US2750179A - Mining machine having vertically swingable cutter head and reciprocable gathering mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 12. 1956 F. CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLE GATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

FRAN K CARTLIDGE ATTORNEY June 12. 1956 cARTLlDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALL-Y SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLE GATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK CARTLIDGE ATTORNEY June 12. 1956 F. CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLE GATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Shee v 3 INVENTOR. F RAN K CARTLI DGE ATTORN EY June 12. 1956 F. CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER A HEAD AND RECIPROCABLE GATHERING MECHANISM Filed March 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QH I E] EM ail nil in 92 INVENTOR.

FRANK CARTLIDGE ATTORNEY June 12, 1956 F CARTLIDGE 2,750,179

MINING MACHINE HAViNG VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECIPROCABLE GATHERING MECHANISM ATTO RNEY is swung to a cutting :position at'or near the floor.

United States Patent MINING MACHHNE HAVENG VERTICALLY SWINGABLE CUTTER HEAD AND RECE- ROCABLE GATHERENG MECHANISM 4 Claims. (Cl. 262- 26) This inventionrelatesto improvements in mining machines of the continuous miner type, wherein a vertically'swingable ripper or cutter head is mounted at the frontend of a mobile base for cutting and dislodging coal from the solid working face, and wherein a material gathering element is also carried on the frame for movement along the ground beneath the swinging ripper head for removing the loose material as it is dislodged from the working face.

In mining machines of the general character above described, both the ripper head and the gathering means have been mounted on the mobile base for limited movement in unison toward and away from the Working face, with the gathering mechanism extending forwardly as far as permissible to avoid interfering with the vertical swinging movement of the ripper head when the latter With this arrangement, there is often a tendency for cuttings to accumulate'on the mine floor iminediately'in advance of'the, gathering mechanism, particularly when the ripper head is swung away from the mine floor, in which case it is difficult, if not impossible, to cleanup all the cuttings from the mine floor with the gathering mechanism.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel form and arrangement of gathering mechanism which is mounted for reciprocable movement relative to the gathering head in response to vertical swinging movement of thelatter, so as to be projected into an advanced gathering position when the ripper head is swung into positions above the mine floor, but is retracted from interfering relation with the ripper head when the latter is swung downwardly to positions at or near the floor level.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means for adjusting the forward and retractive movements of the gathering means relative to the swinging ripper head so as to maintain a substantially uniform working clearance between said gathering means and ripper head when the latter is swung into positions at or near the mine floor.

Other objects 'and advantages of the present invention will appear from time to time as the following description proceeds.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mining machine embodying my invention, with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a side view of the "machine shown in Figure 1, also with certain parts broken away and with other parts shown in longitudinal section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the front end of the machine showing the ripper head swung to its substantially lowermost position and with the gathering means retracted to its extreme rearwardmost position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the ripper head at its substantially highest point of elevation and with the gathering means projected forwardly to its forwardmost position;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the train of gearing from one drive motor to the ripper head and the gathering means associated therewith;

Figure 6 is'an enlarged longitudinal sectionofagat-hering means showing the latter tilted upwardly out of engagement with the ground; 7

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the cutter head, with parts broken away.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the same are shown as applied to a mining machine of a general type broadly disclosed in a copending application of Lundquist-and Lindgren bearing Serial Number 186,326 filed September 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,695,700, and 'also a copending application of Frank A. Lindgren bearing Serial Number 236,548, filed July 13, -1951, now Patent Number 2,642,981, both owned by the as'signeeof *the present invention. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mining machine comprises generally'a mobile main frame A, having a center section 10 mounted on endless'treads H, a rear boom '12 pivotally mounted on the center section 10 for horizontal swinging movement about an upright axis 13 and for up-and-do'wn tilting movement about a transverse axis 14, and a swinging front section '15 mounted on the center section 10 for horizontal swinging movement about an upright axis 17. The auxiliary frame B is carried on the swinging front section 15 of the main frame A and is mounted for forward and backward reciprocation thereon.

The auxiliary frame B carries a pair of electric motors 1'8, 18 for driving an elongated ripper head C and gathering means D throughgear trains to be described in greater detail hereinafter. Suitable piston and cylinder means (not shown) is provided as usual for moving the reciprocable frame, together with the motors i8, ripper head C, gathering means D and associated parts,

forward 'and backward in unison relative to the front swinging section 15 of the main frame A.

The ripper head C is pivoted for up-and-do'wn movement relative to auxiliary frame B about a horizontal axis, indicated at 16 in Figures 1 and 2. A pair of double-acting cylinders and pistons 1%,19 (Figure 1) are pivotally connected between a cross piece 2% on the ripper head C and bifurcated extensions 23, of the frame B to raise and lower the ripper head C. The cross piece 20 connects side frames 21, 21 on which cutter chains 22, 22 are guided for driving a drum rotatably mounted at the front end of the ripper 'headfC.

A double-acting cylinder 25 (Figure 1) is effective to swing the front swinging section '15, together with the reciprocable frame B and ripper head C and other parts carried thereby, from right to left or from left to right when actuated by suitable hydraulic controls (not shown).

The extensible conveyor means, generally designated at E, is herein shown as being of a conventional flexible center strand flight conveyor type, including an endless chain 26 and longitudinally spaced transverse flights 27.

The conveyor is articulated at suitable points for permitting both lateral and up-and-down swinging movement of the front swinging section 15 and the rear boom 12, in substantially the same manner as disclosed in the above-mentioned copending applications, Serial Numbers 186,326 and 236,548.

Means, indicated at F in Figures 1 and 2, are also provided on the main frame A for automatically adjusting the tension of the conveyor chain 26 to compensate for forward and rearward extension or retraction of the gathering means B relative to the main frame A, as well as for lateral swinging movement of the front and rear ends of the conveyor. This conveyor chain ten'sioning mechanism may be of the same type broadly disclosed and described in either of said copending applications, the

illustrative form indicated at F being the same as shown in application, Serial Number 236,548, hence it need not be further described in detail.

The gathering means D, shown for illustrative purposes herein, is essentially of the same type of chain gathering mechanism disclosed in the copending application, Serial Number 186,326, above referred to, excepting that, in the present instance, the gathering mechanism is mounted for forward and rearward movement relative to the reciprocable frame B on which it is mounted, in response to the swinging movement of the ripper head C, while maintaining a continuous driving connection between the gathering mechanism and the motors 18, 18 on the reciprocable frame B, and also maintaining the conveyor in materialreceiving relation to the gathering mechanism, in all positions of horizontal movement of the latter.

The gathering means D is mounted for up-and-down pivotal movement about a transverse axis passing through trunnions 30, 30 in blocks 31, 31 which are mounted for horizontal sliding movement in guides 32, 32 formed in depending side plates 33, 33 at opposite sides of the reciprocable frame B.

With the exception of this means for slidably mounting the trunnions 30, 30 for the gathering means D, the structure of the gathering means is substantially the same as disclosed in the copending application, Serial Number 186,326. The principal features of the gathering means consist of a generally U-shaped apron 34, having a forward gathering edge 35 adapted to engage the mine floor, and spaced side wings 36 along which are mounted endless chains 37, each guided in an elongated orbital path about a driving sprocket 38 and a guide 39. Said chains carry a plurality of gathering arms 40 which extend, as usual, beyond the front edge 35 of the apron, for picking up loose material from the mine floor and discharging it on the front end of the conveyor E, which extends forwardly into the space between the side wings 36 of the gathering apron 34.

The front end of conveyor chain 26 of the conveyor E is trained about an idler shaft mounted, as usual, beneath the gathering apron 34, so that the front end of said chain moves with the gathering means in all permissible positions of the latter. Further description of the gathering apron 34 is not necessary herein, as it may be substantially the same as disclosed and described in copending application of Lundquist and Lindgren, bearing Serial Number 186,326.

The drive sprockets 38, 38 for the gathering chains are fixed on stub shafts 42, 42 having bevel pinions 43, 43 at their lower ends meshed with pinions 44, 44 on horizontal shafts 45, 45. The latter shafts extend outwardly through bearings 46, 46 in the trunnions 30, 30, concentric with the latter, and have pinions 47, 47 fixed on their outer ends meshing with pinions 48, 48 on longitudinal stub shafts 49, 49 also journalled near their front ends in blocks 31, 31, so as to be slidable with the latter along guides 32, 32.

The major portion of each stub shaft 49 has splines 50 atfording sliding and driving engagement in the splined front end of a hollow annular clutch member 51 which is rotatably mounted on adjacent side plate 33. The clutch member 51 has a plurality of clutch discs 52 mounted therein alternately engaged with said hollow clutch member and with a clutch sleeve 53 surrounding the splined portion 50 of the stub shaft 49. The clutch sleeve 53 has a sprocket 54 fixed thereon adapted for connection to a sprocket 55 by chain 56. The sprocket 55 is mounted on a drive shaft 57 forming part of the drive connections from motors 18 to the ripper head C. Further description of said drive connections to the head C is not necessary as they may be the same as that disclosed and described in the previously mentioned application of Lundquist and Lindgren bearing Serial Number 186,326.

Each longitudinal stub shaft 49 has a smooth annular bearing collar 65 at its extreme rear end of slightly larger diameter than the splined portion 50. Said bearing collar is slidably engaged in a sleeve 66 mounted on the subframe B rearwardly of and in alignment with the clutch sleeve 53 so as to maintain the shaft 49 in proper axial alignment in all permissible positions of extension or retraction of the shaft 49 relative to the hollow clutch member 51 during reciprocable movement of the gathering means D.

Suitable means may be provided for controlling engagement of the disc clutch members 51, 53 including a conventional follower plate 67 mounted on the clutch sleeve 53 in position to engage or disengage the discs in the usual manner.

Means for tilting or swinging the apron 34 of the gathering means D, together with the parts carried thereby, about its trunnioned axis coincident with the transverse stub shafts 45, 45 include a pair of hydraulic cylinders 70, 70 which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to pins 71, 71 mounted at opposite sides of the subframe B. The cylinders 70 have pistons 72 therein, pivotally connected at their lower ends to links 73, 73, each disposed in a forwardly inclined position and having their front ends connected at 74, 74 to opposite sides of the gathering apron 34 adjacent its rear end. Each link 73 also has a shorter link 75 pivotally connected thereto at its lower end and inclined upwardly where it is pivoted to a rearwardly extending ear 76 connected to the extreme rear of the gathering apron 34. The linkage just described, connecting the lower ends of the pistons 72 with the gathering apron, is substantially the same as shown in Lundquist and Lindgren application bearing Serial Number 186,326, so that further description thereof is not necessary, excepting to point out that, in the machine of the present application, the cylinders 70 and pistons 72 are pivotally suspended from pins 71 adjacent the top of the subframe B so that the lower ends of both of these hydraulic devices are free to swing and accommodate themselves properly during reciprocating movement of the gathering mechanism D when the latter slides forwardly and rearwardly on blocks 31 relative to the side plates 33. Accordingly, as will be seen in Figure 3, when gathering mechanism is in its fully retracted position toward the rear of the machine, the piston and cylinder will be swung to a somewhat rearwardly inclined position, whereas, when the gathering mechanism is swung to its forwardmost position, as indicated in Figure 4, the cylinder and piston will be swung to a forwardly inclined position. It will be understood, however, that the hydraulic cylinder and piston are of the usual double-acting type and under the control of the operator in any permissible position of reciprocal movement of the gathering mechanism, so as to permit tilting of the gathering mechanism relative to the ground for purposes and under conditions as will presently be described in greater detail.

It will be understood that the forward and rearward reciprocation of the gathering head D with respect to the auxiliary subframe B also involves the limited extension and retraction of the parts of the conveyor E which support the endless conveyor chain 26 and the transverse flights 27. Such extension and retraction of the conveyor may be afforded by the same telescopic frame arrangement utilized in the machine disclosed and described in the Lundquist and Lindgren application bearing Serial Number 186,326 previously mentioned, in which a similar gathering head is provided with a telescoping conveyor section indicated generally at 77 in Figure 2, on the downwardly inclined portion of the conveyor at the front end of the machine between a transverse axis 78 about which the telescoping conveyor section 77 is hinged. Inasmuch as the machine of the present invention merely requires an additional amount of forward or rearward extension of the conveyor E, as compared with that provided in the machine of the aforesaid application Serial Number 186,326, the same form of telescoping section, indicated at 77, may be employed in the present machine to maintain a continuous extensible trough for the conveyor chain from the gathering apron 34 to the rear end of the machine. Accordingly,.futther descriptioi'iv of the telescoping conveyor section 77 is not necessary for the purposes of the present invention.

The means for, reciprocating the gathering head D in response to the vertical, swinging; movement of the, ripper head C consists of a pair of links; 80, 80., each pivotally connected at its rear end. to an upstanding lug 81 fixed on one of the guides 29 of the gathering apron 34 adjacent the rear endthereof. Each such link extends forwardly and is pivotally connected to an arm 82 having an annular bearing portion 83 at one end rofatably supported on an enlarged stud 84 carried by the ripper head C concentric with its transverse axis 16. Each of said arms normally depends substantially beyond and generally below the pivotal mounting of the ripper head, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Two pins 86 and 87 are fixed on the cutter head in circumferentially spaced relation to each other in position to engage notches 88 and 89 formed on opposite sides of each arm 82, and yet provide lost motion between the arm and the ripper head C circumferentially of the latter. The arrangement of the lost-motion means and the links 80 is such that, when the ripper head C is swung to a position at or near the floor level as shown in Figure 3, the pins 86, carried on the ripper head, will engage in notch 88 of each arm to move the gathering head D rearwardly and maintain its front end at a substantially fixed distance from the gathering chains 22 and cutter bits carried on the drum 24 of said ripper head. Thus, in the position shown in Figure 3, the cutter chains 22 and cutter bits on drum 24 are shown in a position substantially below the floor level, indicated at F in this figure, while the gathering head D has been moved by arms 82 and links 80 to its substantially rearwardmost position on auxiliary frame B. When the ripper head is swung upwardly from the lowermost position of Figure 3, it will be observed that forward movement of the gathering head D will not begin until the pin 87 on the ripper head engages in notch 89 on bracket 85, whereupon the gathering head D will then be moved forwardly in response to the upward swinging movement of the ripper head.

Figure 4 illustrates substantially the extreme upwardmost position of the movement of the ripper head. It also shows the gathering head D in substantially its forwardmost position.

Accordingly, by reason of the linked connection including the lost-motion means above described, it will be understood that the gathering means D will be automatically moved to a relatively advanced position whenever the ripper head is being swung to a position above the floor but, when the ripper head is in position at or near the floor, the gathering means will be retracted to maintain a working clearance between the cutter bits on the ripper head C and the gathering arms of the gathering device, thus eliminating any danger of interference therebetween, but leaving the gathering means temporarily in its forwardmost position to insure an advanced range of material-gathering on the floor when the ripper head is raised from the floor. v

Further advantages in the use and operation of the machine, including the means for extending or retracting the gathering means D in response to the swinging movement of the ripper head, will be manifest to those skilled in the art. For instance, it will be understood that sometimes the ripper head may be advanced such a distance during succeeding vertical swinging cuts that a low triangular ridge of solid or partially broken coal may be left on the floor just to the rear of the ripper head but forwardly of the normal range of advance of the gathering arms and chains on the gathering means D. Such ridge of coal can usually be gathered or cleaned up from the floor by the forward movement of the gathering means while the ripper head is being swung upwardly, at the same time positioning the front end of the gathering apron to a greater advanced position where it can receive and gather a larger proportion of the coal being dislodged from the working face by the ripper head.

It will be further understood: that, in, practice, it is usually desirable to utilizethe tilting or-elevating-means for. the front end of the gathering means- D only at such times that the machine as a whole is: being transported or trammed from one working place to another. When the machine is being operated for cutting and dislodging coal, the hydraulic pressure on theelevating cylinders 70, 70, which; control the tilting movement of the gathering, means, will then be released so that the front. end'of the gathering apron merely rests by its own weight on the floor in gathering position. Accordinglgy, it is unimportant that the lifting cylinders 70 and pistons 72 may be swung in a short arc during the forward and rearward movement of the gathering means relative to the subframe B, since said lifting means are not usually operative during the forward and rearward gathering movement of the gathering means, in response to the vertical swinging movement of the ripper head. Nevertheless, the lifting means can be utilized under some cutting conditions, as for instance when it is desired to raise the front end of the gathering means over a ledge or for following an uneven bottom.

Although I have shown and described certain embodi ment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a mining machine having a mobile base, a frame having a cutter head pivotally mounted thereon for up and down swinging movement about a transverse axis; cuttings gathering mechanism mounted for forward and backward reciprocable movement on said frame and haw ing rearwardly movable gathering elements efiective to convey cuttings to the rear thereof; a longitudinally disposed conveyor on said frame having at least its forward end connected to said gathering mechanism, in cuttings receiving relation with the rear end thereof, for forward and backward movement therewith; and connecting means between said cutter head and gathering mechanism for shifting the gathering mechanism and end of the conveyor forward responsive to upward swinging movement of the cutter head and for shifting the gathering mechanism and end of the conveyor backward responsive to downward swinging movement of the cutter head; so as to maintain a working clearance between said gathering mechanism and said cutter head in all relative positions thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the gathering elements of the gathering mechanism are orbitally movable in inclined planes along opposite sides of the conveyor.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein the rear end of the gathering mechanism is pivotally connected to the frame for swinging movement on a transverse axis, to permit the front end of said gathering mechanism to be supported in floating engagement with the floor during its horizontal reciprocable movement.

4. In a mining machine having a mobile base, a frame having a cutter head pivotally mounted thereon for up and down swinging movement about a transverse axis; cuttin s gathering mechanism mounted for forward and backward reciprocable movement on said frame and having rearwardly movable gathering elements effective to convey cuttings to the rear thereof; a longitudinally disposed conveyor on said frame having its forward end in continuous cuttings receiving relation beneath the rear of said gathering mechanism throughout the entire forward and backward range of movement of the latter; and means, including a linkage connecting the gathering mechanism to the head, for moving the gathering mechanism forward and backward responsive, respectively, to up and down swinging movement of the cutter head, said linkage having lost motion means for temporarily leaving the gathering mechanism in an advanced position while the cutter head is initially being swung downwardly and in retracted position while the cutter head is initially being swung upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Burnell Mar. 20, 1923 Forsyth Jan. 26, 1926

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