US2636722A - Mining machine of front kerf cutting type - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1953 w. o. FIEL'DING MINING MACHINE OF FRONT KERF CUTTING TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. is. 1949 April 28, 1953 w. 0. FIELDING MINING MACHINE OF FRONT KERF CUTTING TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13. 1949 &

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W O FIELDING MINING MACHINE OF FRONT KERF CUTTING TYPE -15 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 28, 1953 Flled 0C; 13, 1949 Patented Apr. 28, 1953 MINING MACHINE OF FRONT KERF CUTTING TYPE William 0. Fielding, Logan, W. Va., assignor to Merrill Coal Company, Henlawson, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application October 13, 1949, Serial No. 121,110

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mining machine and while it is particularly adapted for use in mining coal, it will be understood that it is not restricted to this use.

At the present time, it is customary to mine coal by cutting the coal loose with a coal cutting machine, then drilling holes in the coal and filling the holes with powder or dynamite to blast the coal and cause it to drop down upon the floor of the mine, and then loading the coal into cars or onto a conveyor with a loading machine. This has been found expensive as separate machines and crews of men to operate them are necessary and it is, therefore, one object of the invention to provide a single machine which serves to cut the coal, detach it from the vein, and remove it from the floor of the mine by a conveyor constituting an element of the machine. It will thus be seen that the entire operation of removing the coal from the vein and conveying it away is done by one machine which is progressively moved forwardly towards the breast of the mine as the coal is mined.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mining machine which has a cutting chain for forming a horizontally extending cut or kerf across a vein of coal and also has upper and lower sets of wedges which loosen coal above and below the cut, the loosened coal above the out dropping through the frame of the cutting chain onto a conveyor which carries the coal away and the forward motion of the machine causing coal loosened by the lower wedges to be moved rearwardly over the head to the conveyor which carries the coal to the disposal point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mining machine having cutting chains disposed.

forwardly of the upper and lower wedges so that coal above and below the cut may be very easily wedged loose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mining machine of this type wherein the wedges are arranged in upper and lower batteries, the wedges of each battery being disposed in side by side relation to each other and thus provide wedges disposed in horizontal lines across the front end of the machine and co-operating with each other in such manner that the coal will be quickly wedged loose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mining machine having its batteries of upper and lower wedges so mounted that they may be shifted vertically to adjusted positions and thus accommodated to the thickness of the seam of coal which is being mined,

Another object of the invention is to provide a mining machine which is very compact and the vertical measurements of which are such that same may be readily utilized in mines having corridors or rooms of a low or minimum height.

Still another object resides in providing a mining machine which is comparatively simple in construction and unlikely to be rendered inoperative under normal use.

With these and numerous other objects inview, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved mining machine; t

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a view upon an enlarged scale showing the forward portion of the improved mining machine partially in top plan and partially in longitudinally extending transverse section; and

Figure l is an enlarged view showing the forward portion of the mining machine partially in side elevation and partially in longitudinally extending vertical section.

In describing the invention, I shall refer to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which the numeral I designates in general the body of the mining machine. This body has not been illustrated in detail but is hollow in order to house a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor (not shown) and is provided at opposite sides with traction means, each of which includes anendless tread 2 trained about front and rear rollers 15 and 4. A transversely extending partition 5 forms a rear wall of a chamber 6 extending across the front end of the body and into side portions of this chamber extend shafts I which protrude forwardly from synchronized motors 8 mounted in the body. Gears 9 are mounted upon front ends of the shafts I.

A hollow platform or housing I!) projects forwardly from the front end of the body and has its rear portion of reduced width to form a neck H, and since this neck is of less width than the body and the forward portion of the platform, it defines recesses l2 at opposite sides of the neck to accommodate the front rollers 3 and the forward portions of the endless treads 2. At opposite sides of its front end, the platform is formed with recesses or pockets l3 and midway its width, the front end of the platform is formed with a recess I l, having a bottom or wall extending forwardly at a downward incline, and into which fits the front end of a conveyor is.

The conveyor has been illustrated as a trough and provided with a rearwardly projecting extension !6 which rests upon a support ll at the rear end of the main conveyor trough and is pivotally mounted by a pin It so that it may be swung transversely to adjusted positions. It will be understood that other types of conveyors, such as an endless belt conveyor, or the like, may be substituted in place of the specific conveyor illustrated.

At the front end of the platform is a sawcarrying frame is and upper and lower casings 2t and 2! which carry the upper and lower wedges 22 and 23, and upon referring to Figures land 3, it will be seen that these wedges are arranged side by side in'batteries extending transversely across the front ends of the casings.

The saw frame 9 is formed of channeled metal and is substantially U-shapedbut has a straight bridge at its front and rearwardly extending arms which converge rearwardly and have their rear end portions mounted upon opposite side portions of the front end of the platform ill. The upper and lower'ilanges of the frame it are directed outwardly and form a track in which is mounted the saw M. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that this saw is a flexible endless saw of the chain type and consists of a plurality of links 25- which are pivotallyconnected with each other and carry spurs or teeth 26. Certain of the teeth project from the chain at an upward incline and others at a downward angle, and between these inclined teeth are teeth which project from the chain at right angles thereto. By so disposing the teeth, a relatively wide groove or kerf will be formed horizontally across a vein of coal and since the width of the kerf is greater than the thickness of the frame, it will be possible for the frame to enter the kerf and out-a very deep kerf in the coal during operation of the machine. The inner or rear: end portion of the chain-saw is trained about sprocket wheels 21- which are: disposed vertically in the hollow platform and rotatably mounted with their upper portions projecting upwardly therefrom and carrying the sprocket wheels at their upper ends.

Beveled gears 29 of large diameter are mounted about lower end portions of the shafts 28 and with these large gears mesh small beveled gears 30 carried by shafts 3i. These shafts extend longitudinally in opposite side portions of the hollow platform and are rotatably mounted through bearings 32 with their rear ends projecting into the chamber 6 of the body I and carrying pinions 33 which mesh with the pinions B so that rotary motion will be transmitted from the shafts of the motors 8 to the transmission shafts 3i and from these shafts to the drive shafts 28 and thus cause the saw to have movement along the bridge of the saw frame towards the left side of the saw frame and its teeth out a transversely extending groove or kerf in thecoal.

The wedgebatteries 22 and 23v are of. duplicate formation and each hasa wedge 31! which is detachably mounted at the front end of a plunger 35 so that it may be removed for sharpening or replacement when necessary. The plungers pass through thefront walls of the casings 29 and 2.! and are slidably mounted through bearings 36 near front ends of the casings. Rear ends of the plungers are provided with offset shanks 3T slidably mounted through bearings 38 and about the plungers are collars 39 which are engaged by helical springs 40 having their front ends abutting the bearings 36. These springs urge the plungers rearwardly but allow them to be driven forwardly so that the wedges will have striking contact with a vein of coal in vertical spaced relation to the cut or kerf cut by the chain saw. The fact that the saw frame is U-shaped, and, therefore, of an open formation, allows coal detached by the upper picks to drop downwardly through the saw frame. Since the casings have sloping wall portions 4|, coal may move rearwardly along this sloping wall of the lower casing and onto. the conveyor during forward movement of the mining machine.

Rear ends of the shanks 3i bear against cams 42 consisting of circular discs mounted eccentrically upon rotatably mounted shafts 43 which are housed in the casings and extend transversely of their rear end portions. The cams project from the shafts radially thereof in different directions about their circumferences and during rotation of the shafts, the Wedges will be successively and in predetermined order driven forwardly into wedging engagement with the coal being mined. Near their ends, thev shafts 43 carry sprocket Wheels 44 about which are engaged sprocket chains 45 which extend rearwardly from these sprocket wheels and longitudinally through the arms 86 of the upper casings and the arms 4! of the lower casing.

The arms 47 are longer than the arms 56 and have their rear ends tiltably mounted about shafts 48 which are disposed transversely of the platform at opposite sides thereof and rotatably mounted with their inner end portions extending into the platform and carrying beveled gears 49 which mesh with the large beveled gears 29. Sprocket wheels 50' and Eli are carried by the shafts 48 within the arms 4'! and about these sprocket wheels are trained rear portions of the sprocket chains 45. Therefore, rotary motion will be transmitted from the shafts 48 to the shaft 43 and as. this shaft 43 turns, its cams will impart forward movement to the wedges 23 and they will have wedging engagement with the coal and wedge the portion of the coal below the kerf so that it will be loosened from the vein.

The arms or legs 46 of the upper casing extend rearwardly over the arms or legs of the lower casing and through their rear end portions are rotatably mounted shafts 52 carrying sprocket wheels 53 about which are trained the sprocket chains (45 of the upper shaft 43 so that rotary motion may be transmitted to this shaft and the upper wedges operated. The. shafts 52 also carry sprocket wheels 54 about which engage sprocket chains 55. These sprocket chains extend downwardly through legs 56 and have their lower portions trained about the sprocket wheels 5i and the shafts 48 will, therefore, serve as drive shafts for the cam-carrying shaft of the upper casing as well as serving as drive shafts for the cam carrying shaft of the lower casing and both the upper and lower wedges will be powered from these shafts 48.

The upper and lower casings are to be shifted vertically to adjusted positions in order that the upper and lower batteries of the wedges may be supported in desired vertical spaced relation to each other and thus wedge the coal predeter casing are pivoted upon the shafts 48 and in order that the lower casing may be shifted vertically to the adjusted positions, there have been provided cylinders 5'! which are mounted vertically in the recesses or pockets !3 and have piston rods 58 projecting downwardly from their lower ends and pivoted to ears 59 at inner sides of the arms 41. Upward and downward movement of pistons in the cylinders will effect corresponding tilting of the arms and the lower casing and this casing will be moved to an adjusted position where it will be held.

The upper casing is provided in spaced relation to its arms or legs 46 with depending cars 60 which are pivoted to ears 6| at upper ends of pistons in cylinders 62 which have their lower ends formed with ears 63 which are in turn pivotally connected to upwardly projecting ears formed on the front end portion of the platform Id. The legs 56 carry ears fidprojecting rearwardly therefrom and to these ears are pivotally connected upper or outer ends of the pistons or plungers 65 which are slidable longitudinally in cylinders 66 having their lower or rear ends pivoted to ears El projecting laterally from opposite sides of the platform. When the pistons 65 are shifted longitudinally, the legs 56 are tilted about the shafts 48 and the upper casing will be shifted upwardly or downwardly and supported in the adjusted position. It will thus be seen that the upper and lower casings may both be shifted to vertically adjusted positions and the batteries of wedges will wedge the coal in desired vertically spaced relation to the kerf formed by the chain saw and thus cause coal above and below the kerf to be wedged loose.

When this mining machine is in operation, it is moved into position in front of a vein of coal and moved forwardly until the teeth of the chain saw make contact with the coal. The upper and lower casings are then adjusted until the batteries of wedges are disposed at desired distances above and below the chain saw. The motors 8 are then started and rotary motion transmitted to the vertical shafts 28, thus causing longitudinal motion to be imparted to the chain saw and also causing rotary motion to be transmitted to the cam shafts 43 so that their cams will act upon the shanks 3? at rear ends of the plungers 35 and cause the plungers to be successively moved forwardly in opposition to action of the springs 46 which hold the shanks in contact with the cam discs. As the chain saw moves along the bridge or front end of the saw frame, its teeth out a kerf horizontally across the coal and this kerf will be cut to a depth corresponding to the distance between the wedges and the front end of the saw frame before the wedges make contact with the coal. As soon as the wedges make contact with the coal, they serve to wedge the coal along lines above and below the kerf and since they do not simultaneously strike the coal, their wedging action will be in such timed relation to each other that the coal will be broken off in chunks which fall downwardly. Therefore, the coal above and below the kerf will be quickly wedged loose in chunks of irregular size, but some of it will be in the form of blocks of coal which are quite large. As the coal is cut and wedged from the vein, the machine is moved forwardly and the coal which has been wedged loose enters the front end of the conveyor trough l5 and when the coal reaches the rear end of the conveyor trough, it will be discharged into cars,'trucks, or onto. a dump in case the con veyor is of suflicient length-to extend to a dump.

Since the body I has traction members 2, it can be readily moved from one place to another for use. There has, therefore, been provided a mining machine which cuts a kerf in a vein of coal, Wedges the coal loose in chunks or lumps which drop through the saw frame on to the head 2| or wedges the coal up from below the kerf onto the head 2|. The loose coal on the bottom is forced to the head 2| by forward motion of the machine. All coal from the head 2| is carried rearwardly by conveyor for delivery from the mine, this being all done in one operation instead of it being necessary to drill holes in a vein, charge the holes with an explosive which is then fired to disintegrate the coal, and then shovel the coal into cars or otherwise remove the lumps of coal from the floor and. transport it from the mine.

In order that the operator may be incomplete control of the machine at all times, it is contemplated that each cylinder 51, 62 and 66 be fluid connected to a main fluid supply through the medium of a remote control panel (not shown).

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved mining machine, the assembly thereof and the operation of the same will be readily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple, reasonably inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the various objects of the invention.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is apparent that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A mining machine comprising a vehicle having traction means, a frame projecting forwardly from said vehicle, a saw carried by said frame and having a portion extending along the front of the frame transversely of the vehicle in position for cutting a kerf horizontally across a vein, upper and lower batteries of wedges disposed above and below the frame in vertical spaced relation to the saw, the wedges of each battery being disposed horizontally and extending longitudinally of the frame and the vehicle in side by side relation to each other and individually movable forwardly and rearwardly, springs urging said wedges rearwardly, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally transversely of the frame back of the batteries of wedges and carrying cams arranged to successively impart forward motion to the wedges during rotation of the shafts, means for imparting sawing motion to said saw, and means for rotating said shafts to operate the wedges during operation of the saw.

2. A mining machine comprising a vehicle having traction means, a platform projecting forwardly from said vehicle, a horizontal frame projecting forwardly from said platform and having a front end portion extending transversely of the platform, an endless flexible saw carried by said frame and movable along side portions of the frame and across the front end thereof in posi tion for forming a horizontal kerf in a vein during movement of the saw, said saw having teeth projecting outwardly from the frame, shafts rotatably mounted vertically in said platform in spaced relation to each other transversely of the platform and having upper portions projecting inwardly from the platform, sprocket wheels carried by upper portions of said shafts and engaged by the flexible saw for imparting longitudinal movement thereto during rotation of the shafts, casings above and below said frame supported horizontally and shiftable vertically to adjusted positions, wedges carried by said casin s and projecting forwardly therefrom horizontally and being slidably mounted for longitudinal reciproeating movement in the casings, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally in rear portions of said casings transversely thereof and carrying cams engaged by rear ends of the wedges, and means for transmitting rotary motion from the vertical shafts to the cam-carrying shafts.

3. A mining machine comprising a vehicle having traction means, a platform projecting forwardly from said vehicle, a horizontal frame having side portions projecting forwardly from said platform and having ahorizontal front end portion extending transversely of the platform forwardly thereof, an endless flexible saw carried by said frame and movable alongside portions of the frame and across the front end thereof in position for forming a horizontal kerf in a vein during movement of the saw, said saw having teeth projecting outwardly from the frame, shafts rotatably mounted vertically in said latform in transversely spaced relation to each other and having upper portions projecting upwardly from the platform, wheels carried by the projecting upper portions of said shafts and engaged by the flexible saw for imparting longitudinal movement thereto during rotation of the shafts, horizontal casings above and below said frame mounted for vertical movement to adjusted positions, wedges carried horizontally by said casings and projecting forwardly therefrom and slidably mounted for longitudinal reciprocating movement through the cas ing, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally in said casings transversely thereof and carrying cams turning with the shafts and engaged by rear ends of the wedges, counter shafts rotatably mounted in said casings transversely thereof and projecting from opposite sides of the casings, intermeshing gears carried by the vertical shafts and said counter shafts for transmitting rotary motion from the vertical shafts to the counter shafts, and means for transmitting rotary motion from said counter shafts to the cam-carrying shafts.

4. A mining machine comprising a vehicle having traction means, a platform projecting forwardly from said vehicle, a horizontal frame projecting forwardly from said platform and having a horizontal front end portion extending transversely of the platform, an endless flexible saw carried by said frame and movable along side portions of the frame and across the front end thereof in position for forming a horizontal. kerf in a vein during movement of the saw, said saw having teeth projecting outwardly from the frame, shafts rotatably mounted vertically in said platform in transversely spaced relation to each other and having upper portions projecting upwardly from the platform adjacent rear ends of the side portions of the frame, wheels carried by the projecting upper portions of said shafts and engaged by the flexible saw and constituting means for imparting longitudinal movement thereto during rotation of the shafts, casing above and below said frame, horizontal wedges slidable longitudinally in said casings and projecting forwardly therefrom, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally in said casings transversely thereof back of said wedges and carrying cams turning with the shafts and engaged by rear ends of said Wedges and serving to impart longitudinal movements to the wedges during rotation of the cam-carrying shafts, arms extending rearwardly from opposite sides of said casings, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally through said arms transversely thereof, means for transmitting rotary motion from the shafts of said arms to the cam-carrying shafts, and means for transmitting rotary motion from the Vertical shafts to the shafts of said arms.

5. A mining machine comprising a vehicle having traction means, a platform projecting forwardly from said vehicle, a horizontal frame projecting forwardly from said platform and having a horizontal front end portion extending transversely of the platform, an endless flexible saw carried by said frame and movable along the sides of said frame and across the'front end thereof in position for forming a horizontal kerf in a vein during movement of the saw, said saw having teeth projecting outwardly from the frame, shafts rotatably mounted vertically in said platform in transversely spaced relation to each other and having upper portions projecting upwardly from the platform, wheels carried by the projecting upper portions of said shafts and engaged by the flexible saw for imparting longitudinal movement thereto during rotation of the shafts, casings above and below said frame, horizontal wedges slidable longitudinally in said casand projecting forwardly therefrom, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally in said casings transversely thereof back of said wedges and carrying cams engaged by rear ends of said wedges and serving to impart longitudinal movements to the wedges during rotation of the camcarrying shafts, horizontal arms extending rearwardly from opposite sides of rear ends of said casings, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally through said arms transversely thereof, sprocket wheels carried by the cam-carrying shafts and the shafts of said arms, chains trained about companion sprocket wheels for transmitting rotary motion from the shafts of the arms to the cam-carrying shafts, and means for shifting the casings vertically to adjusted positions.

6. A mining machine comprising a vehicle having traction means, a horizontal platform projecting forwardly from said vehicle, a horizontal frame projectingforwardly from said platform and having a horizontal front end portion extending transversely of the platform, an endless fiexible saw carried by said frame and movable along opposite side edges of the frame and across the front end thereof in position for forming a horizontal kerf in a vein during movement of the saw. said saw having teeth projecting out wardly from the frame, shafts rotatably mounted vertically in said platform in transversely spaced relation to each other and having upper portions projecting upwardly from the platform back of said frame, wheels carried by the projecting upperportions of said shafts and engaged by the flexible saw and constituting means for imparting longitudinal movement thereto during rotation of the shafts, casings above and below said frame, horizontal wedges slidable longitudinally in said casings and projecting forwardly therefrom, shafts rotatably mounted horizontally in said casings transversely thereof back of said wedges and carrying cams engaged by rear ends of said wedges and serving to impart longitudinal movements to the wedges during rotation of the cam-carrying shafts, arms extending rear- Wardly from sides of said casings, horizontal shafts rotatably mounted through said arms transversely thereof, the shafts carried by the arm of the lower casing having portions extending into said platform through opposite sides thereof and connected with the vertical shafts by gears for rotation from the vertical shafts, sprocket wheels carried by the cam-carrying shafts and the shafts of the arms, chains trained about said sprocket Wheels for transmitting rotary motion to the cam-carrying shafts, legs extending between said casings and mounted about the shafts of their arms, additional sprocket wheels carried by the shafts of said arms, sprocket chains extending longitudinally 10 of said legs and trained about the last mentioned sprocket wheels for transmitting rotary motion from the shafts of the lower arms to the shafts of the upper arms, and members carried by said platform for shifting the casings vertically and holding the casings in vertically adjusted positions.

WILLIAM 0. FIELDING.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,276,248 Morgan Aug. 20, 1918 1,315,271 Young Sept. 9, 1919 1,585,041 MacEachen May 18, 1926 1,762,154 Blair June 10, 1930

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