US1824965A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1931. c, 05 000 1,824,965

MINING MACHINE I Original Filed Feb.- 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jun/Enron: CHfiRLEs 505 000. 4M

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 19, 1930 0 0 5 3 o o o 0 r o o o o MW M 0 WI 2? a 5 W Z fig a i w Z: :I H Mm my 4 Q m 3 w H 1 7 .a J L 5 m 1 m n v 8 I t. 5 w 3 W u 2 Mm l/ w 6 w Patented Sept. 29, 1931 CHARLES E. oseooi); or eslsenera wi nemrsrrmn, AssIGNoa'ro sntnrvm MAQHINERY coursing-A poRPOItAIIonpF MASSACHUSETTS. I

litmus mnonriv n' Applieation- 1me ;1=ebruary' 19,19so,' Serial naczaesa- Renewed eunue1, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines and moreparticularly has reference to improved flexible feeding means for a coalminin machine of the continuous C5 115 cutter,

bottom. cutting type. H e

An object of thisinvention is to provide an improved coal mining'machi'neland more particularly improved 1 feeding; means 1 for such a machine. Another object is to pro- .10 vide an. improved'mining machine ofnthe flexibly fed, continuous cutter,,bottom cutting type which isextremely lowinheight, especially-adapted to .use in lowvein work. A furtherobject of this invention. is to provide an improved miningmachine of the flexibly fed room and'pillar typer Another object of this invention is to provide an improved mining machine of the aforesaid character having improved; feeding and guiding mechanism and. more particularly improved feeding and guiding means for a room and pillar typewof mining machine whereby the machine may be ,fed andcontrolled in a more facile and expeditiousmane5 ner. 'A further object is to provideanimproved mining machine ofwthe room and pillar, iowvein type having improved feeding and guiding mechanism whereinseparate relatively rotatable, power operated and controlled feed, operating and controlling members respectively cooperating with separate flexible feeding elements are employed for feeding and guiding the: machine. for

sliding movementover the mine bottom, the said members andjthe dnvmgnmchamsm therefor being arranged, in .an improved manner on the ;machine -whereby-the machine is rendered extremely compact ver tically. Another object is gtQ -provi desin a flexible feeding means of the aforesaid character. improved driving and ;=control ling means for the feed operating and controlling members whereby the latter may be separately or simultaneously driven in a direction to draw :in theirrespective flexible feeding elements at relatively low speed or at relatively highspeedland having incorporated therein improved control mechanism wherebythe said members may rotate in a direction to pay out .theirrr'espective flexible feedingelements undervarious degrees of operator-controlled jflll'r tional resistance .or without-such resistance as conditions may require. A further object is to providein such a feeding-meansimproved mechanism including a fast'and slow speed. gear trainforeach member through which it, but not the other membenisidriven and means for connecting each member to either of its gear trains wherebyisaid members may be rotated independently in winding cli-rection at either. a relatively high speed or a relatively low speed, eachgear train rfor each member-having a separate friction controlling clutch wherebyeither member maybe driven at either speedcat will. These and other objects ancladvantagesjof this invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. 1

in .the accompanying drawings there is shownfor. purposes of illustration one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice. V Inthese drawings e Fig. 1 isa planview of the illustrative embodiment of the improved mining. machine. r Fig. ,2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view; of the feeding end of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the top cover plate being removed and parts shown in horizontal section to illustrate: structural details. 1. Fig. .3 is a transverselvertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.-. g'- ing vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2. v I

. ;F ig.v5is adetail sectional view illustratr ing the central bearing-support for one of the winding drums.

; Fig.1,6-isa detail sectional view illustrating the resilient pivotal mountingfor the clutch ipper In this illustrative embodiment of the-invention the improved flexible feeding means is shown embodied in a coal mining. machine of the continuous cutter; bottom cutting,

room and. pillar type although it will been:-

dent; that the various novel features of the 109 d is central longitudinally extend-.

2 upon which the machine is slidably, sup-.

ported for movement overthe mine bottom. A's 1911511211 in IDIIIIIIg III ELChIIIQS of the room cutter ba r 3" supporting on its margin an endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain 4. Arranged at the rear end of. the machine at opposite sides of the longitudinal median line thereof are relatively rotatable feed operating and controllingmembers 6 and 7 herein in the form of cable winding or haulage drums with which feeding andcontrol:

ling ' cables 8 and 9 respectively cooperate.-

'As illustrated, carried by the machine frame is a centrally located motor 10, which may be of reversible electric type, of a low compact'design having its power shaft 11' horizontally disposed and extending longitudi 'nally of the machine. ,The cutter chain4 is 'operatively connected to the front end of the motor shaft through'any suitable transmission means, which may be, of the same general character asthat disclosedin a copending application to one Morris P. Holmes, Ser. No. 136,446, filed Sept; 20, 1926. The feed operating andcontrolling drums'6 and 7 are disposed on parallel ver tical axes in a'novel manner and are operatively connected to the rear end of 'the motor shaft through improved transmission meanst'o be hereinafter described. If 'desired, the feed cablesmay be extended directlyfrom the feed drums during the feeding of th'e machine but-in the present instance there areprovided at the opposite rear corners of the -machine frame on upstanding axes, guiding sheaves 12 and 13. A central guide sheave 14 is also provided while arranged at'the opposite sides of'the front end of the 'machine frame are guide sheaves 15 and 16. Thefeeding and controlling cables 8 and 9, afterfpassing around any preferred guide sheaves, may be'extended in any preferred direction from the machine and attached to suitably positioned anchors in the manner 5,; which is well understood in the mining machine art.

[ N ow referring to the improved feeding mechanism and more particularly to the improved transmission means between the motor and the feed; and controlling drums, it

will'be' noted that" secured to the rear end of the'motor shaft 11 is a spur pinion 17 meshing with spur gears 18 and 19 journaled on horizontalstub shafts 20 fixed within the machine frame and arranged respectively.

parallel with the motor shaft. These spur gears l8, 19 mesh with an internal gear 21 keyed, as shown in Fig. 4, to a horizontal longitudinally extending shaft 22 suitably journaled within the machine frame. The axis of this shaft lies in a longitudinally extending vertical plane including the motor axis. Fixed to the shaft 22 is a spur gear 23 meshing with a spur gear 24 keyed to a *horizontalshaft 25 arranged parallel with, and pillar type','ri'gidly se'curedwithin the machine frame and projecting forwardly lengthwise thereof is an elongated plane 23 and 24 are change speed gears and may be removed and replaced with gears having a different tooth ratio so that differently related predetermined feeding speeds may be obtained. Herein, keyed to the shafts 22 and 25 respectively are worms 26 and 27 the Worm 26 having teeth of steeper lead and oppositely inclined from the teeth of the worm 27; However, since the shafts 22 and 25 rotate in opposite directions the worms effect drive in the same direction although at different speeds. A fast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism is provided between the worms 26, 27 and each of the winding drums and as the structure of each of these transmission mechanisms is substantially identical the description of one will-suffice for both. Now referring to the fast and slowpredetermined speed driving mechanism between the worms and the'winding drum-6, it will-be observed that meshing with the worm 26 is a fast speed worm wheel 28 while meshing with the worm 27 is a slow speed worm wheel 29, these worm wheels being coaxially arranged on a vertically extendingaxis parallel'with the drum axis. These worm Wheels are' suitably journaled within the machine frame and are arran ed in an extremely compact manner there y reducing the vertical dimension of the feeding mechanism so that the height of the machine is determined by the vertical dimension of the motor 10. J ournaled within bearings supported by the hubs of the worm wheels 28, 29 is a vertical shaft 30 and the worm wheels are"selectively connectible to the shaft by means of multiple disc clutches 31 and 32 Keyed to the lower end of the vertical shaft 30 is a spur pinion meshing with the teeth of an'internal gear 34 herein formed integrally with the winding drum. It will thus be seen that when friction clutch 31'is applied and clutch 32 released, the winding drum 6 may be driven in winding direction at a relatively high speed through gearing 17, 18, 19, 21, shaft 22, worm gearing 26, 28, shaft 30, and the spur pinion 33 meshing with the internal gear-34 secured to the drum. It will also be seen that when clutch 31 is released and clutch 32 applied the winding drum 6 may V worm wheels 35 and 36 meshing with the mamas be r driven in winding-direction at' a relatively I slow i speed through the reduction gearing 23, 24 and worm gearing 27, 29. As previously mentioned a the, transmission mechanism for the winding drum 7- is sub-' stantially identical to that for the winding drum 6' and includes fast and slow speed worms 26 and 27 respectively'and connectible by similar multiple disc clutches 37 and 38 in driving relation with the winding drum 7. When one orthe other of the frietion clutches 37, 38 is applied and the other released the winding drum-7 may be rotated in winding direction at either a relatively high speed or a relatively :low speed," depending upon which one of the clutches is connected from their. drive, for instance when it is desired to unwind the feed cables from the-drumsby hand. Such clutches are.

usual in miningmachines of the type disclosed and as they do not :specificallyenter into this invention illustration ofthe same is thought to be unnecessary. i

The operating 'means for the friction clutches 31 and'32 within theworm wheels 28, 29 respectively herein comprises a shipper yoke 40 pivoted atl. on the machineframe and equipped with rollers 42 'engageable with the opposed plane surfaces of cylindrical pressure plates 43 and 44 for the clutches respectively. vEach of these plates has projections. extending into engagement with the adjacent end disc of the clutch. The arm 150f the shipper yoke is bifurcated at 46 and straddles a vertical bolt 47 thread edly connected at 48 within the machine frame. The bifurcated portion of the shipper yoke engages transverse plates yieldably connected together and forming a resilient pivotal mountingv for the shipper yoke. Upon overloadof either of the clutches this pivotal mounting is adapted to yield, permitting the clutch to slipand eliminating the possibility of. breakage of the feed driving parts. The means for swinging the shipper yoke about its pivot comprises a :shaft 49 rotatably mounted withinsuitable bear ings carried by the machine frame and having an eccentric portion 50 ivotally connected to the shipper yoke; ecured to the outer end of'the shaft 49 is an operating handle 51 convenientlylocated at the rear endof the machine; It wil-lbe thus seen that when the handleol is rotated in one'dii-ection' or the other the shipper yoke 40. is swung upwardly tor downwardly about its pivot to-apply either'theclutch '31 or the clutch 32. The parts are-so arranged that'it is impossible to eflect simultaneous application of the clutches, one "clutch always being released when theiother" is applied.

Similar operating mechanism including-a pivoted shipper yoke 52, operatingshaft 53 and operating handle 5* is employed for controlling the friction clutches 37 v and 38 of the drive for the winding drum 7. i

Each of the drums 6 and 7*isjournaled upon the machineframeina similar manner and,'as shown in'Figfifthe winding drum 6 is provided with a hub portion 55 rotatably suplported on'ball bearings 56 within the mac ine frame. A spacing sleeve 57 and a central holding bolt '58 are provided for maintaining the drum bearings in proper spaced relation. As shown inFig. 3,'-the drums 6 and 7 are arranged within ashamber 59 extending transversely completely across the lower -portion of the machine 'frame 'so that the feedhables maybe ex tended from themachine in various directions. i

The mining machine is adapted to'be supported on a self-propelled transport truck during movement thereof about the mine and mechanism is provided on the machine for driving the truckwheels. This truck driving mechanism includes;an'eXtensionGO on the shaft 221 having keyed thereto on its reduced end a cylindrical truck driving member 61 journaled within a bore 62 formed within the machine frame. This member 61 is provided with a central polygonal socket 63 which is adapted 1 to receive a'similarly shaped member on the truck. When the machine is mounted on the truck with the member filin' driving relation with the truck member, the truck wheels may be driven from the motor 10 through gears-17, 18, 19, 21, shaft 22; shaftextension 60 and the truck driving member 61 on-the' machi-ne.= Various modes of operation of the improved ma- V chine will be clearly apparent to those skilled, in the art and as the methodof-use of a room and pillar mining machine is well known further description of the operation of the machine is thought unnecessary I As a result of this improved construction it will be observedtha't an extremely low, com aratively short, compact machine is pro need and one which is accordingly ada ted tense in even the lowest commercial y workable veins of coal. Furthermore this improved copstruction enables anextremely compact machine to be obtained wherein the lengththereof is reducedto a minimum,.the improved feed mechanism and the novelcompact arrangement offthe drivl lling gears and'feeddrumSQon'theimachine reducing the dimensionsjof'the. machine to a minimum. Furthermore .byarranging the feed and controlling drums in: the .novel manner disclosed andwby providingthe improved arrangement of; theitransmission mechanism for driving the drums. the machine is notonly renderedextremely. compact, but is also exceedingly flexible inoperation and easy to handle especiallyduring the various maneuvering of theniachine to position the same toieflect its suniping, transverse, and withdrawal .cu'ts in' accordance with the room and pillar system-of mining. It, will also be noted that the improved feed ing mechanism is extremely well balanced and symmetrical in design,-- the driving mechanismsfor the drums beingwubstantially identical in construction,.thereby re ducing the number of different parts -.wi th the resultant decreasein the-cost of manufacture and replacement. These and other uses and advantages of'the improved mining machine will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. v I VVhilethere; is in this; application specifically'described'one form which-the invention may assume in practice, it will be-understood that this form of the same is shown forpurposesof illustration and thatthe invention may be modified and embodied in various other: forms without departing from. its spirit or .the scope o f-the. appended claims. What I claim as new and desire towsecure by Letters Patent is:'- a

1. A mining machinefeeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members. each disposed on ,avertical axis and adapted tocooperate directly with flexible feedingmeans, and motor ;-operated driving means for 'said. members including a plural predetermined speed 1 transmission mechanism for each, member through :which it, but not the other-member, is driven, each transmission; niechanisnrf including .a fast predetermined speed-gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear-train and .a= friction controlling clutch foreachtrain. for connecting said trains f driving. relation with theirirespective members. I

2. A mining machln'e feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding menibers each disposed 0n.a ..'.vertical;axis and adapted to cooperate directly. with flexible feeding means-,and motor operated driving means for said members-including,1a plural predetermined speed transmission: mecha nism for each member through ;Wl1l Cl1;i f,'-'b11t not theot-her member, is driven. for rotating said members ina direction to draw-intheir respective feeding means either separately orsimultaneously, each. rtransmission' mechanism including a fast'predeterm'inedspeed gear train and a slow predetermined :speed gear train and afriction controlling clutch ously in. a; direction to drawin fdr-eachitraiiifor connecting said trains in driving relationwith their respective members. Y

3-. A mining machine feeding; mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding membBfS jQflCll disposed on.a;vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding-means, and motor operated drivin means for. said. membersincluding a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanismfor each member through which it, but not the other-member, is driven for rotating said members either separately or simultaneouslyin a direction to draw in their respectivefeeding means, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear train and a friction controlling clutch for each train for connecting said trains in driving relation withtheir respective mem bers and for permitting said members to rotate in a direction to pay out their respective flexible feeding means under various degrees of frictional resistance.

auAminingmachine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding mem bers;.each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted, to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means-for said. members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for; each member'through which it, but not the. other member,

is driven for rotating saidmembers either separately or simultanetheir respective feeding means, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed geartrain and a slow predetermined speed gear train anda friction controlling clutch forseachltrain for connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective members,.for permitting said members to rotate in a. direction to pay out their respective flexible feeding means under various degrees of frictional resistance, or without such resistance.

5. A,mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members: each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism' for each member through which it, but

not: theother member, is driven, said transmission mechanisms each including separate fast" and slow predetermined speed worm gear trains, one gear tram being inoperative to-drive its respective member while the other gear train is connected in driving relation' with itsniember.

6. A mining machine feeding mechanism including'relatively rotatable feeding mem-.

'bers each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly with flexible of said feeding member's;

feeding means, and motor. 0 erated drivin means for. said members inc uding a plum predetermined speed transmission. mechanism for eachmember throughwhich it, but not the other member, is driven saidtrans mission mechanisms each includlng separate fast and slow predetermined speed gear trains, one gear train being inoperative to drive its respective memberwhile the other gear train is connectedin drivingarelation clutches for alternatively connecting. said gear trains vin driving relatiomwith their respective members.

7. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feedingmem-; bers each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a fast and slow predeterminedspeed-{gear train for each member through which it,- but not the other member, is driven, all of the gears of said gear trains rotating on fixed axes during drive at either'speed-*and thefinal gears of said trains being'arran'ged onvertical axes. 8. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding membersdisposed on vertical axes and eachadapted to cooperatedirectly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members-including a fast and slow predetermined speed gear train foreach member through which it, but not the other feeding member, is driven, all'of thegears of said gear trains rotatingonfixed axes during drive at either speed {and the final gears of said trains being'arranged'onaxes'parallelto a line'p'ara'llel withjtheaxes 9. A mining mach'ne feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding jme'mbers rotating on vertical axes and each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible" feeding means, andmotor operated driving means for said members including'fast and slovv predetermined speed gear 3 trains for each member through which it, but notthe other member, is driven and control"clutches for each train for rotating said members in a direction to draw; in their respective flex: 1ble feeding means at a relatively fast 'or;

a relatively slow speed. 10. A mining machine feedingmechanism I including relatively rotatable feeding mem-' bers rotating on vertical axes and each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and-motor operated driving; means for said members including fast and.

' 7 slow predetermined speed gear trains for each member through which it, but "not the other member, is driven and control clutches for each train for rotating said members in a direction to draw in their respective' flexible feeding meanest a relativelyfast other member, is drivenfand control clutches a direction to draw in their respectiveflexe ible feeding meansat arelatively fast for a relatively slow speed, to permit said ;mTem'-i bers to. rotate in a direction. to pay: out their respective feeding means :under 7 varioiisde- 23 such resistance.

' 12. Amining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding meme.

bers each adap'tedto cooperate directly with; flexible feeding means. and disposed: on 'ver: tical axes, and *motor operated" drivingi means for said members including aizfastg and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which:

it, but not the other member, is "driven, all

of the gears of said transmission mechanisms rotating on fixedaxes during drive at either speed. 18. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding memf. bers each adapted to cooperate directly: vvith.'* flexible feeding 'means and disposed on verfor saidmembers including a fast and-slow; predetermined; peed transmisslon mechag gears I of 1 said transmission mechanisms J ro-f tating on fixed axes during drive at either' speed and each transmission mechanism in-' eluding; a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear" train. Q ,Q f

"14. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feedingmein bers each adapted to cooperate directly flexible feeding means and disposed on ye l tical' axes, and motor o'pera'ted driving means for said members including 'a fast and sl'ovv predetermined speed transmission 'mecha nism for each member through: vvhichit, but. nottheother member, is: driven, all of the. gears of said. transmission ,n1echan1sms zro= tating onffixed axes during drive at either speed andeach transmission mechanismlna. eluding a fast predetermined 'speedr gea r;

train and a slow predetermined speed: gear train and controlling: clutches one individre'es of frictional resistance or .ivithout? i 1 for each train for rotating said: members in:

tical axea and motor operated driving meansfl nectin said gear trains in driving relation with t e1r-respect1ve members.

'15. A mimng machine feeding mechamsm including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means therefore mcludmg a fast and slow predetermined speed transmission H mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear train and each gear train havinga final gear individual flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means therefor including afa'st and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including :.a fast predetermined speed gear train and :a' slow' predetermined speed gear train and'each gear train having 'a final gear individual f thereto and rotatable about a vertical'axis .at the respective predetermined terminal speed of the train and friction controlling clutches, one individual to each terminal gear, for selectively connecting said terminal gears in driving'relation with their respective'membersm i v1'7. mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding, mem

bers each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operatedv driving means therefor includingza-V- fast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism. for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined gear-train and a slow pre-- determined gear train, the gear-trains for final gears respeceach member including tively individual thereto and rotatable about a vertical axis at the, respective predeten mined speeds of the trains and" in coaxial relation. T i c 18. A m1n1ng machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding mem- V bers each adapted to cooperate directly'with' flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means therefor including a fast and slow predetermined "speed transmission mechanism for each memberthrough which i it, but not the othermember, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear-train and a slow predetermined speed gear train, said gear trains including a fast speed worm and a slow speed worm andfsaid fastiand slow speed worms rotating on" parallel 1ongitudin ally extending axes and being so disposed that a vertical plane to which their axes are-perpendicular cuts both of said worms. ,I

I 19. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted tocooperate directly with flexible feeding-means, and motor operated driving means therefor including a fast and slow vpredetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through vwhich it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear train, said gear trains of each transmission mechanism including a fast speed worm and a slow speed wor'm,-said worms rotating on parallel longitudinally extending axes, and worm wheels meshingwith each worm,vsaid worm wheels, in each of said fast and slow speed trans- -mission mechanisms, being coaxial, and the axis of Worm wheelrotation of said different fast and slow speed transmissions being parallel.

20. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means,=and motor operated driving meanstherefor including a fast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and, a slow predetermined speed gear train, said gear trainspfeach transmission mechanism including a;fast speed worm anda slow speed Worm, said Worms rotating on parallel 1ongitudinally extending axes, worm wheels meshing witheach worm, said worm wheels, in' -each .of said fast and slow speed transmission me chanisms, being coaxial, and the axe'sof worm wheel rotation of said different fastland slow-speedtransmissions being parallel, and vcontrolling clutches for con nectingsaid worm wheels in driving relation with their respective members.

, 21. A mining-machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members;;each disposed on avertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding: means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism .for'each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission"mechanismv including a fast predeterminedspeed gear train-and a slow predeterminedispeedgear train, and clutch devices for --selective1y "connecting either train in driving 'relationwith their respective feeding member.

i 22. mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly with flexible each gear train, for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding member. 7

23. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly withflexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, said transmission mechanisms being arranged generally on vertical axes and each including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear train, and clutch devices for selectivelyconnecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members. I

24. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, said transmission mechanisms being arranged generally on vertical axes and, each including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear train, and a plurality of clutch devices, one individual to each gear train, for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members.

25. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed gear train and a slow predetermined speed gear train and each gear train including a final gear individual thereto and rotating on a vertical axis at the respective predetermined terminal speed of the train, and a plurality of clutches, one individual to each gear train, for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members.

26. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each disposed on a vertical axis and adaptedto cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a plural predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member, through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including fast and slow predetermined speed gear trains, all of the gears of said gear trains rotating on fixed axes during drive at either speed. 27. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each disposed on a vertical axis and adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a fast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed worm gear train and a slow predetermined speed worm gear train, and clutches for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members.

28. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a fast and slow predetermined speed transmission mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other member, is

driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed worm gear train and a slow predetermined speed worm gear train, each of said trains including a worm wheel individual thereto and rotating abouta vertical axis, and clutches for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members.

29. A mining machine feeding mechanism including relatively rotatable feeding members each adapted to cooperate directly with flexible feeding means, and motor operated driving means for said members including a fast and slow predetermined speed transmis sion mechanism for each member through which it, but not the other. member, is driven, each transmission mechanism including a fast predetermined speed worm gear train and a slow predetermined speed worm gear train, the trains for driving each of said feeding members including worm' wheels rotating about vertical axes and Worms rotating on parallel longitudinally extending axes and meshing with said worm wheels respectively, and clutches for selectively connecting said trains in driving relation with their respective feeding members;

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

. CHARLES F. OSGOOD.

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