US2609910A - Loading machine - Google Patents

Description

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LOADING MACHINE Sept. 9, 1952 Filed July 8, 1948 Sept. 9, 1952 A. 1.. LEE 2,609,910

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Sept. 9, 1952 Filed July 8, 1948 A. L. LEE

LOADING MACHINE 13 Sheet's-Sheet l3 Patented Sept. 9, 1952 gLOADING MACHINE Arthur L. Lee, Upper Arlington, Ohio, assignor to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application July s, 1943, Serial No. 37,553

1 l Myinvention relates to loading machines and more particularly to loading machines adapted to operate in underground coal mines.

.An object of my invention is to provide an improved loading machine adapted to load coal primarily by the rectilinear feeding movement either of itself, of its'gatheri ngv head. or .a cornbination of both, into shot, semi-compact or shattered coal and which machine can be positioned to carryout rectilinear feeding movement by lateral swinging of the machineand by varying the planes in which the gathering head and its supporting means lie.

Anotherjobject of my invention is h provide aloading machinevof the type set forth in the foregoing object wherein the loadin machine is swung laterally about an anchor means adjacent the rear thereof and the front of the loading machine is adjustable vertically upon wheels which support it.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved loading machine adapted to load coal by the rectilinear feeding movement of a gatheringhead of the loading machine into shot, semi-compact or shattered coal, which machine is adjustably carried with respect to wheels adjacent its front and rear ends and is also provided with a supporting anchoring means adjacent one pair of the wheels about which the machine may swing laterally when the adjacent wheels are lifted from the mine room floor, the other wheels being traction wheels swingable from straight ahead positions to tandem positions for swinging the machine laterally, and the machine including means for adjusting its athering head about a horizontal axis.

In carrying out the foregoing object it is another object of my invention to provide an improved mining machine of the type therein set forth which preferably, but not necessarily, includes the supporting anchoring means and is also capable of loading coal while it is supported and/or rectilinearly bodily advanced upon all of its supporting wheel means, one of which wheel means is swingable for swinging the machine bodily about a vertical axis referably adjacent its rear supporting wheel means for positioning the gathering head of the loading machine to attackcoal to be loaded by swinging it in a generally horizontal plane about saidaxis.

6 Claims. (01. 198-8) Another object of my invention is to provide an improved loading machine adapted to load coal bythe rectilinear feeding movement of a gathering head into shot, semi-compact or shattered coal which machine includes a telescoping 2 a frame, one member of which forms a rectilinearly reciprocal boom having the gathering head mounted for pivotal adjustment about a horizontal axi at its outer end and wherein the plane in which the gathering head lies may be varied by adjusting vertically the ends of the frame with respect to its supporting wheels and by adjusting the gathering head with respect to its supporting boom. 3

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

In the accompanying drawings,

4 Fig.1 is a plan view of a loading machine that includes my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of themachine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a more orless diagrammatic side View of the machine seen in Fig. 2 with an anchoring jack at .the rear thereof anchoring the machine to the mine room and with the rear wheels elevated from the mine floor, the drawing showing in dot-dash lines different positions of the extendable loading boom and its gathering head and different positions or elevations of the body with respect to the front traction wheels of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view in plan of the machine shown in Fig. l, the traction wheels thereof being positioned to swing the machine either about its anchoring pivot or jack disposed at the rear thereof or its rear wheels;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5.5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows with certain parts omitted and certain parts broken away; a

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view showing the actu ating mechanism for swinging the wheels seen in-Figs. 5 .and 6 in opposite directions;

Fig. 8 is a plan view-with parts omitted showing one of the front or traction wheels seen in Figs. 5,6and7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 9'9 of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational view taken on line Ill-40 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows with the machine broken in parts to reduce the length of the view; l V

, Figl'll isa sectional view taken on the line I l-4i of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, the device being broken in two to shorten the length of the view;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of the gathering head and associated mechanism of the machine of Fig. 1 with parts broken away and with some parts omitted in thefinterest of clearness;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the gathering head and adjacent parts of the loading machine, with the spaced gathering 'conveyers or mechanisms omitted and with parts broken away, showing a portion of the structure in section;

Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view of a detail of the loading machine;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged elevational view showing one of the steerable wheels and associated mechanism of the loader;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15 with the conveyer trough, conveyer mechanism and wheel removed;

Fig. 17 isa sectional elevational view taken on the line 'l-l'iof Fig. 16,1ooking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 is a sectional View taken on the line l8 l8 of Fig. '1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 19 is a l3I9' of Fig.

arrows; V V

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line Sit-20 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 21 is a combination plan and sectional View showing gearing details of the loader.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 530,361, filed April 10, 1944, 'now Patent No. 2,589,827 dated March 18, 1952, for 2. Loading Machine and my application Serial No. 595,047, filed May 21, 1945, and now abandoned, for 2. Loading Machine and, except for variations or modifications which are indicated or disclosed, it follows the structure of the machine of said application.

Before describing in detail the loader of my invention it may be stated that the loader is designed particularly to be capable of operation in very low coal as for example in coal seams having a height from twenty-four to thirty-six inches, though the machine may be used in a coal-seam of any greater height.

The machineis fundamentally a frontal attack type machine, that is, its principal loading operation takes place upon rectilinear forward feed movement of its gathering mechanism though some loading may take place while swinging the machine laterally either about a fixed pivotal axis provided adjacent its rear or discharge end preferably by means including a roof jack, or while swinging the machine laterally upon its rear supporting wheels, as hereinafter described more completely. V

Another important characteristic ofthe loader is that its discharge position may be maintained fixed while the, gathering mechanism operates over a very wide range because it may be swung inla generally horizontal or lateral direction; raised or lowered; and'swung about its horizontal mounting axis.

The device is completely self-contained and may be transported under its own power by an operator who may ride upon it, thus providing for its quick and ready removal from one mine room to another or to difi'erent locations in a single mine room. Furthermore, the device is fed under power to feed the gathering head rectilinearly, to swing it about its horizontal'pivotal mounting axis and to swing it laterally, rectilinear sectional view taken on the line 1, looking in the direction of the cover illustrated in Fig. 1 i

feeding being provided consistent with a uniform system of discharge by telescoping conveyer parts. Also the elevation of the pivotal mounting axis for the gathering head is adjustable under power by adjusting the elevation of the ends of the gathering head carrying mechanism, i. e. the frame of the loader, vertically either. simultaneously or independently with respect to the mine room floor.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 18, 19 and 20 of the drawings, the loading machine includes a .wheel supported main frame [0 formed by a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending spaced apart upright side plates H and 12 (see Fig. 18). Throughout the length of the main frame it the side plates II and I2 are connected together by transversely extending longttudinally spaced apart members including bottom plates, bars, etc., indicated at [3, H and I5, which are welded or otherwise connected to said side plates l l and I2, all as disclosed in my parent application, Ser. No. 530,361, now'Patent No. 2,589,827, above identified.

Extending transvers-ely'between said side plates 1 l and I2 and forming a part of the main frame It is a trough shaped conveyer pan l6 (see Fig. 10

. overlap the side plates H and l2' and are rigidly attached thereto, thus also forming a part of the main frame ID. The pan l6 also forms part of the trough of a. horizontally extending conveyer l1. It may be stated that to a large extent the main frame of the conveyer I! and the main frame Ii) of the entire loader are one and same thing. I

Telescoping within the main frame land also the frame of the conveyer i7 is a longitudinally extending frame or boom member designated generally by the reference character I8 (see particularly' Figs. 10 and 11) which is adapted to be adjusted with respect to the main frame In so as to increase appreciably the overall or effective length of the conveyer ii. The frame It is formed by a bottom longitudinally extending box work or column 19 (see Figs. -5, 6, 10, 11,17 and 18) which is slidably contained between the bot- 7 tom portions of theside plates II and [2 of the frame It and is supported upon longitudinally extending frame plates 20, 20 '(see Figs. 6, 17, 18 and 19-, for example) welded to the bottoms of V the sideplates H and I2.

Clo-operating with the side plates H and [2 to provide guides for the upperportion of the long box or column I9'are angle members 2|, 2! (see Figs. 6, 17, 18, and 19). At its forward end the box or column frame member I9 carries for adjustment about a horizontal axis a gathering head 23, to which further reference is made hereinafter. The frame or boom 18 also includesas a rigidly connected part thereof a trough or pan 24 (see Fig. 6 for example) The trough or pan 24 rests in and is adapted to slide longitudinally and rectilinearly over the conveyer pan N5 of the main frame member ID. It is thus obvious that as the gathering head 23 is extended forwardly from frame member 10, the telescoping sections of the conveyer ll, including the frame members which are integral with the main frame l0 and the longitudinally adjustable boom or frame I3 including the box or column 59, the gathering head 23 and trough or pan 2d are slidable relative to each other, thus effectively increasing or, decreasing the overall the i in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

slides for maintaining the position of the. discharge of the conveyer I1 adjacent a fixed point while the gathering head 23 moves rectilinearly inwardly or outwardly to gather coal. Swinging movement of the conveyer in a horizontal plane as well as raising and lowering movement of it with respect to the mine room floor. both while gathering coal and preparatory thereto by frontal attack is also provided, as hereinafter set forth.

In addition to the two telescoping frames l0 and I8 the conveyer l! includes endless traveling conveyer mechanism 26 which co-operates with the conveyer pans I6 and 24 to provide a scraper type conveyer, said conveyer mechanism 26 including an endless double draft chain 21 from each side of which there extends a plurality of flights 28. The chain 21 is so reeved about head, foot and intermediate sprockets as to provide for the free extension of the adjustable frame l8 with respect to the main frame 16. To this end said chain 2'! extends over sprockets 29 on a head shaft 36 (see Figs. 10 and 13) mounted in spaced journal bearings on the frame of the gathering head 23. Following the chain 21 in its normal course of travel over said sprockets 29 on shaft 30 it extends rearwardly successively over pans 24 and [6 to spaced sprockets on a discharge or tail shaft 3| journaled in appropriate bearings adjacent the discharge end of the main frame In or what is equivalent, the main frame of the conveyer IT. This travel of the endless conveyer mechanism 26 from shaft 30 to the shaft 3| is the working run or travel thereof and is employed to convey the material delivered to the conveyer ll rearwardly and discharge it into a receiving conveyer, receptacle, shuttle car or the like, not shown. The subsequent run of the chain 21 extends forwardly from the shaft 3| over a supporting plate 32 (see Fig. 10). Said plate extends between and is welded to longitudinally extending inwardly positioned angle sloped members 33, 33 (see Figs. 17, 18 and 19) which members 33 are welded to the side plates 1 l and I2 and form a part of the main frame 16. Transversely extending frame pipes 34 (see Fig. 10) help support said plate 33. This forward run of the chain 21 leads it to sprockets 35 (see Figs. 10 and 19) on a shaft 36 which is journaled in anti-friction bearings carried by the side plates II and I2 of the main frame H), as clearly illustrated in detail in Fig. 19 of the drawings.

From the sprockets 35 the run of the chain 21 again extends rearwardly to sprockets carried by a shaft 31 which is journaled in appropriate bearings carried by longitudinally adjustable tensioning slide blocks, one of which is seen at 38 This shaft is thus carried by a rearward portion of the box or column l9 forming a part of the longitudinally extensible frame l8.

From the sprockets carried by the shaft 31 the chain 21 extends in its lowermost run over the bottom wall of the column or box I9, to the head shaft 30. It is to be noted that the head shaft 30 is carried by the gathering head 23 on the outer end of the box or. column 19 and that the shaft 31 which is carried by the 'box or column 19 adjacent its rear both follow the rectilinear movements of the box or column I9. The shafts 3| and 36 are journaled on the main frame 10 and consequently are stationary relative thereto. In view of the path of travel of the chains 21 it is obvious that their lengths need not be adjusted while permitting free rectlinear extension of the effective length of the conveyer I! or, in other words, telescoping movement of the frame l8 with respect to the main frame [:0, since the consequent movement of the shaft 31 toward the shaft 36 as the'conveyer is extended will compensate. for the equal forward movement of the shaft 30 with respect to the shaft 3|. As shall be pointed. out hereinafter, the conveyerchain 21 not only conveys material delivered at the front of the conveyer l1 and discharges it over the tailshaft 3| .but it also acts to drive a pair of gathering conveyer 39,33 mounted on the gathering head 23.

In my application Serial No. 530,361, now Patent No. 2,589,827, above identified, the gathering head is an integral part of the frame or boom member it, however, as previously mentioned, the gathering head 23 of my improved machine is mounted on the front of the frame or boom l8 for pivotal adjustment on a horizontal axis 40. The mounting means includes a pair of rearwardly extending plates, one of which is seen at 4| in Figs. 12 and 14. of the drawings, said plates being symmetrically spaced about the center line of the gathering head 23, one on each side thereof. Each plate M is pivoted to a bracket 42 carried by the column or box work IQ of the frame or boom l8. The upper edges of the two plates 41 are welded to a bottom plate 43 of the gathering head 23 and their forward edges are welded to and formed as an integral part of frame members constituting elements of the gathering head 23.

The axis of the pivotal connection between the plate members 4| and the boom i8 is preferably substantially midway between the upper and lower runs of the conveyer chain 21 so that pivotal movement of the head 23 will not vary the tension of said chain. Forward and rearward movement of the boom 18 and head 23 relative to the main frame [0 is effected through drive mechanism including a chain 44 (see Figs. 11 and 12) which mechanism is described more completely hereinafter.

To effect swinging movement of the head 23 about its horizontal pivotal axis 40 relative to the boom I8, I preferably provide a pair of hydraulic piston motors or jacks 45, 46 (see Fig. 13) the cylinders of which are pivotally attached to an upwardly extending rear plate of the gathering head 23 by means of trunnion brackets, one of which is seen at 41 in Fig. 12. The piston rods of said motors or jacks 45, 46 extend downwardly and are pivotally connected to appropriate receiving brackets at the front of boom. I8, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings. Each of the jacks 45, 46 is of the double acting type and, as hereinafter described, may be raised or lowered by power and may be locked in any position to which it is adjusted. The two jacks 45, 46 are connected in parallel and are controlled by a single valve 48 (see Fig. l3)v so that they are operated simultaneously or are both locked in position by the one valve.

Hydraulic fluid for actuating the jacks 45, 46 V acoacio fluid to the pump 49, Hydraulic fluid under pressure, delivered by pump as, flows through a pipe or conduit 54 to the valve 48 and when the valve 48 is in its neutral position it provides a no-load by-pass for the hydraulic fluid which is returned by return pipe or conduit 55 to the tank 53. The hydraulic fluid or oil is derived from the tank 53 by way of a hydraulic pipe or conduit 56 leading to the pump 49.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawings, similar ends of the hydraulic jacks "45, 46 are connected in parallel over separate conduits leading from the valve '68. The valve 48, per se, is of standard construction and, in addition to providing the no-load by-pass above mentioned, when in its neutral position which it normally assumes under spring bias, it locks or seals the hydraulic motors or jacks 45, 45 in any position to which they have been adjusted. 7

Reverse operations of the stem or spool of the valve 48 will cause reverse action of the two jacks 4'5, 16 together, thus providing for power adjustment of the gathering head about its horizontal pivotal axis 40, either to raise or to lower its forward end.

The operating mechanism for the valve 48 takes the form of a longitudinally extending operating rod which extends forwardly along the main frame is and is exposed adjacent the operator's station or seat 58, seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. An appropriate linkage is provided. between the operating rod 5'! and the spool of valve 43 which is clearly illustrated in Fig. 13.

In general the structure of the gathering conveyers 39 and associated mechanism, except for obvious differences, follows the structure of the gathering head disclosed in the patent to E. P. Corbin, No. 2,341,977, granted February 15, 1944. Briefly stated, each gathering conveyer 39 includes an endless chain 63 which is mounted upon a stationary guide and carries a plurality of flights 5 1 which in their travel extend forwardly beyond the forward tip of the bottom gathering plate 43 of the head 23 so that they can effectively dig into and tear down coal in a semicompact, or shattered mass and can readily gather loose coal, both of which are frequently found in a mine room after the undercut coal has 'been shot. These two gathering conveyers 39, 39 are, of course, specific illustrations of a preferred form of gathering mechanism, other forms of which may be employed within the scope of my invention in some of its broader aspects.

The chains 63 of each gathering ccnveye'r 39 are driven from the head shaft 3'6 which in turn is driven by the chain 21 of conveyer mechanism 26. As seen in Figjl3 each end of the head shaft 38 carries a-hevel gear 53 which meshes with a bevel gear to carried upon an upright shaft 6| mounted through suitable anti-friction bearings to the frame of the gathering head 23. The upper end of each shaft '61 is provided with a"sprocketll2 see Figs. 1 and 12) which meshes with and drives the endless chain '33 of each gathering conveyer 39. v

It is obvious that the gathering colnveyers 39 will operate to gather coal either while the gathering head 23 is fed re'ctilinearly or laterally by swinging movement. Furthermore, the gathered material is obviously carried by the flights 64 up the incline of bottom plate 43 and discharged into the path of the endless conveyer mechanism 23. The material is then carried 'rearwardly by the chain 21 and flights 28 over the telescoping conveyer trough and discharged over the tail shaft 3'! l, 10 and 19 to 21, inclusive, and to the drive mechanism by which the endless chain 21 and the two "gathering conveyers 39 are driven; As best seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings there is an electric motor '65 which is the only electric motor on the loader and which is the primary source of power for all of the power operated devices thereon. Said motor 65 is carried 'on an appropriate support provided at one side of the main frame [0 and is rigidly attached to said main frame. Extending forwardly from'the motor 65 is its rotor or armature shaft 66 provided with a spur gear 67 which is in continuous mesh with a pair of spur gears 68 53, the former of which is keyed to and continuously drives a hydrauli'c pump 16, said pump is being supported in an enclosing housing H which also encloses the gears-Bl--fi3.

The hydraulic pump ill supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure for the main hydraulic system of the loader. The gear 69 drives a shaft 12 which is supported in appropriate bearing means '13 carried by a wall of the housing '11. Said shaft 1-2 is also provided with a beveled pinion M which meshes with and drives a bevel ring gear 15 which is riveted or other-wise firmly attached to the housing 15 of a disc type friction clutch 7'! (see Fig. 20). The clutch mechanism '11 is er se of standard design though the operating mechanism therefor was designed particularly for the loader of my invention, This opera-ting mechanism is fully described in my parent application, Ser. No. 530,361, now Patent No. 2,589,827., above identified, and is claimed in my divisional application 'Ser. No. 632,437, filed Dec. 3, 1945 now abandoned, for a Loading Machine. It sufiices to say here of this operating mechanism that it includes an operating lever T8 which is disposed adjacent the operators seat 58 of the loader and a hollow drive shaft 19 which extends toward .the main frame 1!! and at its end carries a drive sprocket 80.

When the'sha'ft T9 is driven upon the engagement of the clutch 77 it drives the sprocket 80 which in turn drives a sprocket 81 (see Figs. 1, 2 and 19) by means of a chain '92 which meshes with the two sprockets 83 and 8] and an idler sprocket 83.

Referring particularly to Figs. 10 and '19 of the drawings, it will be seen that by driving the shaft 36 from the sprocket 81 to which it is keyed the endless chain 21 of the conveyer mechanism 2'5 is driven through the sprockets 35. Thus power from the electric motor 65 is extended to drive the endless conveyor mechanism 26 and the gathering conveyers 33 under the control of clutch H. a

As was previously mentioned, the longitudinally adjustable head frame 13 which carries the gathering head 23 is shi'ftable longitudinally and rectilinearly with respect to the main frame Hi. This shifting or telescoping movement is effected in reverse directions by power operated mechaabove identified.

-As 'best seen in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

there is a rotary hydraulic motor 94 provided with an integrally formed speed reducing mechanism which may be for practical purposes considered a part of the motor 84. The output shaft of the motor 84 is provided with a sprocket 85 (Fig. 1) which drives a larger sprocket 86 by means of a chain 8?. The sprocket 86 (see Fig. 18) is keyed to a shaft 88 mounted in appropriate spaced anti-friction bearings on the side plates II and I2 of the main frame I9. Adjacent each end of the shaft 88 is provided with a sprocket 89 rigidly attached thereto as by welding. I

As best seen in Fig. 11 of the drawings, each sprocket 89 meshes with a strand of the chain 44 which is guided over the sprocket 89 by forwardly and rearwardly spaced rollers 99. One end of the chain 44 is anchored adjacent the rear end of the column or box I9 and the other end is anchored by adjustable anchorage mechanism 9| adjacent the forward end of said column or box I9 which is adjacent the gathering head 23.

It is, of course, obvious that the shaft .89, the sprockets 89 and the rollers 99 are mounted on the main frame I9 while the two chains 44 are mounted on the longitudinally adjustable frame I8. Consequently asshaft 88 and sprockets 99 rotate they produce relative rectilinear, telescoping or sliding movement between the main frame I9 and the adjustable frame I8, thus producing the above-mentioned rectilinear extension or retraction of the adjustable frame I9 with respect to the main frame l9. It is also obvious that by reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft 88 under the action of the reversible hydraulic motor 94, the overall length of the conveyer I! may be readily increased or decreased between maximum and minimum limits.

Adjacent its front end the main frame I9 of the vehicle or loader is provided with a pair of power operated or traction wheel assemblies 92 and 93 which are disclosed and claimed in my application, Serial No. 789,382, filed December 3, 1944, now Patent No. 2,598,276 dated May 27, 1952, for an Underground Loading Machine.

Thewheel assembly 92 is on the right hand side of the machine, as viewed by an operator looking toward the front of the machine and the wheel assembly 93 is on the left hand side. These twowheel assemblies are thus on opposite sides of the main frame I9 and the conveyer I! and during transportation or rectilinear travel of the vehicle they act to drive it generally in the manner of an ordinary automobile or other power driven steerable vehicle. In other words, the Wheels of these two assemblies travel parallel paths and have a common horizontal axis of rotation normally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the main frame l9 and conveyor II. However, these wheel assemblies 92 and 93 are provided with means whereby their wheels may be swung on generally upright or vertical axes and also each wheel may be vertically adjusted with respect to its main frame I9. Stated in another way, the elevation of the entire frame of the vehicle including the frame members I9 and I8 may be raised and lowered with respect tothe axes of the wheels and consequently with respect to the mine room floor upon which the wheels are resting.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 8 and 9 of the drawings, the two wheel assemblies 92 and 93 are similar and consequently similar reference characters will be employed to indicate the individual parts thereof. Each of said wheel assemblies 92, 93 includes'a wheel 94 provided with a pneumatic tire 95 and for practical purposes the tire and wheel may be considered within the generic expression wheel, particularlyas employed in the claims. Each wheel 94 is mounted on a stub shaftor axle 96 and the two stub shafts 96' have I a common horizontal axis extending transversely of the main frame "I9. The hub of each wheel 94 is, provided witha sprocket 91 which is driven by an individual reversible hydraulic motor 98 (see Figs. 8 and9), operating through a speed reducer 99, the power shaft of which carries a sprocket I99 '(see Fig. 8) which isgeared to the sprocket 91 by a chain I9I. In other words, there is a separate reversible hydraulic motor 98 for each of the wheel assemblies 92 and 93. Said stub shaft or axle 96 is rigidly attached to an upstanding plate I92 which in turn is rigidly attached as by welding to a generally cylindrical housing I93.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the motor 98 and speed reducer 99 are rigidly but removably attached to the plate I92, cylindrical housing I93 and stub or axle shaft 96. It is thus evident that the motor 98 and speed reducer 99 partake of all movement of the axle 96 and as hereinafter described each of the wheel units '92, 93 is both vertically adjustable and swingable about a vertical axis, the vertical ad' justment providing for adjusting the elevation of the horizontal mounting axis 49 of the gathering head 23 above the floor as well as co-operating with the adjustment of the head '23 about the axis 49 for placing its forward end upon the mine room floor with pressure. In addition there is a spring connection which allows either wheel to accommodate itself to an irregular surface such. as a bump or hole on the mine floor as the device travels thereover.

Each of the cylindrical housings I93 has a close but sliding or telescoping fit with a cylinder I94 which on its inner edge is welded or otherwise rigidly attached to an upright plate I95 welded to a side bracket I96 which is bolted to one of the side plates II or I2 of the main frame I9, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

It is obvious that the sliding relation between the close fitting cylindrical members -I 93 and I94 provides for vertical adjustment of the wheel assemblies 92, 93 with respect to the main frame I 9 and also provides for their swinging movement about the spaced vertical axes of the two cylinders I94. That is, each wheel assembly 92 and 93 is swingable and vertically adjustable about and along a distinct upright axis. To adjust each wheel 94, 95 vertically each of the wheelassemblies 92, 93 includes a single actinghydraulic piston motor I9! (see Fig. 5). Each of said motors I 91 includes a cylinder I98 which is within and concentric with the cylinders I93 and I 94 and at its upper end is closed by a head I 99 which is removable but rigidly attached to the upper ends of cylinders I94 and I98 by means of machine screws which thread into a ring I I9 welded to both of said cylinders I94 and I 98. Each head I99 is provided with a hydraulic fitting receiving passageway III leading to the interior of the cylinder I98, thus providing for the feeding 'of hydraulic fluid thereto. Working within each cylinder I99 is a hollow cylindrical piston H2 which hasa close but sliding fit with each cylinder I98. The upper end of the piston I I2 carries a leak-proof packing ring II3 which is removably connectedto said cylindrical piston I I2. The lower end of piston I I2 has a loose but abutr 1'1 ting connection with a disc I It which rests upon the upper raceof iananti-friction thrust bearin 1H5 :c'arrie'd onan upwardly extending post H6 ;which is rigidly attached "to and mounted on a bottom plate lll rigidly attached to and forming theloot'tom of the cylinder Hi3. Between the two cylinders 19 i and I68 is aheavy coil spring I18, Jthejtop of which-abutsithe ring 'I Ifian'd the bottom .of which abuts the disc H4. The two springs. I18 thus .carry a'portion of :the load which is 'transferredfrom the .inain frame ill! to each wheel, *95, and also act as lateral stabilizing springs, particularly when the rear end of the machine :is v:suppo'rt'ed by its anchoring i j ack -I 20. '-I"h*ere-is also a muchweakercoilspring 'I IS within the cylindrical piston.tI-I'2 the 'top :of which abuts the top of said piston lzlzand the bottom of which abuts the disc .l'Ii'l and at its bottom 'surroun'dsthe post IIfi.

Under normal conditions vv'itl'i the 'wheel as,- semblies .92, .93 supporting fthe front end :of the main frame It] and the boom or frame member 18 that telescopes'therewith, the parts will lee-in the po's'iti'onillustrated in Fig. '5 of the drawings, inwhich the hydraulic motor or jack IO'Ifis partially expanded and the spring 119 .is compressed the I maximum "amount permitted by the "piston .'I-I2. :If thefhydrau'lic jack or motor IlTl is contracted 11116161 these conditions :the wheels as, 95, together'with the cylinder or housing I03, .wll-l slidehpwardly with the piston Hi2 further compressing the heavy spring IIIB and lowering the main frame In and .boom I8. This is a'normal working condition'while the previous'condition is "a transporting .condition.

Under the working condition it :is, of "course, obvioustthat 'anappreciable amount of the weight 'ofthe loader may be transferredtfrom thewheels 94, 95 to the gathering head 23. it is desirable, however, to insure adequate traction on the Wheels :94, $5 when the head 123 is resting upon the :mine floor and the loader is gatherin coal. This is anadditionalfunction ofthe spring .l'iil and ;a function :of the spring IE9, that is, :these two springs :insure that "there is appreciable downward force on "the associated wheel and should :a hole or depression appear in the floor .into which awheel M, 95 travels it is evident tha-tths springs 'I I8 :and '5 i9 will expand to keep some .ofrthe load on :said wheel. Under such conditions the disc 1H4 will .move downwardl'y and separate from its normal contact with the bottom ofthe piston I I2.

It is, of course; obvious that by forcing hy- .draulic fluid into the cylinders Hill by way of i sageways iii the hydraulicmotors or jacks may 'be expanded and by draining hydraulic iiuid fromthem they maybe contracted. Thus the elevation'of the frontend of the loader and the mounting axis Ml of the head 23 may be adjusted'vertically with respect to :the axes of the axles-96 'and the floor of'the'mine either for loading or for transportation purposes.

' :In "addition to providing for vertical adjustmen'thf the. main 'frame It with respect to the wheels 94, 95, provision is also made to swing them :about laterally spaced vertical or upright :axes fee that they may swing from the straight aheadposition inwardly adjacent their front ends toward the main frame ill "to a position in which they-are substantially in tandem, that is, a posh tion wherein they travel substantially in thesame .path'for swinging the loader under power either about a vertical axis providedby jack I253 an- .chored betweenthe mine Ceiling and floor supporting the rear :or discharge end :of theiloader, or the machine may swing about an upright axis "while being supported upon its rear'whecl' assembl'ies l33 and I34, as hereinafter described, thus maintaining the'position of discharge of the 'loadersubstantially at a fixed place whilethe gathering head 23 is swung over a wide .area which may be 360 degrees accompanied by rectilinear adjustment of the gathering head 23,

rotational adjustment of the gathering head 23 about the axis 56 and vertical adjustment of'the axis 49, main frame it and boom I8 to provide for the gathering of coal at substantially any position in a mine room having a width not greater than twice the minimum contracted length of the leader. The foregoing is illustrated in Figs. 0 and l'of the-drawings.

The relation between each of the-cylinders H33 and Ill l is such as to provide for the swinging movement of said cylinders EQS-about their upright axes, thus providing for swinging of the wheel assemblies 92 and 93, as hereinbefore described.

In Figs; 6 and 7 of the drawings mechanism is illustrated which provides for swinging and loching the two wheel assemblies '92 and '93 in paral lel and tandem positions. 7 that I prefer to embody in my loader the improvements made upon this mechanism which i are disclosed and claimed by SterlingC. Moon in his application, Serial No. 607,927, filed July 31, 1945, now abandoned, for a Loading Machine, and that Figs. 6 and 7 show the mechanism as improved by said Sterling C. Moon.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, each cylindrical member m3 is provided with an integral arm I22 (see 'Fig. '7). Extending inwardly from and pivotally connected to arms I22 are operating levers I23, the inner ends of which .are pivotally connected between a pair of rigidly connected spaced apart discs I24, which plate assembly "524 is mountedfor rotation on an upright axis on a pin 125 which is attached to a pair of transverse plates forming part of the main frame I0.

It is evident that the cylindrical member 1:03, arms I22, levers I23 and disc assembly L24 cooperate to provide a linkage interconnecting the supporting axles 96 and thus the wheels 94, 95. It is further evident that when the disc assembly I24 is in the position illustrated in Figs. Gand 7, the wheels 94, will be held in parallelismior transporting the loader substantially rectilinearly. Power operated means adapted to .co-ope erate with the hydraulic motors 98 for swinging the disc assembly 24 and wheel assemblies '92 and 93 andalsofor locking the disc assembly in anyv position to which itis adjusted, is provided.

The actuatin and locking means for the disc assembly I24 includes a pair of spaced bearing blocks I26 received slidably in radially extending slots I27 formed in the spaced discs I 24. Bearing blocks 126 are carried by a pivot pin I28 which is attached to one arm of a bell crank lever 129 which is piv-otally attached to a plate of the main frame is by a pivot pin :30. The other arm of the bell crank lever I-29- is pivotally attached to the free end ofa piston rod I3! of a double acting hydraulic piston vmotor or jack I32, the cylinder of which has one endpivotally attached to the main frame I0.

.It is obvious that movement of the piston rod ESI to the right, as viewed in Fig. 7, by actuation of the piston motor 152 will tend to rotate the disc assembly I24 in a counter-clockwise direction to swing the wheel assemblies -92 and '93 :to their It may be mentioned 13 tandem positions and that reverse actuation of the motor I32 will tend to swing the wheel assemblies to their parallel positions, seen in Fig. '7. Furthermore, when hydraulic fluid is trapped in the motor I32 the disc assembly I24 will be locked against rotation.

The swinging movement of the wheel assemblies 92 and 93 is the combined result of the action of the hydraulic motor I32 and the individual driving motors 98 for the wheels 94, 95. Because each wheel assembly 92 and 93 including its driving motor 98 is free to swing about the axis of the cylinder I03 and because the axis of each cylinder I03 is off-set forwardly from the horizontal axis of axle 96 and inwardly of the center of the wheel, tractive effort of the traction wheels 94, 95 in a forward direction, when they are in parallel position, will cause the wheel assemblies 92 and 93 to swing about the vertical axes of cylinders I03 toward their tandem position, however, in the absence of actuation of the hydraulic motor I32, which acts to lock the disc assembly I24 against rotation, the wheel assemblies 92 and 93 cannot swing as aforesaid. If, however, the motor I32 is actuated simultaneously with the hydraulic motors 98 either to swing the wheel assemblies 92 and 93 to their tandem or parallel positions the wheels will be positively swung by the combined efforts of the motors 98 and the motor I32.

Adjacent the rear end of the loader is a pair of steering and supporting wheel assemblies I 33 and I34 which are described and claimed in my cpending application, Serial No. 609,076, filed August 6, 1945, for a Loading Machine, now Patent No. 2,483,650, dated October 4, 1949, and which are seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, and 17 of the drawings. These wheel assemblies I33 and I34 are of similar design except for certain obvious differences.

Rear wheel assembly I33 is on the right hand side of the vehicle, as viewed from the rear end thereof looking forward, and rear wheel assembly I34 is on the left hand side. The two assemblies are thus laterally spaced on opposite sides of main frame I0 or, in other words, the main frame I0 and conveyer I! extend between them, as in the case of the wheel assemblies 92 and 93.

In the operation of the loader once it has reached the position at which it is to gather and load coal its rear end may be anchored to the mine room by the jack I20 or, if preferred, and under other circumstances hereinafter described, its rear end may be supported upon the steering wheel assemblies while the machine loads coal. I

Assuming that the jack I20 is employed, it is necessary to lift the wheel assemblies I33 and I34 from the mine floor to permit the above-described swinging movement of the loader under the influence of the traction wheel assemblies 92 and 93. Furthermore, the wheel assemblies I33 and I34 provide for steering the loader as it is operated as a self-contained vehicle or unit. These two characteristics require certain special design which is, of course, complicated by the presence of the conveyer I'I between the wheel assemblies I33 and I34.

Briefly described, each of the steering wheel assemblies I33 and I34 includes a wheel I35 provided with a pneumatic tire I36 which together may be referred to as the wheel, particularly in connection with the claims.

Referring particularly to Figs. 16 and 17, it will be seen that each wheel I 35 is mounted on a stub axle I31 which is formed as an integral part of an upstanding shaft I38. The lower portion of the shaft I38 is provided with a reduced neck which receives a thrust bearing I39 received in a bracket I40 through which is transmits the load to the outer end of a pivoted lever or arm I4I through a pivot pin I42. The arm [4| extends rearwardly from the wheel and is pivotally connected by a stub shaft I43 to the main frame I0. Up and down adjustment of the wheel I35 is effected by a double acting hydraulic piston motor I44 the cylinder of which is pivotally attached to the main frame I0 and the piston rod of which is pivotally attached to the arm I4I. By means of the motor I44 the wheel I35 may be adjusted to various up and down positions relative to the main frame I0 and locked in adjusted position.

The up and down adjustment of the Wheels I35 relative to the main frame is useful while the machine is being transported and while it is loading coal particularly over a rough mine floor and, furthermore, the up and down movement or adjustment of the wheels I35 provides a self-contained jack for the discharge endof the vehicle so that when the jack I20 is to be employed as a pivot for the rear end of the loader the wheels I 35 may be employed to elevate and lower the rear end of the machine to aid in positioning and locking the anchor jack I20 to the mine room, as hereinafter described. I i

In order to relieve the motors I44 of their holding wheels I35 in elevated position, I employ a locking and latching means which automatically latches said wheels in their elevated positions and which can be released when it is desired to lower them. This latching means includes a pivotal latch I45 having a notch adapted to support a ledge I46 formed on the arm MI. The two latches I45 are connected together by a cross rod I41 to which an actuating rod I48 that extends to an operating lever I49 positioned adjacent the operators seat 58 is attached.

The shaft I38 which includes the stub axle I31 receives a concentric sleeve I50 which is keyed to rotate therewith and retained thereon by a screw I5I and the axis of these concentric parts is the steering axis of the wheel I35. A second sleeve I 52 is received by the sleeve I50 and is keyed thereto to rotate therewith while permitting telescoping movement of the sleeve I50 therein. The sleeve I52 is also mounted for telescoping movement in and is keyed to rotate with a sleeve I53 that is held against axial or up and down movement with respect to the main frame I0 by a pair of axially spaced rings I54 which are rigidly at tached to the sleeve I53 and which receive a split collar or ring mounted in trunnions I56 carried in a bracket ring I51 mounted on a supporting bracket I58 rigidly attached to the main frame I0.

From the foregoing it is evident that the sleeves I53, I52, and I50 co-operate with the upper portion of shaft I38 to provide a telescoping adjustment between the sleeve I53 and the shaft I38 so that relative axial or rectilinear adjustment between them is permitted while at the same time permitting a rotational or torque driving relation between sleeve I53 and shaft I39 through the intermediary of tubes I52 and I50. In other words, any steering or rotational movement or torque applied to sleeve I53 will produce similar movement of axle I31 and wheel I35. It is also evident that the trunnions I56 provide for swinging or pivotal movement of the sleeve I53 on a horizontal axis, while the spaced rings I54 provide

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