US1805951A - Coal loading machine - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1931;

C. C. MILLER, JR

COAL LOADI NG MACHINE Filed Jan. 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1931- c. c. MILLER, JR 1,805,951

COAL LOADING MACHI NE Filed Jan. 18. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1931. c. c. MILLER, JR 1,805,951

COAL LOADING MACHINE Filed Jan. 18. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 19, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CUYLER O. MILLER, JR, GILIJELSPIE, ILLINOIS COAL LOADING MACHINE Application filed January 18,

This invention is a coal loading machine for employment in mines for the purpose of transferring the coal to a mine car or other suitable conveyor after the coal has been broken from the vein in a loose or shattered condition.

The main object of the invention is to provide a coal loading machine which will rapidly and economically load the coal in 10 the cars or conveyors with but a minimum-of manual operations. 1

Another object 'is to provide a coal loading machine including gathering and delivering conveyors each of which is separately adjustable in both horizontal and vertical planes to facilitate the gathering of the coal and its delivery to the mine cars.

Another object is to provide a coal loading machine including a coal gathering means for efiiciently and rapidly dragging the coal from the mine bottom on to the gathering conveyor from whence it may be delivered to the mine car. i

A further object is to provide a coal load- 25 ing machine of the character set forth in a simple, efficient and durable form.

The foregoing and other objects together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect will best be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear end view thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the r coal gathering mechanism andthe end of the gathering conveyor.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the rear end of the gathering conveyor and its supporting means.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the coal gathering arms.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail side view of the adjusting means for the delivering conveyor.

60 Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail 1930. Serial No. 421,647.

view of the adjustable supporting means for the gathering conveyor.

In carrying out the invention I provide a carriage 1 comprising a base 2 beneath which are j ournaled the axles 3 carrying the wheels 5 4 by means of which the carriage may travel upon the rails 5 of the conventional track system of the mine. An upper deck or frame 6 is supported above the base 2 by posts 7 and one end of this deck or frame 6 termie0 nates short of an alignment with the end of the base 2, this end of the carriage bein hereinafter referred to as the forward en A motor 80f conventional form is mounted on the base 2 and belted as shown at 9 to a as conventional double disk clutch 10 one side 11 of which drives the conveyor drive shaft 12 and the other side 13 of which drives the propelling shaft 14. The shafts 12 and 14 are journaled in the plates 15 extended be- 70 tween the posts 7 as shown. Sprockets 16 are connected to the axles 3 on oneside of the carriage 1 and similar sprockets 17 are mounted on one of the axles and on the outer end of the propelling shaft 14. A sprocket 75 chain 18 is trained over the sprockets 16 and another chain 19 is trained over the sprockets 17so that the carriage may be propelled over the mine tracks by the motor 8. It is obvious that by virtue of the double clutch 10 the so propelling shaft 14 alone may be rotated by the motor while the conveyor shaft 12 remains idle so that the loader may be moved from place to place without operating the conveyors. '85

A circular race 20 is mounted upon the deck 6 over the conveyor drive shaft 12 and an annular carrier 21 is rotatably mounted on this race, the said carrier running on balls 22 which are seated in grooves 23 pro- .33 vided in the adjacent faces of the race and carrier as shown. The gathering conveyor designated enerally at 24 comprises elongated spacer? side pieces 25 which are secured to ether by cross pieces 26 along their under- 95 si es. Pivot lugs 28 are depended from these side pieces 25 adjacent their rearwardly disposed ends and are pivotally attached at 29 to the carrier 21 at diametrically opposite points thereon. An arcuate race 30- 1s se- 108 the legs 33.

brackets 41 extended from the lower ends ofv the legs 33 and mesh withvthe aforesald,

cured in a horizontal osition the forward end of the base 2 an has a groove 31 1n its upper surface and a rack 32formed along its inner edge. Supporting legs 33 are secured at 34 to the side pieces 25 and have axially extended sockets 35 at their lower ends. Threaded-studs 36 are slidably ke ed at 62 in the sockets3 and have enlarged eet 37 which carry the balls-or other bearings 38 at their lower ends whichare adapted to play in the groove 31 in tlirace 30. Gears 39 are threaded on the studs 3'8 at the'lower end of Worms 40 are --journaled in gears 39 in'such manner that the conveyor 24- may be adjusted" 11y Iby .turn1ng these worms 40,.th" 25 swinging on the pivots 29. i urnaled in a bracket 43 carriedby ioneiof-the legsgim and meshes with the rack 32. in suchjman'ner that the conveyor may beadjustedin a horizontal plane by turning this warm thefco'nveyor in this case turning on the race 2Q.- The aforesaid wor'ms 40 and 42 may bep'rovided with any suitable turning handles .(notl shown) extended-out to the. side of the machine as will be understood. "The side pieces 25 and the legs 33 are braced by the bracing members 44-and 45 in the-manner shown.

A shaft 46 is' journaled diametrically through'the carrier 21 and serves as the pivots 29 for the side pieces 25 and a beveled oogand 52 and connected by a sprocket chain gear 47 is fixed to this shaft intermediate its ends. A similar beveled'gear 48 is fixed on the conveyor' drive shaft 12. A vertical shaft 49 is journaled in the deck 6 and in a horizontal plate 50 mounted between the posts 7 and carries beveled gears 51 at'either end which mesh with the aforesaid gears 47 and 48 so that said shaft 46' will be driven by the conveyor drive shaft 12. A sprocket shaft 52 is ournaled between'the rear ends of the side pieces 25 of the conveyor 24 and a similar sprocket shaft 53 is journaled between the forward ends of the said side pieces. It will be noted that the forward portions 54 of the side pieces 25 are bent .angularly downward from their remaining portions to bring the forward end of the conveyor into proximity with the surface from which the coal is to be gathered. Sprockets 55 are secured vto the rear shaft52 near the side pieces 25 andsimilar sprockets 56 are secured tothe forwardshaft 53 also adjacent the said side pieces. Sprocket chains 57 and 58 are trained over the saidsprockets 55 and 56 and are driven by the former, a. sprocket wheel 59 being mounted upon the shafts 46 forthis'purpose. The sprocket chains 57 and 58 carry a oonve or belt '61'of conventional form upon w ich the coal will be drawn upward when placed upon the forward end of the conveyor by a means to be described. Rollers 63 su portboth the upper and lower layers oft e conveyor belt 61 where the side pieces 25 are bent downward as shown.

The forward end of the conveyor 24 is provided with a laterally and forwardly extended apron 64 and the forward shaft 53 carrying the conveyor belt is extended out beneath this apron 64 as at 65 and provided with beveled gears 66 at its ends. Short stub shafts 67 are journaled through the apron 64 and provided with beveled gears 68 at their lower ends which mesh with theaforesaid gears 66 so that the said stub shafts 67 will be rotated when the conveyor belt 61 is in motion. Circular plates 69 are fixed upon the upper ends of the stub shafts 67 and carry a plurality of radially spaced depending hinge pins 70. A ring 71 is secured tothe lower ends of the pins to turn therewith. A plurality of coal gatherin arms 72 are provided, the same being su stantially wedge shaped in plan and having bearings 73 to receive the aforesaid hinge pins 70 b means of which the said arms are carriedlay the plates 69. The

inner or butt ends of the gathering arms 72 are concaved as at 74 and have small rollers 75 journaled upon their lower surfaces as shown. Cams 76 are fixed u n the apron 64 in concentricit'y with the a oresaid stub shafts 67 which extend therethrough and these cams are substantially semicircular in plan with their convexed orcurved peripheries turned forwardl as shown. Grooves 77 are provided in t e undersides of the peripheries of the cams 76 As will be clearly evidentfrom the drawing the arms 72 will be held rigidly extended during that portion of their travel in. which they are in position to engage coal upon the surface of the mine, the rollers 75 running in the grooves 77 and cooperating with the engagement of the concaved butts 74 of the A arms with the-periphery'of the cams 76 for this purpose. When each arm 72 reaches a point where it has drawn its load of coal entirely onto the conveyor belt 61 and otherwise would tend to drag it off the side of stood. I

A circular race 79 similar tothe race 20 is secured on. the deck 6 adjacent its rear end and an annular carrier 80 is rotatably mounted thereon on the ball bearings 81 in the manner hereinbefore set forth A drive shaft 82 is ournaled vertically through the base 2 and deck 6 and extends upwardly through the said race 79. Sprockets 83 and 84 are fixed upon the shafts 49 and 82 in horizontal alignment and a sprocket chain 85 is trained over these sprockets. A shaft 86 is journaled diametrically through the carrier 80 and carries a beveled gear 87 intermediate its ends, which gear meshes with a similar gear 88 upon the upper end of the shaft 82. Sprockets 89 are mounted on the said shaft 86 ad'acent its ends and Within the carrier 80. he delivering conveyor 90 comprises side pieces 91 which are secured together by cross pieces 92 and which are pivotally attached to the carrier 80 by the pivot lugs 98 engaging the shaft 86. A supporting arm 93 is loosely mounted at 94 on the lower portion of the drive shaft 82 and extends angularly upward therefrom. A worm 95 is journaled in the upper end of this arm 93 and meshes with a rack 96 carried by the conveyor 90 in such manner that the height of the outer end of the said conveyor may be adjusted b turnin the said worm. A sliding pin or andle 9 is provided in the worm for this purpose. Sprocket shafts 99 are journaled through the side pieces 91 at each end of the conveyor 90 and sprocket wheels 100 are mounted on these shafts adjacent the said side pieces 91. Sprocket chains 101 are trained over the said sprocket wheels 100 and carry the conventional conveyor belt 102 similar to the aforementioned conveyor belt 61. As will be noted in Figure 3 the lower layers or laps of the sprocket chains 101 are trained over the sprockets 89 on the shaft 86 and are driven thereby. It will be noted that the inner end of the delivering conveyor 90 is disposed beneath the rear end of the gathering conveyor 24 so that the coal from the said gathering conveyor will be deposited on the said delivering conveyor.

The operation of the machine will be clearly evident from the foregoing description, the gathering arms 72 drawing the coal onto the gathering conveyor 24 which deposits it on the delivering conveyor 90 from whence it is delivered to a mine car or other suitable conveyance or receptacle. Since boththe gathering and delivering conveyors are adjustable laterally and vertically the machine may be adapted for use under any conditions.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims. J

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a carriage, a race mounted thereon, a carrier rcitably mounted in the race, a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to the said carrier, means for supporting and maintaining the said conveyor in any adjusted osition, another race mounted on the carriage, a carrier rotatably mounted in this race, a delivery conveyor pivotally attached to the said carrier and means for supporting this conveyor in any adjusted position.

2. In a device of the class described, a carriage, a gathering conveyor rotatably and pivotally mounted on the carriage by its rear end, an arcuate race upon the forward portion of the carriage, supporting legs upon the said gathering conveyor adapted to play in the said race, means for a justing the length of the said legs, a rotating coal gathering mechanism upon the forward end of the said gathering conveyor and a delivering conveyor rotatably and pivotally mounted on the said carriage adjacent the rear end of the gathering conveyor.

3. In a-coal gathering mechanism, in combination with a conveyor, including an extended apron at its end and a rotating sprocket shaft, gears upon the ends of the said sprocket shaft, stub shafts j ournaled in the said apron, gears upon the said stub shafts in mesh with the said gears upon the sprocket shaft, circular plates carried by the said stub shafts, gathering arms fulcrumed on the said plates, semicircular cams fixed on the said apron, the inner ends of the said gathering arms bein concaved to engage the curved periphery o the said cam durin a part of the rotation of the said circu ar plates whereby the said arms will be held rigidly extended, rollers journaled in the inner ends of the said gatherin arms, and arcuate strips secured on the saic l apron and adapted to engage the said rollers to swing the arms into position to again engage the said cams after having been released therefrom by the rotation of the said circu lar plates.

4. In a device of the class described, a carriage, a race mounted on the carriage, a carrier rotatably mounted on the race, a gathering conveyor pivotally mounted at its inner end on the sald carrier, another race mounted on the carriage, a carrier mounted in this race and a delivery conveyor pivotally mounted at its inner end on the said carrier and means for adjusting the said gathering and delivery conveyors in a vertical plane.

5. In a device of the class described, a carriage, a gathering conveyor rotatably and pivotally mounted on the carriage by its rear end, an arcuate race upon the forward portion of the carriage, supporting legs upon the said gathering conveyor adapted to play in the said race, means for adjusting the length of the said legs, a rotating coal gathering mechanism upon the forward end of the said gathering conveyor and a delivering conveyor rotatably and ivotally mounted on the said carriage a jacent the rear end of the gathering conveyor, and means 'for raising and lowering the free end of the said delivery conveyor.

6. In a device of the class described, a carriage, a gathering conveyor rotatably and pivotally mounted by its rear end on the said carriage, an arcuate race mounted on the forward portion of the said carriage beneath the conveyor, supporting legs secured to the conveyor and having sockets in their lower ends, threaded studs slidably keyed in the said sockets, feet on the lower ends of the said studs adapted to play over the said arcuate race, gears threaded on the said studs adapted to play over the said arcuate race, gears threaded on the said {studs and adapted to bear on the ends of :the said legs, gears carried by the said legs and meshing with the gears n the said studs, a rack on the said arcuate race, and a gear carried by one of the feet of the said threaded studs and meshing with the rack on the race.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CUYLER C. MILLER, JR.

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