US1919302A - Mine conveyer - Google Patents

Description

E. F. MULLER July 25, 1933.

MINE CONVEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1931 July 25, 1933. E F, MULLER 1,919,302

MINE CONVEYER L9 /NVENTOR Erns FMu//erf E* www@ July 25, E. F MULLER v MINE CONVEYER Filed May 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sei N VEN TOR Patented July 25, 11933.Y

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE) ERNST r. MULLER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIQASSIGNOR To THE JEFFERY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION or OHIO MINE CONVEYEI;

Application file-d May 14,

The present invention relates to transportable conveyers of a type particularly adapted for use in coal mines, although many other applications are possible.

According. to the embodiment of the invention to be hereinafter described, the conveyer is supported'on a movable base, preferably in the form of a wheeled truck adapted for movement over the tracks of a mine, through the intermediary of a horizontally extending arm supported' at one end on the base for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and also for vertical adjustment, and at its other end supporting the conveyer for movement relative thereto about both horizontal and vertical axes. A counterweight is provided in connection with the conveyer supporting arm and means are provided through the operation of which the conveyer may be adjusted about its horizontal supporting axis. Normally, the delivery end of the conveyer extends in overlying relation with the supporting arm and in order that this end may rest in close proximity to the arm, the Ydriving devices for the conveyer are mounted beneath its receiving end.

While the conveyer has a general field of usefulness as a mine conveyer, itis particu-f larly' useful under certain circumstances in connection with a primary conveyer as will be hereinafter described.

InY the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a practical illus- `trativeembodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1; f

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section'of means forsupporting the conveyer supporting arm on the truck;

F vigure' 4 is a view partly V-in vertical section of the connecting means between the supporting arm and the conveyer;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 2; and f Figurey 6 is a view in plan showing the apparatus of the present' invention asineluded in a loading out system in a mine. i

Referring to the drawings, reference numerals 10 Aand 11 denote the side sills of ar truck frame supported on axles 1'2 and 13 1931. serial' No. 537,393.

provided at their ends with wheels `11i and 15 adapted-for engagement with the rails of'a mine track, one rail being shown at 16, Figure 2. The sills lO and l1 are connected by cross sills 17 and 18 between which and centrally of the side sills is supported a yoke 19.` depending from a frame 2O which is bolted to s the sills 17 and 18 by means of bolts 21.

Rigidly supported in yoke 19 in vertically projecting relation is a screw pedestal22 which is surrounded by a tubular member23 having' internal threads engaging the threads of the pedestal. member 23 is radially expanded to form an annular ledge 24`upon which is stepped, through the intermediary of a ball bearing 25, a barrel 26. Immediately above the bar-v rel is keyed a hub 27 from which radiate a number ot levers 28 constitutinga spider,

Y through manipulation of which tubular mem-` ber 23 is rotatable for'vertical displacement At its lower end tubular relative to pedestal 22. Hub 27 is restrained against upward displacement by means of a cap plate 29 fixed to the uppervend of tubular member 23 and in turn prevents upward displacement of barrel 26 relative `to the tue. bular member. Upward movement of the ytubular member relative to the pedestal is limited by a plate 30 secured to the top of the pedestal.

Barrel26 has, as here shown, a horizontally i extending arm 31 integral therewith. At its free end arm 31has a vvertical bearing 32 iu which is journaled a neck 33 which projects downwardly from a horizontally extending bracket 34,', with which, as .here shown, it is integral. The bracket has .an annular shoulder portion 35 stepped on a bearing sur-V face36 marginal to the upper end of thebearing opening. An' annular plate 37 secured to the lower extremity of neck 33 engages beneath an -annular shoulder lformed `in bear- A,ing 32 to prevent upward displacement of the neck. 1 The `neck. 33 is tubular and has threaded'therein a screw 38 to the lower projectingend of which is fixed a hand-wheel 39.

. At'its `free. end, bracket 34 hasa transverse upstanding rib 40 provided with a horizontal bore in which is disposed a pivot piny 41 whose axial. line is substantially perpendicular `to a line radial to the neck 33.. The under side of the bracket is provided with a plurality of apertures 42 formed about a common center and selectively engageable by means of a spring pressed pin 43 mounted in the eX-V vmade uppof side walls 45 and 46 which sup-V port between them a pan 47 over which travels the werkingrun cfa conveyer belt 48,.

which, at the ends of the conveyer, passes about rollers 49 and 50, the former vbeing at the'dclivery end and the latter at the receiving end of the conveyer. Inwardly of rollers 49 and 50, the idle run of the belt is engaged by rollers 51 and 52, the latter being shown in cross section in Figure 5, as eXemplifying suitable structure and mounting means for all of the rollers involved in the conveyerl structure. Inwardly of roller 52, the belt is looped about rollers 53`and 54, the former being a drive roller which is rotated from a suitable motor 55 through an armature pinion 56, a gear 57, a sprocket wheel 58, a sprocket chain 59, and a sprocket wheel 60, all of these driving devices being supported adjacent and beneath the receiving end of the conveyer.

CTD

` pivot pin 41.

Roller 49 is provided with well known adjusting means 6l whereby the belt may be suitably tensioned.

The upper edges 62 and 63 of p'an 47 are outwardly Hared and have secured thereto rigid guide strips 64 and 65 from whose lower edges depend flexible strips 66 and 67 in contact with the upper run of the belt whereby material is kept from working under the belt edges. y

It Will be understood thatwhile I have described a belt conveyer 'as being well suited to the purposes of the invention, any suitable form of draft and material engaging devices may be used. i

VSomewhat forward of its medial portion but inwardly of the above described driving devices,the frame members 45 and 46 have brackets 68 and 68, Yigures l and 4, secured thereto, these brackets being provided with aligned apertures in which is engaged the To the rear ofpin 41 and immediately above screw 38, a bolster 69 is bolted across the frame member.

` vThe transporting position of the conveyer is that particularly shown in Figure 2, wherein its delivery portion overli es arm 3l in substantially parallel relation thereto, bolster 69 resting on bracket 34 and a further rearwardporti on ofthe conveyer, through a transverse bottom plate'7 resting on capplate 29, tubular member 23 being in its lowermest position. It will be evident that arm 31 and conveyer 44 may be swungr to any desired.

angle relative to tubular member 23 when the conveyer is to be set in working position and the arm and conveyer may be translationally adjusted through rotation of tubular member 23 relative to the screw pedestal 22 through manipulation of the spider; Further, ybracket 34 and the conveyer may be swung relative to the arm if desired upon releasing locking pin 43. Also by rotation of screw 38 through hand wheel 39, the upper end of the screw abutting bolster 69 will cause angular adjustment of the conveyer about the horizontal axis of the pin 41. It will be understood that the delivery end of the conveyer somewhat overbalances the receiving end thereof so Athat bolster 69-is normally in contact with the top of bracket or with the upper end of screw 38 after the latter is adjusted to project above the bracket. e

In order Vto stabilize the apparatus, an arm 70 is fixed to barrel 26 in oppositely eXtendf ing relation to arm31 and supports a suitable Y counterweight 7l.

According to Figure `6, a room A is being developed olffof the entryB, the minetrack C being curved off to the room and being shown as supporting loading apparatus comprising a gathering section D articulated to a discharge section E which is mounted on a truck F. Wit-h the machine D, E, F in the position shown, it will be seen that the Vdischarge conveyer E would be unableto discharge properly into a lcar G situated on the track. Under these circumstances, theconveyer 44 of the present invention may be positioned intermediate the discharge conveyer E `and the car Gr and so adjusted as to transfer material from the conveyer to the car under all conditions. As here shown, the supporting arm 31 is angularly adjusted relative to its supporting truck and bracket 34 is angu. larly adjusted relative to the arm. Suitable vertical adjustment and inclination of the conveyer is, of course, obtained in the manner already described. Many other situations presenting like dil'hculties Vin properlyspotting the car arise and can be most conveniently met by the apparatus of the present invention. If desired, the delivery end of the conveyer maybe maintained over a car on the track and the receiving end swung from side to side of the room.

In Figure 6, the conveyer is shown in dotted lines as assuming a position for gobbing refuse over Yto the rib, and can, of course, be moved across to a similar position on the other side of the track. Various other maneuvers for meetingparticular :situations will occur to those skilled in the art, and while one of the uses of the apparatus of the present invention is aswan 'adjunct or intermediary between a main conveyer line and a mine car,

it may, ofcourse, be used entirely independ l barrel and extending in the opposite direc-` comparatively light so that whether mounted t upon a truck, caterpillar tractor, slide shoe, or other support, it is capable of being shifted without difficulty to its needed position.

While I have'described in detail a practical embodiment of the invention, it is tobe understood that I do not limitmyself as to structure except as in the following claims,

I claim:

1. Apparatus vof the class described comprising a movable base, a horizontally extending arm supported on the base, a pivotal connection between the arm and base to per' mit the arm to swing above the basel and through an unrestricted range about a vertical axis, an elongatedv conveyer, a pivotal connection between the arm andV conveyer re-` mote from the first named connection to'p'ermit the conveyer to swing relative to the arm about a vertical axis, a second' arm in rigid connection with the first and projecting in the opposite direction therefrom, and a counterweight mounted on the second arm remote from the first mentioned pivotal connection.

2. Apparatus of the class described' comprising a movable base, an upright, screw pedestal supported on said base, a tubular member surrounding said pedestal and provided with internal threads operatively'engaging thoseof the pedestal, a barrel surrounding said tubular member and stepped on a radial flange of the latter for rotation.

relative thereto, a horizontally extending arm rigid with said barrel, an elongated conveyer sup orted on said arm remote from said pedesta and means operablejto rotate said tubular member to effect its vertical displacement relative to the pedestal. A'

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a movable base, an upright screw pedestal supported on said base, a `tubular member surrounding said pedestal and provided With internal threads operatively en-V gaging those of the'pedestal, a barrel sur# rounding said tubular member and stepped on a radial flange of the latter for rotation relative thereto, a horizontally extending arm rigid with said barrel, and an elongated conveyer supported on said arm remote from said pedestal, a second arm secured to said tion from the first, a counterweight supported on said arm remote from the pedestal, and means operable to rotate said tubular member to effect its vertical displacement relative to the pedestal.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a movable base, an upright screw pedestal supported on said base, a tubular member surrounding said pedestal and pro- ,vided with internal threads operatively engaging those of the pedestal, a barrel sursaid horizontal axis.

rounding said. tubular 'memberzandstepped i I on airadial flangel ofv the-latter for rotation relative thereto, a horizontally extending armiA rigid with said barrel', an elongated conveyer supported on said arm remote from said pedestal, anda leverfixed 4to said tubular member abovesaid barrel for rotating the .former relative to the pedestal, the lever hav! ing a hubportion preventing upward displacement ofthe barrel relativef to thetubwlar member.v

5. Apparatus i 4the class described .com-

prising a movable base,a horizontally ex-v tending varm su ported on the base, ay pivotal connection be y permit thearm to swin above the base and through an unrestricte range4 about a vertical axis, an elongated conveyer supported at vits medial portion on and above saidarmremote from said pivotal connection for` pivotal tween the arm and baseto movement relative to4 the arm about both vertical `and horizontal axes, one en/d ofthe conveyer overbalancing theother about said horizontal axis, and means engaging under the overbalancing conveyer portion and vertically adjustable to swing the conveyer about 6.*Apparatus of the class described'comprising a -movable-base, a horizontallyextending arm supported on the base, a pivotal connection between theA arm and base topermit the arm `to swing` above the base andl through an'A unrestricted range about a ver- Y tical axis, van relongated conveyer supported` at its medial portion on andI above said arm `remote `from .said pivotal connection for pivotal movement relative tothe arm about both` vvertical and horizontal axes,one end of the conveyer overbalancing theother about said horizontal axis,` a vertical `screw engagingv the overbalancing conveyer portion, and

means operable to rotate andvertically disremote rfrom said neck, said connection hav` ing a horizontal pivoting axis substantially4V perpendicular to a line radial to the neck, one end of the conveyer 'overbalancing the other aboutsaid horizontalaxis, a screw threaded tical adjustment relative thereto, the overbalancing portion of said conveyer being sup-v portable on said screw for'adjustment thereby about said horizontal axis, land vmeans operable to rotate said screw. Y

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a wheeled'truck, an arm pivotally Y in said tubular neck and rotatable for versupported by the'tru'ckiorv swinging 'Inova ments thereabove -on an upright "axis, an elongated eonveyer frame pivotally supported on'the outer'end of said-arm for swinging movements relative to the arm about horizontal and'upright axes, one end of said'frame overbalancing t-he other about said horizontal axis, said arm and eonveyer frame in the normal transporting-position of the parts extending 'in thelongitudinal direction ofthe truck lWith the overba-laneing end of, said frameabovethe truck, and means for supporting saidoverbalaneing end.

9. Apparatus of he class described coin-l prising a wheeled truck, an armpivotallyv supported by the'truek for 'swinging movements therabove onV anv upright axis, an elongated conveyer fra-me lpivotally supported on the outer end. of said'arm for swinging nioveinents relative vto the arm about horizontal and upright axes of which the upright axisvis normally. nearer therswinging axis of the arm thanthehorizontal axis, one end of said' frame overbalancing the other about said horizontal axis, said arm and con veyer frame in the normal transporting position of the parts extending inthe longitudif nalfdirection or the truc'lrz'with the overbalancingi end of said frame'above the Yt'rucln'andY means for supporting said overbalancing end. j 10.',Appa'ratus of the4 class described comprisinga wheeled truck, an arm-,pivotally supported -by the truck for swinging moves, ments thereabove on an upright axis, an elon gated eonveyer frame vpivotally supported on the outer end of said arm or'swinging'm eve-v ments relative yto the yarm about-horizontal and upright axes, one end of'said frame over-.

balancing, the other y about said horizontal axis, said arm and conveyer frame 1n the norlmal transporting position. of the parts Vextending'in the longitudinal direction of the gated conveyer frame pivotally supported on the outer endof said arm for swinging move-v to adjust said arm vertically relative to the truck. i Y

l2. Apparatus of thefclassd'escriberd oom-U prising a wheeled truck, an Varm'pivotally supported by the truck for swinging move* ments thereabove on an uprightaxis, anY elongated conveyor frame pivotally supported on the outerfend of said arm for swing? ing movements relative tothe armabouthorizontal andv upright axes, one end of said frame overbalancing the other about'saidY horizontal a1:is,said armand conveyor frame in the `normal transporting position of the parts extending in thn longitudinal direction oftheA truck with the overbalaneing end of said fframe abavethe truck, vmeans tor supporting said overb'alancing end, said lastnamed means including an upright serewV carried by said arm and adjustable to tilt said frame about its horizontal axis; Q f

18. Apparatus .of thev classdeseribed. Com'- prising awheeled truck, an arm pivotally supported by the truck for swinging movements thereabove on an upright axis, an elongated conveyer trame pivotally supported on the outerl end of said arm for swinging movements relative to the arm about horizontal and upright axes-of which the upright vaxis is normally nearer the swinging axis of the arm than the horizontal axis, one end of said frame overbalancing the other about saidhorizontal axis, said arm'and conveyor framein the normal transporting position of the'parts extending in the longitudinal direction of the truck withthe overbalancing end of said frame above vthe truck, and means `for supporting said. overbalancing end, said last named means including a screw 'coaxial' with the upright pivoting` axisof the frame and adjustable. to tilt' the frame about ii'ts vhorizontal axis. -ERNSKv F. MULLER.

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