US1930016A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

@wh. W 1933. M. s. MOORE MINING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1931 4 Sheds-Sheet 1.

M. S. MOORE MINING MACHINE Oct, EH 1933.

Filed July 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H HHHI'II'IIH M. S. MOORE MINING MACHINE Oct. 10 1933.

Filed July 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 \M M n Mr w 4 Oct. 10 1933. M. s. MOORE 1,930,016

MINING MACHINE Filed July 29, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES MINING MACHINE Matthew Smith Moore, Malvem Link, England, assignor of one-half to Mark Frederick Higgins,

Worcester, England Application July 29, 1931, Serial No. 553,835, and in Belgium August 8, 1930 18 Claims.

My invention relates to mining machines for loading coal or other minerals shot down on the coal face and transferring the coal or other mineral to a conveyor, shaker or the like adapted to remove same to wagons, tubs or the like.

It has for its object to provide a machine of this kind which will have a gathering and conveying device projecting from one side thereof, said device being adapted to clear its way through the broken down material and load the same while travelling along the coal face.

Another object is to provide a loading bar which will be particularly suitable for gathering purposes, and to use this bar in conjunction with a comb shaped member over which the coal or other material is pushed onto a conveyor.

A further object of my invention is to combine two loading bars with a conveyor, thus making it possible to load while travelling in either direction.

A further object of my invention is to combine a gathering and conveying device of the type referred to with a cutting means, so that the machine can be used as a cutter and as a loader,

the machine working as a cutter when travelling one way and as a loader when working its way back.

Still a further object is to provide a pivoted connection between the gathering and conveying device and the body of the machine so that said device may be swung from one side of the machine to the other to meet requirements.

These and further objects of my invention will be better understood from the following description of two embodiments of my invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view diagrammatically showing the general arrangement of a loading machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line A-B of Fig. 1 showing the conveyor in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the general ar- As rangement of the same machine.

Fig. 4 is a view to a larger scale, showing the conveyor and one of the loading bars, in section.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a portion of the loading bar and the comb mounted on the adjacent side of the conveyor.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic showing of a modified arrangement of the teeth on a bar as shown in Fig. 5.

Figs. '7 and 8 show a tooth of the loading bar respectively in front and side view.

Figs. 9 and 10 are similar views of a tooth of the comb on the conveyor.

Fig. 11 is a view of a loader-cutter in side elevation showing the conveyor in alignment with the machine casing, one side wall of said casing being removed to show the gearing therein.

Fig. 12 shows the loader-cutter in plan view in the position of taking a sinking cut in the coal, the conveyor being turned to the opposite side from the cutter chain member.

Fig. 13 is another plan View of the loader-cutter showing the conveyor in the lengthwise position as in Fig. 1, this being the position during cutting operations.

Fig. 14 also shows the loader-cutter in plan view, but in the loading position with the conveyor on the same side as the cutter chain member.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the loader-cutter, as seen from the left side of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 shows a cutter pick and Figs. 17 .and 18 respectively show two views at right angles to each other of a scraper adapted to be fitted to the chain when loading takes place.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 10 of the drawings, 1 and 1a indicate the rotating loading bars which are mounted on each side of the conveyor 2 as cantilevers on the frame or casing 3 which also supports one end of the conveyor 2, a motor 4, and a haulage gear 5. Each of the bars 1 and 1a is provided with teeth 6 equally spaced, which may be arranged in straight lines as shown in Fig. 5 or helically as shown in Fig. 6. Between the teeth 6 of the bars 1 and 1a are the teeth '7 of two combs 8 and 8a secured on each side of the conveyor 2 and forming each a continuous bridge filling the whole gap between the frame of the conveyor and the adjacent bar. The teeth 6 and 7 are preferably removable and have a dovetailed engagement with suitable grooves in the bars and combs respectively. This dovetailed form can be seen at 6a in the Figures '7 and 8 for the teeth 6, and at M in the Figures 9 and 10 for the teeth 7. The gaps between the rows of teeth 6 on the bars may be filled up with blocks 6b (Fig. 4) to avoid any coal lodging therein.

Within the casing 3 the bars 1 and la are extended by the shafts 11 and 11a which may each be integral therewith and they are firmly supported in suitable bearings in such a way that the bars are adapted to revolve on their axes under action from the motor 4.

The movement of the motor is transmitted to the bars by suitable trains of reduction gears such as those diagrammatically indicated in Fig.

l which comprise, from the motor, bevel gears operates.

12, a pair of spur gears 13, a worm 14, a worm wheel 15 mounted on a shaft 16, and three spur pinions 17, of which thelast is keyed to the shaft 11 of the bar 1, which thus is driven at a low speed. Two sets of bevel gears 18 and 19 and a shaft 20 transmit the movement of the bar 1 to the bar 1a, which turns at the same speed as bar 1, but in the opposite direction.

By means of a worm keyed on to the shaft 21, behind the bevel gear 12, in mesh with a worm wheel 22 on the shaft 23 and bevel gears 24, the motor 4 drives the haulage gear 5, whilst, on the other side it drives the transporter 2 by means of bevel gears 25, of which one is keyed on the shaft 16 mentioned above and the other on the shaft 26 of the conveyor.

The conveyor 2 may be of any suitable type. In the present instance it comprises two endless chains 27 interconnected by bars 28 and guided on each side of the conveyor in its side members 29 (Fig. 4) which have a U-shaped cross-section. These chains pass over chain sprockets at the two ends of the conveyor and are driven by those keyed on the shaft 26. The upper race of the chain runs on a steel plate 30 which the bars 28 scrape in taking the coal from the free end of the conveyor towards the end held in the side casing 3 i. e. from left to right in Figs. 1 and 2. As shown in Fig. 2 the right hand portion 2a of the conveyor 2 is upwardly inclined so that it reaches the level of the shaker conveyor 31 or other type of conveyor with which the loader co- A small bridge 32 extends from the extremity of the conveyor 2 to the edge of the conveyor 31 along which it can slide and follow the oscillations of the conveyor31.

In operation the loader is placed on the face in such manner that the bars 1 and 1a and the conveyor 2 are at right angles to the line of face, whilst the casing 3 is parallel to the face and to the shaker conveyor 31. The haulage cable is placed around the anchored pulley 34 and attached at 35 to the casing of the machine and the controlling cable 36 is fixed to the anchor post 37 after having passed round. the return pullies 38 carried on thecasing 3.

Under these conditions, when the motor 4, which is preferably electric, is started, the haulage drum 5 rolls in the cable 35 and lets out the cable 36 in the known manner and the machine advances in the direction of the arrow at (Fig. 1) along the face, sliding on the skid 39.

At the same time the conveyor 2 commences to operate and the bars 1 and 1a are set into rotation. The bar 1 which is in advance of the conveyor 2 in the direction of progress of the machine, attacks the coal broken down along the face. Rotating in the direction of arrow :11 (Fig. 4) the teeth 6 engage under the broken pieces of coal, lifting same and pushing them on the teeth 7 of the flat-topped comb 8 whence they pass under the pressure of the pieces following on to the conveyor 2 which carries them away and empties them into the shaker conveyor 31. To avoid all danger of an accident, the bar running idle may be covered in, as shown in Fig. 3, by a guard 41 extending its whole length.

As the machine advances the props 42 which are in the way of the machine, can be removed and replaced after the machine has passed, so that the roof is never unsupported over any great area, thus avoiding all danger of roof collapse. Again as the machine is very low there is little risk of jamming against the roof even when .the roof is extremely low.

After the machine has passed a new quantity of coal is broken down behind it and when the machine reaches the end of the face it is pushed further into the broken coal and then is made to travel in the opposite direction (Fig. 3) the cables 33 and 36 having been suitably anchored. The bar 1a which now finds itself in front of the conveyor 2 in the direction of advance (arrow 2 Fig 3) and has had its cover 41 removed to the bar 1, gathers in its turn, the coal and pushes it on the conveyor 2 where it is received by the comb 8a.

In this direction the machine can load all the coal just to the end of the face whilst in the other direction, the casing 3 touching the end of the face prevents the bar 1 from going right to the end so that there remains a small quantity of coal to be hand got between this bar and the end of the face. I

The loading of the machine is made without powdering or breaking the coal as the bars simply roll the pieces of coal over them and the combs on to the transporter 2. There is therefore practically no production of dust which is of considerable advantage. On the other hand no special installation or preparations are necessary for the employment of this machine and existing shaker or other types of conveyors or tubs can be maintained.

The loading-cutting machine illustrated in Figs. 11 to 18 comprises, like the loading machine described above, a loading bar 1a, a conveyor 2, a gear casing 3, a motor 4, a haulage gear 5 and an under carriage or skid 39. The teeth 6 of the bar 1a which co-operate with the teeth of the comb 8a secured on the conveyor 2, are herein shown in an improved double helical formation which is favourable to the loading action.

In addition to the bar 1a and conveyor 2, the machine casing 3 carries a cutter chain 9 mounted on an outwardly projecting jib 10. When the machine is in the loading position as shown in Fig. 14, the conveyor 2 extends parallel to the jib 10, the bar 1a being on the side of the conveyor remote from said jib. Whilst the cutter chain jib is rigidly fixed to the casing 3, the conveyor 2 and the bar 1a are carried by a casing 3' pivotally mounted on a turntable 43 on the under carriage 39, so that they can be turned by hand or otherwise to bring them into alignment with the casing 3, as in Fig. 13, or to the side opposite the chain cutter 9 as in Fig. 12. Suitable means may be provided for locking the casing 3 in any of these positions.

Haulage gear 5, cutter chain 9, conveyor 2 and loader bar 1a. are operated from the motor 4 by means of the following gears and connections (Figs. 11, 13, 14 and 15):

By means of a worm 44 and worm wheel 45 the shaft 21 of motor 4 drives a shaft 46 which operates the haulage gear 5 by means of pinions 47 and bevel wheels 48.

On shaft 21 is also secured a spur wheel 49 which, through idler 50 and gears 51, 52, rotates a pinion 53 rigid with a worm 54 meshing with a toothed rim 55 secured to drum 56 operating the cutter chain 9.

Under the shaft 57 carrying the gears 51, 52 is a shaft 58 carrying at one end a pinion 59 meshing with gear 51 and at its other end a worm 60 meshing with worm wheel 61 on shaft 62. (Figs. 11 and 13). In the pivoted casing 3' is mounted shaft 20 which drives the conveyor 2 by means of sprocket wheel 64 (Fig. 15) In the loading position, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15,

shaft 20 is in alignment with shaft 62 and these two shafts may be coupled together by means of a removable coupling sleeve 63, thus setting up an operative connection between motor 4 and conveyor 2.

In addition to conveyor 2, shaft 20 drives the shaft 11a of the loader bar 1a by means of bevel wheels 6.5, vertical shaft 66 and bevel wheels 67.

In the sinking and cutting positions (Figs. 12 and 13) shaft 20 is out of alignment with shaft 62 and thus is disconnected from the motor 4.

The machine above described is adapted to travel to and fro on the coal face 68 in working as a coal cutter in one direction and as a loader in the other.

At the commencement of the cutting shift (Fig. 12) the transporter 2 and the bar 10. are turned to the opposite side from the cutter chain 9, thus giving freedom of action to the cutter chain and reducing the length of the machine so that the chain jib can be brought as closely as possible to the rib side for starting the sinking cut. The cutter chain 9 is sunk into the coal to form the undercut 69, then the machine is hauled along the face by means of the haulage gear 5 and the cable 33 passing around the anchored pulley 34. As the machine progresses it undercuts the opening 69 (Fig. 13) and when it has moved clear of the rib side, the casing 3 carrying the transporter and the bar is swung into alignment with the main casing 3, so that the machine has a minimum width and can pass between the face and the line of props 42.

At the other end of the face 68 (Fig. 14) the machine is converted into a loader by swinging the conveyor 2 and the bar 1a alongside the cutter chain jib 9 and the two shafts 62 and 20 are coupled together by means of the coupling 63. To this end, when the coal overhanging the undercut 69 has been broken down a space is handcleared to give room to swing round the conveyor and bar. The cable 33 and return pulley 34 then are arranged to suit the return movement of the machine (Fig. 14) and the machine now operating as a loader, is hauled in the opposite direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 14, the bar 1a lifting the coal 40 towards the conveyor 2 which carries it over the bridge 32 into the shaker conveyor 31, whilst the haulage pulls the conveyor 2 into the loose coal, as explained above.

Before loading is started the cutter picks 70 may be removed from the pick boxes on the chain 9 and scraper tools 71 (Figs. 14, 17 and 18) inserted in some of said boxes. The movement of the chain then being reversed by means of a suitable reversing gear (not shown) the scrapers '71 will during the loading operation sweep clean from the pavement the small pieces of coal and dust which the bar 1a may not have lifted, depositing such material between the machine and the conveyor 31, where it can easily be shovelled up into the shaker conveyor.

To the undercarriage 39 or to the casing 3' of the conveyor 2 may be adapted a triangular shield 72, to sweep towards the loader bar 1a any pieces of coal, that in the breaking down, may have spread out from the coal face.

In order that the machine may easily move on uneven ground the undercarriage 39 may conveniently be made in two parts connected together at 73 as shown in Fig. 15.

When the machine in loading has reached the end of the face the conveyor 2 and the loading bar are turned through 180 after having been uncoupled at 63, and the chain can be again sunk into the coal so as to resume undercutting.

It will be understood that in place of a cutter chain, a cutter bar may be employed for the same purpose and that the constructional details described above, which are given as an example, may be changed without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a toothed loader bar, an endless conveyor extending alongside of said bar, a guide between said bar and said conveyor, said guide having a toothed marginal portion and a continuous body portion occupying the space between said bar and said conveyor, and means on said frame for driving said bar and said conveyor.

2. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor carried by said frame and extending transversely thereof, the feeding end of said conveyor projecting beyond one side of said frame, an overhanging toothed bar projecting from the side of said frame alongside the feeding end of said conveyor, a toothed member extending longitudinally of said conveyor and filling from end to end the gap between said bar and said conveyor, and power means on said frame for driving said conveyor and said bar.

3. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor extending across said frame and having its feeding end projecting beyond one side thereof, a toothed loader bar extending alongside the feeding end of said conveyor, and a comb interposed between said bar and said conveyor, said comb filling from end to end the longitudinal gap between said bar and conveyor.

4. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor projecting outwardly from one side of said frame, a rotatable loader bar extending alongside of said conveyor, dovetailed teeth placed in helical formation on said bar, and a comb interposed between said bar and said conveyor, the teeth on said bar filling substantially the gaps in said comb, said comb being mounted on the side of said conveyor near said bar.

5. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor having its feeding end projecting outwardly from one side of said frame, a rotatable loader bar extending alongside of said conveyor, dovetailed teeth in removable engagement with grooves in said bar, a stationary flat topped guide member secured to the -side of said conveyor adjacent said bar, and dovetailed teeth in removable engagement with grooves in said member, the last mentioned teeth extending substantially across the whole width of the gaps between said first mentioned teeth.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a cutter member projecting outwardly from one side of said frame, an endless conveyor having its feeding end projecting from the same side of said frame, a loading member extending alongside of said conveyor, and a guide having a marginal toothed portion and a continuous body portion bridging the gap between said bar and said conveyor.

7. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a cutter member projecting outwardly from one side of said frame, an endless conveyor projecting from the same side of said frame, a toothed loading bar extending parallel to said conveyor and a comb-shaped guide occupying substantially all the space between said bar and conveyor.

8. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a loading member, a guide member and an endless conveyor pivotally mounted side by side on said frame, the feeding end of said loading means projecting beyond one side of said frame when in its operative position, and means on said frame for driving said loading means.

9. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a loading device pivotally mounted on one end of said frame, said loading device being adapted to be swung through 180 from a position at right angles to said frame, means on said frame for driving said loading device when in an operative position at right angles to said frame, and means for automatically disconnecting said driving means from said loading device when the latter is moved away from said operative position.

10. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a cutter member projecting from one side of said frame, a loading device pivotally mounted on said frame, said loading device comprising a toothed bar, an endless conveyor parallel thereto and a toothed guide member between said bar and conveyor, the feeding end of said conveyor projecting from said side of said frame when in its operative position, and means on said frame for driving said cutter member, said toothed bar and said conveyor.

11. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of an end frame pivotally mounted on said main frame, an endless conveyor carried by said end frame, a co-operating loader bar extending alongside of said conveyor and also carried by said end frame, said conveyor and bar projecting from one side of said frame when in their operative position.

12. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of an endless conveyor, a loader bar alongside said conveyor, a comb-shaped member interposed between said bar and conveyor,

. an end frame carrying said conveyor, bar and comb-shaped member, said end frame being pivotally mounted on said main frame, and a cutter member on said main frame.

13. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of an end frame pivotally mounted on said main frame, an endless conveyor and a co-operating loader bar on said end frame, said end frame being adapted to be swung through 180 from a position at right angles to said main frame, a cutter member projecting outwardly from one side of said main frame, means on said main frame for driving said cutter member, and means for operatively connecting said conveyor and loader bar with said driving means when said end frame is in parallel relation to said cutter member.

14. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of an end frame pivotally mounted on said main frame, said end frame being adapted to take up a position at right angles to said main frame, a loading device on said end frame extending longitudinally thereof, a power shaft on said main frame, a shaft on said end frame for driving said loading device, and means for coupling said shafts together when said end frame is in a position at right angles to said main frame.

15. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor projecting outwardly from one side of said frame, an overhanging rotatable loader bar extending alongside of said conveyor, dovetailed teeth in removable engagement with grooves'in said bar, said teeth being placed in double helical formation on said bar and extending each in a plane at right angles thereto, and a comb extending between said bar and said conveyor and secured to one side of said conveyor, said comb occupying substantially all the space between said bar and said conveyor,

16. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor having its feeding end projecting from one side of said frame, a rotatable loader bar extending along the feeding end of said conveyor, and adapted to co-operate therewith, and a scraping device projecting from the same side of said frame on the side of said conveyor remote from said bar.

17. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor having its feeding end projecting from one side of said frame, a rotatable loader bar extending in front of the feeding end of said conveyor and adapted to co-operate therewith, and a triangular shield secured to the front end of said frame.

18. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of an endless conveyor having its feeding end projecting outwardly from one side of said frame, a rotatable loader bar projecting outwardly from said frame alongside of said conveyor, dovetailed teeth in removable engagement with grooves in said bar, said teeth extending at right angles to the axis of said bar, blocks removably engaging gaps between said teeth on said bar, and a comb carried by said conveyor, said comb having teeth adapted practically to fill the gaps between adjacent teeth on said bar and a substantially flat topped body portion bridging the gap between said conveyor and said bar.

MATTHEW SMITH MOORE.

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