US1821440A - Apparatus for loading coal - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N. D. LEVIN Filed Sept. 3, 1924 APPARATUS FOR LOADING GOAL sept. 1, 1931.

Sept. l, 1931. N. D. LEvlN APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1924 Inuen Tor 1%/ Sept. l, 1931. N. D. Ll-:vlN 1,821,440

APPARATUS Fo LOADING GOAL A Fi1`ed Sept. 5, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mg/Mu: 7 I www" www 17%,WM

Sept. 1, 1931.- N. D. LEvlN APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL Filed Sept. 3, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fig; 9

Q0. Vite/ow N. D. LEVIN sept. 1, 1931.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 3, 1924 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orf-ICE NILS D. LEVIN, F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO APPARATUS FOR LOADING COAL Application led September 3, 1924. Serial No. 735,583.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for loading coal. Itis designed partlcularly for use in a chamber of a coal mine to gather coal which has (4 been previously broken down and dislodged along a relatively long face of the vein; convey it to any designated place, and load it, if desired, into suitably placed receptacles for transportation.

One object of the invention is to provide conveying mechanism of such construction that it is adapted to extend along a relatively long coal face, and to gather the broken down and dislodged coal from the floor of the mine, when such conveying mechanism is bodily moved laterally and properly posiioned with relation to the broken down coal. A further object is to provide apparatus of the class described which will have lateral flexibility to permit predetermined portions of the gathering mechanism to be independently moved into operative relation to the broken down coal. Y*

A still further ob3ect is to provide appara- 25l tus of the class described which will have vertical `flexibility to permit the gathering mechanism to conform to irregularities of the surface, as, for example, a mine floor, on which it rests.

A still further object is to provide a frame construction which reduces the width of the machine to such a degree that roof supporting props may be located outside of the machine, whe'n it is in working position without interfering with its operation, and yet such props will be positioned relatively close to the Working face of the vein.

A still further obiect is to so combine and arrange the parts which make up the apparatus, as to permit convenient 'disassembling and reassembly of the machine, to facilitate movement of the apparatus from one part of the mine to another. i A still further object is to provide a frame cation which follows, is shown one embodiconstruction which will permit ready adment of the invention. but it will be understood that the disclosure in the drawings and sYecification is merely illustrative, and not restrictive of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the driving, or head, end of my improved coal loading mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, viewed from the lower side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the foot end of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the devices illustrated in Fig. 3, viewed from the lower side of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along substantially the line V-V of Fig. 1, lookine in the ,direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along substantially the line VI-VI of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along substantially the line VII-VII of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is la plan view, partly in section, showing the articulation of the conveyor frame.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along substantially the line IX-IX of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fi 10 is a sectional view taken along substantlally, the line X-X of Fig.` 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are diagrammatic cross sections of a coal working showing the relation of the apparatus to thevcoal face and roof supporting props.

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic illustrations showing two of the many methods of operation of this machine in a coal mine.

Referring to the drawings by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, my improved loading apparatus comprises a sectional frame of suitable length adapted to rest upon and slide over the mine floor, and having guideways of proper formation in its lateral edges which receive and i in which travels the endless conveyor chain e frame above referred to is composed ofl a plurality of separable sections 3, 4, and' 5,

which are pivotally connected togetherin a manner whlch affords flexibility in both vertical and horizontal planes. The head frame section 3,'preferab1 and as here shown, supports the power evices by whichI the conveyor chain 1 is driven, and the foot frame section 5, in this present disclosure,

' contains the foot wheel around which the u be varied with respect to details and mechan chain 1 passes to -change its direction of travel. Intermediate these frame sections?, and 5 may be positioned any preferred .number of the intermediate frame sections 4 to adjust the overall length of the conveyor to that of the coal face along which the dislodged coal is to be gathered.

.This arrangement of frame and conveyor chain, with its attached flights, rovides a ver flexible arangement whlch a apts itself rea ily in both vertical and horizontal directions to the conditions under which theapparatus is manipulated.

Each of `the intermediate frame sections 4 consists of a bottom plate 6 of such construction as to form a suitable support to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, or other supporting surface, the forward lateral `edge f of which plate may be turned downwardly, as shown at I in Fig. 6, to insure contact with the mine floor, and eliminate or reduce danger of the plates riding up'over loose masses of material. To the plate 6 is secured a pair of angle bars 8 which are joined together at their ends by the hinges 9 and 10, secured, as shown, to the angle bars. The hinge 10 has formed therein a socket 11 adapted to receive the ball 12 of the hinge 9 of the adjacent frame section, and the proportions and assembly of these parts are such that they permit angular movement of adjacent frame sections in both vertical and horizontal directions, and also permit them to be engaged and disengaged by relative vertical movement, as will be clear from Figs. 7 and 8. Mounted on the bars 8, and preferably formed on the hinges 9 and 10, are lugs 13 which project, as here shown, through suitable apertures in the top lates 14, and a key 15, or equivalent device, t rust through an aperture 1n the lugs 13 locks, the top plate 14 against the upper edges of the angle bars 8. The top plate 14 is provided with guide flanges 16 which cooperate with the guide bars 17 secured to the bottom plate 6 to confine the conveyor chain 1 to the guide- Wa provided by the elements above descrlbed, andthese guide flanges 16 are preferably and conveniently formed by turning the edges of the plates 14 downwardly.

This construction, which may, of course,

ical expediente from what is here disclosed, ermits the ready taking down or reassemling ofthe sectional conveyor, so that it may be increased or decreased as to its length at the point. of o ration, and without the useof special too s or need of skilled mechanics.

The conveyor chain 1 may be of any type suitable to the needs of the work to be done.

In the drawings I have shown a chain adapted to flexure in both verticaly and horizontal directions, and provided at suitable intervals with coupling links 18 by which' said chain may be conveniently uncoupled and reunited` to facilitate the addition or subtraction of one or more of the intermediate sections 4, to `vary the total lenfrth of the conveyor. Such a chain is disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,686,566, issued on VOctober 9, 1928, and need .notvbe further described :at this 935 time. When a section of the conveyor is to be inserted in or removed from the conveyor, the top plate 14 may be removed from a conveniently positioned frame sectionl by withdrawing the locking members 15, there-40 by exposing the conveyor chain 1 to permit of its being uncoupled. After the adjustments are completed and the chain vis recoupled, the top plate v14 maybe replaced and the chain 1 held in place for service.

Pivotally mounted on the chain 1 for vertical movement,js a series of shovel-like conveyor flights 2 adapted to slide along the upper surface 19 of the bottom plate 6, and beneath the fragments of coal lying thereonfoo and to carry said coal along said bottom plate. The length of the flights 2 is preferably slightly greater than the width of the surface 19 of the bottom plate to allow the, ends of said flights to engage and move the coal upon the mine lfloor in front of said plate extension, and, furthermore, facilitate bodily lateral movement of the apparatus towards and into the broken coal mass which is to be gathered.

It will be observed that the projecting ends of the flights 2, as here shown, and *particularly in Figs. 6, 9 and 10, are beveled downwardly at their ends which project be A yond the surface 19 of the bottom plate 6, sok 115 that they will slide easily beneath the broken down coal mass, and the downwardly beveled edge 7 of the bottom plate 6 will as readily follow and enter beneath the mass.

To reduce the overall width of the appara-A tus, and, as a result, decrease the working area necessary for its operation, the bottom plate 6 is cut away or reduced along the outer edgeof the guide frame, as shown in Fig. 1,'v` and the conveyor flights 2 are turned up-'125 Wardly on their pivots, by devices shortly to be described, to a substantially vertical position as they travel along the return side of the conveyor frame. The said-flights 2 are maintained in this substantially vertical 123 position by means of guides 20', `here shown as angle strips, which `may be suitably supported by supports 2l secured to the top plate 14. These supports 21 also uphold la shield or cover 22, here shown 'as ofinverted V-shape, and which serves to house the upstanding flights and prevent accidental contact with the operator, or other objects eX- tcrnal of the ap iaratus. Lugs 23, (see Figs. and 8) attaclicd at convenient intervals along` the rear edge of the bottom lplate 6, engage the rcar edge of the shield plate 22 to assist in maintaining said plate in operative i relation with the returning Conveyor flights.

The shape and disposition of the shield or cover plate 22 adapts it to act as a side wall for the conveyor trough, the bottom of which is formed by the surface 19 of the bottom plate. lt will be seen that this shield or cover plate 22 has two functions. First, it houses the flights 2 as they return in idle position tothe foot of' the apparatus, and, second, it forms one side of .a trough or passageway along and through which the conveyor flights 2. in active working position, move the coal. No sidewall is provided or necessary along the opposite side of the conveyor, for the pile of coal upon the mine floor serves to confine the coal upon the bottom plate 19 in the` same manner that it would be confined by a side wall, the coal being carried along in the trough formed between the Shield 22 and the opposed mass of coal. The lugs 23 may be V-slaped so as to form a convenient means of attachment for moving jacks, hooks, crowbars, or like devices, utilized to shift and move the apparatus over the mine tioor.

' The foot section 5 (see Figs. 3, 4, 9 and l0) differs from the intermediate sections 4, in that its bottom plate 24 is expanded laterally at its inner edge 'to accommodate the foot wheel 25 about which the conveyor chain 1 passes to change its direction of travel. Attached to the bottom plate 24 are chain guideways of the intermediate sections. At the inner end of the section 5 which is connected to the adjacent intermediate section, the guideways 26 and 27 arel arranged to register with those of the adjacent sections, and these guideways 26 and 27 diverge outwardly, following the widened bottom plate 24 of foot section 5, to guide the chain 1 to and from the foot wheel 25. The hinge member 9 of the section 5 corresponds withthose of theother sect-ions of the conveyor. The foot wheel 25 is attached to the lower end of a vertical shaft 28 in a suitable journal bearing 29 formed on a yoke 30, and a thrust collar 31 attached to the upper end of the shaft 28 supports the weight of the wheeland shaft upon the upper end of said journal bearing 29 (see Fig. 10). The thrust collar 31 may -be shaped' to form an oil receptacle and provide for lubrication of the shaft 28, a convenient lid 32 26 and -27 substantially similar to thosebeing provided to close said oil receptacle. The yoke 30 is slidably mounted in guideways formed in the member 33, preferably secured he guide bar 20, ad] acent the foot, is bent outwardly to shift the returning conveyor yfiights 2 from the positions shown in Figs. 3

and 6, to those shown in Fig. 9, so that they will fall to their horizontal positions. A second guide 36, attached to the bottom plate 24, and inclining downwardly to said bottom plate, prevents the flights 2 falling too soon, and eases them down to their final horizontal working position. The second guide bar 36 is so shaped that if the conveyor chain 1 were moved in the reverse direction, the conveyor flights 2 would be turned upwardly to their vertical position to travel along the return strand of the conveyor in the same manner as when traveling in the forward direction. The guide bar 36 may be attached to the bottom plates 24 and to a bracket 37 fastened thereto, by suitable bolts 38 and 39, and a plurality of apertures are ,provided for the insertion of these bolts togpermit the adjust ment of said guide bar 36 to correspond with themovement of the foot wheel 25 when adjusting the tension of the chain 1.

The housing 22 is extended over the foot section, being -suitably widened, as shown in Y Fig. 9, and upheld by the supports 21.

With this construction of foot section, it

will be seen that it may be 4readily connected or disconnected with -its adjacent intermediate section; that change, adjustment, and

tensioning can be readily accomplished, and that the flights, as they pass around the foot wheel, will be straightened, upheld from falling outwardly until they have reached the proper point, and will then be gradually lowered to their horizontal full working position.

The head section 3 of the conveyor is mounted upon a framework having a bottom plate 40 adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor. The edges of the bottom plate 40 arepreferably, as shown, upturned, in order that the relatively heavy head section may be readily shifted without danger of the edges of the bottom plate catching upon rough inequalities or projections upon the mine floor, or other supporting surface. Upon this framework is supported the guideways 41 and 42 which are.

of similar construction to those above described, and a hinge member similar to those described is provided to connect the head section 3 with its adjacent intermediate section. At their inner ends the guideways 41 and 42 register with the corresponding guideways trough having e bottom plate 44. which `is be adapted to receive the conveyor -flights 2,

and the moving coal coming from the surface 19 of the adjacent conveyor section, and this plate 44 is bent to form the'fiaring sidewall 45 oi the conveyor trough. The opposite wall of the trough is forme by the vertical plate y4g which is also a part of the shield structure 4 The guideways 41 and 42 and the trough 44 are curved upwardly and then outward y, .in order that they may project when the material is to be delivered to a receptacle, above the oint of deposit on the receptacle to which the islodged coal is to be delivered. A semicircular extension 48 of the bottom plate 44 projects beyond the periphery of the sprocket wheel 43 to prevent the conveyor flights falling, and maintain them'in substantially horizontal osition as the pass around the sprocket wlieel. `As the ights 2 leave the s rocket wheel 43 for the return movement, they are engaged by aguide bar 49, so positioned that the 'are turned upwardly into their substantia y vertical idle position, and pass to the guide bar 20 of the return run of the conveyor.

The head sprocket wheel 43 is mounted for free rotation about a stationary vertical shaft 50 iixed to the frame, and to its extended hub 51 is secured a bevel gear 52. The bevel gear 52 is enga ed b a bevel pinion 53 fixed-to the horizonta driving shaft 54, which is supported in suitable bearings 55 on. the frame. To the driving shaft 54 is fixed a hub 56 having a. radially extending flange 57, and a sprocket wheel l58 is freely mounted upon the shaft 54 adjacent the flange 57. The sprocket Wheel 58 is connected with the shaft 54 by a shear pin 59 which projects through registering apertures of the sprocket wheel 58 and ange 57, this shear pin constituting a safet coupling device by which the power whic may be transmitted to the head shaft of the conveyor is limited, so that breakage or derangement of the driven parts under overload is effectively guarded against. An endless chain 60 connects the sprocket Wheel 58 with a sprocket wheel 61, which is directly attached to a spur gear 62. The spur gear 62 engages the armature pinion 63 of the motor 64 to drive theconveyor.

The motor 64 may be of any preferred type suitable to ,the conditions under which the vmachine operates. For purposes of illustration I have shown an electrlc motor adapted to receive its actuating current from any con- -venient source of electric supply through a suitable conductor, not Vshown. in the drawings, and to be controlled by a suitable controlling mechanism uwhichri-s preferably n mounted upon'the side of the motor frame.

As these devices are well understood inthe art, and as the form nopart of the present Invention, furt er description is thougbtto un!) v v In 14 have illustrated a mining operation involvingthe use of my improved coal handlin machine, this operation showing the loadin of coal into cars. As a preliminary deve opment operation a. pair of spaced apart across the territory to be mined, and in these entries are laid the tracks 67 over which travel the cars 68 by which coal is transported from the mine. `Room entries 69, extending parallel with and adjacent the haulage entries 66 are driven, and suitable breakthroughs 70 are provided to alord the ventilation which is required. The room entries 69 are so spaced from the haulage entries 66 that `the mter-" vening pillar of coal will be of sufficient thickness to aord safe support for the roof of the haulage entries durln all stages of operation. Preparatory to t e insta ation of my improved loading machine, relatively i narrow rooms 71, 72, 73, 74 etc. are driven between the entries 69, preferably in alignment with the breakthroughs, and these rooms provide the relatively vlong working faces required for the economical operation of my machine. The entries, rooms, and breakthroughs, above described, may be driven in any preferred manner suitable to the existing conditions. Use is here contemplated of entry driving machines such as are disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 697,790, filed March 8, 1924, and such machines are indicated at 7 5 in Fig. 14, working towards each other to form the room 74. In each of the rooms 72 and 73 are installed two loading machines 76, the length of which have been so adjusted that their foot sections 5 may lie in close proximity to each other midway the length of the room, while their head sections 3 are in the entries 69.

' As a means for collecting the coal from the several machines involved in this o ration, I have provided elongated, contmuously moving conveyors 77, w ich may be of any preferred type, such as belt conveyors, scraper conve ors, or the like, and these conveyors exten alon the entries 69 and discharge into a similar cross conveyor 78.

kBranch conveyors' 79 of the same general type, are also placed in the rooms 74 to receive the coal from the entry driving machines 75 and transfer it to the main entry conveyors 77. The cross conveyors 78 are positioned in convenient breakthroughs, and are adapted to deliver a continuous'llow of coal to the cars 68 of a moving train as they pass along the haulage track 67 beneath the end of the cross conveyor 78. By this means interruption of the operation o f the several arallel entries 66 are driven l lll mining machines to permit .the movement of cars is avoided for long periods of time, and

if proper attention is paid to the manipulation of the trains of cars upon the mine tracks, vsuch interruption need never occur.

Theprincipal mining operation which is conducted along the rib face. of each room is as follows: The coal is first undercut, preferably by a machine 80 of the well known longwall type having a frame adapted to slide along the mine ioor between the loading machine and the coal face, and having a' broken coal upon the mine floor and move it' longitudinally of the machine towards the entry 69 where it is discharged into the entry conveyor 77. As the work progresses each successive section of the loading machine is moved towards the dislodged coal until all of said coal has been loaded.

If the vein be of suiticient thickness, the coal dislodged from the upper part of the vein may be thrown outwardly a suicient distance to fall upon the bottom plate 19 and the conveyor `flights2, and this coal maybe of sufficient bulk to overload the driving mechanism and stall the conveyor. To guard against such a cont-ingencyrl provide a 'pluralityV of short boards 81 (see Figs. 26 and 13) which I place vabove the conveyor trough, one end resting upon the ground adjacent the coal face, and the other end resting upon the V-shaped shield or cover 22 of the loading machine. These boards support the dislodged coal above the conveyor, and may be progressively removed to allow the dislodged `coal to fall upon the conveyor to be trans- 'ported thereby. When such boards 81 are used, I preferably move the loading machine close to the coal face, as illustrated in Fig. 13, and pl acethe boards in position before shooting. The greater part of the dislodged lcoal will then rest upon the boards 81, and can be fed to the conveyor by their progressive removal, greatly facilitating `the loading operation.

Roof supporting props 82 are commonly placed immediately behind the loading machine, as shown-in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and these props extend in a row substantially parallel to the coal face. Frequently roof conditions are such that lthe props 82 must `be placed so close to the coal face as to leave barely sutlicient room for the loading machines, no space being available for the pasl sage of the undercutting machine 80. In

such cases the flexibility of the loading machine frame (see Fig. 15) permits a single section to be moved back from the coal face, the roof props adjacent thatsection being temporarily removed. As the cutting progresses each-successive section of the loadin machine is moved back from the wall, and those'in the rear of the cutting machine, and the accompanying roof props, are immediately restored to their initial position. Such an operation is shown at 83 in Fig. 15. Under some circumstances the cutting machines may slide over the troughplate 19 of the loading machine as shown in Fig. 12, the successive conveyor iights 2 being turned to a vertical position as the cutting progresses.

Where roof conditions will permit, a better .recovery may sometimes be attained by a short panel system such as is illustrated in Fig. 15. In the development of such a system, pairs of entries 84 are driven across the territory to be mined,- and these are connected by cross passages 85 dividing the coal body into rectangular panels. The principal mining operations are conducted along the ribs of the entries 84 extending from one cross passage 85 to the next, and these cross passages are spaced` a suiicient distance apart to permit the economical operations of my. improved loading machine 86, one of which is installed upon each of these working faces. Loading conveyors 87 and 88 receive the coal discharged by these loading machines and deliver it to the cars 89 of a train upon the mine track 90. The mining operation upon each working face is substantially like that described in the room and pillar system, the coal being undercut, broken down, and gathered in the same manner. In order to afford the greatest possible protection to the loading machines 86 and to the conveyors 87, the successive` faces 91, 92, and 93 are progressively offset as shown, all of the apparatus being gradually withdrawn towards the mouth of the mine.

It is to be understood that the methods of operation above described are but illustrative of some of the uses of my improved apparatus for loading coal; that these methods may be subject to wide variation, and that L.

many other uses will suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the art without departure from the spirit of my invention. Furthermore, such changesin construction and the adoption of expedients other than and equivalent to those herein disclosed as are within the range of imechanical skill, may be made, and still be within the purview of my invention.

While the apparatus is here shown for gathering, and for loading, material, it will be obvious that it might be used foroperations other than the specific 'uses herein described.

I claim:

l. In a conveyor, an` endless conveyor L3 chain, flights face adapted to be engaged by the flights forl positively moving them toward operative position.

3. In avconveyor, an articulated support, an endless conveyor chain traveling thereon, flights pivoted to said chain, means for swinging the flights during their travel in planes'traverse to the line of the chain for rendering them inoperative, and aligned uide rail sections on said support for guiding said inoperative flights, said flights hav-- ing cam surfaces for contact with said sections. y

l 4. In a conveyor, an articulatedsupport, an endless conveyor chain traveling thereon, flights pivoted to said chain, means for swinging the flights during their travel'in planes transverse to the line of the chain for rendering them inoperative, and shield sec` tions on` said support for the inoperative flights.

` 5. Ina conveyor, an articulated support, an endless conveyor chain traveling thereon, flights pivoted to said chain, means for swinging the flights during their travel -in planes transverse to the line of the chain for rendering them inoperative, shield sections onsaid support for the inoperative ights, and guide rail sections for the inoperative flights fixed to said shield sections.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, an endless chain mounted thereon, means for driving said chain, gathering elements movably mounted on said chain and adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position, and means for moving said gathering elements to a substantially vertical inactive position during a redetermined portion of their travel.-

' In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, an endless chain mounted thereon, driving means therefor, gathering elements pivotally mounted on said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position, means automatically to move said gathering elements to a substantially vertical inactive position during a predetermined port-ion of theirtravel, and means automatically to move them toward their active position.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame, an endless chain mounted thereon, driving means therefor,

gathering elements pivotally mounted on said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position on one side of said frame, and means at the head end of said frame to move said gathering flights to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame.

10. In a machine of the class described, `the combination of a relatively narrow frame having a widened head section, a power unit on said head section; an endless chain driven from said power unit, gathering flights on said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position on one side of said frame, means at the head end of said frame to move said gathering flights to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame, and means at the other end of said frame to move said gathering flights toward their active position.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a relatively narrow frame having a widened head section, a power unit on saidA head section, an endless chain driven from said power unit, gathering flights pivotally mounted o n said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position oli-one side of said frame, guide members at the head 'end of said frame automatically to move said flights to a substantiall vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame, and guide members at the foot end of said frame automatically to guide said flights to their active position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a relatively narrow frame having a widened head section, a power unit on said head section; an endless chain driven from said power unit, gathering flights pivotally mounted on said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position 011 one side of said frame, guide members at the head end of said frame automatically to move said flights to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of saidl frame, guide members at the footv end of said frame automatically to guide said flights to their active position, and means for housin said flights in their inactive position.

13. n a machine of the class described, the combination of a relatively narrow frame having a widened head section, a power unit 011 said head section, a material receiving gathering flights pivotally mounted on said` fis trough on one side of said head section, an

endless chain driven from said power unit,

chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position on one side of said frame, guide members at the he'ad end of said frame automatically to move said flights to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame, guide members at the foot end of said framelautomatically to guide saidflights to their active position, and means for housing said flights in their inactive position.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a relatively narrow frame having a widened head section, a power unit on said head section, a material receiving and elevating trough on one side of said head section, an endless chain driven Yfrom said power unit, gathering flights pivotally mounted on said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active .position on one side of said frame, guide members at the head end'of said frame automatically to move said flights to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said, frame, guide members at the foot end of said frame automatically to guide said 'flights --to their active position, and .means for 'housing said flights in their inactive position.

15. Ina machine of the class described, a horizontally flexible frame having a head section and a foot section, a. power unit mounted on one of said sections, an endless chain onsaid frame driven from said power unit', gathering flights pivotally connected 4with said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position on one side of said frame, and means at one end of said frame automatically to move said gathering elements to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame.

16. In a machine of the class described, a horizontally flexible frame having a head section, a foot section, and a plurality of interconnected intermediate sections, a power unit mounted on one of said sections, an endless chain onsaid frame driven from said power unit, gathering iights pivotally connected with said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal'active position on one side of said frame, and meansat one end of said frame automatically to move said gathering elements to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame adapted to rest u on and slide over the fiooi' of the mine, sai frame comprising a` plurality of longitudinally disposed sections pivotally connected together for relative angular movement -in horizontal planes, anV

endless flexible draft device adapted to travel in guideways extending longitudinally of said' frame, a laterally projecting plate-extending along eachsection of said .frame adapted to contact with the mine floor, and laterally projecting conveyor elements carried by said draft vdevice and adapted to propel loose material along said plates as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine, said-frame comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed sections pivotally connected together for relative angular movement in both vertical and horizontal planes, an endless flexible draft device adapted to travel in guideways extending longitudinally of said frame, a laterally projecting plate extendin along each section of said frame and a apted to contact with the mine floor, and laterally projecting conveyor elements carried by said draft device and adapted to pro el loose material along said plates as and or the purpose set forth.`

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed frame sections, conveying mechanism mounted upon said sections and adapted to convey material longitudinally of said frame, and means connecting said sections for permitting angular operating relations thereof' and adapted to be engaged or disengaged by relative vertical movement of said frame sections.

20. In an apparatus of the class described,

nism mounted upon said sections and adapted'to convey material longitudinally of said frame, and means adapted to be engaged or disengaged `by relative vertical movement of said frame sections to connect their adjacent ends for relative angular movement in horizontal planes as and for the purpose set forth.

21. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinally posed frame sections, conveying mechanism mounted upon said sections and adapted to convey material ylongitudinally of said frame, and means vadapted to be engaged or disengaged by relative vertical movement of said frame sections to connect their adjacent ends for relative angular movement in vertical planes as and for the purpose set forth.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed frame` sections, conveying mechanism mounted upon said sections and adapted to convey material longitudinally of said frame, and means adapted to be engaged or disengaged byrelative vertical movement of said frame sections to connect their adjacent ends for relative angular movement` in both vertical and horizontal planes.

23. In a'machine of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame havin longitudinally extendinar guideways forme in its lateral edges, of an endless flexible draft device adapted to travel in said lo draft device for pivotal movement in planes extending transversely of said draft device, guidin means extending along the forward side o said frame adapted to support said 'conveyor flights in horizontal extension, and' guidin means extending along the rearward side o said frame ada ted to hold said conveyor flights in vertica extension as and for the purpose lset forth.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame'having longitudinally extending guideways formed in its lateral edges, of an endless flexible draft device adapted to travel in said guideways, conveyor ights hinged to said draft device for pivotal movement 'in planes extending transversely of said draft device, guiding means extending along the forward side of said frame adapted to support said conveyor flights in horizontal extension, guiding means extending along the rearward side of said frame adapted to hold said flights in vertical extension, and means vat the ends of said frame to turn said flights to orl from vertical extension as and for lthe purpose set forth.

25. I-n a machine of the class described,the combination with an elongated frame having longitudinally extending guideways formed in its lateral edges, of an` endless flexible draft device ada ted to travel in said guideways, conveyor ights hinged to said draft device -for pivotal movement in' planes extending transversely of said draft device, guiding means extending along the forward side of said frame adapted to sup ort said conveyor flights in horizontal extension, guiding means extending along the rearward side of said frame adapted to hold said conveyor flights lin vertical extension, and a shield to protect said vertical flights `from accidental contact with objects external of the machine.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination with an elongated frame having longitudinally extending guideways formed in its lateral edges, of an endless flexible draft device ada ted to travel in said guideways, conveyor lghts hinged to said draft device for pivotal movement in planes extending transversely of said .draft device, guiding means extendingalong the forward side of said frame adapted to support said conveyor flights in horizontal extenslon, guiding means extending along the rearward side of said frame adapted to hold said flights in vertical B5 extension, and a shield adapted to protect guideways, conveyor flights hinged to said' said vertical flights froln accidental contact with objects external ofthe machine and to confine loose material to the forward side of said frame as and for the'purpose set forth.

27. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a conveyor frame, o f an fendless flexible draft device carried thereby, a guideway in said frame along which said draft device is adapted to travel, a side of said guideway being readily removable to afford access to said draft device as and for the purposeset forth.

28. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a conveyor frame, of an endless draft device carried thereby, a guideway in said frame alongwhich said draft device is adapted to travel, a side of said guideway being readily removable to afford access to said draft device, and readily disengageable devices adapted to lock the removable side of said guideway in operative position as and for the purpose set forth.

29. In a conveyor frame, the combinationand cooperating with said bottom plate and said flanges to form guideways along which the conveyor chain is adapted to travel, lugs attached to said flanges and projecting upwardly through apertures of said top plate, and keys engaging said lugs to lock said top plate in operative relation with said flanges as and for the purpose set forth.

3.1. In a machine of the class described, a vertically flexible frame'having a head scction, a foot section, and a plurality of int-erconnected intermediate sections, a power unit mounted on one of said sections, an endless chain on said frame' driven from said power unit, gathering flights pivotally connected with said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position on one side of said frame, and means at one end of said frame automatically to move said gathering elements to a substantially vertical inactive position on the other side of said frame.

32. In a machinel of the classdescribed, a vertically -and horizontally flexible frame having a head section and a' foot section, a power unit mounted on one of said sections, an endless chain on said frame driven from said power unit, gathering flights pivotally 'connected with said chain adapted to lie in a substantially horizontal active position on composed of artlculated sectlons, anendless chain traveling from end to end of said plate the advancing and returning sections of sai chain being disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane, horizontally extending material engaging elements secured at one end to said chain and traveling over said plate, the free ends of said material engaging elements on the advancing section of the chain projecting slightly beyond the adjacent lateral edge of the base plate, said sections being relatively angularly movable in the normal horizontal lanes of flexure of the chain to conform su stantially to the irregular outlines of a pile of material to engage the material engaging elements therewith.

34. In a conve or, an elongated base plate composed of artlculated sections, an endless chain travelling from end to end of said plate with a workingsection disposed for normal liexure in horizontal planes, and horizontally extending material engaging elements secured at one end to said chain and extending transversely of said plate with the other end adjacent an unobstructed lateral edge of the plate, said sections being relatively angularly movable in the horizontal planes of flexure of the chain to conform substantially to the irregular outlines of a pile of material to engage the material engaging elements therewith.

35. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate composed of articulated sections, an endless chain travelling from end to end of said plate with a working section disposed for normal flexure in horizontal planes, and horizontally extending material engaging elements secured at one end to said chain and extendin transversely of said plate with the other en adjacent an unobstructed lateral edge of the plate, an upwardly extending wall on said plate to the side of said working section opposite from the material engaging elements, said sections being relatively angularly movable in the horizontal planes of lexure of the chain to conform substantially to the irregular outlines of a pile of material to engage the material engaging elements therewith.

36. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate, composed of articulated sections, an endless chain travelling from end to end of said plate, and comprising a working and an idling section, said working section being adapted for normal flexure in horizontal planes, flights secured at one end to said chain, the flights on the working section extending horizontally and transversely over the plate toward an unobstructed edge of the latter,

means for'swin ng the flights on the idling section into su stantially vertical position and a housing for such vertically positioned flights, said sections being relatively angularly movable in the horizontal planes of llexure of the chain to conform substantially to the irregular outlines of a pile of material to engage the flights therewith.

37. In a longwall mining conveyor and loader the combination of a plurality of pivotally connected ground supported plate sections, an endless member movably connected with said plates and operable thereover, each of said plates at a longitudinal side thereof being unobstructed, tines pivotally connected with said endless member for pivotal movement in substantially a vertical plane, said tines at the unobstructed sides of said plates being adapted for horizontal resting on said plates for coal conveying purposes, and means along the opposite sides of said plates for moving and supporting the tines 1n upr1ght position.

38. As an article of manufacture a conveyor for mining operation comprising a flat shallow plate constructed to be substantially horizontally positioned in ground engagement adjacent the base of a seam, and having a longitudinal edge thereof unobstructed, and an endless conveyor operating upon said plate including laterally extending coal conveying tines horizontally operating over the plate adjacent said unobstructed edge.

39. In a longwall mining conveyor comprising a plurality of flat, shallow and elongated plates each having the same side thereof unobstructed to permit said plates to be laterally moved toward a face of a coal seam to permit the plates to conform to irregularities in the face of the seam, and an endless chain operablv connected over said plates including laterally extending tin operating horizontally over said plates along the unobstructed edges thereof for conveying coal which falls upon said plates, all of said plates being connected in substantially the same plane.

40. In a conveyor and loading machine for mining a horizontally disposed-ground engaging plate, an endless belt operable over said plate including laterally extending tines, said plate at one side of the endless conveyor being adapted to horizontally receive the tines thereover in unobstructed relation, said plate at said side of the conveyor being laterallyA unobstructed so that it may be moved into a body of coal to permit the coal to move laterally over the plate and to be conveyed therealong by said tines which are horizontally positioned at said side of the conveyor, means at the opposite sides ofthe conveyor to collapse the tines, and a guard for disposition over said collapsed tines at said opposite side of the conveyor from the loading side.

41. In a conveyor and loader for mining the combination of a shallow base plate,

an elongated endless chain operable over the plate including laterally extending tines, said plate at one longitudinal side being laterally unobstructed and at the opposite side having a stationary rest extension upwardly therefrom upon which Workmen may kneel to lean over and operate at the loading side of the conveyor. y

42. In a loading conveyor the combination of a plurality of sections including supporting plates, an endless chain, means on said sections movably connecting the endless chain thereon in a guided relation thereover for pivoted connection of said sections, and flights for the endless chain operable over the plates of said sections for coal conveying purposes.

43. In a loading conveyor the combination of a plurality of sections including supporting plates, an endless chain, means on said 0 5 sections inovably connecting the endless chain thereon in a guided relation thereover for pivoted connection of said sections, and flights pivotally connected to said endless chain for movement With respect thereto in 0 a vertical plane, said flights being adapted for cooperation over the plates of said sections for coal conveying purposes at one side of each of said sections, and means at the other side of each of said sections for collapsibly supporting said flights in an upmediate sections forming a continuous groove for receiving said endless chain therein 1n a movable connected relation upon said sections whereby to pivotally connect said sections With the plates thereof disposed in a horizontal plane for relative movement, and col- 59 lapsible flights supported upon said plates of the sections in a ivoted connected relation with said endless c iain.

45. In a loading conveyor of the class described a plurality of sections including ground supporting platforms for direct support upon the ground, an endless chain, means on said platforms of said sections for receiving the endless chain, pivoted flights 00 upon said endless chain for extension at one side of each of said sections horizontally over the platforms of the sections for coal conveying purposes, a guide rail carried by each of said sections at the opposite side, saidguide rails of the various sections being in substantial alignment, and means upon an end section of the conveyor for collapsing said flights upon said rails as the flights move about said end section.

46. In a loading conveyor of the class described a plurality of sections including ground supporting platforms for direct support upon the ground, an endless chain, means on said platforms of said sections for receiving the endless chain, pivoted flights upon said endless chain for extension at-one side of each of said sections horizontally over the platforms of the sections for coal conveying purposes, and a guide rail carried by each of said sections at the opposite side, said guide rails of the various sections being in substantial alignment, means upon an end section of the conveyor for collapsing said flights, and means at the other end section of said conveyor for extending said flights from a collapsed relation to a coal conveying position over the platform of said sections.

47. In a loading conveyor the combination of a plurality of sections, each of said sections including a shallow ground supporting platform, an endless chain operably connected upon said platforms for pivotally connecting said platforms, said chain being disposed upon said platforms more to one side than the other to provide a loading extension of the platform for each section, tines pivotally connected with said endless chain ada ted for horizontal positioning over the loa ing extensions of said platforms, means at the opposite sides of said platforms from the loading extensions for upwardly collapsing the tines over said platforms, and elongated guard housings individually provided for each section for receiving the collapsed tines therein.

48. In a loading conveyor of the class described the combination of a plurality of pivotally connected sections including platforms, an endless chain mounted on the platforms to provide loader extensions of said platforms to one side of the chain for each section, collapsible tines pivoted on the endless chain operable over the loader extensions of said plates, means to collapse the flights at one end of the conveyor, means to extend the flights at the opposite end of the conveyor, and guard means along said sections for housing the collapsed flights.

49. In a loader conveyor the combination of a plurality of horizontally movable vertically pivoted sections, each of said sections including a platform, an endless chain, means mounting the endless chain for horizontal operation over all of said latforms of the sections, and flights carried y the chain operable over the platforms of said sections.

50. In a loader conveyor the combination of a plurality of elongated plates, and an endless flight carrying conveyor chain connected upon said plates for movement in a defined path and including universally pivl 51. In a portable conveyor a horizontall extending elongated plate, an endless dra t element com rising horizontally spaced advancing an returning sections traveling along said plate, horizontally extending pivotally mounted material engaging devices on the advancing section of said draft element, means to swing said material engaging devices upwardly on the returning section of saidy draft element, a vertically extending housing for the material engaging devices on said returning section, sald housing being mounted nn said plate, and cover means removably supportable at one end by said housing in inclined position above and free of said horizontally extending material engagin devices.

52. n a system for removing coal from a mine Working, an elongated conveyor comprising a horizontal plate having an unobstructed edge and an upwardly extending housing portion spaced from said edge, an endless draft element having advancing and returning sections traveling over said plate in a substantially horizontal orbit, material engaging iights pivoted to said draft element on axes parallel to the longitudinal lines of the draft element, the fli hts on the advancing section extending 4su stantially horizontally over said plate intermediate said unobstructed edge and said housing portion, means for swinging the flights on the returning section upwardly for shielded travel within said housing portion, said convelyor being adapted to be disposed in spaced re ation to and along a mine wall with its exposed edge faced toward said wall, a series of strips inclined upwardly transversely of said plate over and free of said horizontally extending iights and supported at their u per ends by said housing ortion when t e conveyor is disposed along t e minewall, said strips forming a lateral confinin wall for the disrupted coal upon the brea ing down of an increment from the mine wall and serving to shield said horizontally extending flights from such disrupted material, said strips being removable to release the disrupted material radually to the conveyor for removal thereby.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

NILS D. LEVIN.

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