US1902446A - Mining apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1933. M. P. HOLMES MINING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7. 1929 y@ @2 by@ @alf -N n A d Q f W\ www., I mw m w N NQ- S@ mw Ww w Y d. A

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A@ @Mmwxm ed bodiment Patented Mar. 21, 1933 J iiiionnfrs r.. HoLMEs, or CLAREMONT, .NEW HAMrsniniii,A AssiGNon To 'SULLIVAN` i MACHINERY COMPANY, A conroRnTIoN or--iirAssAcnUsErTsrl MINING APPARATUS n applicati@ mea February 7, i929',l serial Nafeaa'ase. j

"This invention relates to mining' apparatus and-'more particularly, but notexclusively, pertains to coal mining apparatus of the Wheelvmounted bottom. cutter type adapted 5 tofoperate from the mine trackway. Anr'object 4o thisinvention is'to provide ani improved coal mining apparatus of the wheel mounted bottom cutter type having a pivotally mountedcutter bar and improved means for adjusting and swinging the cutter bar whereby the bottom 'of the kerf out therebymay forma continuation of the plane of the-mine bottom. Another object is to provide in a mining apparatus of theaforesaid n 5 typev improved automatic `bar swinging means whereby the angle'of the cutter bar relative to 'its pivotal support is; changed automatically as the .cutter bar isV swung from one side of the vmine trackwayto the other.l

29 A further object iseto provide an improved bott'om'cutting coal-mining machine of the pivoted cutter bar type having an improved adjustable pivotal mounting whereby the pivotal axis ot" the cutter bar may be posi- '0 tioned outside the mine trackway toenable the vbar, to cut on the mine bottom and also; including means for changing automatically the angle of the cutter bar relative toits pivotal mounting asthe cutter bar is swiuig b9 transversely across the end of the trackway.l

Yet another object is to provide improved;

means in a mining apparatus of the aforesaid type whereby the cutter bar, .as thesameis moved Vtransversely across the end. of the' 35 min-e trackway, mayautomatically assume various positionsV and move gradually through theangle necessary to lbring the cutter barintothese positionsso that the cut-- ter bar is disposed at opposite angles at op- "i posite sides of theltrackway. vThese andV other objects and advantagesof this invention will,

however, hereinafter -more fully` appear.-

y YIn the accompanying drawing there is shown iter purposes of .illustration one em-Y which the invent-lon may assumeinv practice. A

Fig. 1 isa top-.plan view of the .improved mining apparatus. L x

`Fig. 2. is a side elevational view, partially "3 shown in sectionto illustra-te details ofcou- V tin operation.

struction, of the mining apparatus shown in 1. Fig.` 3 is a diagrammatic view showingthe mininoapparatus during 'its transverse 'cut n this villustrative form 'ofthe Vinvention the same is shown embodied in a coal mining apparatus of the same general typeas that disclosed in mycopending application,` Serial No; 199,053, tiled vOctober 29,1917, and hav` ing incorporated therewith the plural speed' truck wheel drive' of the Levin Patent` 1,565,32' 6 and generally comprising a truck traine 1 mounted on wheels 2 adapted to run a-longamine trackway and having mounted thereon improved adjustable kerf cutting mechanism generally designated Il. Mount'- ed on the "truck frame 1 and having verticalf adjustability relative thereto is a support 5 y herein comprising an annular frame on 7 which a swivel support yor turntable 6 is.`

mounted for rotative movement about a vertical axis; TheV vertical adjusting means herein comprises vertical rotatable screws 7 supported by upstanding brackets carried' by the truck frame and `havingy cooperating therewithnon-rotatable nuts 8 carried by def pending brackets suitably secured to the annular swivel-1 supporting frame 5,'the screws being rotated from amotor` 9 on the truck frame through connections similar to those described in the abovementioned patent and including' an endless g `chain 10 i engaging and `drivin-g chain sprockets 11 suitably .securedV to the lower ends-ofthe rotatable adjusting 8 screws 7. As is falsodescribed in the above' mentioned patent, the mot-or 9 drives through a Vfriction controlled plural 4speedV transmission Vmechanism generally designat-I ed 12'the truck'wheels `This truck wheel driving mechanism includes chain- 1 and v sprocket connectionsl 13 Aand 11v connected to the truck wheel: axles. This" plural-speed trans-mission mechanism is adapted to effectE drive of the truck wheels to propel the appa r'atus .bodily alongthe mine trackway coin-fA paratively slowly during cutting and `at aF relatively. high/transport speed, gas isv -dee` scribed in the above mentioned patent..f As these driving connections for thejturntable adjusting means and the driving means for the truck wheels do not specifically enter into this invention, further description of the` same is considered to be unnecessary.

The kerf cutting mechanism 4 and the driving mechanism, therefor herein comprises a motor supported on the turntable` 6 and suspended therefrom beneath the same. As illustrated, this motor 15 has se- Cured to its power shaft 16 a spur pinion 17 which meshes with a spur'gear 18 fixed-to a horizontal shaft`19. Secured to the inner end of the shaft 19 is a bevel pinion 2O meshjournaled within a tubular bearing support 28 carried on the outer end of and depending from an arm-like frame or bracket 29 secured to and projecting laterally from the swivel support 6. Carried by the lower end of the tubular bearing support 27 is abracket 30 carrying an elongated plane cutter bar 31 about the outer edges of-which a usual endless cutter bit carrying cutter chain 32 is orbitally movable. The endless cutter chain 32engages and vis driven by a chain sprocket 33 suitably fixed to the lowerend of the vertical driveshaft 26. Any Vsuitable clutch mechanism-,34V may be employed for connecting the-spurv gear 18 to or disconnecting the same from theshaft 19 thereby permitting the cutterchain 32 to be driven by the motor at will or for disconnectingthe same therefrom while the motor continuously rotates.

Mechanism is provided for rotating the swivel support o-r turntable 6 relative tothe supporting frame 5 and herein comprises an eccentric member 35 suitably secured to the y vertical shaft 22 and suitably connected by an arm 36 to a pawl 37 which engages the teeth on a usual ratchet wheel 38. Through this ratchet mechanism intermittent rotation is transmitted from the motor to a horizontal shaft 39 suitably geared to a horizontal clutchA controlled winding drum 40 rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the swivel frame horizontal guide sheaves 42 journaled on the c swivell frame and the free end of this cable is connectible as Yat43 to an abutment member suitably secured to the supporting frame 5. Usual pivoted latch mechanism 44 is provided engageable with a plurality of notches 45 formed on the outer edge of the swivel frame 6 for locking the latter to the frame 5 in its diferent adjusted positions about its pivotal axis. It Awill thus be seen that when f the winding drum 40 isfconnected to the motorA through the above described ratchet and pawl mechanism the drum may be slowly rotated Vto wind in the cable 41 and as a result the swivel frame 6 is slowly rotated relative `to the supporting frame 5.

The improved mechanism for changing automatically the angle of the cutter bar relative to its pivotal support as the cutter bar is swung transversely across the end :of the mine trackway herein lcomprises a stationary spur gear or'arcuate rack 46 arranged coaxially with the vertical shaft 22 and having its'depending hub portion suitably rigidly fixed to a radial arm or'bracket 47 'suitably secured as by screwsy to the rela n As iltively stationary frame member 5. lustrated,l meshing with the stationary spur gear or rack 46 is a spur gear 48 journaled on a vertical stud projecting upwardly from the swivel frame 6, the spur gear 48 being rotatable about a vertical axis arranged parallel with and in advance ofthe axial line of the swivel frame or turntable 6. Meshing with the spur gear 48 is a gear'segment 49 supported onv a sleeve 50 carried by the bracket 29,this gear segment being swingable about the pivotal axis of the cutter bar.

therewith thecutter bar. As shown in Fig.

2, splined at 51 for axial sliding movement on Vthe upper end of the tubular bearing support 27 for the cutter bar is a clutch member 52 ,having clutchv teeth 53 engageable with clutchteeth '54 on the hub of the gear segment 49. vided with suitable shifting means including a pivoted yoke 55 having a. suitable bperating handle 56. It will thus be seen that the clutchmember 52 may be moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2, to thereby release the cutter bar from the gear segment 49 in such manner as to permit free swinging movement of the cutter bar relative to the gear .segment for purposes to be later described.

The operation of the improved mining ap- This clutch member is proparatus is as follows. The apparatus is propelled forwardly about themine at a fast speed by the motor 9 through the transmission mechanism 12,' the motor 9 being refversedwhen it isdesired to propel theapparatus. rearwardly along the mine trackway; Whenrthe working face is reachedth'e of the mine throughtheadjusting mechanism 7, 8.\for. theswivel support 6. *lVhen the cutter bar assumes a position withfits pivotal axis at one side ot the mine trackway and the cutter bar is disposed on the mine bottom in thedottedline position indicated at A in, Fig. v3, the apparatus is moved longitu-V dinally along the mine .traclrway comparatively slowly thereby sumpingthe cutter bar beneathA the coal to the full line position indicatedat B in that figure. After the sump.-

ing cut has been completed, the cable 4l is arranged asindicated in Fig. l and. upon rotation of the winding drinn 40the cable is drawn in and .the swivel support 6 for the cutter bar 3l is swung about its axis,.thereby moving the cutter bar transversely -in its plane across the end ot the mine trackway from the full line position B in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position indicated at C in that figure. As the cutter bar is swung transversely across the face the meshing engagement of the gears 46, 48, and49 causes the cutter bar to be automatically angled relativev toL its pivotal support, the axes of the turn table, bar pivot, andk the longitudinal axis ofV the cutter bar lying in the same straight line as the parts assume their intermediate position andthe cutter bar thereafter being angled in the opposite direction as the parts approach theV dotted line position C shown in Fig. 3. Afteithe transverse cut has been completed, the apparatus is moved bodily rearwardly along the mine trackway to withdraw the cutter bar from the coal tothe position indicatedl at Din Fig. 3. rllhe cutter bar thereafter is elevated from the mine bottom and returned to its central transport position `as indicated in full lines in Fig. l. It will be evident that it it is desired ltoswing the cutter bar relative to the automatic bar swinging mechanism it is only Vnecessary to release the. clutch 52l thereby disconnecting the bar support 27 from the gear segment 49,. it being possible by releasing this clutch to vary the initial angular position of the cutter bar relative. These and other op to the swivel support. erations of the improved mining'apparatus will be clearly apparentto those `skilled in the art. v Y

. As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improvedv coal .mining appara'- i tus is-provided having any improved adjustable pivotaljsupport Vfor. the cutter. bar

whereby the latter maybe positionedon the minebottom outsidethe mine traclway. It will further benoted thatan improved'bar swinging and` positioningmechanism is provided whereby-the angle of the cutter bar relative-to its; pivotal. supportis changed automatically as the cutter bar is swung transversely inits plane across lthe end of the mine trackway.V Ity willA still further be i noted that an improved automatic bar swinging mechanism is provided which is 'of an exceedingly simple and rugged character readily adapted to be applied to a mining apparatus of standard design and construction, and which is especially adapted' to.

withstand the `severe conditions of yservice encountered in mines.

Vhile there is in this application specifi? cally described one form which the invenV tion may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of Ythe same is shown for purposes of illustration and that thisl in#4 vention may bemoditied and embodied in various other forms without departing from* itsspirit, or the scope of the appended claims. What lVV claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Yl. In a miningapparatus, the combina-` tion of a support, a second support mountedl on saidf'irst support tor rotation upon a vertical axis, kerf cutting mechanism supported entirely by said first support during the cutting operationandincluding a cutter bar piv-` otally mounted on said second support for swinging movement in its plane oi cutting upon an axis parallel to the'axis of .rotation 'F swinging movement ot said Vcutter bar about the axis of rotation of said support "at a.

cutting speed to causeV said bar to effect its swinging cut, means operatively connected to,

said supports andsaid. cutter'bar ,for swing#l ing automatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to said second sup.-

port as said secondV support is rotated, said automatic bar swinging means including.

transmission connections operatively con-` nccted to astationary element on said iirst,

support and to said cutter bar, and selfcontained power operated meansr solely supl ported bysaid first supportfor moving the apparatus .bodily in opposite directions at a `cutting speed toy eiect sumping- ,and with-A drawal movements of said cutter bar.

-2. In a mining apparatus,.the combina'- tion ot a support, a second support mounted onsaid first support vfor rotation upon av verticalY axis, hert cutting mechanism including'a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said second support for swinging movement upon an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of 'said second support, means for effecting rotation. of said second support upon its axis of rotation to effect swinging movement of said cutter bar about the axisrof rotation of said second support, and meansA operatively connected to said supports and said cutter bar for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative p to said second support as said second support is rotated, said automatic bar swinging means including a gear member secured to said first support, a `rotatable gear carried eration and including a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said second support for swinging movement upon an axis parallel to they axis of rotation of said second support, selfcontained power operated means solely supported by said supports for effecting rotation of said second support upon its axis of rotation to effect swinging movement of said cutter bar about the axis of rotation of said support at a cutting speed to cause said bar i to effect its swinging cut and including a motor and mechanism driven thereby carried by said second support and rotatable therewith, means operatively connected to said supports and said cutter-bar for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own axis relative to said secondv supports as said second support is rotated, and self-contained power operated means solely supported by said first support for moving the apparatus bodily in opposite directions at -a cutting speed to eiect sumping and withdrawal movements of said cutter bar.

4. In a mining apparatus, awheeled support movable along amine tracliway, a second support mounted on said first support for rotation upon a vertical axis, ker'f cutting mechanism on said second support and supported entirely by said wheeled support during the cutting operation and including al pivoted cutter bar'mounted for swinging movement relative to said second support upon an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of said second support, self-contained power operated means solely supported bysaid supports for'effecting rotation of said second support relative Vto saidiirst support to effect positioning of said bar pivot outside the trackway with said cutter bar disposed to cut a kerf at the level of the mine bottom and for swinging said cutter bar across the end ofthe trackway at la cutting speed to effect its swinging cut, means for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to said second support as said-second support is rotated to eiiect 'swinging movement of said cutter bar across the end of the trackway, said automatic bar swinging means including transmission connections `'operatively lconnected to a stationary element of said first support and .to said cutter bar,Y and self-contained power operated meanssolely supported by said wheeled support for driving the support wheels to propel the apparatus bodily along the .r mine trackway in opposite directions at acutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawal vmovements of" said cutter bar. Y

5. In a mining apparatus, afwlieeled support movable along'a mine traclway, a second' support mounted on said first support for rotation upon avertical axis, kerf cutting mechanism on said second support and entirely supportedby said wheeled supportV 'during the cutting operation and including apivoted cutter bar mounted for swinging movement relative'V to said second support upon an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of said second support,-self-contained power operated means solely supported/by said supports and including a motor and connections driven thereby carried by said second supportl and rotatable therewithlfor .effecting rotation of said second support relative to said first support to effect positioning of said bar pivot outside the trackway with said cutter `bar disposed to cut a lerf at the level of the mine bottom and for swinging said cutter Vbar across the end ofl the trackway at a cutting speed to effect its swinging cut, means for swinging automaticallyfsaid cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to said second support as said second support is rotated to e'ii'ect swinging movement of said cutter bar across the end of the trackway, and self-'contained power operated means solelyvsup-ported by said wheeled support for driving the supportwheels to propel tlie apparatus bodily' along the mine traclrway in opposite -directions at a cutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawalr movements of :said cutter bar.

6. In a mining`apparatus, the combina` tion of a support, a second support mounted on said first support4 for rotation'about a vertical axis, kerf Vcutting mechanism including a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said second support for swinging movement upon an axis parallelto the axis of rota-tion of said second support, means for effecting rotation ofsaid second support upon its axis to effect swinging movement of said'cutter bar about the axis ofv said second support, and means operatively connected to said supports land said cutter bar for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to said second support as said second support is rotated, said automatic bar swinging means including intermeshing gearing connecting said cutter bar and said irst sup port and said gearing eecting swinging of said cutter bar upon its pivot as said second support is rotated. 7. In a. mining apparatus, the combinatio of a support, a second support mounted on said first support for. rotation upon a vertical axis, lierf cutting mechanism supported by said first support and including a cutterv bar pivotally mounted on said second support for swinging movement in its plane of cutting upon an axis parallel to the axisoi' rotation of said second support, power operated means for effecting rotation of said second support upon its axis lto elect swinging movement of said cutter bar about the axis of rotation of said second support at a cutting speed to cause said bar to effect its swinging cut, means operatively connected to said supports and said cutter bar forI swing ing` automatically ysaid cutter bar upon its own pivotal axis relative to said second support as said second support is rotated, said automatic bar swinging means including transmission connections operatively con-y nected to a stationary element on said sup port and to said cutter bar, and power operated means for moving the apparatus bodily in opposite directions at a cutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawal movements of said cutter bar. i

8. In a mining apparatus, a wheeled support movable along a mine trackway, a second support mounted on said rst support for rotation upon a vertical axis,`kerf cutting mechanism mounted on said second support and including a pivoted cutter barl mounted for swinging movement relative to said second support upon an axis Vparallel with the axis of rotation of said second support, power operated means for effecting rotation of said second support relative to said first support toeiiect positioning of said bar pivot outside the trackway with said cutter bar disposed to cut a ker at the level ofthe' mine bottom and for swinging said cutter bar across the end of the trackway at a cutting speed to effect its swinging cut, means for swinging automatically said cutter bar upon its own pivotal'axis relative to said second support as said second support is rotated to effect swinging movement of said cutter bar across the end of the trackway, said autofeet sumping and Withdrawal movements vor said cutter bar. i e

9. Inal mining apparatus, a wheeled sup-l port movable along a mine trackway, a second support mounted on said iirst support y for rotation upon a vertical axis, kerf cutting mechanism on said second support and including a pivoted cutter bar mounted forV swinging movement relative to said second support upon an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said second support, power 0perated means including a motor and connections driven thereby carried by said second ybar upon its o-wny pivotal axisrelative to said second support as said-second support is rotated to effect swinging movement of said cutter bar `across the end of the trackway, `and power operated means for driving the supportwheels to propel the apparatus bodily along the mine trackway in opposite directions Vat a'cutting speed to effect sumping and withdrawal movements of said cutter bar. Y

VIn testimony p `MORRIS' P. HOLMES.

whereof I aiix my signatures.

matic bar` swinging means including'transn mission connections operatively connected to a stationary element of said rst support and to said cutter bar, and power operated means for driving the support wheels to propel the apparatus bodily along the mine trackway in opposite directions'at a cutting speed to ef-

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