US2390410A - Material gathering and loading machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 4, 1945. c E. ANDERSHOCK I MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADI NG MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-She 1 c E; ANDERSHOCK 2,390,410 MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE;

Dec. 4, 1945.-

Filed Aug 14, 1944 2 Sheets-S1195; 2

l/E/VTOR for operation in thin seams of coal.

Patented Dec. 4, 1945 MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING 1 MACHINE Chester E. Andershock, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company,

Chicago,

. 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application August 14, 1944, Serial No. 549,389

3 Claims. (01. 1988) This invention relates to improvements in material gathering and loading machines of the type adapted to load coal at the working face of a mine underground.

Heretofore face loading machines mounted on continuous tread devices or mounted for loading from a track have been provided with an inclined elevating conveyer extending in advance of the main frame of the machine and pivotally connected to the main frame for movement about a transverse axis. A gathering head has been mounted at the forward end of the elevating 3 conveyer, for picking up material from the ground and loading it onto the elevating conveyer. Screw devices or hydraulic cylinders and pistons connected between the main frame and the underside of the elevating conveyer have been used for raising or lowering the gathering head by power about the axis of pivotal connection of the elevating conveyer to the main frame. Since these cylinders and pistons or screw devices havebeen disposed beneath the elevating conveyer,

usually in advance of the pivotal ax s of the conveyer, they have obstructed travel of the machine over an uneven mine bottom and have made it diflioult, if not impossible, to load over rough' and uneven bottoms and along benches on the floor, especially where the machine is mounted on continuous tread devices and is constructed My invention has as its principal objects to overcome these difliculties by providing a new, improved and simplified means for elevat ng the gathering head of a low vein loading machine, so arranged as to be free from the ground so as to provide an unobstructed space between theunderside of the gathering head and the ground at the axis of pivotal movement thereof.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a novel form of elevat ng means for the entitled improvements in Material gathering and loading machines, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the front part 'of a loading machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts broken away and certain other parts shown in substantially horizontal section;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the front part of the loading machine shown in Figure 1, showing the gathering head in one position of adjustment;

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2, but showing the gathering head in an elevated position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view showing certain details of the yieldable means for urgin the gathering head into an elevated position; and

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the cylinders for elevating the gathering head.

In the drawings, the loading machine consists generally of a main frame l0 mounted on a pair of laterallyspaced continuous tread devices II, II and having an inclined gathering element or head l2 disposed in advance of said main frame and mounted for vertical adjustment with respect thereto about a transverse axis. A conveyer l3 has said gathering head'mounted at its forward end and extends from said gathering head in an upwardly inclined direction to and over said main frame and beyond the rear end of the latter in an overhanging position (not shown), so as to discharge material into mine cars or the like, The deta led construction of said loading machine is clearly disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 497,004, so will not herein be shown or described in detail.

which constitutes the inventive subject matter of y the present application. is d sclosed but not claimed in an application Serial No, 497.004,

filed by Frank Cartlidge on August 2, 1943, and

The gathering'head I2 is supported in advance of the main frame I B for lateral movement with respect thereto arid for vertical adjustment with respect thereto on a laterally movable frame M, which is mounted at the forward end of said main frame for pivotal movement about the vertical axis of a bearing boss I! (see Figure 1). Said laterally swinging frame rests on and slidably moves along a forwardly projecting bottom supporting plate 18 of said main frame and extends in advance of the forward end of said main frame. A cylinder and piston indicated generally by reference character I9 are provided to laterally swing said frame and gathering head in a well known manner. The detailed construction of said frame and its vertical pivotal connection to said main frame are no part of my present invention and are clearly shown and described in the aforementioned application Serial No. 497,004, so are not herein shown or described in detail.

The gathering head I2 is mounted on the for- Ward end of a longitudinall extending inclined frame 2|, which is transversely pivoted to the forward end' of the swinging frame I4. The upper portion of said inclined frame 2| forms an inclined trough for the inclinedelevating portion of the conveyer l3. Said inclined frame is transversely pivoted adjacent its rear end on the forward end of the laterally swinging frame 14, on the outer peripheries of bearing bosses 22, 22 formed integrally with the frame I4, the insides of which bosses form bearing supports for a :transverse drive shaft 23 for a chain 24 for the conveyer I3, and which drive shaft is coaxial with the horizontal pivotal axis of said inclined :frame '21.

"The gathering head l2, herein shown, is of a well known form of endless chain gathering head and includes an inclined-apron 25 mounted on the forward end of the inclined frame 2| and extend- :ing in advance thereof and across the front end of theponveyer 'l 3. .A air of chain guiding members 21, 21 having endless chains 28, 28 guided for orbital movement thereabout are mounted on the top side of said apron, as usual, so as to extend-along opposite sides of and forwardly of said conveyer, A plurality of gathering arms 29, 29 are carried by said endless chains for p cking up -.material from t e ground and moving it along a forward portion of said apron onto the conveyer.

'The conveyer I3 is herein shown as being of the single strand laterally flexible type having a plurality of il 'ghts'3l. 3| piv -tally connected to adjacent ends of sections of the chain 24 so said chain will flex latera ly u on lateral fleX h1e movementof the forward or discharge ends of the conveyer, as'is well known to those skilled in the art. Said chain and fli hts ex end from an idler 32 mounted at the forward end of the inclined frame 21, upwardly along said frame in a trough formed by opposite side walls thereof, and over the top of said main frame n a t ough formed by flexible sidewalls 33,33, as is clearly shown and described in the aforementioned application of Frank Cartlidge, Serial No. 497,004, so not herein shown or described in detail.

Referring now in particular to the novel means forelevating the gathering head l2 and the forward end of the conveyer I3 about the axis of the drive's'haf-t 23, a pair of laterally spaced cylinders :35, 35 extend along opposite sides of said conveyer in a generally horizontal plane when the gathering head I2 is in a lowered position (see Figures -1 and 2). "Each of said cyl nders has a pist n 36 slidably mounted therein with a piston rod '31 secured thereto and extending from said cylinder (see Figure Said cylinders each have ports in the head and piston rod ends thereof so as to supply fluid under pressure to either end of said -cylinder,-so said pistons and piston rods may positively raise or lower said gathering head by power.

"Saidears extend along opposite sides of a bracket 40, projecting upwardly from and herein shown as being formed integrally with the swinging frame l4 and disposed to the rear of the axis of vertical adjustment of the forward end of the conveyer l3 and gathering head 12. Pivotal pins 4|, 4| pivotally connect said ears to said brackets. The free end of each piston rod 31 is pivotally connected to a bracket 43 by means of a pivotal pin 44. Said brackets are disposed forwardly of the axis of vertical adjustment of the conveyer I3 and are mounted on plates 45, 45 projecting outwardly from the sides .of the inclined frame 2|, just rearwardly of and beneath the upper end of the inclined apron 25.

A pair of pre-loaded compression springs 41, 41 are provided to exert a force on the gathering head l2 in a direction to tend to hold it in floating engagement with the ground when pressure is relieved from the head and piston rod ends of the cylinders 35, 35. Said springs extend along opposite sides of the conveyer and encircle eyebolts 48, 48 transversely pivoted to bifurcated brackets 49, 49. Each bracket 49 extends upwardly from the plate 45 and is spaced outwardly from and forwardly of the bracket 4.3. The opposite endof said eyebolt is threadedina flanged sleeve 50, the flange of which, sleeve is abutted by the rear end of said spring 41. The flange of said sleeve is urged in a direction towards an abutment member-5| by means of said spring, which abutment member ,is transversely pivoted to a bracket 54, projecting upwardly from the upper end of the laterally swinging frame I4. The opposite end of said spring abuts a flanged sleeve-55, which encircles said eyebolt 4B and permits said eyebolt to slidably move with'respect thereto. Said abutment member 5| and flanged sleeve 55 are connected together by means of a plurality of threaded rods 56, 56 threaded at their ends 'in the flanges of said sleeves and abutment members. Said rods also extend through the flange of the flanged sleeve 51! and form a slidable guide therefor. Nuts 51, 51, threaded on opposite ends of said rods. lock said rods to the flanges of said sleeves.

It may be seen from the foregoing that lowering of the gathering head 12 will compress the springs 41, 41. Said springs will thus exert a force on said gathering head I2 through the flanged sleeves 50, 50 and eyebolts 48, 48, in a direction to tend to move said gathering head in an upward direction. When said gathering head is in an elevated position and fluid under pressure is relieved from the piston rod ends of the cylinders 35, 35, said springs will retard downward movement of said gathering head and will prevent it from hitting the ground with a sharp b ow.

It may here be seen that said cylinders and their piston rods are disposed above the axis of pivotal movement of the inclined frame 2| and the gathering head 12, so that an unobstructed space is 7 thereof, and are so arranged as not to add to the vertical height of the machine.

It may also be seen that this arrangement removes all obstructions from underneath thegathering element and the inclined elevating portion of the conveyer, and provides sufiicient clearance to permit the machine to pick up material from the ground, where the bottom is rough or irregular, or where the gathering element isloadi-ng from a bench spaced above the bottom proper,

or is loading over obstructions on the mine bottom.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a low type loading machine, a main frame, a pair of laterally spaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame for movement along the ground, a swinging frame projecting forwardly of the forward end of said main frame and mounted thereon for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis, an elevating conveyer pivotally mounted on said swinging frame, adjacent the forward end thereof, for pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis disposed in advance of said main frame, said conveyer having a gathering head on the forward end thereof and extending upwardly at an inclined angle from a point in advance of said swinging frame to and along said main frame, means for laterally moving said swinging frame and conveyer with respect to said main frame for positioning said gathering head to one side or the other of said main frame, two double acting fluid pressure cylinders and pistons for elevating or lowering said gathering head and conveyer about said transverse axis, each of said cylinders and pistons extending along one side of said conveyer above the pivotal axis thereof but within the upper limits of the side walls of said conveyer, when the gathering head is in a depressed position, said cylinders and pistons having pivotal connection with said swinging frame and the forward portion of said conveyer, on opposite sides of the axis of pivotal connection of said conveyer to said swinging frame, and yieldable means extending along opposite sides of said conveyer and disposed above said pivotal axis and pivotally connected between said swinging frame and said conveyer for urging said gathering head in an elevated position and for holding it in floating engagement with the ground when fluid under pressure is relieved from said cylinders and pistons.

2. In a low type loading machine, a main frame, a pair of laterally spaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame for movement along the ground, a swinging frame projecting forwardly of the forward end of said main frame and mounted thereon for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis, an elevating conveyer pivotally mounted on said swinging frame, adjacent the forward end thereof, for pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis disposed in advance of said main frame, said conveyer having a gathering head on 'the forward end thereof and extending upwardly at an inclined angle from a point in advance of said swinging frame to'and along said main frame, means for laterally moving said swinging frame and conveyer with respect to said main frame for positioning said gathering head to one side or'the other of said main frame, two double acting fluid pressure cylinders and pistons for elevating or lowering said gathering head and conveyer about said transverse axis, each of said cylindersand pistons extending along one side of said conveyer above the pivotal axis thereof but within the upper limits of the side walls of said conveyer, when the gathering head is in a depressed position, said cylinders and pistons having pivotal connection with said swinging frame and the forward portion of said conveyer, on opposite sides of the axis of pivotal connection of said conveyer to said swinging frame, and yieldable means extending along opposite sides of said conveyer and disposed above said pivotal axis and pivotally connected between said swinging frame and said conveyer for urging said gathering head in an elevated position and for holding it in floating engagement with the ground when fluid under pressure is relieved from said cylinders and pistons, each of said yieldable means including a member pivotally connected to said swinging frame a substantial distance to the rear of the axis of vertical pivotal movement of said conveyer, another member pivotally connected to said conveyer a substantial distance in advance of the axis of vertical pivotal movement of said conveyer and having slidable connection with said first mentioned member, and a compression spring interposed between said members.

3. In a low type loading machine, a main frame, a pair of laterally spaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame for movement along the ground, a swinging frame projecting forwardly of the forward end of said main frame and mounted thereon for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis, an elevating conveyer pivotally mounted on said swinging frame, adjacent the forward end thereof, for pivotal adjustment about a transverse axis disposed. in advance of said main frame, said conveyer having a gathering head on the forward end thereof and extending upwardly at an inclined angle from a point in advance of said swinging frame: to and along said main frame, means for laterally moving said swinging frame and conveyer with respect to said main frame for positioning said gathering head to one side or the other of said main frame, two double acting fluid pressure cylinders and pistons for elevating or lowering said gathering head and conveyer about said transverse axis, each of said cylinders and pistons extending along one side of said conveyer above the pivotal axis thereof but within the upper limits of the side walls of said conveyer, when the gathering head is in a depressed position, said cylinders and pistons having pivotal connection with said swinging frame and the forward portion of said conveyer, on opposite sides of the axis of pivotal connection of said conveyer to said swinging frame, and yieldable means extendin along opposite sides of said conveyer above said transverse pivotal axis and extending along the outer sides of said cylinders and pistons for urging said gathering head in an elevated position and holding it in floating engagement with the ground when fluid under pressure is relieved from said cylinders and pistons, said means each including a member pivotally connected to said swinging frame a substantial distance to the rear of the axis of pivotal. movement of said conveyer and extending beyond the forward end of said swinging frame, another member pivotally connected to said conveyer a substantial distance in advance of'the transverse pivotal axis thereof, a slidable supporting and guiding connection between said members, and a compression spring interposed between said members.

CHESTER E. ANDERSHOCK.

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