting. ll find it advisable, under certain conditions, to employ the supporting plates 171 to operate in the intermediate and lower horizontal kerts, and in Figure 15 l have indicated these devices in dotted outline so that they are preferably positioned immediately behind the cutting frames U and L. rlhey are identical in construction with those described in connection with the previous construction and the rames'lU and L may be provided vvith outstanding studs 250 upon which the supporting devices maybe pivoted, and with lugs 251 for supporting the adjusting bolts 17d and the springs 173 thereot'.`

, ln my copending application, Ser. No.

76,91l, tiled Feb. 8, 1916, for an improvement in multiple loop cutter mining machines, ll have claimed the mutiple loop chain cutting mechanism herein disclosed as having unobstructed openings therethrough. `tiaid copending application is directed both to the multiple loop chain cutting mechanismused separately and in combination with the horiaontal lrert cutting mechanism hereinbetore described.

This application is a continuation in part ot my cti-pending application, Serial No.,

'775,173, hled d une 23, 1913,2ipparatus formining coal, and in the latter are presented broad claims to the common subject-matter, including mining apparatus comprising a wheel truclr movable on a traclrway with a chaincutter mounted thereon in position to be pre- -a sented to the coal tace edgewise thereto and' sell-contained power-operated means tor moving the chain-cutter bodily rectilinearly relatively to the tracht/ay, about its pivot in. the'same plane and reversely rectilinearly to insert a horizontal parallel hert in the coal lace in front ot the end ot the trackvvay.

What l claim is:

l. rlihe coxnbination-ot ja rotary supporting trame, means tor rotating said trame, cutting mechanism mounted upon said trame and rotatable therewith in a given plane, and yielding means operating in the kerts cut by said cutting mechanism to hold ott' the undercut material trom the cutting mechanism.

2., The combination ot a rotary cutting mechanism, and yielding means carried thereby and operating in the kerts cut thereby to yieldingly support the undercut material.

3. 'lhe combination with a supporting trame, ot a kort cutter mounted thereon,

means tor operating said kerf cutter, and a device mounted on said frame for movement relatively thereto independently of the movement ot said kerf cutter, said device being movable bodily with said kerl cutter to support material above said lrerlr cutter to prevent such material from retarding the t'eeding movement of said kerf cutter.

1l. rlhe combination et cutting mechanism operable to cut kerfs inthe material 'to be mined and embodying a dat elongated frame and a cutting chain traveling around the periphery thereof, and a yieldable supporting device mounted in said trame and adapted to yiieldingly vvedge in the kerl cut by the cutting mechanism and support the undercut material.

5. ln a mining machine, the combination with a flat elongated trame having a chaincutter traveling around the periphery thereof in the plane of said trame., of means for operating said chain-cutter including the leed ot' said frame in a transverse direction to cut a plane hert, and an additional elongated trame immediately following said rst- `counteract sagging tendency oit said materialy to retard 'iteeding motion et said cutter.

ti. 'll`he combination ot hert cutting mechanism, and yielding means carried thereby and operable in the hert cnt thereby to prevent the undercut material trom settling upon the cutting mechanism.

7. rll`he combination oli hert cut-ting mech` anism, and pivoted means trailing behind said cutting mechanism and the hert cut thereby tor supporting the undercut material.

8. l'lhc combination ot" hert cutting mechanism, and, a tlat solid supporting member pivotally and yieldingly mounted to trail in the kerl behind the cutting mecrnlnism and to prevent the material trom dropping upon and binding said cutting mechanism.

Y 9. ln a mining' machine. the combination ot a tlat elongated trame, ol a traveling chaincutter on the periphery of said traine, means extending at right angles to the plane ot said frame and said chain-cutter within the periphery of the latter t'or operating the same, and mechanism for tilting said traine yrelatively to the'axis ot' said operating ineens;-

10. lin a mining machine, the combirn p ,il with a supporting trame, ot hoiiZontaljlyzontal kercutting mechanism. a vertical korf cutting mechanism mounted at that end otl said fiat trame remote trom sarl supportllt Miti

lll@

ltd

ldd

ing frame, said ilat frame extending along said horizontal kerf cutting mechanism to support said vertical kerf cutting mechanism in close-proximity tothe outer end of said horizontal lierf cuttin means for operating sai kerf' cutting mechanisms including feeding movementsthereof along a direction extending transversely of said horizontal kercutting mechanism and transversely of said flat frame.

l11. In a mining machine, the combination with al Supporting frame, of a plurality of chain kertl cutters each comprising an endless cutter chain travelling about a cutter frame in position to cut a plane kerf, means for carrying Scliilkerfcutters one above the other on said frame to extend laterally therefrom, and means on said. 'frame and extending `to positions within the peripheries of said cutter chainsto drive the latter, means for feeding the chain kerf cutters along a mine wall, and means for adjusting the inclination of said kerf cutters relatively to each other and relatively to said frame.

12. In a mining machine, the combination with an elongated chain-cutter for cutting a kerf 1n a minewall, means for operating said chain-cutter including feed transversely ing feed frame connected at one end to said supporting frame and carryin said rotary. cutter at its outer free end, an means for transmitting driving power close to the periphery of said rotary cutter through said supplemental frame while the latter moves transversely through a ker cut by said first-named kei-fcutter. v

14. In a mining apparatus the combinavtion with a flat elongatedy chain-cutter, oi?

means :tor operating said chain-cutter inc1ud. transversely thereof to cut a kerf in a mine Wall, a supporting frame to which said chain-cutter is connected and from which said chain-cutter projects laterally, a rotary hcrf-cuttenan elongated Jiframe connected at one end to said support-ing frame and projecting laterally therefrom and carrying said rotary kort-cutter at its outer free ."end, and means 'for operating said rotarr kertcutter includingfeed transversely oi mechanism, andfer cut-4 ting an intersecting hert. a supplemental.

said elongated frame through the kerf produced by said first-'named keif-cutter to cut an intersecting kerf immediately in the Ireai' ot said first-named hert-cutter, said operating means comprising mechanism for transmitting power from the source of power on said supporting frame through the kei-f prothrough the horizontal kerf tothe rotary cutter.

16. The combination ofmeans for cutting aA kerf extending into the material to be mined, a rotary cutter operable. Within the body of the material to be mined for cutting an intersecting kei'f, a support movable in said first mentioned ker for supporting said rotary cutter, and a plurality .of parallel shafts mounted in said support and connected withsaid rotary cutter near its periphery for transmitting power thereto.

' 17 The combination of means for cutting a kerf extending into the material to be mined, a rotary cutter operable within the body of the material to be minedfor cutting an intersecting kerf. a support movable .in said first mentioned ker for supporting said rotary cutter, a plurality of parallel shafts mounted in said support and connected with said vrotary cutter near its periphery for transmitting power thereto, and a central driving shaft mounted in saidsupport and connected to said rotary cuttery at its axis.

18. .The combination of means for cutting a kerf extending into the material to be mined, a rotary cutter operable within the body of the material to be mined 'for cutting an intersecting ker, asupport movable in said first mentioned kerlfor supporting said rotary cutter, a driving shaft mounted in said support and connected to said rotary cutter at its axis, and supplemental driving shafts mounted,v isaid support and connected to-said-rotary'cutter substantially at its periphery.

19. Ina mining machine, the combination with korf-cutting mechanism having a frame, and yielding means carried by said :trame and engaging both walls of the kerf produced by said hert-cutting mechanism substantially at right angles to said hert.

20. ln a mining machine, the combination 'of kei'-cuttingmechanism, and yielding bufifroaeei ter means connected thereto and operating.

kerfs and 'said cutting-mechanism.

2l. In a mining machine, the combination of mechanism for cutting a substantially horizontal kerf in a mine Wall, and yielding means operating entirely within said kerf to press upwardly against the body of material above.

22. ln a mining machine, the combination with a. substantially horizontal flat frame, of vertical kert cutting mechanism mounted at the outer end of said trame, and yielding means carried by saidrtrame and operating in a horizontal kerf to tend to spread apart the material bounding said horizontal kerit.

23. ln a mining machine, the combination with hert-cutting mechanism comprising a frameand an endless chain cutter traveling around said frame, telescoping cups mounted on said frame Within the boundary thereof, a. spring tending to spread said cups apart to c'ause them to engage the. Walls of the kerf produced by said korf-cutting mechanism.-

and-means for limiting the movement-of said `cups relatively to said frame.

24. lln a minin machine, the combination With a traveling rame, ot a chain hert-cutter dill titl

dil)

mounted on said frame to travel about the same, telescoping cups mounted insaid frame Within the area surrounded by said chain kerf-cutter, guides on said trame for limiting the movement of one of said guides rela.- tively to said frame, a spring inside of said cups Vtending to spread them apart and press them against the Walls of the kert produced by said kent-cutter, and means connected between said cupstor limiting relative movement. l

25.. lln a mining machine, the combination with a trame adapted to be moved alonea the lrerf in a mine wall, ot telescoping cups aving annular flanges ttin in circular recesses on opposite sides ot said rame, a bolt fixed to one of said cups and extending into a hollow projection of the other cup, means for 4adjusting the initial relative positions ot said cups, and a spring inside ot said cups surrounding said hollovv projection and said bolt and tending to spread apart said cups to cause the same to engage the Walls ot said lzert spaced from the upper and lovver surfaces of said trame.

26. ln a mining machine, the combination With a supporting trame, a hert cutting mechanism mounted thereon, means for operating said hert cutting mechanism including the feed thereof, a device mounted on Said supporting frame in position to move bodily in approximately the same plane as said outu ting mechanism, and pivoted to said supporting trame tor movement relatively thereto and relatively'to said leert cutting mechanism transversely ot the plane ot the latter, and

means for causing said device to have a tendency to support material above the same during feeding movement of said kerf cutting mechanism.

27. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of an elongated kerf cutter comprising an elongated cutter irame and an endless cutter chain travelling about the same, means for carrying said elongated Vkerf cutter on said supporting iframe` in position to extend from said supportin frame deep into a mine Wall, and elongate means connected at one end to said supporting frame and trailing transversely behind said kerf cutter in the keift produced thereby in position tending to support the material above said cutting mechanism to increase the freedom ot feeding movement of said kert' cutter.

.28. In a mining machine, the combination with ajsupporting frame, of kerf cutting mechanism mounted thereon in posltion to project from said supporting frame into an upright mine Wall, means independent of said ker'f cutting mechanism but mounted on said supporting frame in position to project therefrom into the kert cut by said kerf cutting mechanism, means tor operating said kerf cutting mechanism including the i'eed thereof, and means-acting on said independent supporting member to'move the same relatively to said sup orting frame against the body of material a ove the kerf to counteract the tendency ot the cut material to'sag and retard feeding movement of said kerf cutting mechanism.

29. ln a mining machine, the combination with hert-cutting mechanism, ot' a frame therefor, and an independent supporting member pivotally and Ayieldingly mounted to trail a predetermined distance behind said kert-cutting mechanism in the kert produced thereby.

30. ln a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, oi1 kert cutting mechanism mounted thereon, a dat member mountedon Said supporting frame to have relative freedom ot" movement transversely ot the hert cut by said keri cutting mechanism and 1n position to project into a line Wall along the kert produced by said kort cutting mechanism While trailing behind the latter, and means acting on said flat plate to cause it to exert a yielding upward supporting torce on the material above the kerf and back of. the hert cutting mechanism during the ieed otthe latter.

31. lin a mining machine, the combination with vleert-cutting mechanism, of a trame car'- rying the same, a flat supporting plate pivoted to said frame to permit said plate to move transversely ot the kert reduced by said hert-cutting mechanism, sai plate being movable bodily with said hert-cutting mechanism in approximately the same plane, and mechanism countcracting the Weight oi1 the ice

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