US2645470A - Kerf cutterhead mechanism for mining machines - Google Patents

Description

July 14, 1953 A. L. LEE 2,645,470

KERF CUTTERHEAD MECHANISM FOR MININSE MACHINES Filed April 21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l HTTY July 14, 1953 A. L. LEE 1 m? 0mm uEcHANIsu FOR ummc IIAGHINES 3 Filed April 21, 1948 4 She'efis-Sheet 2 /NVENTOR ARTHUR L.L.EE, BY

July 14,1953 AQI... LEE: 4

m mm-mm MECHANISM FOR 14mm: mcnmgs Filed A ril-21, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 14, 1953 A. L. Leg;

' IERF Cum-mama momma: 5 9R unimc mcnmss 4 sneets sheet 4 Filed April 21, 1948 (Ny NT-OR ARTHUR L. LEI;v

Patented July 14, 195';

' KER CUTTERHEAD MECHANISMFOR ,MINING MACHINES Arthur L.'-'Lee, Upper Arlington, Qhio, assignor to The Jelfrey Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application April 21, 19.48,.jseri 1 No. 22,268

This invention relates to "a mining machine, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved mining machine which is very flexible in character and in which improved enclosed power'mechanism and drive gearing is provided for adjusting the cutter bar relative tothe head of said mining machine.

A further'object of the invention is to provide a mining machine havingan elongated extensible supplemental frame orneck formed oftwotelescoping parts relatively-adjustable about an axis, inwhich there isdrive gearing extending between the two telescoping parts to drive'the cutter chain of the kerf cutting mechanism supported on the outer-part which preferably includesan adjustable head and in which improved drive gearing and supporting means are provided, extending through the relatively adjustable parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved conduit forming means for hydraulic conduits or other similar power conducting means, by which hydraulic fluid or the like may be transferred between two relatively adjustable parts of a supplemental frame or elongated neck, through which power transmission mechanical gearing also extends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mining machine with an elongated or extending supplemental frame or neck, upon which a head tends to drive kerf cutting mechanism supported by the head; the arrangement also providing improved supporting means for the head, by virtue of which the drive gearing may be completely housed Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

' In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mining machine incorporating the features of my invention, the cutter chain associated with the head drive sprocket and cutter bar not being illustrated, it being of standard construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view showing particularly the rear portion of the supplemental frame and more particularly that portion which telescopes with the outer portion of said supplemental frame shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a horizontalsectional viewof the outer portion of the supplemental frameand consti- 55 .21 Claims. 262-28) 1 a tutes ,a-continuation of Fig. 3, except that it is --taken-through a plane at right angles thereto;

"- Fig.4 also showing the'adjustable and turnover "head portion of the machine and being taken on the line I-AofFig. and

Figx5is a sectional View taken at right-angles to-the view of Fig. 4 and showing the outer portion of-thesupplemental frame together with the --turnover'head.

Referring-first-to Figs. 1 and 2ofthe drawings,

the mining machine of my invention includes a main frame I0 WhiCh'lS illustrated as mounted on fou-r -wheels IIadapted to run on mine rails.

Adjacent the-rear end of the main frame I {I there is-a cable reel I2 adapted to carry an electric -c'able.- Forwardly of the-cable reel I2 and on each side of the mainframe there is an operators sta- --tionl-3 adjacent which there are similar con- :-axis1which-'is located substantially at the point I of intersection of diagonal lines between diagonal .wheels I I ethereiisaturntable I4 which iscarried *by the-main rframe Ill and which may be swung abouttheiuprightaxis by any Well known power :operated means, preferably hydraulic in characuter... Adjustably mounted on the turntable It for upivotallup anddown movement on a transverse :horizontal axisisa supplemental frame I5 which includes two principal relatively adjustable memgbersor portions Ifiand lL portion It being the qrearward ;portion;an d portion I1 being the forw rdo ute portion. f ?-he abovem nt o ed pivotal connect on is p vided by trunnions I8 onthe rear end of the rear portion ;I6 which are JQurnaled in bearings carr ed: by Lupstanding brackets 19 formed in g -.with said. turntable.

The .rear. portion I6 also includes a pair of removable spaced arms 20, one

.zmotorflI which interconnects the turntable I4 :andithe :supplemental 1 frame .I 5.

the hydraulic motors 2| and sealing of them in any additional adjustment provides .-for the up and down-pivotal movement of the supplemental frame I5 :aboutthe horizontal axis ofthe trunnions I8.

The rear portion It of the-supplemental frame I I5 provides -a-' totally enclosing housing, within the-rear-portion of-whichthereis a primary driving electric motor -22, the forwardly extending drive shaft -23' of which is seen in detail in Fig, 3

Adjustment of 3 of the drawings. The axis of the shaft 23 is preferably coincidental with the longitudinal axis of the supplementaal frame l5, about which longitudinal axis the portions I6 and IT thereof are relatively adjustable. The outer portion I1 is journaled to the rear portion l for rotary adjustment on said longitudinal axis by a pair of longitudinally spaced journal bearings 24 and 25 (see Fig. 3), and said rotary adjustment is effected by virtue of a hydraulic motor 26 (see Fig. 1) carried on the rear portion l6 and provided with reduction gearing including a worm which meshes with a worm gear 21 (see Fig. 3), which worm gear 21 is keyed to the rear portion of the outer portion [1. 1

It may be pointed out that the construction provided is such that the outer portion ll may be continuously rotated in"'either' clockwise or counterclockwise direction with respect to the rear portion l6 and this is possible particularly in view of the special construction of the hydraulic conduits hereinafter described and which constitute an important contribution of my invention.

At its outer end the outer portion I1 is bifurcated, providing a pair of spacedarms 28 and 29 which extend laterally of the longitudinal. axis of said supplemental frame l5 and upon which a turnover head 38 is mountedfor limited pivotal movement about a transverse axis which is at right angles to the axis of the supplemental frame [5. As hereinafter described more in detail, a. flat, elongated cutter bar 3i of essentially standard construction .is pivotally mounted on the turnover head 30 about the axis of a drive sprocket 32 which drives the cutter chain of the kerf cutting mechanism of the mining machine, which cutter chain is not illustrated in the drawings since its construction and association with the cutter bar and drive sprocket are essentially of standard and well known design.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings and to the construction of the means for mounting the turnover head 33 on the bifurcated frame portion Il, together with certain drive gearing interconnecting the motor 22 and the drive sprocket 32. The head 30 is formed of a main casting 33 provided at its outer end with a pair of removable cover plates 34 and 35 which provide access to the interior of said main casting 33, since the head 30 is a totally enclosing structure. Adjacent one side, which is at the top as viewed in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the main casting 33 receives a removable disclike plate 38 which is removably attached to the castin 33 adjacent a circular opening therein.

The plate 36 has a central opening adapted to receive an anti-friction bearing 31. Removably attached to the disc plate 35 by machine screws is a boss 38 which with the plate 36 formsa part of said head 30. The boss 38 is journaled in a bearing 39 carried'in a circular hole in the arm 28 and provides one of the trunnions by which said head 30 is pivotally supported to the outer end of the supplemental frame [5. A thrust bear- .ing 40 is interposed between the inner face of arm 28. and the outer surface-of the disc 36.

At its other side, or at the bottom, as seen in Fig. 4, theghead 30 has an integral portion provided with a circular opening which is journaled to a two-piece cap 4!, which two pieces are rigidly but removably attached together by machine screws as well as to a removable plate 42 which in turn is rigidly but removably attached by machine screws to the .arm portion 29 of said outer members l1 journal bearing means 43 bein pro- 4 vided to support said side of the casting 33 on said arm 29 and to hold it against lateral thrust. It is thus seen that the head 30 is mounted for pivotal movement on an axis which is transverse or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the supplemental frame 15.

To provide for limited pivotal adjustment of the head 30 on said right angle axis there is a bifurcated boss 44 (see Fig. 5) formed on the bottom of the casting 33, as viewed in said Fig. 5, to which the outer end of a pitson rod 45 of a double acting hydraulic cylinder or motor 46 is pivotally attached, the rear end of the cylinder of'said motor 46 being in turn pivotally attached to a bifurcated boss 47 formed on the frame portion ll.

It is to be noted that the cylinder 46 is completelfhoused on three sides by the housing casting 48 by bolt means 39.

motor 46 the head 33 may be SWllIlg about the right angle axis, which right angle axis is parallel with the plane of the cutter bar 3|, thus providing for limited pivotal adjustment of said cutter bar along an axis which is parallel with the plane thereof but spaced therefrom and which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of said elongated cutter bar 3|. 7 7

As previously mentioned, the cutter bar Si is mountedfor swinging adjustment relative to the head 30 and this swinging adjustment is about an axis which is at right angles to the above mentioned right angle axis upon which the head 39 is mounted with respect to the supplemental frame l5. To provide this swinging adjustment the rear end of the cutter bar 3| is rigidly but removably attached to a dish-like supporting Casting 48 is journaled to the boss of a plate or casting 5B- which is rigidly but removably attached to the head casting 33 by machine screws.

Plate 50 has a retaining cap 55 removably attached thereto by machine screws which overlaps the supporting casting .43 and removably holds it on said casting 33 for swinging movement. Ball-bearings 52 are interposed between the cap 5| and an integrally formed race on the casting 48 to provide a low friction pivotal connection for said casting 48, particularly when the head 30 is turned over, so that the cutter bar extends from the bottom thereof, which is the reverse of the position thereof illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

The dish-shaped casting 48 is provided with an integral peripheral flange 53 having an internal ring gear 54 formed thereon, which provides a final driven gear of a gear train for swinging the cutter bar 3| relative to the head 3!]. Ball-bearing means 55 are preferably interposed between an integral race formed on the periphery of the flange 53 and an integral cooperating flange formed by the casting 33. i A packed or labyrinth seal 55 is also provided adjacent and externally of the ball-bearing means 55, whereby an enclosure against moisture, gases and the like is provided by the cooperation of the casting 33 and the dished casting 48 for the gear54 as well as drive gearing therefor which is described hereinafter and which extends into the chamber or compartment provided by castings 33 and.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings and to the :mechanism for adjusting the cutter bar 3| with respect to the head 30 about the axis of the sprocket which, as above mentioned, is at right angles to the pivotal axis of the head 39 on the supplemental frame i5. Within an isolated compartment or chamber 5? of the head casting 33, to which access is provided by the cover plate 35, there is a reversible rotary hydraulic motor 58 which is removably mounted'on a wall or web of said chamber 51. The drive shaft of said hydraulic motor 58 carries a wormwhich meshes with a worm gear 59 keyed to a shaft 60 which is mounted in appropriate thrust and supporting bearings within the housing provided by the head 30, one of said thrust-bearings being carried in a removable cap 6| attached to said casting 33, which provides for the removal of said shaft 60 and worm gear 59. The shaft has anintegrally formed worm 62 which meshes with a worm gear 63 mounted in casting 33 by appropriate supporting and thrust bearings (see Fig. the worm gear 63 being splined to a shaft 64, the axis of which is parallel with the axis of rotation of the dished casting t8 but spaced laterally therefrom. Thus a double reduction, involving two worms and two worm gears, is provided between motor 58 and shaft 64.

One of the bearings for supporting the shaft 54 is carried in a cup in the casting 33 to which access is provided by removable cap 65. The upper end of the shaft 84, as viewed in Fig. 5, is provided with a spur gear 65 which extends into the chamber provided by the'dished casting 4S and the cooperating portion of the casting 33 and meshes with the internal ring gear 54. Shaft 64 therefore extends through an opening in the casting 33 of the head 30 and into said chamber provided by the dished casting 48 and cooperating portion of casting 33.

It is thus obvious that by reversibly operating the hydraulic motor 58 the cutter bar 3| may be swung in opposite directions and by hydraulically locking said motor 58 said cutter bar may be locked in any position to which it is adjusted. It is to be particularly noted that the entire power driving mechanism for swinging the cutter bar 3! relative to the head 30 is enclosed within said head 35, except for the final gears 66 andv 54 which are enclosed within the chamber provided by the dished casting 48 and the cooperating portion of the casting 33 of said head 30. Furthermore this power operating mechanism starts with a relatively small compact rotary hydraulic motor 58 which readily adapts itself to being contained within the enclosure provided by the head 30.

Attention is now directed particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings and to the power operated mechanism and gear train for driving the cutter chain sprocket 32 from the motor 22. As previously mentioned and as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the drive shaft 23 extends from a motor compartment at the rear of the supplemental frame !5 into an intermediate compartment which is a portion of the rear member of supplemental frame I5 and'designated generally by the reference character IS. The outer end of said shaft 23 is splined to receive and drive the splined collar of a universal joint 61 which in turn drives a shaft 68 which extends generally parallel with the axis of the supplemental frame I5 but is slightly oblique relative thereto.

By reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings it will .be seen that the shaft 68 -extends through these movin parts.

and also receives one end of the shaft ll.

both the rear and forward or outer portions l6 and ll of the supplemental frame or neck l5 and at its forward end is connected to a universal joint 69. The forward end of the universal joint is in turn connected to a short shaft 10 which is mounted on spaced anti-friction bearings in a removable cage H which in turn fits into a cylindrical chamber or cavity in the forward portion of the members [7, which forward portion includes the spaced arms 28 and 2G and is actually formed as a separate removable casting or frame member 12.

Grease seal means 73 is provided adjacent the rear end of the shaft it and, as hereinafter described, the movable parts which are carried by the head 55, as well as by the frame member 12 including the supporting bearings for the shaft 10, are in direct communication so that lubricating material in said head 39 will lubricate all of At its forward end the shaft F5 is provided with a bevel gear '14 which in turn meshes with a ring gear 15 riveted to a hub 16 which is mounted on spaced anti-friction bearings, one of which is carried by an integral portion of the arm 29 of casting 72, the other of which is carried by the previously mentioned cap M, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The hub 15 is internally splined and receives the external splines of a cross shaft H, the axis of whichis in alignment with the right angle axis above mentioned, upon which the head 30 is mounted for swinging adjustment relative to the supplemental frame or neck I5. 7

At the other end or outer end, as viewed in Fig. 4, the shaft H is externally splined and has a splined connection with the driving member of an overload friction type clutch is which is mounted on spaced bearings, one of which is carried by the casting 33, the other by the disc or plate 35, as clearly illustrated inFig. 4 of the drawings. Formed integral with the shell or housing of the overload clutch is is a bevel gear I9 which meshes with a bevel gear 89 (see 5) keyed to shaft 8| which is supported at one end in an anti-friction bearing carried by anintegral cup 82 formed in the castin 33 and intermediate its ends carried in a pair of oppositely positioned anti-friction tapered roller bearings carried in the previously mentioned plate or casting 5!}. Between the hub of the bevel gear as and the casting or plate 50 there is a grease seal 83 which preserves the grease-tight enclosure of the head 30.

At its outer end, which is the top as viewed in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the shaft at is keyed to the final drive sprocket 32 for the mining machine cutter chain. A seal is also provided between a removable cup 86 and a hub of the sprocket 32, the cup 84 being removably attached to the plate 59 by machine screws and cooperating to retain the previously mentioned double roller bearing removably in place.

Byreference to Fig. l of the drawings it will be seen that the arm 25: of the casting E2 of the outer portion ll of the supplemental frame i5 is of generally hollow construction, since it provides .a compartment, chamber or sub-housing for the. shaft 10, spur gear 14 and ring gear 15 This housing is in direct and continuous communication with the housing provided by the head section 33 so that lubricating material in one will freely flow, to .the other, thus lubricating all the gears and bearings, starting with the bearings forisha'ft .Lllland; continuing through-to at least scram onef the bearings of shaft 8i. This communication is provided adjacent the shaft H by Virtue of a sleeve 85, the axis of which is coincidental with the axis of the shaft H which is also the axis of adjustment of the head 36 with respect to the supplemental frame or neck t5. Sleeve 85 is rigidly attached to a receiving cylindrical cup formed in the casting 33, as clearly illustrated in Fig. i, and extends into a receiving cup in the arm 29, grease seals 86 being provided between said sleeve 85 and said arm 29 as well as between said sleeve 85 and the casting 33 to insure a fluid tight connection by this transfer conduit.

In view of the above it is obviously only necessary to provide adequate lubrication in the enclosure provided by the head 31': to lubricate that portion of the gear train within the hollow arm 29 and the chamber for shaft 78 in the casting 12.

Another important characteristic of my invention is the complete enclosure of all flexible conduits and in fact the enclosure of substantially allof the conduits, whether flexible or relatively inflexible, so as to preclude their being damaged and losing hydraulic fluid, the conduits in question being principally but not exclusively those for delivering hydraulic fluid to and from the several operating motors, including motors 46 and 58.

Furthermore, the particular hydraulic conduit forming means is so constructed that there are no limitations on the extent to which the outer portion of the neck 15 may be adjusted along thelongitudinal axis of said neck; that is, the cutter bar 3| and head 38 may be rotated continuously about the longitudinal axis of the supplemental frame or neck l5. To this end there is a pair of concentric sleeves 8i and 88, the latter having a generally cylindrical inner surface journaled on the generally cylindrical outer surface of the former. Sleeve 8'! in turn has a cylindrical center bore which is journaled on the splined sleeve portion of the universal joint 51 which is splined to the free outer end of the motor shaft 23, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The cooperating surfaces of the two sleeves ill and 88 are provided with a plurality of cooperating opposite circumferential grooves 89, between which O-ring seals 90 are provided to isolate the conduits provided by said grooves 89. Sleeve 88 is rigidly attached to an upstanding partition forming a part of the portion 16 of neck 15 and is thus held against rotation relatively thereto. Sleeve 81 has a snap ring 9| at its rear end and has a head 92 at its forward end which prevents longitudinal movement thereof relative to the sleeve 88 while permitting it to rotate relative thereto along their common axis which is coincidental with the axis of the shaft 23 and the axis of rotation of the forward section I! of supplemental frame l with respect to the rear portion thereof.

The sleeve 88 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced hydraulic couplings each of which leads to an individual one of the grooves 89. The sleeve 81 is provided with a plurality of axially and radially extending grooves each of which forms a conduit, one of which is seen at 93, there being one such conduit 93 individual to each of said grooves 89. There is also illustrated a cooperating groove and O-ring seal 94 provided between the forward external surface of the sleeve 88 and a rearwardly extending flange 95 of the head 92 of sleeve 88 which provides another conduit 96.

On the outer face of the head 92 of sleeve 81 there is a partial ring 9'! which is bolted or otherwise removably attached to said head 92 and which extends through an arc of approximately 180, the extent of this are being such that the ring 9'! may receive and have rigidly attached thereto a plurality of nested, semi-rigid pipes 98 which, for example, may be made of brass or bronze and which extend through individual holes in the ring 91 and are brazed thereto. Each of the pipes 98 leads to an individual conduit 93, and O-ring or other seals are provided to make a fluid tight connection between each pipe 98 and its associated conduit 93 through the head 92 and ring 91. The nested pipes 98 extend through an arc of a circle of approximately 180 or less and surround the universal joint 67. Th drive shaft 68 extends along the nested pipes 98 which are brought together at their intermediate or generally central portions where they are brazed or otherwise rigidly attached together so as to form a relatively solid, though slightly flexible, torque transmitting arcuate shaft designated in its entirety by the reference character 99. The arcuate shaft 99 is, of course, open on one side or through an arc of preferably 180 or more so that the drive shaft 68 is free to extend forwardly, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

At their forward ends the pipes 98 are brazed to a new-moon shaped head plate I98 which forms a part of the shaft 99 as does the ring 91. Head plate I00 is 'removably connected to a coupling new-moon shaped plate IDI which in turn is welded to the cylindrical rear portion of the frame members ll so as to turn therewith. Coupling plate lfll is provided with a plurality of individual flexible conduit couplings [82, there being one for each of the flexible or rubber conduits 183 extending therefrom. Plates I and lEll cooperate to provide'individual passageways interconnecting each of the metal tube conduits 98 with one of the flexible conduits I09. Shaft 58 extends freely through the cooperating grooves in new-moon shaped plates I and NH.

From the above description it is obvious that as the head 30 and the forward portion [1 of the supplemental frame I5 rotate about the longitudinal axis of the supplemental frame, a torque will be transmitted through the arcuate shaft 99 formed by the nested arcuate tubes 98 which are brazed or otherwise attached together, transferring the rotating force to the sleeve 81 and causing it to rotate therewith and relative to the stationary sleeve 88, all the while preserving the continuity of the fluid conduit or connection between each of the conduits connected to the stationary sleeve 88 and the flexible conduits I03. Each individual tube 98 is laterally spaced relative to the axis on which the shaft 99 turns which is the axis of the sleeves 81 and 88. In other words, tubes 98 are non-concentric relative to their axis of adjustment.

It is evident that the construction thus provided places no restriction on the amount of rotation which may be imparted to the other portion H of the supplemental frame 15 and there is no twisting of any flexible hydraulic conduits involved. The hydraulic conduits )3 are employed to deliver hydraulic fluid to the motors :38 and 58 as well as to provide a drain for the latter. One of the hydraulic conduits may also be employed to deliver spray water to a spray pipe associated with the cutter bar 3! as hereinafter described more completely. Two of the conduits 103 will be connected to opposite ends of the cylinder of double acting motor 46 to provide for its reverse operation. There will be three conduits I03 which will extend to the motor58, two of which are the operating fluid conducting conduits, the other of which is a drain conduit to drain the leakage from the motor.

It is evident that the flexible conduits I03 which control the cylinder type motor 46 may extend directly from their connection to the part I? to said motor 46, since said motor 46 has only very limited pivotal movement with respect to the section I'I. However, since the motor 53 is mounted in the head 30, there is appreciably more pivotal movement between it and the portion- I5, as a consequence of which it is considered undesirable to employ flexible conduits I03 for the complete connection leading directly to the motor 58.

To provide for the extension of the conduits from the flexible hoses I03 to the motor 50,'three of said hoses I03 are connected to individual conduits I 04 (see Fig. 4) formed in a boss at the rear of the casting or frame member 12. The three conduits I04 (one a drain conduit) extend through the casting I2 to an external head I05 which is merely a block of metal rigidly attached to the outside of casting I2, having three continuing passageways formed therein which continue the conduits I04. said conduits I04 extend from the head I05 into an arm I06 which is rigidly attached to said casting "I2 and which extends to a position adjacent the axis of the shaft 71.

Rigidly attached to said arm I06 is a-cylinder I0! provided with three bores which constitute continuations of the conduits I04 and which communicate with cooperating grooves I08 formed in the cylinder I01 and the adjacent cylindrical surface of a bore in the boss 38 into which the cylinder I0'I'extends, there being O-ring seals between each of the grooves I08, thus maintaining the individuality of the conduits I04 as they extend therethrough. The grooves I08 cooperate with individual bores I09, which, of course, constitute extensions of each of the three conduits I04. Each of the three individual bores I09 is connected by a flexible or a rigid conduit, not shown, to the hydraulic motor 58, rigid conduits being preferred since there is no twisting of them required, since the motor 50 is rigidly attached to the casting 33 within which the bores I09 are formed. I

It is, of course, evident that this extension of the conduits from the flexible rubber tubes I03 to the motor 58 provides for free swinging of the head 30 without requiring any twisting of conduits or the like. In fact, if desired, the tubes I03 may be relatively rigid metal tubes insofar as those tubes which extend to the motor 50 are concerned, since they require no flexing whatever during normal operation. The tubes which extend to motor 46 from the coupling head I0! are preferably flexible rubber tubes or the like, since they do require a limited amount of bending during operation of the machine. The cylinder I0! is held against axial movement by virtue of the arm I 06 which is rigidly attached to the outside thereof and in effect forms a head for said cylinder, the inside of said cylinder being attached to .a head IIO.

As previously mentioned, one of the pipes 98 and conduits I03 may lead to a spray pipe associated with the cutter bar 3I. When thisis provided, one of said conduits or hoses I03 may extend from the frame member I! to the casting 33 and communicate by a coupling to a conduit 10' I II (see Fig. 5) formed in said casting 33. Conduit III leads to head II2 formed on a tube II3 which extends through a bore in the shaft BI.

'A grease seal H4 is provided between the head a passageway in the arm I I6 and leads out to the cutter bar 3! where it may connect with spray nozzles thereon in a manner well understood in the art.

head II5 and the shaft 8|.

The upper end of the tube II 3, as viewed in Fig. 5, is plugged and it is provided with one or more radial bores adjacent the groove II'I so that the water in said tube is free to flow radially outward into said groove II'i' from which it is conducted away by the spray pipe II8. A seal H9 is provided between the bottom portion of A grease fitting is provided in the sprocket 32 leading through the shaft 8| to the bottom of the head I I5, as viewed II'I, as viewed in Fig. 5, providing the aforesaid fluid tight connection.

From the above description it is evident that the operating motors for adjusting the turnover head 50 relative to the supplemental frame F0 are protected by the supplemental frame portion I F. It is further obvious that the motor and driving mechanism for swinging the cutter bar 3| with respect to the head 30 is fully protected since it is totally enclosed. It is also of relatively small size, since the high pressure rotary hydraulic motor53 is employed with a high gear reduction drive between its shaft and a final driven gear 54 of the cutter bar swinging mechanism.

It is furthermore obvious that the hydraulic conduits which extend from the rear portion of the supplemental frame I5 to the relatively adjustable forward portion II thereof are not subject to any appreciable twisting and they place -r no limitation whatever upon the extent to which the turnover head may be rotated along the longitudinal axis of the neck or supplemental frame I5.

Furthermore, the manner in which the turnover head is connected to the bifurcated outer portion of frame If is such as to make it easy to seal said totally enclosing head 3i? against leakage of lubricating oil. This also makes possible the easy formation of a communicating passageway between the chamber for that portion of the gear train for driving the cutter chain which is carried by the head 30 and that portion carried by the outer supplemental frame portion I'I..

Likewise, the conduit means which provides for the delivery of dust settling water or liquid to the spray pipe HS in no way minimizes the ad-- justability or flexibility of the cutter bar or turnover head or of the outer portion I? of the supplemental frame or neck I5.

32, save only for the latter, are totally enclosed and thus fully protected against dirt and grit and may be operated in an enclosed bath of lubricating oil;

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed. I

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A mining machine including an enclosing head, kerf cutting mechanism including a cutter bar, means mounting said cutter bar on said head for swinging movement in its own plane, said means being enclosed in a housing removably mounted on said head, totally enclosed power operated mechanism for swinging said cutter bar relative to said head including a gear train having double reduction gearing and a driving hydraulic motor within said enclosing head, said gear train including a final gear attached to said cutter bar and a drive pinion therefor, said pinion being on a shaft extending outside said enclosing head, said cutter bar gear and pinion being separately enclosed in said housing, and said housing and head being relatively adjustable and formed to provide for separation without exposing said gear train and motor within the head.

2. A mining machine including a supporting frame, a supplemental frame extending generally horizontally therefrom having telescoping forward and rearward portions mounted for relative adjustment on a longitudinally extending axis fixed relative to said rear portion, power operated means for rotating said forward por tion relative to said rearward portion on said axis, a head on said forward portion mounted for pivotal adjustment on an axis at right angles to the axis of said supplemental frame, a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said head, a cutter chain on said cutter bar, a driving motor on the rearward portion of said supplemental frame, and drive gearing interconnecting said motor and said cutter chain including a drive shaft adjacent said rearward portion of said supplemental frame having an axis along the aforesaid axis of rotation of the forward portion and also including a transverse shaft in said head along its axis of pivotal adjustment, said gearing also including gearing interconnecting said two shafts which includes an elongated shaft extending longitudinally and obliquely relative to the axis of said supplemental frame and from the rearward portion to the forward portion of said supplemental frame, said last named shaft being housed by said supplemental frame and having universal joint connections at its op-' to the axis of said supplemental frame, a cutterbar pivotally mounted on said head, a cutter chain on said cutter bar, a driving motor on the'rearward portion of said supplemental frame, and drive gearing interconnecting said motor and said cutter chain including a drive shaft adjacent said rearward portion of said supplemental frame having an axis. along the aforesaid axis of rotation of the forward portion and also including a transverse shaft in said head along its axis of pivotal adjustment, said gearing also including gearing interconnecting said two shafts which includes an elongated shaft extending longitudinally and obliquely relative to the axis of said supplementalframe and from the rearward portion to the forward portion thereof.

4. A mining machine including a supporting frame, a supplemental frame extending generally horizontally therefrom having telescoping forward and rearward portions mounted for relative adjustment on a horizontally extending axis fixed relative to said rear portion, power operated means for rotating said forward portion relative 'to said rearward portion on said axis, a head on said forward portion mounted for pivotal adjust-,

ment on an axis at right angles to the axis of said supplemental frame, a cutter bar pivotally mounted on said head, a cutter chain on said outter bar, a driving motor on the rearward portion of said supplemental frame, and drive gearing interconnecting said motor and said cutter chain including a drive shaft adjacent said rearward portion of said supplemental frame having an axis along the aforesaid axis of rotation of the forward portion and also including a transverse shaft in said head along its axis of pivotal adjustment, said gearing also including gearing interconnecting said two shafts which includes an elongated shaft extending longitudinally and obliquely rela tive to the axis of said supplemental frame and from the rearward portion to the forward portion thereof, said last named shaft being housed by said supplemental frame and having universal joint connections at its opposite ends.

5. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, hydraulic motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, 11y

draulic conductor means for supplying power to said hydraulic motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said hydraulic motor means, said hydraulic conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, fluid conducting passages and seals between said sleeves, individual hydraulic conductors extending between one of said sleeves and said forward portion each individually paced laterally from said axis, said conductors being arcuately nested and connected to form a rotatable shaft which provides for transmitting rotating force whil delivering fluid, and means including said conductors connecting said one sleeve and said forward portion to insure their movement together.

6. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, conductor means for supplying power to said motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said motor means, said conductor'means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, individual conductors extending between one of said sleeves and said forward portion each individually spaced laterally from said axis, said conductors being arcuately nested and connected to form a rotatable shaft which provides for transmitting rotating force while delivering fluid, and means including said conductors connecting said one sleeve and said forward portion to insure their movement together. j

7. A mining machine including a frame, a sup plemental frame thereon including f'orwardand rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, hydraulic motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, hydraulic conductor means for supplying power to said hydraulic motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said hydraulic motor means, said hydraulic conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, fluid conducting passages and seals between said sleeves, individual hydraulic conductors extending between one of said sleeves and said for ward portion each individuall spaced laterally from said axis, said conductors being arcuately relative to said forward portion, conductor means for supplying power to said motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame.

to said motor means, said conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, individual conductors extending between one of said sleeves and said forward portion each individually spaced laterally from said axis, said conductors being arcuately nested and connected to form a rotatable shaft which provides for transmitting rotating force while delivering fluid, and means connecting said one sleeve and said for ward portion to insure their movement together.

9. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, hydraulic motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, hydraulic conductor means for supplying power to said hydraulic motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said hydraulic motor means, said hydraulic conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, fluid conducting passages and seals between said sleeves, hydraulic conductors extending between oneof said sleeves and said forward portion, means including said conductors connecting said one sleeve and said forward portion to insure their movement together, said concentric sleeves being spaced from said forward portion along said axis of adjustment, and said conductors including a plurality of metal tubes rigidly attached together to transmit turning torque from said forward member to said one sleeve, and a drive shaft for said kerf cutting mechanism extending through and concentric,

withsaid concentric sl eves.

10. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, hydraulic motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, hydraulic conductor means for supplying power to said hydraulic motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said hydraulic motor means, said hydraulic conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, fluid conducting passages and seals between said sleeves, hydraulic conductors extending between one of said sleeves and said forward portion, and means including said conductors connecting said one sleeve and said forward portion to insure their movement together, said concentric sleeves being spaced from said forward portion along said axis of adjustment, and said conductors including a plurality of metal tubes rigidly attached together to transmit turning torque from said forward member to said cnesleeve.

11. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, hydraulic motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, hydraulic conductor means for supplying power to said hydraulic motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said hydraulic motor means, said hydraulic conductor means including a rotatable member, and hydraulic conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable member to rotate it and connected at the other end to one of said relatively adjustable supplemental frame portions, said conductors including a plurality of at least semirigid tubes attached together to transmit turning torque from one of said supplemental frame portions to said rotatable member.

12. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, conductor means for supplying power to said motor extending from said rearward portion of said supplemental frame to said motor means, said conductor means including a rotatable member, and conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable member to rotate it and connected at the other end to one of said relatively adjustable supplemental frame portions, said conductors including a plurality of at least semi-rigid elongated members attached together to transmit turning torque from one of said supplemental frame portions to said rotatable member.

13. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, motor means carried by the rearward portion of said supplemental frame for driving said kerf cutting mechanism, gearing interconnecting said last named motor means and said lcerf cutting mechanism including a shaft adjacent the rear of said supplemental frame having an axis coincidental with the aforementioned axis, an elongated longitudinally extending shaft having an axis oblique relative to said first named axis and a universal joint interconnecting said two shafts, conductor means for-supplying power to said second named motor means and extending from said rear portion of said supplemental frame to said second named motor means, said conductor means including a member rotatable about said first named shaft and conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable conductor member and connected at the. other end to one of said relatively adjust- 16 bers attached to transmit turning torque from one of said supplemental frame portions to said rotatable conductor member.

15. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said. supplemental frame, motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, motor means carried by the rearward portion of said supplemental frame for driving said kerf cutting mechanism, gearing interconnecting said last named motor means and said kerf cutting mechanism including a shaft adjacent the rear of said supplemental frame having an axis coincidental with the aforementioned axis, an elongated longitudinally extending shaft having an axis oblique relative to said first named axis and a universal joint interconnecting said two shafts, conductor mean for supplying power to said second named motor means and extending from said rear portion of said supplemental frame to able supplemental frame members, said conductors being spaced around said universal joint and at least a portion of said oblique shaft through an arc of approximately 180 degrees whereby said oblique shaft may extend longitudinally beyond said conductors, and means including said conductors'constituting semi-rigid elongated members attached to transmit turning torque from one of said supplemental frame portions to said rotatable conductor member.

14. A mining machine including a frame, a supplemental frame thereon including forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, kerf cutting mechanism adjustably mounted on the forward portion of said supplemental frame, motor means carried by said forward portion for adjusting said kerf cutting mechanism relative to said forward portion, motor means carried by the rearward portion of said supplemental frame for driving said kerf cutting mechanism, gearing interconnecting said last named motor means and said kerf cutting mechanism including a shaft adjacent the rear of said supplemental frame having an axis coincidental with the aforementioned axis, an elongated longitudinally extending shaft having an axis oblique relative to said first named axis and a universal joint interconnecting said two shafts, conductor means for supplying power to said second named motor means and extending from said rear portion of said supplemental frame to said second named motor means, said conductor means including a member rotatable about said first named shaft and conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable conductor member and connected at the other end to one of said relatively adjustable supplemental frame members, said conductors being spaced around said universal joint and at least a portion of said oblique shaft through an arc of approximately 180 degrees whereby said oblique shaft may extend longitudinally beyond said conductors, and means constituting semi-rigid elongated memsaid second named motor means, said conductor means including a member rotatable about said first named shaft and conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable conductor member and connected at the other end to one of said relatively adjustable supplemental frame members, said conductors being spaced around said universal joint and at least a portion of said oblique shaft through an arc of approximately degrees whereby said oblique shaft may extend longitudinally beyond said conductors, and means attached to transmit turning torque from one of said supplemental frame portions to said rotatable conductor member.

16. A machine of the class described including a frame having forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, a hydraulic motor carried by said forward portion, hydraulic conductor means for supplying power to said motor andextending from said rearward, portion to said forward portion, said hydraulic conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, fluid conducting passages and seals between said sleeves, individual elongated hydraulic conductors extending between one of said sleeves and a removed position on said for ward portion, each individually spaced laterally from said axis, said hydraulic conductors being arcuately nested and connected together to form a rotatable shaft which provides for transmitting rotating force while delivering fluid, and means including said conductors connecting said one sleeve and said forward portion to insure their movement together. 7,

1'7. A machine of the class described including a frame having forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, a hydraulic motor carried by said forward portion, hydraulic conductor means for supplying power to said motor and extending from said rearward portion to said forward portion, said hydraulic conductor means including concentric sleeves concentric with the axis of adjustment of said forward and rearward portions, fluid conducting passages and seals between said sleeves, individual elongated hydraulic conductors extending between one of said sleeves and a removed position on said forward portion, each individually spaced laterally from said axis, and means extending generally parallel with said axis and interconnecting said one sleeve and said forward portion to insure their rotation together.

18. A machine of the class described including a frame having forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, a motor carried by said forward portion, conductor means for supplying power to said motor and extending from said rearward portion to said forward portion, said conductor means including a rotatable member, and a, plurality of elongated conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable member and connected at the other end to one of said relatively adjustable frame .portions, said conductors including a plurality of at least semirigid elongated members attached together to transmit turning torque from one of said supplemental frame portions to said rotatable member and extending in a direction generally parallel to said axis.

19. A machine of the class described including a frame having forward and rearward portions relatively adjustable about an axis, a motor carried by said forward portion, conductor means for supplying power to said motor and extending from said rearward portion to said forward portion, said conductor means including a rotatable member, a plurality of elongated conductors each connected at one end to said rotatable member and connected at the other end to one of said relatively adjustable frame portions, said conductors including a plurality of elongated members extending in a direction generally parallel to said axis, and means extending between said rotatable member and said one relatively adjustable frame portion, extending generally parallel with said axis, and operative to insure their movement together.

20. As an article of manufacture, a plurality of elongated hydraulic conductors of semi-rigid material, means connecting said conductors together in generally parallel spaced apart nesting relation formed in an arc of a circle in a plane perpendicular to their axes, and an end plate connected to said conductors at one end and formed new-moon in shape, said conductors forming a torque transmitting shaft adapted to transmit rotary motion along an axis parallel with said conductors.

21. As an article of manufacture, a plurality f elongated hydraulic conductors of semi-rigid material, and means connecting said conductors together in generally parallel spaced apart nesting relation formed in an arc of a circle in a plane perpendicular to their axes, said conductors forming a torque transmitting shaft adapted to transmit rotary motion along an axis parallel with said conductors.

ARTHUR L. LEE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,737,045 Davis Nov. 26, 1929 1,765,524 Davis June 24, 1930 1,891,670 Ernst Dec. 20, 1932 1,927,430 Williams Sept. 19, 1933 2,010,449 Yingling Aug. 6, 1935 2,062,660 Holmes Dec. 1, 1936 2,067,339 Pray Jan. 12, 1937 2,100,350 Osgood Nov. 30, 1937 2,194,474 Joy Mar. 26, 1940 2,263,779 Jeffrey et al Nov. 25, 1941 2,263,925 Jeffrey et al. Nov. 25, 1941 2,323,493 Sloane July 6, 1943 2,562,881 Baldwin et al. Aug. 7, 1951 2,570,400 Stein Oct. 9, 1951

Images