US2766979A

US2766979A - Cutter or disintegrating chain with dirt scraping means

Info

Publication number: US2766979A
Application number: US402036A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alexander W Calder
Original assignee: Joy Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Joy Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1954-01-04
Filing date: 1954-01-04
Publication date: 1956-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-16

Description

Oct. 16, 1956 A. w. CALDER 2,765,979

CUTTER OR DISINTEGRATING CHAIN WITH DIRT SCRAPING MEANS Filed Jan. 4, 1954 mvguron: ALEXANDER W. CALDER ATTORNEY United States Patent CUTTER OR DISINTEGRATING CHAIN WITH DIRT SCRAPING MEANS Alexander W. Calder, Clarernont, N. 1-1., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 4, 1954-, Serial No. 402,036

7 Claims. (Cl. 26233) This invention relates to pivoted link chains which travel along a guideway and more particularly to endless cutter chains of the pivoted link type guided for circulation in vertical orbits and especially designed for use with the" disintegrating head of a continuous miner for tearing away and disintegrating the mineral of a solid mine vein.

Endless cutter chains such as are commonly used in the mining of coal or other minerals from the solid, there are usually provided a series of bit carrying blocks pivotally connected together by connectors or strap links, and such block and links are usually connected together by hinge pins and have plane or slightly arcuate bottom surfaces which ride along the plane guiding surfaces of the grideways of a cutter bar or guide frame of a dis-' integrating head with the chains traveling. in parallel vertical orbits. The slightly arcuate or widely curved bottom surfaces of the blocks and strap links are so shaped that they may travel around the curved outer end of the bar or guide frame in a well known manner. Such plane or slightly curved bottom surfaces of the blocks and strap links as they travel along the plane guiding surface frequently have dirt or dust packed therebeneath during the cutting and disintegrating operation resulting in a clogging of the chain guideway beneath the chain which ofttimes causes the chain to ride up or climb and thus be severely overloaded by the resulting tension. 'While the slightly curved bottoms of the blocks and strap links are somewhat better in operation than the smooth or plane-bottomed blocks and strap links they soon become worn and clogged so that they tend to climb in a disadvantageous manner after a relatively short period of operation. The present invention contemplates improve :ments over such known types or" cutter or disintegrating chains in that means is provided for substantially eliminating the possibility of the guideways becoming clogged due to dirt or dust working beneath the chain so as to avoid the undesired climbing of the chain. In order .to overcome such climbing tendency the bottons of the connectors or strap links are transversely slotted or grooved and the slots have plane end walls extending .substantially perpendicular to the plane bottom surface .of the guideway so that any dust which might accumulate along the guideway beneath the chain is scraped off and the dirt collected in the slots is conveyed outwardly by the chain along the chain-guideway to a suitable point of discharge as the chain rapidly circulates along its guideway. The straight or plane end surfaces of the slots or grooves, as has been found under actual work- .ing conditions, provide sharp edges which do not readily wear off as do the slightly curved bottom surfaces of the connectors or links so that the efiicient operation thereof is maintained throughout the life of the chain.

An object of the present invention is to providean improved cutter or disintegrating chain. Another object is to provide an improved cutter or disintegrating chain having novel dirt scraping and conveying means whereby clogging of the chain guideways often resulting in the disadvantageous riding up or climbing of the chain caus- Eater-tried Oct. 16, 1956 ing undue chain tension, is substantially eliminated. A further object is to provide an improved pivoted link cutter or disintegrating chain having transverse slots or grooves at the bottoms of certain elements thereof whereby dirt is scraped off from the bottom of the chain guide way and conveyed to discharge. A still further object is to provide an improved pivoted link chain having the transverse dirt scraping and conveying slots formed in the bottoms of the connectors or strap links in an improved manner. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, herein more fully appear in the course of the ensuing description.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for purposes of illustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a cutter or disintegrating chain with which a preferred illustrativeembodiment of the invention is incorporated, and showing the associated chain guideway in longitudinal vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the transverse dirt scraping and conveying slot in the bottom of a connector or strap link.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved connector or strap link, showing. the bottom slot.

Fig. 4 is'a detail cross section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig 5, showing the bottom slot in a connector or strap link.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the connectors of straps links shown in Fig. 5. V

Both embodiments of the invention, as shown in the drawing, are incorporated in an endless cutter or disintegrating chain generally designated 1 which is guided for circulation in a vertical orbit along a plane bottom guiding surface of the guideway 2 of a cutter bar or guide frame 3. The cutter or disintegrating chain consists of a series of cutter supporting or bit blocks 4 pivotally connected by transverse hinge pins 5 to intermediate connectors or strap links 6. The block bases have parallel side portions intermediate which the connectors or strap links extend. These blocks and links have plane bottom surfaces 7 and 8 respectively which travel along the plane bottom surface of the guideway although, evidently, the bottoms of the blocks and links may be slightly curved in a conventional manner so as substantially to conform with the curved end of the cutter bar or guide frame; The chain blocks have lateral lugs 9 provided with sockets for receiving cutter bits 16 held in position by conventional set screws 11. The chain may be driven by a double tooth sprocket which has its teeth entering the spaces between the side portions of the block bases and at one side of the strap links, with the teeth alternately drivingly engaging the curved rear ends of the strap links and the chain blocks at one side of the latter.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive the parallel side portions of the bases of the chain blocks have lateral gibs 12 which ride along guideways 13 at the side of the plane bottom guiding surface 2 (Fig. 2), and the strap links 6 have similar lateral gibs 14 at least at one side thereof, as shown. The strap links, in this embodiment, have conventional abutment lugs 15 which abut at abutment surfaces 16 on the bit blocks to prevent inward bending of the chain in a well known manner. In this improved construction, the bottoms of the connectors or strap links 6 are transversely slotted or grooved at 17, and these slots are relatively shallow and have bottoms 18 parallel with the link-bottoms and are further provided with plane end walls 19 disposed substantially anodised perpendicular to the plane bottom surface of the guideway and providing sharp scraping edges 20.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the bit carrying blocks 21 and the connectors or strap links 22 have no lateral gibs and are guided solely at their sides and along the plane bottom surface 2 of the guideway of the cutter bar or guide frame. Each chain block has a lateral lug 23 socketed to receive a cutter bit 24 likewise held in position by a conventional set screw. The strap links are, in this instance, rectangular in cross section (Fig. 6) and the bottoms of the strap links are transversely slotted or grooved at 17', in a manner similar to the embodiment above described.

In operation the endless cutter or disintegrating chains of either embodiment, is rapidly circulated along its guideway on the cutter bar or guide frame, and the cutter bits engage and disintegrate the coal or other mineral, and there is frequently considerable dust created by the cutters during the cutting and disintegrating operation. This dirt or dust tends to clog the guideways of the cutter bar or guide frame and to work beneath the bottoms of the blocks and strap links so that the chain rides up or climbs resulting in undue chain tension which ofttimes causes undue wear and possible breakage. The'plane end surfaces 17 of the transverse slots or grooves in the bottom of the strap links tend to scrape off the dirt from the plane guiding surface of the guideway and the dirt collected in the slots is conveyed outwardly with the chain along the guideway to discharge thereby to reduce the possibility of clogging and undue tensioning of the chain. The dirt conveyed outwardly by the chain may be discharged from the slots as the chain passes around its drive sprocket (not shown), outwardly beyond the chain guideways.

Evidently the transverse slots or grooves at the bottoms of the strap links may be omitted and in lieu thereof the bottoms of the bit blocks may be transversely slotted or grooved for a similar purpose, and, in certain instances, both the blocks and the strap links may be transversely slotted. The slots may be of shapes other than the rectangular shape disclosed. Also the invention may be incorporated in pivoted link chains of other types.

As a result of this invention an improved cutter or disintegrating chain is provided having novel means for preventing clogging of the guideways of the cutter bar or guideframe thereby to reduce the possibility of chain riding up or climbing in such manner as to cause undue chain tension. By the provision of the transverse slots having plane end surfaces disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane guiding surface of the guideway and dirt which might collect and tend to clog the guideway is scraped off and conveyed outwardly with the chain beyond the chain-guideway to a suitable point of discharge as the chain rapidly circulates during its operation. These and other advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

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

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

1. In a pivoted link chain and guide structure of the character disclosed, a series of bit carrying blocks having bases formed with spaced apart parallel side portions, and strap links projecting centrally between said side portions of said block-bases for pivotally connecting said blocks together, said blocks and strap links traveling in a vertical orbit along a plane guiding surface of a guideway provided by a guide, said strap links having plane bottom surfaces terminating at front and rear ends near the ends of said strap links and said strap links also having relatively shallow rectangular slots extending aCIQ s, th

.plane bottoms thereof between the ends of said plane bottoms and with the plane rear end surfaces of the slots disposed substantially perpendicular to said plane guiding surface, said end slot surfaces providing sharp edges serving to scrape off the dirt in the guideway lie-- neath the chain for collection in said slots and said chain conveying the dirt collected in said slots outwardly to discharge as the chain rapidly circulates in its orbit.

2. In a pivoted link chain and guide structure ofthe character disclosed, a series of pivotally connected chaini elements movable in a vertical orbit along a plane bot-- tom surface of a guideway, said chain elements consisting of chain blocks having parallel side base portions and intermediate strap links extending between said parallel base por ions, hinge pins pivotally connecting said blocks and strap links, and means associated with said chain and guide structure for conveying dirt from the chain guideway comprising transverse slots formed in the bases of said strap links intermediate said hinge pins and opening. out through the sides of the chain intermediate the adjacent ends of said chain blocks, said slots each providing a dirt collecting chamber and having a plane rear wall disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane bottom surface of the guideway and providing a sharp rear scraping edge, the dirt discharging from said slots as the chain runs out of the guideway during orbital circulation of the chain about the guide structure.

3. A chain and guide structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transverse conveyor slots terminate at the inner side surfaces of said parallel base portions of said blocks and spaces are provided between the adjacent ends of said chain blocks to provide for communication of said slots with the outer sides of the chain.

4. A chain and guide structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strap links have parallel outer sides disposed in parallelism with and inside of the inner side surfaces of said base portions of said blocks and said slots opening out through the parallel side surfaces or said links.

5. A chain and guide structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said strap links have lateral gibs engaging the guideway of the guide structure and said conveyor slots extending outwardly along the inner surface of said gibs and opening outwardly at the sides of the chain through the outer end surfaces of said gibs.

6. A chain and guide structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said chain blocks have lateral gi=b on their bases engaging the guideway of the guide structure and said strap link gibs extend outwardly between adjacent ends of said chain blocks, said link gibs and said block gibs extending laterally the same distance at the sides of the chain.

7. In a pivoted link chain and guide structure of the character disclosed, a series of pivotally connected chain elements movable in an orbit along a plane bottom surface of a guideway, said chain elements consisting of chain link members having parallel side base portions and intermediate chain link members extending between said parallel b-ase portions, hinge pins pivotally connectting said chain link members, and means associated with said chain and guide structure for conveying dirt from the chain guideway comprising transverse slots formed in the bases of said second mentioned link members intermediate said hinge pins and opening out through sides of the chain intermediate the adjacent ends of said first mentioned link members, said slots each providing a dirt collecting chamber and having a plane rear, Wall disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane bottom surface of the guideway and providing a sharp rear scraping edge,

the dirt discharging from said slits as the chain runs out of the guideway during orbital circulation of the chain aboutthe guide structure.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Bowman Mar. 2, 1926 Joa Dec. 8, 1942 Simmons May 10, 1949 Cox May 29, 1951