US2059415A

US2059415A - Mining apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2059415A
Application number: US748724A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward A Thomas; Edgar M Cadwallader
Original assignee: THOMAS MINERAL CUTTING MACHINE
Current assignee: THOMAS MINERAL CUTTING MACHINE; THOMAS MINERAL CUTTING MACHINE CO Inc
Priority date: 1933-10-19
Filing date: 1934-10-17
Publication date: 1936-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1953-11-03

Description

NOV- 3, 1935- E. A. THOMAS ET A1. 2,059,415

MINING APPARATUS Original Filed 001;. 19, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @kwam Nov. 3, 1936. E. A. THOMAS ET AL 2,059,415 l MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 -Nv.3,1936. E. A. THOMAS Em 2,059,415

MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 3, 1936. E. A. THOMAS ET A1.

MINING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 19, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 v ii' i r ori 2,059,415 MINrNo Arraan'rus Edward A. Thomas, Massillon, and Edgar M. Cad? wallader, Cleveland, (ihio, assignors to Thomas Mineral Cutting Machinelo., lino., Cleveland, @him a corporation of Delaware i l @riginal application (lctober 19.33, Serial No. 694,306. Divided andthis application October I7, 1934i, Serial No. 748,724

i claims. (ci. 2624-22) This invention relates to an apparatus for the mining of coal. an apparatus for use in the pitch mining of vhard coal or similar material.

In most of the localities where hard coal is found, the coal appears in strata or veins which run at an angle with respect to the surface of the ground, such angle or pitch being anywhere from to 70. In the mining of coal from such strata or Veins, it is necessary to ilrst` sink a shaft or slope of a depth sufcient to reach the bottom or basin of the various strata of coal, and then form a tunnel or gangway inthe basin for the reception of the coal Which is mined from the strat-a. In such tunnel or gangway is mounted suitable machinery for transporting the coal which has collected therein to the shaft or slope, from which point it is conveyed to the surface for preparation for market. From this tunnel or gangway, the strata or veins of coal extend upwardly in diiferent directions andlat dierent degrees of pitch. The mining of coal from pitched strata or Veins is what is known as pitch mining, and will be termed such in the description hereinafter set forth.

In the system of pitch mining theiace or breast of the strata or vein facing the tunnel or` gangway is puncturedv by blasting at suitably spaced points therealong, so as toform openings of the desired size which are closed by traps. Such openings. are usually of a Width of approximately 4 feet square and of a4 length of about 30 to 40 feet. From e-ach of such openings, a cut is made so as to form a Working breast or face of approxi,- mately 24 feet in Width and extending the full height or thickness ofthe strata or vein. The edges of each breast or face in turn are bounded by lateral ribs of suicient `thickness to form a support for the roof. These `Working breasts or faces and lateral ribs arel so arrangedjwith `respect to each other as to form a battery of tun-- nelswhich are in communication with the main tunnel or gangway through said openings.. Adjacent to and along the lateral rib of eachbreast is a man-way for the ingress and egress of the Workmen, such man-ways being of a size just suflicient to easily permit the passage of a workman therethrough. In addition, these man-ways act Vas Ventilating ducts, and are also used for the purpose of taking timber, tools and other materials required by the operator at-the Working face or breast. i

. Pitch mining as nowV practiced consists in drill- Ying holes into the face `or breast of the coal at suitably spaced points, filling the holes with ex- More particularly, it'relates to Va size known as undersized coal or iines.

plosives, and then setting off the charges of eX- plosives. In other Words, the coal is broken from the face or breast by blasting. In this method the degree of impact and shattering power of the blast is dependent upon the skill exercised by the miner in selecting the proper relative positions for each hole, in drilling the holes to the proper depth, in employing the correct amount of the explosive charge, and in tamping the charge properly in each of the holes. Thus, it will be apparent that if great care and skill is not exercised by the miner, a blasting effect Will result which `is `of such intensity and repercussion as to cause severse fractures in the lateral ribs and cave-ins inthe roof and shatter the coal into a relatively high percentage of small particles of Further, the coal is blasted primarly from the central portion of the breast, leaving portions of the coal depending from the roof and protruding from the lateral ribs. In order to maintain the breast or face of uniform fracture, it is necessary to remove such portions, and this can only be dene by bami-operated wedges, sledges, or picks. l,es a matter of fact, it is not possible to dislodge the coal by blasting from the entire area of the breast or face without causing some damage to the roofA and the lateral ribs. The coal thus mined slides down the pitched floor and collects upon thetop of `a base of mined coal which eX- tends from the Working breast or face to the trap door for controlling the discharge of the mined coal therefrom into the tunnel or main gangWa-y. This bank of mined coal extending .fromvthe breast to the trap forms a platform tor supporting the Workman in his operations incident to mining.

;tect the Workmen `from injury or fatality due to the falling ofgpieces or'sections of the roof. The

timber required for this purpose can only be broughtfup to the Workmen in the breast through theman-ways, and this is an extremely diflicult .and burdensome task, because of the great weight of the timbers. Furthermore, the blasting causes an undue amount of smoke and coal dust which are not only injurious to the health of the Worklinen,` but also unduly tax the system of ventilation. VIn` addition", there is the grave 4danger of gas explosions and consequent fires which result in many injuries or fatalities to the Workmen.

Then again, this method of mining produces approximately 35% of what is known as undersized coal or nes of each ton mined which undersized coal or fines can only be sold at a price below the production cost. Also, the average production of a miner with a helper for each working day of eight hours is only from 6 to 8 tons of coal.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for pitch mining of coal without blasting which is of a size such that it can be taken with ease through the manway to the working breast or face of the vein, and requires the services of only an operator and a helper.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus for pitch mining of coal without blasting which is compact, comparatively light in weight, universally adjustable with respect to the working face or breast of the vein, and operable by a single workman.

An embodiment of an apparatus for use in the pitch mining of coal according to the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the apparatus according to the present invention in operative position in a coal or mineral vein of the pitch type.

Figure 2 is a plan view in section, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, showing the device for boring into the coal or mineral and applying vibratory forces thereto.

Figure 3 is a side elevation in section, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, showing the mechanism for applying vibratory forces to the boring elements.

Figure 4 is a side elevation in section, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, showing the mechanism for effecting the driving of the boring elements.

Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in section, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 4 showing the mechanism for driving the plurality of spaced boring elements.

Figure 6 is a partial side elevation in section, taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2, showing the mechanism for imparting vibratory impulses to the boring elements while they are being driven.

Figure '7 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the means for effecting relative movement of the device for boring and applying vibratory forces with respect to the breast of coal and the means for supporting and anchoring same within the vein or strata.

Figure 8 is atop elevation taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a front elevation, partly in section, taken on the line 9 9 of Figure '7, showing the means for effecting relative movement of the boring and vibratory device with respect to the breast of the coal or mineral.

Figure 10 is a partial side elevation in section, showing the manner of connecting the boring and vibratory device to the means for effecting relative movement of said device with respect to the breast of the coal or mineral.

Figure 11 is a rear elevation, partly in section, taken on the line I I II of Figure 1, showing the means for universally adjusting the position of the means for supporting the boring and vibratory device.

Figure 12 is a partial side elevation, in section, showing a modication of the mechanism for applying vibratory forces to the boring elements.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates the device for boring into the coal or mineral and applying vibratory forces thereto. Such hushed bearings I9.

device comprises a housing 2 which includes as a part thereof a motor casing 3 in which is mounted a combined rotor and stator 4 provided with a shaft or spindle 5. The shaft or spindle 5 is mounted in

bearings

6, 1, and 8 and has a portion intermediate the bearings 'I and 8 which is hexagonal in shape. Mounted upon the hexagonal portion of the shaft or spindle 5 is a cam 9 which engages with and rides upon a roller Il] rotatably mounted on a shaft I I supported by the ears I2 and I2 of a lever I3. The lever I3 in turn is xedly mounted upon the hexagonal portion I4 of the shaft I5 as shown in Figure 3. The shaft I5 is provided with a plurality of hexagonally shaped portions I6 which are spaced therealong and is rotatably mounted in roller bearings I8 and Upon each of the portions I6 of the shaft I5 is xedly mounted a lever I'I.

The lever I3 contacts with and bears against a torsion lever 20 which is xedly mounted on a torsion shaft 2 I. One end of the torsion shaft 2l is provided with a hexagonal shaped portion which extends through an opening in the housing 2 and is securely held against turning in said opening by means of adjusting sleeve 22 and lock nut 23.

Protruding from the face of lever I3 and of each of the levers I'I is a hammer pin 24. Supported by the base of the housing 2 and mounted therein are a plurality of aligned and spaced boring elements or drills 25, which are so positioned with respect to the lever I3 and levers I7 that one end of each of the drills is in operative relation with a hammer pin 24. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each of the drills 25 is provided with a collar 26 and is rotatably mounted in bearings 2`I, 28, and 29. Loosely mounted upon each of such drills 25 is a tension spring 3i! having one end which bears against the collar 25 and the other end against the bearing 28. Each of the drills 25 is provided with a hexagonal shaped enlargement 3I as shown in Figure 6. Surrounding such hexagonal shaped enlargement 3l of the drill and disposed between the

bearings

28 and 29 is a hollow hexagonal shaped hub 32 which is of such construction as to permit the hexagonal enlargement 3| to freely slide therein. The hub 32 is provided with a plurality of teeth protruding from the outer periphery thereof in such manner as to form a sprocket 33. The boring end of the drills 25 may be of any desired shape or configuration, preferably it should comprise a detachable diamond shaped point or bit 34 and a spiral shaped portion 35 as shown in Figure 1.

Mounted on the shaft 5 adjacent to and beyond the bearing 8 is a worm 36. The bearing 8 is supported by bracket 3'! to which is secured a casing 38. Within the casing 38 is a worm gear 39 which meshes with the worm 36. The worm gear 39 is carried by a shaft 40 which is mounted at one end in bearings 4I and 42 supported by the casing 38 and the other end in bearing 43 supported in housing 2. Mounted upon shaft 40 is also a sprocket 44 which is in engagement with a driving chain 45 that meshes with the plurality of sprockets 33 carried by the drills 25. The housing 2 is partially lled with a lubricant of the desired viscosity which insures adequate lubrication of all of the mechanism under working conditions.

The device for boring and applying vibratory forces designated by the numeral I is attached to a flanged roller bearing 45 carried by an end of a staff 4'I by means of bolts 48 which pass through openings in the flange of the bearing 46 and open- 75 ingsof the housing 2 of the device l, as shown in Figure `10. The opposite'end of the bearing 49 is provided with a plurality of openings which are shiftable into complemental relation with openings in a` collar 49 carried vby the staff 41, and the collar 49 locked to the bearing 45 at any desired position byy means of a pin or pins 59. The staff 41 is mounted on and is supported by a pair of arms 5I detachably secured by a pin or bolt to ears 52 of a roller bearing 53 mounted upon and surrounding a hollow tubular section 59 of a standard 54, the portion of said staff carrying the device l extending between the arms 5I and resting uponrollers 55 and 59 carried by said arms. The free end of the staff 41 extends through a feeding nut 51 and is clamped thereto. The feeding nut 51 is provided with a threaded opening which engages with a screw 58 mounted in a hollow guide bracket 59 connected at one end to arms 5l as at 68. The other end of the guide bracket 59 is secured to the arms 5l by means of bracket 6l. Disposed within the staff 41 is a rod 32 which is surrounded by a tension spring 63. The feeding nut 51 has a threaded opening which engages the screw 58, and also an opening which surrounds the staff 41. One end of the screw 58 is provided with a shank 95 upon which is mounted a thrust bearing 54 and a turn wheel 65.

The standard 54 comprises hollow

tubular sections

68 and 69 which telescope into each other. Each of such sections are provided with openings in the sides thereof as shown in Figure 7 for adjusting the relative positions so as to increase or decrease the overall length. Th-e sections are locked in the adjusted position by means of pins or bolts 51. On the `free end of section 68 is a -collar 19 which bears against a threaded nut 1l in threaded engagement'with a shackle bolt .12. OnV one end of the shackle bolt 12 is a collar 13 which is of a size such as to freely slide within the section 58. To the other end ofthe shackle bolt 12 is attached a claw shaped shoe 14. The shoe 14 maybe adjusted with respect to the section 68 by means of the nut 1l. The free end of section 59 is provided with an adjustable claw shaped shoe 15 which is of the same structure as shoe 14 just described, except a thust bearing 16 is interposed between the collar 11 and the adjusting nut 18, thel purpose of such bearing being to take the thrust induced by the rotation of the nut 18 toward the collar 11.

The' hollow standard 54 is xedly anchored and braced against lateral stresses by means of a bracing member 19 and turn buckle tie rod 89. The bracing member 19 comprises a hollow tube 8l having at one end thereof a claw shaped shoe 82 of a structure like that of shoe 14 previously described. The free end of said tube 8l is adjustably connected to the claw shaped shoe 15 by means of a threaded shackle bolt 83 and nut 84. The shoe 82 is connected to or tied to shoe 14 by means of turn buckle tie rod 85.

The roller bearing 153 mounted upon hollow tubular section 99 of the standard 54 is provided with arms 86 and 81 which support a shaft 88, having a grooved drum 89 mounted thereon. The `shaft 88 is provided with a shank 99I upon which is mounted a worm gear 9|, and such gear in turn isin mesh with worm 92 carried by a shaft 93. A Casing 94 encloses such worm gear mechanism and is secured to the arm 81 of the bearing 53. Mounted upon the free end of shaft 93 is a turn wheel 95. Secured to the drum 89 and so disposed as to operate in the grooves are cables 95 which ride over sheaves 91 and 98 mounted on trunnions 99 and |99 extending Jfrom opposite sides of roller bearing lill secured to the top of section 58 of the standard 54 by means of collar i9?. The cables 98 extend from the sheaves 91 and 98 to the pair of arms 5l and are detachably secured thereto as at ID3.

In operation of the apparatus according to the present invention, the boring and vibratory device l is taken up through the man-way to the working face of the breast. The part consisting cf the supporting arms 5I and staff 41 is next taken up through the man-way. Then, finally the part consisting of the standard 54, bracing member 19, and turn buckle tier rod 89 is taken up through the man-way. It is to be understood that these parts of the apparatus may be taken up through the man-way to the working face of the breast in any desired order or sequence.

The operator and his helper first set up the standard 54 in such manner that the claw shoes 14 and 15 engage the roof and floor, respectively, whereupon the bracing member 19 is positioned so that the shoe 82 will engage the roof of the Vein and thereby adequately brace the standard 54. To rlXedly anchor the bracing member 19 and standard 54, the turn buckle tie rod 88 is secured in such manner that the shoes 14 and 82 are tightly connected together, and then the nut 18 is turned until the claws of the bracing member and standard are rmly and securely anchored.

To the thus anchored standard 54 is secured the part consisting of the supporting arms 5l and stair 41 by arranging the ends of said arms in abutting relation with the ears 52 of the bearing 53 carried by section 59 of the standard, and securing the arms thereto by means of a pin or bolt which passes through complemental openings in the ears and arms. The boring and vibrato-ry device i is then attached to the end of the staff 41 in such position that the drills are in a truly horizontal position by aligning the openings in the housing 2 with the openings in the flange of the bearing 46, and securing and locking the device in such position to the staff by inserting pins 5D in the aligned openings. The cables 95 are then trained over the sheaves 91 and 98 and in turn attached to the supporting arms 5l as at 93. The operator then turns vthe wheel 95 in the proper direction to shift the boring and vibratory device i to a position such that the drills are at an angle substantially parallel to the pitch of the floor at the juncture point of the breast and the floor.

When the apparatus thus described is in the proper position with respect to the face of the breast of the coal or mineral, the operator connects the cable lill to a` suitable source of electricity which starts the rotation of the motor shaft 5. The rotation of the shaft 5 causes the rotation of the boring drills through the worm 35, worm gear 39, shaft 49, driving sprocket 44, sprocket chain 45, and sprockets 33.

As the shaft 5 rotates the peripheral surface of the cam 9 is caused to ride around the roller i9. The peripheral surface of the cam 9 is such that at certain points of its orbital travel it exerts pressure on the roller i9 to such an extent as `to cause the lever i3 to overcome the force exerted thereon through the torsion lever 20 and then abruptly releases such pressure. The application of the pressure of. such extent upon the lever i3 through the roller I9 so as to overcome the tensional stress or force exerted thereon by the torsion lever 20 induces th'e hammer pins 24 to be moved away from the complemental ends of the drills 25, and the abrupt release of such application of pressure causes the hammer pins of not only lever I3 but also levers l? to strike against the complemental ends of the drills to exert a vibratory force upon the drills while they are being rotated. The striking of the hammer pins upon the complementa] ends of the drills causes the hexagonal shaped enlargements 3| on each of the drills to move longitudinally within the hexagonal shaped hubs 32, which movement is translated into a vibratory force which in turn is distributed to the coal or mineral in the regions of contact of the drills when the drills are operating in the coal or mineral.

While the boring and vibratory device I is in operation, the operator turns the wheel 66 in the proper direction to a degree sufficient to cause the feeding nut 51 and screw 58 to advance the staff 41 until the drills contact with the face of the breast of coal or mineral. The drills which are rotating upon contact with the face of the breast begin to bore a plurality of spaced holes in the coal or mineral. The operator gradually continues the turning of the wheel 66 until the drills have bored holes of the desired depth, for example a depth corresponding to the length of the drills or less. Preferably, the drills are urged toward the face of the breast until holes of a depth corresponding to the length of the drills are bored. When the holes have been bored to the desired depth, the operator turns the wheel 66 in the opposite direction until the drills are clear of the face of the breast, whereupon the drills are shifted to a position such that the ends will contact with the portions of the coal intermediate the plurality of spaced holes previously bored. The operator then turns the wheel 66 in the proper direction to advance the drills into the coal and continues the gradual turning until the coal intermediate the plurality of spaced bored holes has been bored away to the same depth, and thereby forms a continuous cut or issure in the coal in the portion defined by the drills in the face of the breast at the juncture point of the floor and breast. This operation is continued until a fissure has been formed clear across the breast at this point. Since the drills bore at an angle, the boringsare picked up by the spiral portion 35 and are conveyed back toward the working space of the vein and discharged upon the pitched floor. The formation of such ssure severs the coal from the bed rock of the floor.

When the fissure at the base of the breast has been formed, the operator shifts the mounting of the boring and vibratory device I to a position such that the drills are in a vertical plane or in a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane. This is done by removing the pins 50, tilting the device to the desired position, aligning the openings in the housing 2 with the openings in the flange of the bearing 46, and then inserting the pins 5D in the aligned openings. The Wheel 95 is then turned in the proper direction to shift the boring and vibratory device I to a position such that the drills are positioned in a vertical plane just above the ssure and at one of the lateral ribs of the breast. It is to be noted that the drills in such position are also at an angle substantially parallel to the pitch of the floor of the vein or strata. The operator next turns the wheel 66 in the proper direction to a degree sumcient to cause the feeding nut 51 and screw 58 to advance the stair 41 until the drills contact with the face of the breast of coal or mineral, and continues such turning of the Wheel until a plurality of spaced holes have been bored into the coal or mineral to the desired depth, preferably to the same depth as that of the fissure, whereupon the wheel 66 is turned in the opposite direction until the drills are clear of the coal. The boring and vibratory device I is then elevated by means of the wheel 95 to a position such that the drills are just above the portion containing the thus drilled plurality of spaced holes, but in the same vertical plane. Then the operator again turns the wheel 66 in the proper direction to a degree sufficient to cause the advancement of the drills into contact with the face of the breast of coal or mineral at such point, and continues such advancement until another series of spaced holes are bored, whereupon he turns the wheel 66 in the opposite direction until the drills are again clear of the coal. These operations are repeated successively until the coal along the lateral rib has been punctured from the floor to the roof of the vein or strata. When this has been done, the coal along the opposite lateral rib is punctured from the oor to the roof in the same manner. The boring of spaced holes in the coal of the breast along each of the lateral ribs from the floor to the roof of the vein or strata fractures the cleavage of the coal at such points. If desired, a continuous unbroken fissure in the coal or mineral along each of the lateral ribs may be formed in the same manner as the fissure extending across the entire width of the breast at the juncture point of the face of the breast and the floor, previously described, but it has been found that puncturing the coal at spaced points along the lateral ribs is suflicient to fracture the cleavage of the coal or mineral at such points.

It is to be noted that while vibratory forces are imparted to the coal during the formation of the ssure at the base of the breast and the puncturing or fracturing of the cleavage of the coal along the lateral ribs from the floor to the roof of the vein or strata, such forces exert their desired functions and result only in the subsequent steps which are subsequently described herein below.

Upon completion of the step of f'racturing the cleavage of the coal along the lateral ribs from the oor to the roof of the vein or strata, the operator shifts the mounting of the boring and vibratory device I to a position such that the drills are in a horizontal plane. This is done by removing the pins 5B, tilting the device to the desired position, aligning the openings in the housing 2 with the openings in the flange of the bearing 45, and then inserting the pins 5I) in the aligned openings. The wheel 95 is then turned in the proper direction to shift the boring and vibratory device I to a position such that the drills are positioned in a horizontal plane spaced, preferably about 2 feet, from the fissure in the base of the breast and at an angle substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein or strata. The staff l'I is then moved about its pivot until one of the drills is adjacent the fracture in one of the lateral ribs. The operator then turns the wheel 66 in the proper direction to a degree sufficient to cause the feeding nut 5l and screw 53 to advance the staff 4l until the drills contact with the face of the breast of coal or mineral. As the drills contact with the face of the breast, they begin to bore into the coal and form spaced localized areas. The operator continues to gradually turn the wheel 66 and continues such turning until the localized areas are of the desired depth, preferably of the same depth as the fissure. As the boring progresses vibratory forces are periodically and successively applied, in the manner previously described, to the coal in the region of such areas, which forces in themselves and unsupplemented by any auxiliary disruptive forces are of suflicient magnitude to break away and dislodge the coal or mineral in the region of such areas in sizable pieces with a minimum of nes and undersized particles. In other words, these vibratory forces break away and dislodge the coal in the space bounded by the fissure and the portion of the plane in which the spaced localized areas are being formed. The coal thus mined slides down the pitched floor and collects upon the top of a base of mined coal which extends from the working breast of the trap'door for controlling the discharge of coal therefrom. At this point the operator turns the wheel 60 in the opposite direction until the drills are free of the face o-f the breast, whereupon the drills are shifted to a position such that the ends will contact with a portion of the face of the breast of coal or mineral adjacent the portion just broken away and dislodged. It is to be understood that the drills are merely moved to a position in the same plane and still are positioned at an angle substantially parallel to the pitch of the oor of the vein or strata. The operator then turns the Wheel t6 in the proper direction to advance the drills into the coal and continues'such turning gradually until the coal in the space defined by the drills and the fissure is broken away and dislodged to the same depth as the adjacent space previously mined. rlhis operation is continued until the coal has been broken away and dislodged clear across this plane. The operator then shifts the boring and vibratory device to a plane above and spaced from the first plane and then causes such device to operate in turn upon multiple portions of the breast along such plane until the coal bounded by such plane and the first plane has been mined. This is continued until all of the coal or mineral in the face of the breast has been broken away and dislodged.

In place of torsion lever 20, torsion shaft 2|, adjusting sleeve 22, and lock nut 23, the torsion spring device as shown in Figure 12 may be used. In this structure the outside face of the lever I3 is cut away as at |04 so as to provide a seat for one end of the torsion spring |05. The other end of said spring extends through an opening in the housing 2 and is placed under the desired tension by means of an adjusting nut I 05 threaded within said opening of the housing.

By the apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible foran operator and a helper to mine 4 to 5 times more coal or mineral per working day of eight hours than is capable of being mined by the blasting method of pitch mining. Beside, by the present invention meth- 0d, the percentageof undersized coal or fines of each ton mined isl only from 10% to 15%.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 694,306, filed October 19, 1933, Method of mining.

Having fully described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a plurality of rotatable boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation, means for supporting said elements in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said elements as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the oor of the vein, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at or spaced from the juncture point of the floor and breast or at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said boring elements while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

2. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a plurality of rotatable boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation, means for supporting said elements in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said elements as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast or spaced from or at the juncture point of the floor and breast, and means for feeding said elements While in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

3. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a plurality of rotatable boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation, means for supporting said elements in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said elements as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted horizontal plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the oor and breast, means for shifting said elements as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the oor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted vertical plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast along the line of joinder between a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said elements while in any of such adjusted positions toward and away from the breast.

4. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein, means for shifting said ksupporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at` or spaced from the juncture point of the floor and breast or at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

5. Apparatus foi` the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for anchoring said supporting means in said vein, means for' shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at or spaced from the juncture point of the floor and breast or at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

6. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprisinga housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the floor and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

7. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted insaid housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for anchoring said supporting means in said vein, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor,

ieans for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the floor and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

8. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means Within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertically plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast, spaced from or at the juncture point of the floor and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

9. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for apn plying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for anchor-r v ing said supporting means in said vein, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast spaced from or at the juncture point of the floor and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

10. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the oor, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted horizontal plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the oor and breast, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted vertical plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast along the line of joinder between a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in any of such adjusted positions toward and away from the breast.

il. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, means within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, means for supporting said housing las a unit in the Vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral,

means for anchoring said supporting means in said vein, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted horizontal plane position will attack a multiple of the coal at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the floor and breast, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted vertical plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast along the line of joinder between a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in any of such adjusted positions toward and away from the breast.

12. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, a operated means in association with said elements mounted within said housing for applying hammer blows `to said elements during the rotation thereof, resilient means in association with each of said elements for effecting the return of said elements to their initial position after the application of the hammer blows,l means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a positionV such that the boring elements will be in a plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will be at or spaced from the juncture point 0f the floor and breast or at a point along the juncture point of a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

i3. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, a cam operated means in association with said elements mounted within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements means in association with each of said elements for effecting the return of said elements to their initial position after the application of the hammer blows, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the oor, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will attack a multiple of the coal at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the floor and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

.1.4. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, a cam operated means in association with said elements mounted within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, resilient means in association with each of said elements for effecting the return of said elements to their initial position after the application of the hammer blows, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the Vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast along the line of joinder between a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing while in such adjusted position toward and away from the breast.

15. Apparatus for the mining of coal or similar mineral without blasting comprising a housing, a plurality of boring elements arranged in spaced and aligned relation mounted in said housing and having an end thereof extended through a wall thereof, means within said housing for rotating said elements, a cam operated means in association with said elements mounted within said housing for applying hammer blows to said elements during the rotation thereof, resilient means in association with each of said elements for effecting the return of said elements to their initial position after the application of the hammer blows, means for supporting said housing as a unit in the Vein adjacent the face of the breast of coal or mineral, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the boring elements will be in a substantially horizontal plane which is substantially parallel with the pitch of the floor, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted horizontal plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal during -the rotation thereof, resilient of the breast at a point spaced from or along the line of joinder between the floor and breast, means for shifting said housing as a unit to a position such that the axes of the boring elements extend parallel with the pitch of the floor of the vein and lie in a common substantially vertical plane, means for shifting said supporting means to a position such that the boring elements in their adjusted vertical plane position will attack a multiple portion of the coal of the breast along the line of joinder between a lateral rib and breast, and means for feeding said housing While in any of such adjusted positions toward 5 and away from the breast.

EDWARD A. THOMAS. EDGAR M. CADWALLADER.