US2742272A - Reversible longwall miner - Google Patents

Description

April 17, 1956 Filed July 12 195] J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 17, 1956 J. F. JOY 2,742,272

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINER Filed July l2, 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 17, 1956 v J. F. JOY 2,742,272

REVERSIBLE LoNGwALL MINEE Filed July 12, 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 17, 1956 J. F. JOY

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINER 5 Sheets-She@l 4 Filed July 12 195] VVA Af lzvezzoz: Jose/fh E Jcy dozfzzey April 17, 1956 J. F. JOY 2,742,272

REVERSIBLE LoNGwALr. MINER Filed July l2. 195] 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 bodiment ofthe invention. p

Fig. 2 isa side elevational View of the miner shown nited States Patent O This. ,invention relates to inining machines and more particularly to a reversible longwall miner for cuttlng and dislodging the coal of a solid coal seam.

In a reversible longwall miner it is desirable to mov the machine rapidly back` and forth along the longwallv face during the cutting and dislodging'operation and to provide cutting and dislodging mechanism for rapidly-I removing the dislodging coal onto a face conveyor. Due

to the rapid rate of operation of the machine it is desirable to provide feeding means which may rapidly move the machine through relatively long distances without interruption irrespective of the-direction of operation of the machine. Y The present( invention contemplates improvements over known types of longwall miners in `that the above desirabilities are attained in an improved and extremely effective manner. i

An object of` the present invention vis to provide an improved reversible longwall miner. Another object is to provide animproved cutting and dislodging mechanism Yfor a longwall miner.

Yet another object is to provide .improved feeding means for a machine of the abovecharacier whereby the machine may be rapidly moved in either directionl along the longwall face. A further object is to provide improved coal breaker means for dislodging-the coal as cutting progresses. A still further object is tov provide improved cutting means comprising parallel superimposed cutter bars and improved coal breaker means carried by the upper cutter bar for dislodging 4the core of coal cut by the cutter bars as the machinefis' moved along the face. Still another object is to provide an improved mining vmachine having an improved arrangement and combination of part-s. These and other objects i and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. l

In the 'accompanying drawings there is `shown lfor purv poses of illustration one form which the invention may assume inpractice. 1 In these drawings:V Fig. l is a top view of a reversible constructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative emin Fig. l.

longwall miner also Fig. 3).

end of a vertical shaft 38 suitably journaled in bearings 39 l Fig. 3is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 3--3 .l

cutting and ,dis-

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken l substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

automatic coal breaker Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 8 and19 are diagrarrnnaticviews respectively show- A ing the miner operating in opposite directions along along- Wall coalfac'e of an underground coal mine.

Y. 2,742,272 Patented Apr. 17, 1956 fice ` Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 1, showing details of the feeding means. v i

Fig. 1l is a diagrammatic view yshowing the` machine in operating position in a mine with the `machine moving from right to left along a longwall coal face, and illustrating the associated face conveyor and roof jack mechll'llSm.

The improved reversible longwall miner is generally designated 1 and generally comprises a machine frame 2 movable in an endwise direction along a longwall coal face and carrying midway between its ends a laterally projecting cutting and dislodging mechanism, generally designated 3. The machine frame 2 comprises end-.frame sections 4 and 5 having plane bottom surfaces 6 slidable over the floor of the mine and rigidly connected together by an intermediate frame section 7. The frame sections 4 and 5 respectively carry motors 8 and ,9 which serve to drive the cuttingmechanism and providing power sources for themachine feeding means as later described. The

`cutting mechanism comprises parallel superimposed kerf. cutters 10 and 1li projecting at right angles from the intermediate frame sections 1 and comprising upper and lower horizontal plane cutter ' oars 12 and 13 about the margins of which endless cutter chains 14 and 15 are respectively guided for orbital circulation in parallel horizontal paths. circulated orbitally in relativelyV opposite directions and the lower cutter chain 1S is driven by the motor 8 while the upper cutter chain l14 is driven by the motor 9.

The motorV 8 has itspower shaft 17 (see Fig. v7) horizontally disposed and extending longitudinally of the machine andsecured to the inner end of the power shaft is a lspur pinion' which meshes with anddrives a spur gear 19 journaled on bearings 20 supported by a parallel longitud'mally extending shaft 21. The shaft 21 is journaled in bearings 22 suitably supported within the machine frame l and the gear 19 is connectable to the shaft 2l by a conventional sliding toothed clutch 23. Secured to the inner the upper end of a vertical shaft `26. Theshaft 26 is suitably journaled within bearings 27 supportedwithin the intermediate frame section 7 and keyed to the lower end of the shaft 26 is a chain sprocket 28 which engages and drives the endless cutter chain l5-of the bottom cutter barv13.

The motor 9 has its power shaft 30 axially alignedwith the motor shaft 71 and secured to the inner end of the motor shaft 30 is a spur pinion 31 which meshes with and drives` a spur gear 32 journaled on bearings 33 supported by a parallel longitudinally extending shaft 34. The shaft 34 is suitably journaletl within bearings 35 carried within the machine frame and has iixed to its inner end a beveled pinion 36 meshing with a beveled 'gear 37 (see The beveled gear 37 is secured to thelower carried by the intermediate frame section 7. Keyed to the upper end of the, shaft 38 is a chain sprocket 4i) which engages and drivesthe upper cutter chain 14. A similar sliding toothed clutch 41 serves to connect the gear 32 to the shaft 34,l and the clutches 23 and-41 are provided with suitable shipper yokes 42 having suitable operating handles 42 conveniently arranged exteriorly of the machine frame at its top. From the foregoing it is evident that when the motors S and 9 are Vrunning and the clutches 23 and 41 are connected, the endless cutter chains 14 and 15 may be rapidly circulated in their Vorbits in relatively opposite directions.

Each of the endless cutter chains comprises a series of chain blocks 43 pivotally connected by strap links 44 and The cutter chains on the cutter bars are r the chain blocks have conventional ysockets wise of the top cutter bar.

for receiving the shanks of conventional shank type cutter bits 45. Set screws 46 are provided for securing the bit shanks within the block sockets and these set screws may bel loosened to permit removal of the bits from the block sockets and to permit reversal of the bit on the blocks, all in a well-known manner.

The parallel superimposed kerf cutters are adapted to Y arranged within an appropriately'sh'aped'recess 51 formed within the upper cutter bary within the orbit of the cutter chain 14 and the coal breaker means arranged within this recess comprisesV a frame 52 pivoted at 53 on a horizontal pivotV pin 54 supported by brackets 55 on the top cutter amazes bar. This vertically swingable frame has a longitudinal Y bore 56 which has rotatably mounted therein a spindle 57 provided with worm gear teeth S engageable by a worm 59 whereby the spindle 57 may be manually rotated within its bore. The spindle 57 has an enlarged cylindrical portion 60 which supports bearings 61 on which a guide rollerV 62 is journaled and suitable dirt seals 63engage the roller andthe cylindrical portion 69 at the opposite sides of the bearing 61 to keep out dirt from the bearings. Projecting longitudinally from the cylindrical portion 6l)l is an eccentric portion 64 supporting bearings 65 Von which a rotary disc cutter or'breaker wheel 66 is journaled andthe bearings for this disc are provided with similar dirt seals 67. This disc rotates about an axis extending generally length- Thus, whenthe spindle 57 is rotated in its borethe eccentric 64 may be moved arcuately to vary the location of the rotary disc 66. thereby to enable penetration of the disc at Vdifferent distances into the core of coal depending upon the mining conditions encountered. The teeth of the worm gears are self-locking'and serve to maintain the disc in the desired adjusted position. The pivoted frame 52 has lateral lugs 67a (Figs. l and 5) which project within the cutter bar at the sides of the recess 51 intermediate the top .and bottom plates orbit near the outer side of the machine frame, so that y the dislodgedcoal is engaged by the outwardly moving run of the bottom chain andis moved laterally from'the face and discharged laterally beyond the'outer side of thev frame. A U-shaped upper frame 68 secured tothe fi'arne Y 7 has upstanding sides 69 disposed outwardlyof the path ofthe upper cutter chain and serves to direct the cuttings l brought back from the upper kerf laterally toward the" outer side of the frame.

Now referring to the improved feeding means it will be Y noted that arranged at the opposite ends of the machine frame and carried by the-end frame sections4 and S-arepairs of cable winding drums 70,V 71 and 72, vi3 arranged on parallel Vertical' axes as shown. Wound'o'n the-drums V70 and 71 respectively are feeding cables 74 and 75 while wound on the drums '72 and 73 respectively are guiding cables 76 and 77. Y

1 Each of the cable winding drums 70,- 71 and 72, 73: is'

driven by a hydraulic motor 7S having xed to the lower end of its power shaft 79 (see Fig. 10). a spur pinion- 80Y meshing with a spur gear 81 fixed to the drum. The.V

motors 8 and-9 provide the power sourcesfor the drum driving means and eachY motor drives a Huid pump- 82;

which supplies liquid under pressure to the drum driving motors. The feed cables 74, 75 and 76, 77 are adapted to be extended longitudinally in opposite directions from the opposite ends of the machine frame and serve to feed the machine rapidly back and forth along the face and to guide the machine during the mining operation. By the provision of a pair of identical cable winding drums at each end of the machine it is possible to extend one cable to a suitable anchor in advance of the other so that when one cable nears its limit of operation the other cable may take over thereby to avoidvthe interruptions present when but a single feed drum is employed.

The end frame sections 4- and 5 of the machine frame have attheir inner sides suitable Vsupporting surfaces for a transposable guard or retaining plate 83 which projects laterally from the machine frame along the trailing side of the bottom cutter chain for retaining the dislodged coal in the path of the chain 15 whereby the latter may convey theY loose coal lateraly away from the coal face toward the face conveyor. This transposable guard is rigidly secured in position von the frame as by screws and may be readily transposed from one side of the bottom cutter bar to the other depending upon the direction of operation of the machine.

The driving motors 8 and 9 for the cutter chains are respectively provided with suitablestarting and reversing switches provided with control levers 84 and 8S. The hydraulic Ysystem Vassociated with the pumps 82 may includeY suitable liquid supply tanks and control valve devices whereby the motors 73 for driving the cable winding drums may be operatedY as desired. These hydraulic motors A78 may be reversible so that the cables on the drums may be paid out as well as wound in by the drums.

In Figs. 8, 9 and l'l the longwall miner is shown in operating position in a miner and Fig. 11 shows the miner together with the associated face conveyor 90 and the roof jack mechanism 91. This face conveyor and jack mechanism may be similar to those disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 24,574, tiled May 1, 1948, now matured intoPatent No. 2,714,505, dated August 2, 19575, although evidently, various other types of conveyors and jack mechanisms may be empoloyed if de- 1 sired.. In Fig. 11, the longwall face is designated F and parallel roadways or passageways at the ends of the face are designated R. The superimposed cutter bars are sumped laterally into the coal at the right hand end of thev face with the machine extending into the right hand roadway,and as the machine is advanced along the face by the feed cable of one of the forwardly located feed drums themachine is concurrently guided by one of the cables of the rearwardly located drums. In Fig. 11, the

Vfeed cable -74vis Ashown nearly completely wound in by its drum-with thefeed cable 75 in position to take over the feed of themachine from the cable 74 and, in like manner, the guiding cable 76 is shown nearly completely paid outfrom' its drum` with the cable 77 in position to take over thev guiding function of the machine. As the super- 'imposed cutter bars are moved laterally along the coal face a projection or core of coal, designated C in Fig. 3, is being broken down from the face by the breaker means 50. The roller 62 of the breaker means runs in the kerf cut by the Vupper cutter chain in engagement with the bottom wall of the kerf and the breaker disc 66 cuts into the upper. portion of the core of coal between the kerfs neark its point of attachment with the solid seam to apply a splittingforce to the core along lines generally parallel to the coal face thereby to dislodge fragments of the core asV cutting progresses. The longerV bottom cutter chain 15 and its cooperating guard 83 serve to move and direct the` dislodged coal laterally from the face towardthe face conveyor 90. In Fig. 9 the machine is shown cutting from left to right and, irrespective ofthe direction in which the machine is` operated,'. when the machine reaches the end i of the face the cutter bits are reversed .on their respective The feeding and guiding cables are extended to jacks located at different distances along the coal face as shown inFigs. 8, 9 and 11, so that when one feed cable is wound in by its drum and one guiding cable is completely paid out, the other feeding and guiding cables may take over to effect feeding and guiding of the machine without interruption in the machine movement. As the coal is mined out the-walking jacks 91 may be advanced toward the face in the manner shown at the right in Fig. ll.

Asa result of this invention an improved reversible longwall miner 'is provided having improved'features of construction whereby the coal of a solid coal seam may be rapidly mined out in an extremely ecient manner. By the provision of the parallel superimposed cutter bars and the particular cutter chain arrangement and the associ-A ated breaker means carried by the upper cutter bar the coal may be rapidly cut to form a core between the parallel kerfs and the core may be rapidly dislodged from the coal face as cutting progresses. The improved coal breaker means is not only efficient in operation but is also relatively smiple and compact in design. By the provision of the improved feeding and guiding means the machine may be fed and guided during its operation along the coal face without the need for interruption due to the repositioning of the cable jacks. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be' understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or thescope of the appended y claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A mining machine comprising parallel superimposed narrow elongated kerf cutters movable in a direction extending transversely of their lengths for cutting parallel kerfs in a solid coal seam to form a horizontal projection of coal between the kerfs, and coal breaker means carlried bythe top kerf cutter for dislodging fragments of said coal projection as cutting progresses, said breaker means including a rotary breaker disc journaled to rotate freely about an axis extending generally lengthwise of said upper kerf cutter and having a sharpened circular penetrating edge, and an adjustable mounting carried b y said upper kerf cutter and including an element on which said disc is journaled and mounted to move in vertical planes lrelative to said upper kerf cutter for changing the vertical position of the disc-axis with respect to said upper kerf cutter to vary the splitting action of said disc on the coalprojection, said mounting confining said disc-axis in all positions of movement of said disc vertical planes extending lengthwise of said upper kerf cutter.

2. A mining machine comprising parallel superimposed kerf cutters for cutting parallel kerfs in a solid coalseam to form a horizontal projection of coal between the kerfs, and coal breaker means carried by the top kerf cutter for dislodging-fragments of said coal projection as cutting progresses, said breaker means including a rotary breaker disc jounaled to rotate freely about an axis extending generally lengthwise of ysaid upper kerf cutter and having a sharpened circular penetrating edge and a support pivotally mounted on said upper kerf cutter to swing in a vertical direction relative thereto and on which said rotary breaker disc is journaled.

3. Coalbreaker means as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pivoted support has a bore in which a spindle is rotatably mounted and wherein an eccentric is provided on said spindle and means is supported by said eccentric for journaling said disc thereon, and means is provided for rotating said spindle to move said eccentric arcuately 6 thereby to vary the operating position of said disc with respect to said upper kerf cutter.

4. A coal breaker means as set forth in claim 2, where- 1 said cutters each comprising a horizontal plane cutter bar Y having'an endless cutter chain guided for orbital circulation about its margin, the bottom kerf cutter being of greater length than said upper kerf cutter and having its chain travel in the'opposite direction from the upper cutter chain and extending in its orbit to the side of the machine frame remote from the coal face, and means cooperating with the upper kerf cutter for dislodging fragments of said core of coal as cutting progresses, said chain of said longer bottom cutter moving the dislodged coal laterally away from the coal face beyond the outer side of said frame, said frame providing an open space at said side thereof remote from the coal face, said bottom chain discharging therdislodged coal into said space remote from right angles to the frame pivot axis.

the coal face as the machine is advanced along the face.

6. A mining machine as setfforth in claim 5, wherein a guard is mounted onsaid frame and extends laterally from Y l the inner face side of said frame along the trailing side of said bottom cutter chain for confining the dislodged coal in the path of the latter whereby the dislodged coal is directed towardpsaid space for` discharge laterally from theouter side of said frame.

7. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, a

coal breaker comprising a rigid horizontal support movablelaterally in a horizontal kerf formed in a solid coal seam, a frame pivotally mounted on said support, and a coal breaker disc freely rotatably mounted on the outer l portion of said pivoted frame to turn about an axis` at 8. A coal breaker as set forthv in claim 7, wherein means is, provided for adjusting the operating Yposition of lsaid disc with respect to said pivoted frame.

9. A coal breaker as set forth in claim 8 whereinmeans is provided for maintaining the axis off-*rotation of said disc parallel to the major axis of said support whilein the different adjusted positions thereof.

10. A coal breaker as set forth in claim 9 wherein said adjusting means comprises an eccentric mounting for said disc.y

1l. A .coal breaker as set forth in claim 7, wherein a guide roller is journaled on said pivoted frame with its axis in parallelism with the disc axis and located on said frame intermediate the frame pivot and said disc.

12. In a mining machine of the character disclosed, core cutting means comprising parallel narrow elongated kerf cutters for cutting parallel kerfs in the coalof a solid coal seam to form a core of coal between said kerfs, and breaker means carried by one of said cutters includilng a breaker element Afor applying a splitting force to the core of coal near'its point of attachment with the solid seam, and an adjustable mounting structure including an element carried by said one of said cutters and on which said breaker element is mounted, said adjustable element mounted for movement relative to said kerf cutters for adjusting said breaker element in vertical planes with respect thereto to vary the depth of penetration of said breaker element in the core thereby to Vary the splitting action of said breaker element on the coal.

13. A. mining machine as set forth in claim l2, wherein said movable element of said mounting structure and said breaker element are'located with respect to said one of said kerf cutters so that said breaker element applies the afm-2,2m

splittingv forcev to the core. ;of. coal` along. lines extending. v

generally at right angles tozthe. longitudinal axes of sai'dA kerfacutters. f l14. In a miningmachine including a horizontal plane cutter barhaving an endless cutter chain guided for orbital Vcirculation about its margin, saidbar havinganopening therethrough within the orbit of saidv chain, and a coal breaker device mounted on said cutter bar in said baropening and including anV armlike framepivoted at one end to Swinginv vertical planes about a transverse axis located near the rear wall-of said. opening andarotary breaker journaled at the opposite end of said armlike frame to revolve about an axis extending generally lengthwise of said bar at rightangles-to said framepivotaxis. Y' .15. A mining machine as set-forth in claim 14 whereinV zin-adjustable mounting structure is .provided for said rotary breaker on said armlike frame. for adjusting said rotary breaker in avertical direction relative to said armlike .frame to vary the vertical position of said rotary.

mine vein, a rotary breaker, a mountingstr'ucture for said breaker on said. cutter bar and disposed within-.the orbit of said chain for limited movement in vertical planes with respect to said bar and a roller carried by said mounting structure for guiding said breaker as it moves within the kerf.

17. In combination, a narrow elongated horizontal kerf cutter for cutting a horizontal kerf in a mine vein, Vand mineral breaker means carried-by said kerf cutter for dislodging fragments .of the mineral of said vein as cutting progresses, said breaker means including a rotary breaker wheel projecting from` the bottom of said lcutterfand Y journaled on said cutter to rotate freely about an axis extending generally lengthwise of said cutter, and aoating mounting structure carried-by said kerf cutter. and on which said. breaker wheel is journaled', said mounting structure having limited floating movement in vertical planes relativeV to said cutter, said mounting Vstructure con-VV ning the axis of said wheel; in a longitudinalvertical plane extending lengthwise ofsaid cutter. 18. A combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein ksaid mounting structure for said'breaker wheel comprises anielementhaving oating. movement relative toi saidv cutter to provide for limited freedom of movement of said YWheel in vertical. planes with respect tov said cutter and confiningthe wheel-axis in one of such vertical planes, said cutter providing means for limiting such floating move' ment of Said element in;either direction.

19. A mining machine comprising a narrow elongated horizontal kerfcutter movable in a direction extending transversely of its length for cutting a horizontal kerf in a solidcoalseam,-and coal breaker means carried by said kerr cutter for dislodging fragments of coal beneath said kerf as cutting progresses, saidl breaker means including aVV rotary breaker disc journaled to rotate freely about an axis lying la. vertical plane extending generally length- Wise of said kerf cutter in parallelism with the .major axis of the latter, said disc having a sharpened circular penetrating edge and an adjustable mounting. structure'carried' by said kerf cutter and on which said disc is journaled, said mounting structure including a disc-supporting element mounted to move in vertical 'planesV relative to said kerf cutter for changing the vertical position of said disc with respect to said korf cutter to vary the splitting action of said disc on the coal, said mounting structure confining the disc-axis ina vertical plane extending lengthwise of said kerf cutter,

RcferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITEDv STATES PATENTS 17,650 Wilson June 23, 1857 747,869 Drake Dec. 22, 1903. 1,199,757 Boardman Oct. 3, 1916 1,285,332 `Noble Nov. 19, 191,8 1,404,835 Christine lan. 31,` 1922 2,261,162 Ioy Nov. 4, 1941 2,269,781 Osgood lan. 13,1942 2,287,230 Cartlidge lune 23, 1942 2,291,633 Joy Aug. 4, 1942 2,415,217 Osgood Feb. 4`, 1947 2,528,748 Greene Nov. 7, 1950 2,550,202 Robbins Apr. 24, 1951 2,637,543 Lee May 5, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,086V Great Britain Sept. 14, 1904 Great Britain I an. 22, 1948

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