US1953327A - Method of mining coal - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1934. E. c. MORGAN mmon OF MINING com.

Original Filed June 23, 1913 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 mww vs/v'roR: Edmund C. Morgan,

y T T T a A W. M

W W u E M/M up 0 B70 A ril 3, 1934. 5 AN 1,953,327

METHOD OF MINING COAL Original Filed June 23, 1913 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Mm; mm-

[NVENTOR Edmund C. Marga/I, DECEASED. OLIVE EuqE/v/s HaRwM ExEcurK/k. 66 %4 I ATT'Y April 3, 1934. E. c. MORGAN METHOD OF MINING COAL Original Filed June 23, 1913 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllllllll Iuu 11 [N VE/Y TOR SED.

HAM am T m: T om A cm d w. f Em April 3, 1934. E. c. MORGAN 1,953,327

' METHOD OF MINING COAL Original Filed June 23, 191 3 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 'IIILVIII" OLIVE EUQENIE HpRqAUIEEcuTm-x' HTT' April 3, 1934.

E. C. MORGAN METHOD OF MINING COAL Original Filed June 23 19 13 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Edmund C. Marya nece OLI E EvQENIE New, ExEco HTT'Y April 1934- E. c. MORGAN 1,953,327

METHOD OF MINING COAL Original Filed June 23, 1913 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 /NVENTOF? Edmund C. Mar an,

EcEAsED I v E g'av: 5 MORAM EKEQUTR 1 ATT'Y Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MENING COAL Original application June 23, 1913, Serial No. 775,173. Divided and this application April 25, 1932, Serial No. 607,344

9 Claims.

This application is a division of the co-pending application Serial No. 775,173, filed June 23, 1913.

This invention relates to apparatus for mining coal or other materials, and more particularly to such as are characterized by the cutting of a plurality of kerfs for the purpose of enabling the coal or other materials to be removed in blocks of substantially regular and uniform 1Q masses, but it should be understood that the invention may have a general application in cut ting coal or other material.

One of the objects of the invention is to generally improve and simplify apparatus for mining coal or other materials and to increase the flexibility of operations by enabling a single Keri-cutter to perform a variety of operations without changing the structure of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combina tions being set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general view in side elevation of a mining machine embodying the present invent-ion;

Fig. 1 represents a fragmentary View, partly in elevation and partly in central vertical section, of Fig. 1, to show the pivotal connection between the turn-table and the truck;

Fig. 2 is a general top plan Vl6W of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 2 to show the power transmission between the motor and the main frame and the advancing and retracting beam;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of a cutting mechanism or cutter bar embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the cutting mechanism on the line 3="-3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 6, of the mechanism for transmitting power to the cutting mechanism and for actuating the cutting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the mechafor retaining the control levers in their various po Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation similar to the corresponding portion of the structure shown in Fig. l, but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1, similar to Fig. 5 butshowing the details of the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 1111 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views illustrating a method of mining coal;

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the present mining machine may be employed for cutting kerfs in the coal;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing the horizontal or vertical kerf cut by the present 7 machine;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view in section show ing a number of vertical kerfs angularly disposed with relation to each other and cut in the manner shown in Figs. 14 and 15; and

Figs. 17 to 24, inclusive, are diagrammatic views illustrating several modifications of the present method of mining.

In mining various materials, and particularly coal, it is extremely desirable and important that the coal be mined with as little waste as possible and that it be mined in large regularly shaped blocks or masses so that it may be conveniently handled, not only in removing it from the mine but for shipping it and transporting it. The desirability and advantage of taking coal out of the mines in as large. blocks as possible is apparent when it is realized that the transportation of coal is not only greatly facilitated by .the ease and convenience with which the large blocks may be packed for shipment in the cars, but because of the fact that large unbroken masses of coal retain their efliciency much longer than coal which is broken into relatively small particles when exposed to the influences of the weather. In the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 12, 13 and 17 to 22, inclusive, there is diagrammatically illustrated the improved method of mining coal by which all of these advantages are obtained. Fig.

13 illustrates diagrammatically a longitudinal vertical section through a vein of coal, and Fig. 12 diagrammatically illustrates the forward end of the vein, that is, the end of the vein at which the mining operations take place.

In carrying out the improved method it is preferred, first, to make a plurality of vertical parallel cuts or kerfs X which preferably extend in vertical planes from the lower faces X of the vein to the upper faces X thereof. That is, vertital kerfs 0r cuts extend between what is genfloor or line of cleavage.

erally known as the points of cleavage between the stratum or vein of coal and the earth or ground, between which the vein of coal is confined. These cuts or kerfs X are preferably as thin as possible so as to avoid anymore coal cuttings than is necessary, and they extend longitudinally into the vein to a distance which is found suitable or advisable under the particular circumstances and requirements. The kerfs X are likewise spaced apart at such distances as found to be best adapted to the particular conditions and requirements. There are also made a plurality of long horizontal kerfs X X preferably extending from one side of the vein of coal to the other side thereof so as to divide the vein into a plurality of large blocks X X X These horizontal kerfs, as shown in Fig. 13, lie in planes which are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vein. They preferably begin at points X, X below or above the longitudinal center of the vein and extend angularly upwardly and downwardly from said respective points preferably to the roof and floor of the mine entry, although it has been found that these horizontal kerfs need not extend all of the way to the roof or floor of the mine entry under certain circumstances. For instance, in Figs. 1'? and 18, it will be noted that the horizontal kerfs X which in cline upwardly toward the roof of the mine entry, may terminate short of the roof and leave an uncut portion X which must be broken when blocks of coal are dislodged, while the kerfs X which incline downwardly toward the floor of the entry, may, if desired, extend all the way to the These uncut portions X however, are preferably not sufficiently thick to prevent blocks of coal being readily dislodged or broken away after the kerfs are out.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 18, the series of horizontal kerfs X are preferably parallel withrespect to each other, and likewise the series of horizontal kerfs X lie in planes parallel with respect to each other. In consequence there are left uncut portions X and X between said kerfs along the lines of cleavage both at the roof and floor of the mine, and after the kerfs have been made these blocks may be dislodged or broken away from these lines of cleavage in any suitable manner under the particular circumstances or they may be severed byhorizontal kerfs.

In practice, it is preferable to make a series of vertical kerfs first and after these vertical kerfs are out then cut the horizontal kerfs, because it can readily be seen that if the horizontal kerfs X were made first there would'be a large mass or long slab of coal suspended from the roof of the mine which, under the conditions in some mines, would be likely to fall owing to the fact that the adhesion of the slab of coal to the roof of the mine along the cleavage line X would not be suificient to support the slab of coal. Often this is true even when the vertical kerfs are made first and the horizontal kerfs afterward but in such cases, as the horizontal kerf advances across the vein intersecting the vertical kerfs and forming the complete blocks X it is preferred to jack up or support the blocks X until the horizontal kerfs are completed clear across the vein.

Any suitable means for supporting these out I blocks may be employed, such, for instance, as

jacks X of the character illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. These jacks are provided with broad bases X and with standards which are inclined substantially parallel to the planes of the horizontal kerfs, and the heads X of these jacks are formed as supporting members, as shown in Fig. 13, for engagement with the lower corners of the blocks. These jacks are preferably provided for each block X of coal as the block is out and when the complete series of blocks have been formed the jacks may then be removed and the blocks allowed to drop or be dislodged for removal from the mine.

The advantage of supporting the blocks X in position until all of them have been cut is that the machine, if the machine is used, which cuts the kerfs may be moved out of the way in order to permit the convenient removal of the blocks. The cutting of the horizontal lrerfs X and X is preferably done alternately with respect to each other. That is to say, after the vertical kerfs are cut a horizontal upwardly inclined cut X is out. Then the blocks X may be dislodged and removed from the mine entry, thus leaving the face of the coal clear so that the next horizontal cut X which begins at point X and inclines downwardly, may be cut, thus leaving the lower blocks X in condition to be broken along the lower cleavage X and removed from the mine. I has not been found necessary to support the lower blocks X by means of jacks or otherwise, because they are resting upon the floor of the mine, so to speak, and there is not the tendency for them to fall away or break along their lines of cleavage without the aid of a slight additional dislodging force being applied to them. Of course, the vertical kerfs X should be made deep enough in advance of the cutting of the horizontal l'zerfs so that the blocks will be cut on all sides except along the lines of cleavage and at the portions X (Fig. 18) when the kerfs X are not extended all the way to the roof of the mine. It is to be understood, however, that the horizontal kerfs may be made before the vertical kerfs' because in some mines there is found no tendency of the slabs of coal to fall of their own weight, but this, of course, is to be determined by the conditions in the particular mine in which the coal is being cut.

Figs. 26 and 22 diagrammatically illustrate a modification in the angular relations of the cuts. In these figures it will be noticed that the hori zontal kerfs X and X begin at points X above and below the longitudinal center of the vein; that is to say, the cuts X and X are disposed entirely above and below the longitudinal center of the mine, respectively. It will also be noted that these kerfs X and X do not incline at as great an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the mine as they do in Fig. 13. In consequence, it follows that center blocks X are cut on all sides except for a small portion X at the ends of the blocks which must be broken to dislodge the blocks, but, of course, this portion X should not be of sufiicient thickness to prevent the blocks being readily broken by relatively slight force. In Fig. 20 the horizontal cuts X and X do not reach entirely to the lines of the cleavage as is the case with the kerfs X of Fig. 18, but as shown in Fig. 22, these cuts may extend entirely to the line of cleavage, if desired. In Fig. 22 it will be noticed that the center blocks are completely out on all sides; that is to say, the kerfs X and X are extended into the center blocks X until they intersect or meet at the point X thereby making complete cuts on all sides of the blocks.

Figs. 23 and 24 are diagrammatic views illustrating the present improved method wherein is cut a plurality of horizontal parallel kerfs X ill) These kerfs lie in planes spaced apart but" substantially parallel with the longitudinal center of the vein. Any number of these kerfs maybe cut, depending, of course, upon the size of the vein and the particular operating conditions, although in the drawings there is illustrated only three horizontal kerfs, one being located at the upper line of cleavage of the vein, another being located at the lower line of cleavage: and a-third substantially in the center of the vein. There is also cut a plurality of preferably parallel upright kerfs X extending longitudinally into the vein and intersecting thehorizontal kerfs X so as to cut the blocks of coal on all sides except at their inner end portions X which. portions are left.

uncut. Under ordinary circumstances these unout portions X will be broken by the weight of the. blocks themselves. and the blocks will. dropone upon the other in. stacks, so to speak. In the event that the conditions in the particular mine are such that the uncut portions will notbebroken 1 degree it will be noted that the breaking. of the uncut portions X by the weight of the blocks and the dropping of. the blocks will not interfere in any way with the cutting mechanism of the mining machine. In other words, theblocks will drop directly away from the cutting mechanism and allow the cutting mechanismto be withdrawn after the kerfs are made. In the method shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the horizontal kerfs X are preferably cut first and then the upright kerfs are cut one by one in sequence beginning. with the right-hand lrerf X and proceeding with the cutting of these kerfs entirely across the end of the vein.

In Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive, there is shown. a mining machine by means of which the cutting of the various kerfs at the various. angles as above described, may be readily and conveniently accomplished.

In the structure which is shown in the drawings, it preferable to use a flat elongated cutting bar or cutting mechanismi l, shown. hestin Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 3 and. 3 because it is thereby enabled to cut comparatively thin kerfs or cuts without producing any amount of cuttings. The details of the present preferred cutting mechanism structure willbe described hereinafter. It is sufficient at this time to. say that the cutting mechanism is inthe form of a long fiat comparatively thinstructure havinga cutting chain B traveling preferably in one direction around its periphery so as to form a peripheral edge, so to speak. This cutter bar is pref erably comparatively narrow in width and is pr ferably made of such length as to meet the desired requirements as to depth of cut, etc. This cutter bar or kerf cutting mechanism is mounted to cut kerfs at both sides of the mine tra as well as in advance thereof, at the floor, at the roof and at various intermediate elevations, by rectilinear feeding moveme and arcuate feeding movements along horizontal lines, and in addition the a tie lrerf cutter can produce upright kerfs or 2' outs and slanting kerfs intermediate horizontal and vertical planes. The machine is'track mounted and is operable in rooms of widths varyconsiderable.

mg. from that somewhat greater than the width; of the mine track to twice the longer radius of swing.- ing movement of the cutter bar. There will now proceed, therefore, a description of a mechanism by whichthese positions and cutting movements are brought about.

The entire machine is preferably mounted upon awheeled truck C, the wheels 1 of which are preferably mounted upon suitable axles 2 and adapted to run on rails 3 laid along the floor of the mine or entry or other line of movement along which the machine is to operate. The rails 3 are preferably supported by metal ties 4 transversely arranged at intervals and having upturned ends 5. The rails are laid on the ties adjacent the upturned ends 5 of the ties and are prevented from spreadingv 0r shifting by means of bloclrs 6 disposed between he rails and the upturned ends of the ties and by means of spikes or other suitable fastening devices 7 arranged to engage the base of the rails, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The truck is shown as'having a large flat platform or table 8- upon which the mining machine is mounted.

This truck platform has a large depending socket or dish-shaped depression 9; Above the platform, and preferably disposed parallel with respect thereto is a large circular table or platform 10 which serves as a turntable and which has a central vertically disposed shaft or bearing member 11 (Fig. 1) rotatably sunlr into the socket or bearing number 9 of the truck platform, whereby the turntable 19 may be rotated about the vertical axis of its shaft or pivot member 11. The entire mining machine is preferably mounted upon or supported by this turntable so that it may be bodily swung or rotated about a. vertical axis:

to position the cutting mechanism with respect to the material to be cut.

I is preferred that the turntable with the mining machine mounted thereon shall be capable of bodily vertical adjustment, and. for this purpose any suitable mechanism may be provided. In the drawings (Figs- 1 and a) there is illustrated a screw member 12 threaded through thebottom of the bearing member 9 and operating against the lower end of the shaft or pivot member 11 whereby the turntable may be raised or lowered with respect to the truck, as desired. The turntable is provided with power-actuated means comprising the worm gear 15 and the iarge gear 16, and for the sake of simplicity in illustration-the worm gear l5isshown operated a hand wheel 17, although it should be understood that may be operated by means of any desired mechanism. As shown inliig. i the worm gear 15 is connected to a shaft which is suitably journaled in an upstanding arm or bearing 14 on the truck. and having at one end a worm wheel 15 which meshes with gear teeth 16 on the periphery of the turntable 10, and having at its other end a suitable hand wheel 17 (as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.) by which the shaft may be conveniently rotated'by an operator or attendant standing at the side of the machine.

A pair of open, preferably rectangular, frames D- are rigidly mounted upon the turntable 10 in any suitable manner. These frames are parallel and are spaced apart. The upper and lower bars or members D 13 respectively, of each of these frames, are parallel and are adapted to form guides or tracks for a pair of sliding standards 19 and 20, respectively. These sliding standards are suitably formed at their upper and lower ends to embrace the track bars D and D of the frames to prevent displacement of the standards in any i platform 21.

direction except along the track members of the frame. These standards are rigidly connected together at their bases by a platform member 21 so that they, in conjunction with the platform 21, constitute a sub-frame which may be rigidly shifted horizontally in the main frames D, as above described, and by means of this arrangement the entire cutting mechanism may be bodily shifted to any position within the limits of this shifting or sliding adjustment.

The shifting of this sub-frame and the mechanism supported thereby may be accomplished in any suitable manner consistent with the conditions and requirements. In the drawings there is shown power-operating mechanism for this purpose. On the sub-frame platform 21 is mounted able sleeve 28 which is provided with a worm gear 29, and which may be connected with or disconnected from the counter-shaft 26 by any suitable clutch mechanism such, for instance, as is shown in the drawings.

It will be seen that the inner end 30 of the sleeve is provided with notches or teeth so as to form one member of a clutch. The other member 31 of the clutch is mounted upon the shaft 26 to rotate therewith and to slide longitudinally thereof, and this member 31 may be thrown into or out of engagement with the clutch member 30 by the hand-operated lever 32 pivoted at one end to the platform 21. hand lever the worm wheel may be connected with the shaft to be driven thereby or disconnected from said shaft at will.

The worm gear 29 meshes with and drives a worm gear 33 which is mounted upon a vertical shaft journaled in a bearing mounted upon the The shaft carries a. horizontally disposed winding drum or capstan 34, and as this capstan may be used as a means for shifting the sub-frame in the main frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a jack 35 may be placed at a proper position in the mine entry and a rope or cable 36 hooked thereon and run to the capstan or drum 34 so that by permitting the cable to wind upon the drum the sub-frame may be shifted in the main frame. Any suitable anchor may be used for the end of the rope, but it is preferred to use a jack 35,

such as shown in Fig. 4, because it may be conveniently handled and moved about from place to place.

The upper portions of the'standards 19 of the sub-frame carry a large heavy bar or member 40 preferably of rectangular cross-section and ar ranged to slide or shift longitudinally in suitable bearing members 41 of the sub-frame standards. This bar is preferably of considerable length so that it will have quite a long range of movement.

Hence, by operating this.

The shifting of this bar 40 is accomplished through the medium of gear mechanism interposed between the bar so and the driving motor 22. As shown more clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that the entire underside of the bar or member 40 is provided with a series of gear teeth 42 thereby constituting a rack bar. A driving pinion 43 meshes with these rack teeth-for imparting longitudinal movement to the shifting bar 40, and the pinion 43 is mounted upon a shaft 44 which is journaled in bearings 45 depending from one of the rack bar bearings 41.

One end of the shaft 44 carries a large worm wheel 46 which meshes with and is driven by a worm gear 47 similar to the worm gear 29, and which is carried upon a rotatable sleeve 48 on shaft 26 similar to the sleeve 28. This sleeve 48, like sleeve 28, forms one member of a clutch, the other member 49 of which is rotatable with shaft 26 but slidable thereon, and this clutch member 49 is adapted to be shifted into and out of engagement with the sleeve 48 by the hand lever 50. Thus the movement of the shifting rack bar 40 may be controlled at will, and by reason of the worm gearing just described the rack bar will remain locked in any position to which it is moved without the necessity of addi tional locking means.

At one end of this rack bar 40 is provided an arm or member 51 which is disposed downwardly for a portion of its length and then turned horizontally into substantial parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of the rack bar 40. The longitudinally disposed portion of this depending arm forms a pivot member or stud 52 upon which a for red support E is rotatably mounted.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be noted that the supporting member E has a centrally disposed bearing portion or stem E which is rotatable upon the pivot member 52, and it may be held in place upon this pivot member by means of an annular shoulder 53 on the arm 51 and a removable cap 54 which is fastened to the end 01 the stud member 52 by means of a screw or bolt 55. Thus by this construction the forked support E is capable of rotary movement upon an axis which is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis or" movement of the rack bar 40, such axis being substantially transverse to the vertical axis of rotation of the turntable upon which the machine is mounted.

For the purpose of rotating this forked sup port E about its axis in a convenient manner, there is provided a worm wheel 56 on the bearing portion E of the support E and this worm wheel is driven by a worm 57 which is mounted upon a shaft 58 supported in a suitable bearing 59 outstanding from the end of the rack bar so. The shaft 58 has a hand wheel 60 by which it may be conveniently actuated by the operator to ad-- just the position of the support E. It will be noted that by reason of the worm gear arrangement the support E will be automatically locked in any position to which it is rotated without the need of additional locking mechanism.

An electric motor 15 is rotatably supported in the forked support E. In the drawings, there is shown a pair of brackets 61 bolted to the motor casing F on diametrically opposite sides thereof,

and these brackets carry outstanding trunnions V Fig. 1, is disposed substantially at right angles to the horizontal axis of rotation 52 of the forked support E.

Itwill be noted that the arms E of the sup-port E are curved as shown in elevation in Fig. 1 so that the axis of rotation 62 of the motor in the support E is offset to a considerable extent with respect to the horizontal axis of rotation of the support E at 52. This construction is of advantage in that it will enable the cutting mechanism to operate through a greater range than otherwise.

One of the brackets 61 carries a rigid segmental Worm gear 63 which extends over any arc desired. The worm gear 63 meshes with and is adapted to be driven by the worm 64. This worm is mounted upon a small shaft 65 which is carried in a journal bearing 66 extending from one of the arms E of the support E, and the shaft 65 also carries a hand wheel 67 by which it may be mani ulated to rotate the motor about its axis 62. The worm gearing 63, 64 being selflooking as in the other cases heretofore mentioned, makes it possible to eliminate special locking means for holding the motor in any position to which is adjusted.

The cutting mechanism or cutter bar A is carried by a frame or casing member 76 which is rotated on an axis 81 transverse or at right angles to the axis 62 of rotation of the motor in the I forked support E, whereby the cutting mechanism may be arcuately fed or swung in'the plane of itself through a considerable range and thus permit a much wider cut or kerf to be made than if the cutting mechanism were fixed with respect to the motor which drives it. As shown in the drawings, the frame or casing 70 has an internal peripheral groove ll formed at its edge and this groove fits an annular flange 72 on the motor casing so that a bearing is provided upon which the casing 70 may rotate. A removable flange or cap ring '73 is bolted to the casing 76 to permit the parts to be readily disassembled. This casing, together with the motor casing, as will be noticed, forms a complete enclosure for the vaj rious gears and operating parts contained therein, leaving none of these operating parts exposed to the grit and dust which necessarily results from the cutting operation.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, it is to be understood that F represents the field magnets of any standard or suitable motor, and the armature thereof, the armature being mounted upon the motor shaft F and journaled in ball-bearings F in the head or end of the motor casing F. The motor shaft F projects beyond the bearing and carries a spur pinion '75 which drives a larger spur gear 76 carried by a shaft 7'7, the shaft having its bearings '78 in a bracket preferably formed integrally with the casing '10. This shaft also carries a spur pinion '1) which. drives the large spur gear 89, which latter gear is mounted upon and adapted to drive a shaft 81 journaled in the frame or casing 70. The purpose of operating this train of gears thus described is to reduce the relative speed of the shaft 81.

The shaft 81, as will be noticed, is lined up with motor shaft F and carries at its outer end a sprocket 82 around which the cutter chain travels and by which said cutter chain is driven, as will be hereinafter described. The inner end of the shaft 81 carries a beveled gear 83 which is adapted to drive two small radially disposed shafts s4 and 85 through the medium of two small beveled pinions 86 which are carried by the shafts 84 and 85 and which-mesh with the beveled gear 83. The other ends of the shafts 34 and '85 'carry beveled pinions 87 and 88, respectively, which are "mounted upon sleeves so that the gears may rotate with respect to their shafts. 80 These sleeves are notched at their ends 89, 90to form clutch members and are arranged to be connected with their shafts for rotation therewith by moans of sliding clutch members 91 and 92, respectively. '85

The beveled gears 8'7 and 88 mesh with corresponding beveled gears 93 and 94 carried at opposite ends of a shaft upon which the worm'gear 95 is mounted, the shaft which carries this worm h gear being suitably journaled in bearings in the 90 casing 70. This wormgear 95 meshes withan annular series of gear teeth 96 formed upon the motor casing F. Hence by driving the worm gear 95 in either direction the casing '70 may be rotated relatively to the motor on an axis 81 which in '95 this case is coincident with the axis of rotation of the motor shaft, and since the cutter bar A is mounted upon this casing 70 the cutter bar will be given a bodily rotation about said axis "81. Thus by reason of this construction the. cutter 16)?) bar or cutting mechanism maybe rotated in the plane of itself while the cutter chain is traveling around the cutter frame (Fig. 3). By simply shifting one or the other of the clutch members 84 and 85 it is obvious, of course, that 10?, the gear 87 or gear 88 may be thrown into or out of operation to drive the worm gear 96 in whichever direction is desired.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a device by which either of these clutch members may be shifted 1 1i from either of two different points. There is provided a rigid lever which is centrally pivoted at 97 to the casing 70 and which has two bent arms which are connected to the clutch members 91 and 92. These bent arms project through 1 1 5 openings 99 in the casing or frame '70 in position to be actuated by an operator for controlling the clutches. The advantage of providing two points of control for either of these clutches lies in the fact that in case one of the arms 98 is not in convenient position for the operator to ma nipulate, the other arm will be.

One of the edges of each of the openings 99 in the casing 70 has three depressions 100 (see Fig.

'7) corresponding to the different positions to 5 which the respective arm is shifted, and the arms are each provided with a slight enlargement 101 adapted to enter these notches or depressions in the edges of the casing and hold the arms in the positions to which they are shifted, the arms be- 9 ing made to spring slightly so that they will be held in the notches by the tension thereon.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3 and 6, the details of the cutting mechanism or cutter bar A will now be described. This cutter 35 bar has a flat elongated frame 105 around the edge or periphery of which the cutter chain travels. The cutter frame 105, as will be noticed, lies in substantially the plane of the sprocket 82 so that the sprocket and frame will 4g be properly lined up to accommodate the chain. The end of the cutter frame 105 nearest the sprocket 82 has an offset tailpiece 'or' extension 106 which is disposed substantially parallel with the frame itself but is adapted to slide in the guideway 10'] formed in the frame or casing 70, this tailpiece or extension being provided with a slot 103 for the accommodation of the bearing portion or journal 109 for the shaft 81; the purpose of this construction being to allow the frame 105 to be adjusted longitudinally in either direction relatively to the sprocket 82, for the purpose of tightening or loosening the cutter chain or for the purpose of shortening or lengthening this chain, as will be hereinafter described.

The journal or bearing portion 109 of the frame 76 carries a headed belt or screw 110, the head 111 of which is positioned in a slot in the hub portion 109 so as to prevent movement of the bolt in either direction. This bolt extends through an opening in the end 112 of the tailpiece 186 and is provided with two nuts 113, the purpose of the bolt and nut being to hold the cutter frame 105 in any position to which it is longitudinally shifted.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 3 it will be seen that the cutter chain is composed of a plurality of middle or center links 115 and a plurality of intermediate side links 116. The middle or center links 115 are preferably provided with removable cutting knives, bits or cutters 117, and are adapted to slide along the peripheral edge 118 of the cutter frame. The side links 116 project beyond the middle of center links so as to form, in a sense, a continuous channel on the inside of the chain, and the cutter frame has shoulders 119 formed near its edge to accommodate the side links 116. In this manner the chain is, in a sense, interlocked with the cutter frame 105 and may travel around the edge of said cutter frame without danger of being displaced laterally. It will be noted that the faces of the cutter frame 105 are substantially flush with the outer faces of the side links 116 so as to provide a structure of uniform thickness capable of entering the kerfs. Of course the cutting knives or cutter bits 117 on the chain are slightly wider than the thickness of the frame and chain. It is found desirable to allow the cutter chain to travel around the outer end of the cutter frame, this being a sufficient support for the chain without adding any undue friction, but, if desired, a sprocket wheel 120 may be provided at the outer end of the cutter frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and In Figs. 3, 9, 10 and 11, there is illustrated a modification of the present improved machine wherein has been eliminated the motor F which is positioned in the forked support E in Fig. 2, and gearing has been substituted therefor, which gearing is driven by the motor 22 mounted upon the sub-frame. This arrangement enables one motor of a larger capacity to beused for the pur pose of driving and actuating a cutting mechanism and also for bodily shifting the parts.

The shaft of the motor 22 carries a pinion 125 which drives a large gear 126 mounted upon a suitable shaft which is supported in the bearing standards 12''! on the sub-frame platform 21. This large gear 126 in turn meshes with and drives one of two inter-meshing gears 128 of equal size, these gears 128 being mounted on separate parallel shafts 129 and 130 which are supported in suitable bearings 131 on the platform 21. These shafts also carry worms 132 and 133 which drive two large worm gears 134 and 135, respectively, mounted to rotate upon the shaft 44 which carries the pinion 43 for shifting the rack bar 40, the shaft 44 being supported in suitable bearings which are altered in accord ance with the changes of construction in this modification.

The gears 128 rotate in opposite directions and in consequence drive the large worm wheels 134 and 135 in opposite directions these gears being free to rotate upon the shaft 44. Between the two gears 134 and 135 is provided a shiftable clutch member 136 which may be shifted on the shaft in either direction in the usual manner to connect one or the other of the gears 134 and 135 with the shaft 44 to drive said shaft in either direction and thereby reciprocate or shift the rack bar 49 in either direction without reversing the motor.

The shaft 140 upon which the large gear 126 is mounted, is preferably of substantially the length of the shifting or reciprocating rack bar 40 and parallel therewith. This shaft is arranged so that it will slide longitudinally with respect to its bearings and the gear 126 in accordance with the movement of the rack bar. It is preferably squared or otherwise formed, however, so that it will be rotated by the gear 126 at any position into which it is shifted. This shaft 140, which is round at its right-hand end, extends through a bearing formed in the horizontal or pivot portion 52 of the depending arm 51 and projects into the space between the two arms or parts E of the rotary forked support E, and carries a beveled pinion 141 on this projecting end. It also carries a collar 142 which takes the place of the cap member 54 of Fig. 1 to prevent the support E from being displaced with respect to the pivot portion 52 but toallow it to be rotated about its axis in the same manner and preferably by similar hand-operated means to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The beveled pinion 141 meshes with and drives a larger beveled gear 143 which is rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft 144, the longitudinal axis of which lies at right angles to the axis of rotation of the forked support E in the same manher that the axis of rotation of the motor F of Fig. 1 bears with respect to said axis 52. This shaft 144 has its bearings 145 in the ends of the arms E Between the beveled gear 143 and one of the journals 145 is an arm 146 having its hub 147 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 144 so that the arm may be swung or rotated about the axis of the shaft 144. This arm 146 and its manner of mounting may be said to correspond to the motor F (Fig. 1) insofar as the movements thereof are concerned. The outer end of this pivoted arm 146 has a bearing 148 and a large head or flange 149 which may be said to correspond to the flange 72 of he construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The casing is mounted to rotate upon the flange or head 149 in the same manner as in the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and the details of this casing and its cutter mechanism carried thereby are similar to the construction previously described and the description thereof need not be repeated. The shaft 81 which carries the cutter chain sprocket 82' is similar to the corresponding shaft of Figs. 5 and 6 except that it is not driven from a series of reducing gears within the casing '70 but instead it passes directly through the head 149 and is journaled in the bearing 148. On its inner end it carries 1' a beveled pinion 150 which meshes with and is driven by the large beveled gear 143 and in this way receives its motion direct from the main motor 22 on the sub-frame platform 21.

The arrangement of the beveled gears 141, 143

segmental worm gear 64 and 63, respectively, of

the construction shown in .the preceding figures for rotating or positioning the arm 146, is employed except that the segmental gear 63 in this case is mounted upon the hub 147 of the arm 146. The operation of the mechanism for rotating the casing and the cutter mechanism about its axis is identical in principle and the arrangement of the parts, to the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, except that worm and spiral gearing is employed on the shafts 81, 84 and 85 instead of the beveled gears 83, 86, 87, 88, 93 and 94. The annular series of gear teeth 96, with which the worm gear 95 meshes, is mounted on the face of the head of the flange member 149; this gearing is self-locking.

It has been previously mentioned that the above described apparatus or machine is capable of and adapted to cut the various. kerfs at their various angles in order to carry out the improved method of mining above described. In Fig. 14 is diagrammatically illustrated the manner in which the machine may be manipulated to produce the horizontal kerfs X of Fig. 24 or the vertical kerfs X of Fig. 12 heretofore described. When 1 it is desired to cut a vertical kerf in the vein of coal the cutter bar A, by reason of its numerous adjustments, may be positioned so that it will lie in a vertical plane. Since the height of the vein of coal is generally considerably greater than the width of the cutter bar, it is preferred to start the kerf by positioning the cutter bar so that it lies ina vertical plane but inclined upwardly at such an angle that its outer end coincides with the roof of the entry or the upper line of cleavage.

The cutter bar is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 14 by the dotted lines Y. The outer end of the cutter bar in this position is presented to the end of the face of the wall or end of the vein into which it is to operate and the cutter mechanism advances into the vein in the direction of the arrow Y while in its angularly adjusted position. The advancement of thecutting mechanism is preferably accomplished by shifting the rack bar so, as previously described. The advancement in this direction is continued until the cutter bar has entered the vein to the required depth or distance, and since its chain is traveling during this advancement it cuts along the upper line of cleavage. When it has reached the limit of its advancement the cutter bar may be swung or rotated downwardly in the direction of the arrow Y but still in the plane of itself until its outer end reaches the lower line of cleavage,

' whereupon with a suitable cutting speed, it may be withdrawn from the vein while in this lastmentioned adjusted position, the direction of withdrawal being that indicated by the arrow Y In other words, to cut a vertical kerf of greater height than the width of the cutter mechanism, the cutter mechanism may be moved in three or more directions all in the same plane. It will be observed that a mining machine construction is provided wherein the cutting mechanism is universally movable or adjustable; that is to say, it may be placed in any position at any angle at which it is desired to cut a kerf.

It should also be understood that when the trunnion arms E are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the casing 70 may beswung on the trunnicns 62 by operating the wheel 67. In this way, the cutting mechanism or cutter bar A may be swung around so as to occupy a position in a horizontal plane at or near the floor of the mine. After cutter :bar has been from this motor to swing the cutter bar inone direction or the other on its pivotal connection with the casinglO by operating the lever 98 at one side or the other of the casing ill), as shown in Fig. 5.

It is also evident that the feeding mechanism for moving the trunnion arms E operates independently of the mechanism for controlling the lateral swinging movements of the cutter bar A. By throwing in the clutch 49, the electric motor 22 may be connected to the feed mechanism at will, and by reversing the electric motor the feed mechanism may be reciprocated whenever desired. Obviously, therefore, the cutter bar A, while occupying a horizontal position, may be swung at an angle and then moved bod= ily forward by the feed mechanism while the cutter chain is in operation, thereby producing a cut in the mine wall. Furthermore, after this out has been produced to the required depth, the cutter bar may be swung laterally while the cutter chain is operating, and at the same time the rear portion of the cutter bar may be retracted until the cutter bar occupies a position substantially at right angles to the body of the truck on which the mining machine is mounted. Upon continued swinging movement of the cutter bar, the feed mechanism may be reversed so that the rear portion of the cutter bar will be fed forward during continued operation. By means of this operation, the forward portion of the cutter bar travels over a path which is approximately a straight line.

After the cutter bar has been swung in the opposite direction as far as desired, the swinging movement may be discontinued, and, while the cutter bar still occupies the position at an angle to its pivotal connection to the casing '20, the motor 22 may be reversed so as to cause the feeding mechanism to be drawn back while the cutter bar-is still operating. that a square or rectangular cut can be produced in the mine well, each side of which is approximately a straight line, as well as the base of the cut. The forward end of the cutter bar, during the swinging movement, tends to move over an arc of a circle determined by the angle of the swing, but the reciprocation of the pivot of the cutter bar causes a resultant movement of the outer end or" the cutter bar along the chord of also at each side wall of the mine, or even at any angle to such cuts, with the exception that whenever such cuts are produced each must be in plane parallel to the line of the path of travel of the feed bar so, so to prevent binding of the cutter bar in the cut.

It will thus be seen lltl It should be noted that the mining apparatus h above described and shown in the drawings is track. mounted and when the rails are extended up to a position near the face of the mine wall the mining apparatus may be swung around by supporting" wheels which rest upon and are braced by the track, as shown in Fig. 1.

The base frame carries a laterally movable cutter arm which extends from the base frame in elevated horizontal planes above the other parts of the apparatus. When the frame E is swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. l, the kerf-outter may easily be swung to a horizontal position in a plane elevated with respect to the other parts of the apparatus. Ihere may be a plurality of such elevated horizontal planes because the screw-threaded bolt 12 may be used to lift and lower the frame D on the truck frame 8. When the her -cutter is in such horizontal planes its endless cutter chain is movable along the cutter arm in a path horizontal throughout. Furthermore, when the Keri-cutter is in its highest position, the motor F is a chain driving motor positioned below the cutter arm and fixedly connected thereto to move bodily therewith whenever the adjusting mechanism 63, or, is operated. Also, when the kerf-cutter is in its uppermost position the power transmission between the kerf-cutter and the motor constitutes poweractuated means below the arm or frame of the chain cutter for causing such arm and the chain cutter to move laterally to cut a horizontal kerf in the elevated plane extending transversely from one side to the other of the track.

Although the track mounted mining apparatus cuts a horizontal kerf extending across its front from one side of the track to the other, the supporting wheels 1 which rest upon the track are braced by the track by means of the tendency of the feed to twist the frame. The flanges of the wheels however, resist this twisting tendency and therefore the feeding operation can be effected. Of course the keri-cutter B may be moved to a horizontal position from its full line position shown in Fig. 1 so as to occupy its lowermost plane. But whether the Keri-cutter is in a relatively low cutting plane or in a relatively high plane, the screw member 12 constitutes means for adjusting the cutter vertically in parallelism, and such screw member 12 in combination with the gearing mechanism 63, 6a, 56, 5'7, constitutes means for bodily adjusting the cutter arm ertically in parallelism to move the cutter chain from one set oi relatively low cutting planes to another set of relative high cutting planes.

It is also obvious that the power-actuated means shown in Figs. 5 and 5 is constructed and arranged to cause the arm and the chain to move laterally to cut a horizontal Keri at any one of several elevations and extending transversely from one side to the other of the track. When the Keri-cutter is its uppermost horizontal plane or in its lowermost horizontal plane the screw member 12 may be relied upon for vertically adjusting the motor and the cutting mechanism in horizontal parallelism and to hold it either where it will form a kerf in relatively low horizontal planes or where it will form a kerf in other horizontal planes relatively higher than those aforesaid. In other words, the screw member 12 constitutes means for adjusting the motor and the cutter frame vertically for the forming of horizontal lierfs in either of several different horizontal planes.

The forward feed of the mining machine along the track to new positions may be efiected by the power driven reel shown at 34 in Fig. 4., this reel being then movable horizontally with the cutter frame. The cable 36 when anchored, as

shown in Fig. 4, and connected to'the reel, is adapted to cause the forward movement, bodily, of the cutting apparatus.

t should also be observed that the mining machine illustrated in the drawings may make horizontal kerfs X (Fig. 24) intermediate the floor and roof as well as horizontal kerfs at the floor of the mine chamber and horizontal kerfs at the roof of the mine chamber while being moved along the track in a longwall mining operation, the parts being arranged as shown in Fig. 1 to produce the kerfs X of Fig. 24, except that the cutter bar A occupies a ho 'izontal position.

When the intermediate keri X of Fig. 24 is desired, the frame 76 is moved to an upside down position by means of the wheel 67 and the gearing connected thereto and while this is being done the cutter-frame 105 may be swung on the axis 81 so that when the said upside down position is reached the cutter will still extend outwardly from the machine and occupy a position intermediate the floor and roof where it can cut the keri X of Fig. 24 intermediate the floor and roof. In this position, as well as at the floor and at the roof, longwall operations may be carried on or the operation illustrated in 14 may be carried out in a horizontal plane. Such operations as those illustrated in Fig. 14 may be carried out on either side of the mine track or in advance thereof.

It should also be understood that when the modifications shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, are substituted for the motor F and its connections in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, a self-contained mining machine results because the operations illustrated in Fig. 14 may be carried out without any extraneous anchorage connections.

If the framework of the machine be jacked in stationary position by means of roof jacks in a well-known manner, the rope-winding mechanism may pull the rope 36 while the free end thereof is hooked to the roof jack 35 as shown in Fig. 4, whereupon the cutter may be fed rectilinearly along the frame D by sliding the frame 19 along the ways D and l) in a longwall operation.

In a similar manner the flat chain kerf-cutter A may be located in a horizontal plane at the floor in advance of the mine track with the guides D, 1) extending transversely of the mine track and the latter secured in stationary position by means of roof jacks while the worm gearing 15, 16 looks the turntable to t -e truck. Now while the sub-frame l9 isat one end of the track 13, D the cutter bar may be locked at adjusted angle by means of the worm gearing 95, 96, the rack bar 4a) may be moved forwardly parallel to the mine track to effect a sumping out along rectilinear lines parallel to he mine track, then by retracting the bar 40 while feeding the cutter bar anti-clockwise on the axis 81, the cutter bar may be placed in alinement with the bar (=0. By means of the rope winding mechanism comprising the rope 36 the cutter may then be fed at right angles to the longitudinal length of the mine track. The straight faced cut may be completed by advancing the bar 40 while feeding the cutter bar anti-clockwise, and finally eiiecting a rectilinear withdrawal cut.

Kerfs may also be made spaced back from the face of a longwall by adjusting the plane of the k rf-cutter to a vertical plane. The machine may also be operated by making vertical kerfs at right angles to the face of the mine wall in which horizontal kerfs and kerfs spaced back from the mine wall have already been produced, thereby cutting out large blocks of material from the wall each in its entirety.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the turntable 10 and the framework mounted thereon constitutes a body which is turnable horizontally by means of the wheel 17 and the gearing oper-.

ated thereby. The tool support E is rotatable on the horizontal axis of the cylindrical bearing 52. Such rotation may be effected by the wheel 60 which drives the worm gearing 56, 57. It should also be noted that the axis of rotation of the support E on the bearing 52 constitutes an axial line for the rotatable support E. By referring to Figs. 8 and 9 it will be seen that certain members support the cutting tool on the rotatable support E for movement toward and from the axial line of support. The wheel 6'7 and the gearing 63, 64 actuated thereby constitute means on the rotatable support for actuating the supporting members for moving the tool toward and from the axial line of the rotary support.

' .The motor 22 being mounted on the platform 21 is connected to means comprising the shaft 140 extending along the axis of the rotatable support E for actuating the cutting tool. That is to say, the motor 22 being connected to the shaft 140 to rotate the latter and this shaft being con :nected to the sprocket wheel 82', the motor 22 may be mounted on the platform 21 or on the supporting framework and the driving connections relied on to operate the cutting tool, including swinging feeding movement thereof. 1 After the adjustments have been made by the wheels 60 and 67, themotor 22 may be started to drive the chain of the chain-cutter and then one of the levers 98 shown in Fig. 10 may be actuated to throw in either of the clutches 91, 92, to effect swinging feeding movement of the cutter on the axis of the shaft 81. Therefore, in the construction shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the adjustments, operations and controls are the same in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, but instead of having two motors 22 and F as shown in Fig. 1, only one motor is used in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, namely, that designated 22 on the frame 21, the driving connections between this motor 22 and the cutting.

tool being such as to enable the elimination of the motor F of Fig. 1.

In the structure shown in Fig. 1, the motor F is carried by the rotatable support E, but in both the form shown in Fig. 1 and in the form shown in Figs. 8 to 11, inclusive, the control of swinging feeding movement by means of the clutches 91 and 92 is such that when the cutter is parallel to the axial line of the rotatable support E, the cutter may be swung to cut a kerf in a plane parallel to such axial line.

When the turntable 10 is swung by means of the wheel 17 to a position where the axial line of the rotatable support E is parallel to the mine track with the cutter flat on the floor in advance of the mine track, the cutter may be adjusted at an angle so that when the whole ma chine is moved along the mine track by means of the rope-winding mechanism shown in Fig. 2 while the free end of the rope 36 is anchored to the coal face, a rectangular sumping cut may be made at the base of'the mine vein. If the framework of the machine is held stationary by means of roof jacks, the rack bar 42 may be operated to effect a similar rectilinear feeding movement. After such sumping cut has been made, the cutter may be swung on the axis of the shaft 81 or 81' so as to secure an arcuate cut, as illustrated in Fig. 14 by the arrow Y considering this view as a plan View. After such swinging.

feeding movement is effected, a withdrawal cut may be made, as indicated by the arrow Y either by the rope-winding mechanism shown in Fig. 4 or by retracting the bar it), as above explained. Similar operations may be carried on at the roof and also intermediate the floor and roof.

Whether operating at the floor or at the roof or intermediate the floor and roof to secure one of the horizontal kerfs shown in Fig. 24, accuracy of adjustment in elevation of the cutter-bar may be obtained means of the elevating screw 12 shown in li l which may be designed to have sufficient power to lift the framework of the machine while the latter is guided and kept from tilting by means of the guiding structure shown in Fig. 1 The extent of vertical adjustment by means of the lifting screw 12 may be increased by increasing the depth of the receiving cup for the parts shown at 10 and 11 in Fig. 1 and the gear 16 may be widened correspondingly to prevent the same from running out ofmesh with the Worm 15 shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

It should be particularly noted that the worm gearing illustrated in the accompanying drawings is all of the automatic locking type. Such looking worm earing is particularly useful in connection with the holding of the cutter-bar at an adjusted angle while being fed rectilinearly parallel to the mine track for either the making of a sumping cut or for the making of a withdrawal cut, and during such sumping and withdrawal cuts the worm gearing 15, 16 automatically locks the turntable against swinging movement relatively to the truck. 7

When the shaft 81 or 81' occupies a vertical position, the gearing 15, 16 constitutes means for shifting the vertical axis 81 or 81' laterally relatively to the main frame while maintaining this axis upright. The worm gearing 15, 16 being of the locking type holds the cutting element rigid relative to the main frame in its various positions to which it is shifted laterally. The worm gearing 95, 96 is also of the locking type so that the cutter-bar will also be held rigid when the clutches 91, 92 are released.

The connections between the bar 40 and the cutting-tool constitute an overhanging arm when the cutter is parallelto the floor and adjacent thereto. It often occurs in coal mines that the entries are narrow and therefore it may be desirable to produce a sumping cut with the cutter substantially at the floor while the overhanging arm supports the cutter bar so that the rear end thereof will be between the mine wall or rib and the ends of the ties of the track. In this narrow space the cutter may be located and adjusted to extend forward for a rectilinear cut in continuation of the lateral walls of the entry. Thus a kerf may be made, the lower surface of which will be in continuation of the floor on which the track is laid and the kerf cut will have its lower surface below the upper surface of the rails of the mine track. Such kerfs may be cut on both sides of the mine track and connected by a kerf in advance thereof, thus completing a continuous kerf extending across the area in front of the mine track. By means of the screw 12 the cutter bar may be elevated sufiiciently to clear the rails of the mine track during transportation.

It shouldalso be noted that by applying power to the wheel 17 after positioning the kerf-cutter at the floor, a kerf may be cut in advance of :the-truck through an arc'of 180;on a radius ex- ;tending from the center, of the turntable to the allentries; of relatively narrow widths, the full effective length of the cutterebar is used and consequently a rapid advance of the entries is al- ;,ways-maintained. -This may beunderstood by reference to Fig; 1% considered as a plan view... 52C) :Whenv advancing entries of intermediatewidths,

'viousthatthe great flexibility ofthe machine illustrated enables a single kerf-cutter to perform arcwall operations at the floor, at the roof and intermediate the floor and roof by producinghorizontal kerfs; also arcwall operations in upright or shearing positions; and furthermore, the same -machine may be used to carry out either longwall operations or breast operations to rapidly advance entries of varying widths while the full-length of the cutter is always employed for the arcwall feeding movements.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the y axis of the turntable is permanently vertical and when the kerf-cutter is parallel to thehori- I :;the; turntable mechanism may be employedto.

qsecurethearcuate feedbetween the rectilinear sumping and withdrawal cuts, but when relatively narrow entries are to be advanced, it-is-pre- #15:;ferred, to; adjust -;the bar '40 to alongitudinally ;.-central position. and rely-on the-feed of the cutter on the axis ,81 orgl' to secure the; arcuate cuts. Wheneverthe cutter-bar is fed rectilinearzontal axis of the bearing 52 the axis 81, which is the-pivot of the cutter bar within the orbit of the cutter chain, is spaced from the turntable axis so as to be located at all times outside of the boundaries of the truck and turntable. Bymeans of thewheel the axis 81 is ad- --justable-between vertically and horizontally extending posit-ions,- while the cutter is being supported in all adjusted positions. Variable spacing of the axis Blfrom the turntable axis is effected bymovement of the rack bar 40.

When the truck-is anchored to the i .inetrack or blocked againstmovement along the samethe li-erf-cutter while; occupying a-horizontal plane ply, either for sumping or withdrawing itis locked 3 atian acute angle. 1 Then when the chaincutter is; fed jnto the face; of the mine vein, it is presentededgewiseto the coal and projected-into ;the;;latter .to its full depth which is taken ad- ,-yantage of:;i making ;the arcuate cut. Therefora-for; all arcuate cuts, whether the kerf cutter is fed through 180 for the-widest entries-or is fed arcuately through-lesser; angles between the .5 hile thegkerf cutter is extended into thecoal w r togitsfull eflective length. The-distance the .entry; is adyanced-by-blasting after each cut ;;1s;therefore;substantially the same forthe enries--of-.-yarious 'widthsr from the widest to-the narrowest; and; for all entries the rib cuts as ilustrated at X and X in Fig. 14=-are--alon straight lines fto facilitate the-productionof straight walls atthesides of the entries.

maybe swung on the turntable axis or-on 'the axis 81. Separate means are provided for this 1 purpose. [Theinclination of the kerf-cutter may be adjusted; by the wheel 67 and the elevation by means of the screw 12.

The distance, of the axis Sl from the turntable axis may be varied' by shifting the rack bar 40. When the- ;kerf-cutter is"thus adjusted it will be locked tilinear 1 cuts, the arcuate: feedis 5 obtained against turning on the axis .81 bythe self-locking worm gearing '95, 96;it will be lockedagainst movement transversely of its ownplane by the I sworrn gearing 63.64; it. will; be locked against turning onthehorizontal axis of the'bearin 752 by the wormgearing 56,57; andit will be a While 1 the foregoingtrefers to -mining;- operaj tions-1to extend entries-inadvance of the truck aor-- n-ad3ranceof the mine traek; the-methodulmpms as We as relatively narrow Entries or ..lustrated in Figs: 17" to 2e-inclusive,-is used in. a a:longwall:systemofmining. the upright onshearing cuts-X Jaeing made as illustrated inFig. 14. --By swinging the cutter-bar toward"; orfront the .1 axial-i1ine of the neck it; maybe positioned. for

locked against rectilinear movement relatively to the truck by theworm gearing 46,,4'7. By applying power to the wheel 1'7 the kerf-cutter may be fedalong anarc on a radius which may be rnuch longer than thelength of thecutter bar. Therefore, as aboveexplained, the machine may be operated in very wide entries or rooms and, moreover, the working face by reason of the long radius of the cut will more nea y, approa h rai h f the-makingof the slanting-kerfs-X and'X and the C'IlttQI mQYFbE' fed rectilinearly by increments.bysliding the sub-frame 21 along the-main .ilame D-;wh1le the end of the rope is anfihored beingxgither hqrjvzpntal asnshown in. Fig 24 at 1.3;?"35 and the truck isjackecl in stationary posi- -t ionon the mine track. It should-be-observed thatathe rope; 36 may beanchoredtothe truck -;;;frame8 for'this operation,--andtherefore when the -f;ramei2l is fed along the; frame- D, the ma- ;.-,1 chine,-is entirely self contained. The -machine s -also entirely self-contained when operating .Wjhile the truck is. anchored to the mine track the .rope winding mechanism comprising the rope 36gnay be used to, slide the frame 19 along the track D,'D to securea rectilinear cut in a plane parallel to the mine track, such plans 9 ..o in l e w rd o d wnward1y as ilto producekerfs. in advance-of the truckand in A n usted position W111 be effected by .selr contained advance. of) the J mine, track as 1, above; explained.

' chin -a onsthe-min a c i e the-ms tm of the kerf-cutter has been adjusted by -swingring. thesame towardcr from the axiallineof the and also in advance thereof transversely ofthe meek.

.shown at Xfand X in Figs. 18. 20. and 2 2, or vertical v with the cutter bar spaced back from alongwallface, or projecting into the roof or projecting into the fioor atany adjusted distance from the mine track.v Such rectilinear f eding. movement. with the kerf-cutter in adstood that 'suchrectilinear feeding -rnovernent maybe effected at either side of the mine track,

.rnine track and during suchrectilinear feeding movement the axis 62 remains parallel to the track D, D but may be above or below the horizontal axis of the bearing 52 with the Kerr"- cutter in any one of many different planes comprising horizontal planes at the roof and floor and intermediate inclined planes as well as hori zontal planes adjacent the axis 52 one above the same and one below the same.

While the truck is anchored to the mine track or while the frame D is anchored by means of roof jacks the kerf-cutter may be fed rectilinearly either transversely of the mine track or parallel thereto provided the kerf-cutter is in a plane parallel to the axis 52 or to the path of travel of the rack bar 40. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the motor F may be operated to drive the cutter chain while the motor 22 effects rectilinear feeding movement. The feed may therefore be controlled in accordance with the hardness of the material being cut while the speed of travel of the cutter chain may be maintained independently of the feed. In the form shown in, Figs. 1 and 2 the cutter-chain driving motor reciprocates rectilinearly with the rack bar 40 while in the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the cutter chain is operated by means extending along the axis of the supporting bearing 52.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a complete mining machine comprising the motor F, cutter bar A, and mechanism for operating the same including arcuate feed of the kerf-cutter in its own plane, is suspended from the overhanging support E. It can readily be seen that when the kerf-cutter is swung to a horizontal plane at the roof of the mine chamber from the dot ted line position shown in Fig. 1 the track mounted apparatus will be operable to cut kerfs in planes well above a plane extending horizontally through the top of the machine. The overall height of the framework may therefore be lower than the maximum height of the coal vein. The same machine may also cut horizontal kerfs between the top of the frame I) and the horizontal axis of the bearing 52 by tipping the motor upside down from the position shown in Fig. 1 and turning the cutter bar 180 from its full line position. Whether the kerf-cutter near the axis 52, above it or below it, or whether it is at the roof or at the floor, it may be adjusted in elevation rectilinearly by means of the screw 12.

The inclination of the cutter bar may at any time be adjusted on the axis 62 along arcuate lines transverse of the cutter bar; the cutter bar may also at any time be adjusted on the axis 52 to vary the inclination of the cutter bar relative to a longitudinal center line thereof. Consequently, the telescoping guiding mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 1 will be useful to prevent tilting of the frame D relative to the truck, the screw 12 will effect rectilinear adjustment in elevation and the gears 15 and 16 will always be kept properly in mesh with each other. After the cutter bar has been adjusted to a desired position it will be locked at the turntable by the worm gearing 15, 16, at the rack bar by the worm gearing, 46, 4'7, at the neck E by the worm gearing 56, 57, at the 62 by the worm gearing 63, 64, and at the casing of the motor F by the worm gearing 95, 96. The frame 19 may be locked against one end or the other of-the frame D relative to the track D, D by means of the worm gearing 29. 33, when the free end of the rope 36 is anchored to the frame D or the truck 8.

While it is preferred to carry out the method illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24 by longwall operations for the horizontal kerfs and by the operation illustrated in Fig. 14 for. the upright slanting kerfs it should be understood that the kerfs illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24 may also be out in the coal face in advance of the mine track. Spaced-apart horizontal kerfs X may be out as above described. The upright slanting kerfs X? may be out by adjusting the axis 62 in an upright position parallel to the kerf X to be cut.- By means of adjustments effected by means of the: worm gearing 63, 64 and 15, 16 the kerf cutter may be located in various parallel positions each in planes parallel to the slant of the axis By means of the rope winding mechanism recti-- linear feed may be effected by moving the whole machine along the mine track. Sumping and withdrawal rectilinear feeding movements may be connected by arcuate feeding movements on the axis 81 thus in each instance cutting a parallel ribbed kerf in a slanting plane as illustrated at X in Fig. 23. The range of operations on the coal face extending across the space in advance of the mine track may be increased by inverting the axis 62 when the cutter is located on the opposite side of the mine track from that shown in Fig. 1. The upright slanting kerfs X may therefore be located in parallel spaced-apart positions and extended over a wide area from the position adjacent one rib of the entry to a position adja-- cent the other rib thereof. It will thus be seen that in addition to the longwall operations herelnbefore described in connection with Figs. 23 and 24, shortwall operations may also be carried out in the manner just described.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of the invention, what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting spaced apart elongated parallel kerfs in the face of the mine vein by longwall opera tions, and producing upright spaced-apart slanting kerfs to facilitate the dislodgement of large blocks of coal.

2. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting parallel spaced-apart kerfs in the face of the mine vein, one at the roof, one at the floor, and one intermediate the floor and roof, and producing upright spaced-apart slanting kerfs inclined rearwardly frm the roof toward the floor to facilitate the dislodgment of large blocks of coal.

3. The method of mining which consists in producing spaced-apart kerfs in the face of a mine wall by longwall operations, and producing upright spaced-apart slanting kerfs to facilitate the dislodgement of large blocks of coal.

4. The method of mining coal which consists in cutting parallel spaced-apart kerfs in the face 2' of the mine vein including a kerf at the roof and a kerf at the floor, and producing slanting kerfs in the coal vein to facilitate the dislodgement of large blocks of coal.

5. The method of mining which consists in cutting a plurality of elongated kerfs in the face of the mine vein by longwall operations, and producing upright slanting spaced-apart kerfs in such face to facilitate the dislodgement of large blocks of material.

cut face at right angles thereto to facilitate dislodgrnent of large blocks of material.

7. The method of mining which consists in cutting a plurality of elongated kerfs in the face of the mine vein by longwall operations at various elevations, and producing upright slanting Spaced ap'art kerfs in such cut face in planes at right angles thereto to facilitate the dislodgement of large blocks of material.

8. The method of mining which consists in cutting a plurality of spaced-apart horizontal kerfs in a mine vein, and cutting a plurality of upright spaced-apart kerfs in upright planes each slanting relative to the vertical, the cutting of each of the upright kerfs being formed in three steps, the first being a cutinto the face of the mine vein rectilinearly eifect'ed, the second being a cut transversely effected in the same plane, and the third being a withdrawal cut reversely and rectilinearly eifected to complete a parallel ribbed kerf in such slanting plane.

9. The method of mining which consists in cutting a horizontal plane kerf in the plane of the roof of the mine chamber, cutting a horizontal plane kerf in the plane of the floor of the mine chamber, cutting an elongated plane kerf along the face of the mine vein intermediate the floor and the roof, cutting upright spaced-apart plane ker'fs intersecting the aforesaid kerfs, each of said upright kerfs being slanting relative to the vertical, and dislodging the kerf-cut material.

OLIVE EUG-ENIE MORGAN, Executrix, Estate of Edmund C. Morgan, De-

ceased.

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