US1864841A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1932. F. A, LINDGREN MINTNG MACHINE Original' Filed Deo. 3l. 1926 5 4Sheets-Sheet l im i w10 MMR www June Z8, 1932. F. A. LINDGRx-:N

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 3l. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NY. NNl

N .www

June 28, 1932. |=.A AI LIN'DGREN 1,864,841

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Deo. 51. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www? Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE i y FRANK A..LINDGREN, F WESTERN SERINGS, ILLINIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN U- 'i FACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS MINING :MACHINE Application filed December 31, 1926, Serial No. 158,290. Renewed September 10, 1931.

This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to truck mounted machines constructed along lin-es similar to the breast type of mining machine adapted to make vertical or shearing cuts in the mine wall instead of the usual horizontal cuts.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a new and improved machine of'the class described having the complete driving and cutting mechanism movable in a frame forfeeding a cutter bar into the face of the material to be mined, which frame is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at the rear end of a truck frame, and elevating means adapted to engage the forward end of said first mentioned frame so as to move the same about said hori-` zontal axis and adjust the cutter bar to a desired height and move said cutter bar about said horizontal axis vfor cutting a vertical korf in the face of the mine wall. Other .0bjects of my invention will appearfrom time to time during the course of the following description.

My invention may be more clearly understood with .reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan View of the machine with parts broken away and in section to show a portion of the gearing arrangement;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine with the cutting element in position for transporting;

Figure 3 is a partial side view of the rear end of the machine with parts broken away and in section to show the gearing and driving arrangement;

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the detachable drive connect-ion from the motor to the elevating mechanism for 4the cutting element;

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of the front end of the stationary frame taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is asectional view through the elevating drive shaft taken on line 6 6 of Figure giand l Y I Figure 7 is a plan view of the forward end of the machine with parts Yofthe elevating mechanism shown insection.

Referringnowin particular to the embodiment of my invention asillustrated'in ftheaccompanying drawings, VI .have provided a vertical cutting element reciprocably movable in a guide frame generally indicated at 'l The cutting mechanism herein shownv isk similar to that used on the ordinary commercial type of breast machine but is'adapted to cut in a vertical plane instead of a horizontal plane. Said cutting mechanism comprises a reciprocably movable triangular shaped cutter bar having an endless cutter chain 21 thereon driven by suitable gear reduction mechanism from a motor secured to a supporting' frame 12. The supporting frame 12 supports the feeding and cutterA chain drive gearing and is slidable in the guide frame 11. The rearward end of the cutter bar 2O is supported on the supporting frame l2 and has slidablel connection with the vertically Vadjustable support at its forward end.

Reciprocable movement of the cutterbar- 2() and the frame l2 is obtained by sprockets 2, 2 which mesh with racks 3, 3, on the top and bottom sides of the stationary guide frame 1l. Said sprockets are driven by the motor 25 at one speed in one direction and at" a diherentspeed in the opposite direction by suitable gear'reduction mechanism whichV is as follows: l Y Y A motor pinion 26 meshes with and drivesa gear 27 which is fixed to the hub of a bevel pinion 28 and drives said Abevel pinion. The bevel pinion 28 meshes with a bevel gear 4 on a transversely extending shaft 5 and 'drives a worm 6 keyed to said shaft. The worm`6 meshes with and` drives a worm gear 7 keyed to an` upright shaft 8 (see Fig. 3'). A sleeve 9 is freely mounted on said shaft. Said sleeve has clutch jaws 9a at its lower end and a spur pinion 9b at its upper end. f The spur pinion Qin turn meshes with an internal 'gear 18 keyed to a shaft 14 to rotate said shaft and on a transversely extending the sprockets 2, 2 on the shaft 14 when operatively connected to the shaft 8. The spur pinion 9b is operatively connected to the shaft 8 through a clutch member 18 feathered to said shaft having jaws 18a, engageable with the jaws 9a on the sleeve 9 to drive said sleeve. The clutch member 18 also has jaws 18?) at its lower end engageable with jaws 19a on a gear 19 freely mounted on the shaft 8 to drive said gear and the shaft 14 through a spur pinion 22 in an opposite direction to and at a faster speed than the spur pinion 9b.

Shifting means of a well known type controlled by a lever 23 pivoted to the supporting frame 12 at 23a are provided to shift the clutch member 18. The lever 23 may be actuated by a hand lever`24 or may be automatically shifted in the usual manner employed on breast machines, that is, by stops provided at the forward and rearward portions of the guide frame 11 to engage the lever 23 at the extreme end of the forward and rearward movement of the cutting mechanism to reverse the direction of travel of the cutting mechanism during its forward movementJ and return it at a faster speed than the sumping speed, and to stop rearward movement of said cutting mechanism. These stops are not shown since this shifting means is well known to the art and forms no part of my present invention.

A sprocket 29 keyed to the shaft 5 meshes with the cutter chain 21 and drives said chain inv guides about the cutter bar 2O in a usual manner.

It may be seen that pivotal movement of the guide frame 11 about its axis of pivotal support with the wheeled truck 10, which axis is rearward of the rearwardmost truck wheels, effected by the vertically adjustable support 30 forwardly of the forwardmost.

truckY wheels effects vertical movement of the cutter bar 20'. Thus in sumping the cutter bar 20 into the face of the mine wall the cutting mechanism is moved forwardly in the guide frame 11 with the top portion of the cutter bar 2O adjacent the mine roof for cutting a vertical kerf. When the cutter bar 2O has been moved into the coal to the desired depth it is lowered by means of the yadjustable supportv 30 until the forward end thereof is adjacent the mine floor when it is withdrawn from the coal along the guide frame l1.

The guide frame 11 extends longitudinally of the machine and is supported at the rear end thereof'by a vertical member 15 secured to and extending rearwardly therefrom and pivotally supported adjacent its lower end shaft 16. The transversely extending shaft 16 is supported intermediate a pair of bearings 17 secured on opposite sides of the wheeled truck 10 adjacent the rearward endthereof and rearwardly of the rearwardmost truck supporting wheels.

The raising or lowering mechanism for the cutting element will now be described as follows:

The vertically adjustable support 30 is disposed at the forward end of the wheeled truck 10 forwardly of the forwardmost truck wheels for moving the guide frame l1 about the axis of the transversely extending shaft 16.

A pair of arm supports 3l. are integral with and extend forwardly from the guide frame 11 and have connection with the vertically adjustable support 30 for movement with respect thereto in rack members 46, 46 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7).

A support member 32 is formed-between the forwardly extending arm supports 31 integralwith the guide frame 11 at one side of the cutter bar 20. The support member 32 has a restricted portion which extends through the cutter bar 20 and Yhas a support member 32o; formed integral therewith on the opposite side of said cutter bar. Guide grooves 39 are formed in the top and bottom portions of the restricted portion of the support member 32 and form a slidable support for the cutter bar 20. rIhe guide grooves 39 are engaged by a transversely disposed slot 40 extending longitudinally of the cutter bar 2O as may clearly be seen with reference to Figures 2 and 6. A bearing disc 33 is secured to the outside of the support member 32 and extends outwardly therefrom while a bearing disc 33a is secured at the outside of the support member 32a. The bearing discs 33 and 33a form a bearing support for a transversely disposed drive shaft 34 extending through the support membersy 32 and 32a and having pinions 45 keyed thereon adjacent the outer sides of the bearing discs 32 and 32a, which pinions are adapted to mesh with the rack members 46, 46 in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described for moving the vertically adjustable support member 30 along said rack members. 'i

Means are provided for driving the drive shaft 34 and the pinions 45 for moving the vertically adjustable support 30 along the racks 46 or holding said support in fixed rela- Y tion with respect to said racks which comprise a worm gear 35 keyed to one 'end of the drive shaft 34 and driven by a worm 36 integral with a shaft 37. The shaft 37 has a bearing support at its ends in a gear housing 38 integral with and extending outwardly from the bearing support 33, The shaft 37 is operatively connected to the Cutter chain and feed drive mechanism so it may be driven from the motor 25 in a manner which will hereinafterV be more fully described.

The worm gearing above described is of the self-locking type'for holding the adjustable support 30 in fixed relation with respect to the racks 46 when desired and is driven their ends.

from the motor 25 in a manner whichwill hereinafter be described. f

The racks 46 are secured to bracket members 47 disposed on shafts 48 intermediate The shafts 48 are supported at their ends on bearing members 49 secured to the forward end of the truck frame 1Q for affording hinged or pivotal movement to the rack members 46 about a transversely disposed axis, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Rack guides 50 are formed integral with the bearing discs 33 and extend about said racks and engageshoulders thereon to hold said racks in Yan'upright position and move` said racks about the axis of the shaft 48 upon movement of the guide frame 11 about the axis of the shaft 16 and so as to maintain the same in proper engagement with the pinions 45. lt will now be seen that through the engagement of the pinions 45 with the hinged racks 46, the complete supporting frame 12, including the cutting element and guide frame 11, may be moved about theaxis of the transversely extending shaft 16 for raising or lowering the cutter bar 20. It should be noted that the pivotal support of the racks 46 on the wheeled truck 10 permits the pinions 45 to mesh with said racks when the supporting frame 12 is beinfr moved about the axis ofr the shaft 16 and eliminates binding between said pinions and racks due to the arcuate movement of the shaft 34 about the axis of the transversely extending shaft 16.

The elevating mechanism as above described may be operated by an independent motor, but as herein shown is operated by the motor 25 which also drivesthe cutting mechanism. Said motor is mounted on the rear end of the supporting frame 12, and is provided with an armature shaft 55 which supports the armature pinion 26 for driving the feeding and cutting mechanism as has hereinbefore been described. The forward end of the armature shaft vhas threaded and pinned thereon a clevis nut 56. A vuniversal knuckle 57 is detachably secured to said clevis nut byV a pin 58. Said knuckle is provided with a pairvof forwardly projecting ears 57 a forming a pivot support for the end of a longitudinally extending sleeve member 59. The sleeve member 59 has telescopically mounted therein a shaft 60 adapted to be rotated thereby by means of a key 61- secured to said shaft, extending through and engaging a slot 62 in said sleeve member. The slot 62 extends longitudinally of the sleeve member 59 so as to permit driving of the. shaft 60 by the sleeve member 59 when said shaft is telescoped relativelyawith respect tosaid sleeve member as is illustrated in ure 4. The forward end of the shaft 60 is provided with an end member 63 pivotally mounted in a clevis bracket 64 which is detachably secured to the worm shaft 37 by a pin 65.

Itl should be noted that for the sake of simplicity in construction, the detachable driving connection for the cutter bar elevating mechanism is herein preferably shown so it may only be operated when the cutterl bar 20 is in a retracted or transporting position as illustrated in Figure 2, but that said driving connection may be so arranged that it may be used to move the cutter bar 20 vertically when said cutter bar is sumped into the coal or is yin a cutting position if desired in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. ln the form shown the detachable drive connection for the elevating mechanism is removed before the cuttingVV element and cutter frame are driven forwardly in the guide frame and when the machine is being transported since no clutch means are provided between said drive connection and the motor 25. Suitable means are provided for operating the elevating mechanism by hand when desired j which herein comprise a hand crank shown in dottedy lines in Figure 1 and referred to by reference character 67, which hand crank is adapted to engage a squared end of the worm shaft 37 for rotating said shaft.

It may now be seen that elevating mechanism has been provided for the cutter bar 2O which is so disposed as to be adjacent thel forward endof the truck 10 and which therefor-e provides a vertically adjustable support for the cutter bar 2() adjacent the face of the coal during the entire cutting operation and that said elevating mechanism vmay be either` operated manually or by means of a suitable motor herein shown as the motor 25 for driving the feed and cutter chain operating mechanism.

Referringy now in particular to the means for moving the complet-e machine about the mine from working place toy 'workingv place: track wheels keyed to axles 71 support the. truck v10 for movement about the mine and are driven by the motor 25 in asimilar man* square shank which fits into a socket 76 in I tra it is only necessary to put the shaft 73 in its proper place meshing the gear .75 with the gear 74 to drive the shaft 73, and that when the machine is performing the cutting oper- "ation it is only necessary to disconnect the gears 74; and 75 and remove the shaft 78.

The use and operation of the machine described is as follows:

The complete machine is transported from room to room, preferably on mine traclrs to expedite operations. The machine is driven perpendicularly to the face of the coal with the elevating mechanism and vertically adjustable support adjacent the face of the d coal. The detachable truck drive connection is disconnected from the motor 25 and the elevating mechanism drive means is operativey connected to said motor so the cutter bar 2O may be raised to the desi 1ed cutting elevation. A jack 85 is interposed between the rearward end of the machine and the mine roof to hold the machine steady during the cutting operation. The cutter bar is then adjusted to tl e desired height which is usually the height of the seam of coal and then sumped into the face of the coal by the pinions 22 meshing with racks 3, 3 preferably for its full length when it is fed in a downwardly direction to make a shearing cut in a usual manner and then withdrawn by said racks and pinions when the cutter bar 2O is raised to an inoperative or transporting position.

Although l have shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be changed or altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

g Moreover, I do not Wish to be construed as limiting` myself to the particular form illustrated, excepting as it may be specifically limited in the appended claims.

l l claim as my invention.

l. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axles having wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pair of said supporting` wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide Y frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower said cutting element.

2. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axles having wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a

guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair of said truclr supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection tQ said truck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a rack extending substantially vertically upwardly from said truck frame, guide means on said guide frame engaging said rack and a pinion supported on said guide frame and meshing with said rack.

3. ln a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axles having wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair of said truclr supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frame about its pivotal axis of connection to said truclr to raise or lower the forward end of said cuttei` bar comprising a rack pivotally connected to said truck frame adjacent the forward end thereof, guide means on said guide frame engaging said rack and holding said rack in a substantially vertical position, and a pinion on said guide frame meshing with said rack for moving said guide frame along said rack upon rotation thereof.

. 4. In a mining machine of the class de scribed, a truck, a pair of axles having wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, andmeans on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frame yabout its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of substantially vertically extending racks on said truck adjacent the forward end thereof and a pair of pinio'ns lon loo said guidel frame 'meshing' with saidl racks for moving said guide frame along said racks upon rotation of said pinions.

V5.- In' a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair'of axles having Wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guidevframe, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutterframe including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of racks pivotally connected to said truck adjacent the forward end thereof and adapted to extend upwardly therefrom, and a pair of pinions on said guide frame meshing with said racks for moving said guide frame along said racks upon rotation of said pinions.

6. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a pair of axles having wheels thereon for supporting said truck, a guide frame pivoted on said truck on a transverse axis rearwardly of the rearwardmost pair of said supporting wheels, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame including a cutter bar having a cutter chain movable thereabout, and means on said truck forwardly of the forwardmost pair of said truck supporting wheels and adjacent the forward portion of said cutter bar when in a retracted position for moving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of racks pivotally connected to said truck frame adjacent the forward end thereof and disposed on each side of said guide frame, guide means on said guide frame engaging said racks and holding said racks in an upstanding position, and a pair of pinions on said guide frame meshing with said racks for moving said guide frame along said racks upon rotation thereof.

7 In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, a guide frame pivotally mounted on a transverse axis at its rearward portion on the rearward end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide frame, a motor on said reciprocating cutter frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame, driving mechanism connectible with said motor for driving said cutting element and reciprocating said cutter frame in said guide guide frame, means on the forward end of` .guide'frame about its pivotal connectionto said main frame and vertically adjusting said cutting element. t 8.v In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, a guide frame pivotally mounted on a transverse axis at its rearward portion on the rearward end of said imain frame, a reciprocating cutter frameV movable in said guide frame, a motor on said reciprocating cutter frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame, driving mechanism connectible with said motor for drivingy said cutting element and reciprocating said cutter framein said guide frame, means on the forward end'of said main frame adjacent the forward portion of said cutter frame when in a retracted yposition cooperating with means on said guide frame for moving saidv guide frame about its pivotal connection `with said main frame, and a telescopic detachably connectible universal coupling yconnecting said motor with said means onf said guide frame for moving said guide frame about its pivotal connection to saidmain frame and vertically adjusting said cutting element.

y 9. In a mining machine, the combination of' a main frame, a guide frame pivotally mounted on a transverse axis at its rearward portion on the rearward end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter frame movable in said guide frame, a motor on said reciprocating cutter frame, a vertically disposed cutting element on said reciprocating cutter frame, driving mechanism connectible with said motor `for driving said cutting element'l and reciprocating said cutter frame in said guide frame, a rack on theforward'end` Vof said main frame adjacentthe forward 'portion of said cutter frame when in a retracted position, a pinion on said guidek frame cof operating with said rack for moving said guide frame about its pivotal connection with said main frame, and power means for driving said pinion whereby said cutting element may be vertically adjusted about said axis of pivotal connection of said guide frame to said main frame. a

10. In a mining machinerof the class de` scribed, a truck, a guide frame having a transverse pivotal connection with the rearward portion of said truck, a vertically disposed cutting element mounted. for reciprocable movement in said guide frame, a motor, drive means connectible with said motor for imparting vreciprocable movement to said cutting element, elevating means comprising a rack truniiioned on the forward end of said truck having connection with said pivotally mounted guide frame for moving said guide frame about its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower said cutting element, and power means connectible with said motor and said elevating means comprising a longitudinally extending telescoping drive member for operating said elevating means.

11. In a mining machine of the class described, a truck, a guide frame having a transverse pivotal connection with the rearward vportion of said truck, a vertically disposed cutting element mounted for reciprocable movement in said guide frame, a motor, drive means connectible with said motor for imparting reciprocable movement to said cutting element, a plurality of racks trunnioned on the forward end of said truck, guide means on said guide frame slidably connectible with said racks for holding said racks in an upright position, pinions on said guide frame having engagement with said racks, and a driving connection from said motor to said pinion whereby said guide frame may be moved about its axis of pivotal connection to said truck to raise or lower said cutting element.

12. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame mounted on supporting wheels and axles, a guide fra-ine pivotally mounted at the rear end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter frame provided with f a motor, driving mechanism operated by said motor, a forwardly extending cutting element having engagement with said driving mechanism, elevating means carried at the forward end of said machine comprising a detachably connectible longitudinally eX- tending telescopiiig drive member operated by said motor and driving a worm disposed in a housing supported in the forward end of said guide frame, said worm being meshed with a worm gear mounted on a transversely disposed drive shaft, a pair of pinions car-V ried on said shaft adapted to have engagement with a pair of vertically disposed racks hingedly secured to the forward end of said main frame.

13. In a truck mounted mining machine provided with supporting wheels and axles therefor, the combination of a main frame, a guide frame pivotally mounted at the rear end of said main frame, a reciprocating cutter frame provided with a. motor, driving mechanism operated by said motor, a vertically disposed cutting element having engagement with said driving mechanism, said driving mechanism being adapted to drive said cutter frame and cutting element either forwardly o-r rearwardly in said guide frame, means on said main and guide frames for elevating the forward end of said guide frame thereby coincidentally elevating said cutter frame and cutting element, detachably connectible driving connections between said elevating means and' said motor, and truck driving mechanism carried on said main frame being detachably connectible withvsaid ico ' ies

Images