US295183A - Van ambergb lechner - Google Patents

Description

(No IxIork'l.)L VAN AMBERGH ILECHNBR. 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

MINING MACHINE;

Patented Mam. 18, V18811.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

VAN AMBERGH LECHNER.

vMINING MACHINE.

Patented Mar.l 18, 41884.

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UNTTnn STATES FATnNT @Trice VAN AMBURGH LEGHNER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB .TO HIMSELF AND" FRANCIS M. LECHNER.

MINING-MACi-HNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters .Patent No. 295,183, dated March 18, 1884-..

Application liled March-31, 1853. (No model.)

reference being had 'to the accompanying drawings, forming a part oi' this speciiication, in ivhiclr- Figure lis a plan view oi' my improved mining-machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section von the line c a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line b I of Fig. 1. ai is a side viewof the outer bearings oi' the screw and driving-shaft. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line c c of Fig. 1. Figs.

6 and 7 are views of the chain and cutters.

Fig. S is a perspective view of the traveling 2O carriage. Fig. J is an end vien1 of one ofthe sliding chainearriers, partly in section. Fig. 1() is a central cross-section of Fig. 9.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each. Y

The characteristic features of my invention consist oi' endless chains carryingcutters, suoli chains operating in pairs and Working the cutters i'roin a central point or point of impact outward, so that the pressure of the opposite 3o cutters which are operating in the rock shall be against each other, and thereby relieve the machine of the pressure and permit it to retain its position, and also so that the cuttings shall bc thrown outivard and clear oi' the machine. The chains are mounted on suitable moving frames, whereby they are advanced as the cutters penetrate thc coal or other material, and they are driven by suitable Wheels from the same shaft by which the feeding mechanisnris driven. I

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings.

The machine has a stationary frame or bedplate, 1, upon the sides ofxvhich are two standi ards or brackets, 2, one on each side, for sup porting the steam or air cylinders 3 and 4, by

which the machine is driven Bolted to the bed-plate l, near one end, is a' ings 6, for the driving-shaft and screw, are formed. At the other end is a frame or casting, 7, also bolted to the bed-plate, in which are formed the outerbearings oftheshaft and screw.

Mounted in bearings 8, at one end. of the machine, is a powershaft, 9, which is driven by the'stealn or air cylinders b and il, by cranks 10at the opposite ends, two engines quartering with each other being used, for the reason that-a. iiy-whcel to carryasingleengine overthe 6o dead-point cannot be used, because the cutters are liable to strike an obstacle or piece ot' hard rock and stop, and cause the machine to be broken bythe force or momentum oi' the Wheel. The power-shaft is provided with a beveled pinion, 11, \vhich gears into a beveled wheel, 64, mounted on the end oia shaft, 12, extending lengthwise of the machine, said shalt being journaled in the vertical eastin gs or frames 5 7 in bea-ring 6. The shaft 12 is driven by the l power-shaft 9, and in turn dri vesthe chains and the feeding devices. lt is key-seated throughout the greater part of its length, and is provided with a beveled pinion, 15, ior purposes to be explained. Placed alongside of the shaft 1.2 in bea-rings 6 in the saine i'raines 5 and 7, but in a lower horizontal plane, is a screwshatt, 17, nionnted loosely on the endv of which, directly Linder the Worin 13 on the power-shaft 9, ,is a Wornrwheel, 1S. Ou the same shaft, inside ofl the Worm-Wheel, is a sliding clutch, 19,-Which is connected to the shaft by a feather-key, vand inside of the clutch is a gear-Wheel, 20, which is mounted loosely on the shaft, but .is in gear with a gear-Wheel, 2i, mounted on 85 the shaft 12. The sides of the Worin-wheel 18 and gear-Wheel l20, adjacent to the clutch 19, are provided with engaging-teeth, so that the clutch can be thrown into gear either with the gear-Wh eel or with the Worin-wheel. When it engages the Worm-wheel, the shaft 17 is driven fromtheshafti, by means of the worin 18, mounted thereon and ofthe worm-wheel 1S, and this causes it to turn in the proper direction to feed the cutters forward; and when the clutch engages the gear-wheel the shaft 17 is driven from the sha-it 12, by means of gear- Wheels 21 and 20, in the reverse direction, which reverse movement effects the withdrawal of the cutters. The shaft 17 is placed at a lower level e 4295. ssa

than the shaft 12, to permit of the wormwheel 18 being placed under the worm 13 on the shaft 9, which is not necessary with the shaft l2, as it is driven by the bevel-pinion 11, and consequently can be on the saine level.

It is now in order to describe the cutters and the mechanism for operating them.

The stationary frame 1 has two guide plates or ways, 23, extending longitudinally along its inner edges. Resting on these ways are two Hat sliding bars or carrying-arms, 24, which at their-inner ends are bolted to a sliding frame, 25. ing frame is provided with tlanges 27,which have the double function ot' atl'ording means for the attachment ofthe carrying-arms 24 and ot' extending under the ways 23 to hold the sliding frame down. Stepped in the bed-plate 26 are two vertical'shafts 28 and 29, the upper ends ot' which are journaled in the top plate, '30, of the sliding frame. Oneach shaft 28 and 29 are sprocket-wheels 31 and gearwheels 32, the latter meshing into each other. On the upper end of the shaft 28 is a beveledgear wheel, 33, which meshes with the beveled pinion 15, mounted on the shaft 12.

Extending between the standards 34 on the frame is a trough, 35, semicircular in crosssection. This trough stands between the vertical shafts 28 and 29, being 0n a lower level than the beveled-gear wheel 33,and on ahigher level than vthe gear-wheel 32 on the shorter shaft 29. The standards 34 ot' the frame 25 are bored at the ends ot' the trough for the passage ot' the screw-shaft 17, which extends also through the trough.

On the inner faces ofthe standards 34, above the trough 35, are guides 22, and placed in these guides is a semicircnlar nut, 36, which tits down on the screw-shalt 17, being held in place by alever, 37,which is pivoted to abar, 16, extending between the standards 34. The nut has a pin, 3S, which projects into a slot A 39, inthe lever. When t-heleveris depressed the nut is thrown into gear with the screw, and when the lever is raised the nut is raised onE the screw.

On the outer end of each of the sliding bars or carrying-arms 24 are two sprocket-wheels, which are mounted in the following manner: A cross-bar or plate, 40, is secured to the under side of each sliding arm. On top of the sliding arm a block, 41, is placed, and on top ot" the block 41 is asecond plate, .42, similar to the plate 4Q. The plates 4() and '42 and block 41 are all rmly secured to the carrying-arm 24 by riveting, or in any-desirable way, so as to make a compact and strong structure. Between the outer ends of the plates 40 and 42 are shafts or journals 43, upon which the sprocket- wheels 44 and 45 are loosely mounted. The inner edge of the sprocketwheels 44 are nearly in line with the inner edge of the'sprocket-wheels 31.

On the outer edgesot' the carrying-arms 24,

near to the wheels 3l, are sprocket-wheels 46,`

The base-plate 26 of the slid# vent the sagging of the chains as they pass over the edges ofthe i'rame. The outer sprocket-wheels 45 stand beyond the out-er edges ot' the frame 1.

The chains 47 are of peculiar construction. They are composed of links 48, pivoted together by rivets 49. vEach link is provided with a cutter, 50, which is keyed in, as at 51, or secured in' any other suitable manner. When made up into a chain, 47, the ends of the adjacent links overlap each other, so that thel rivets 49 pass through the adjacent ends, which are placed side by side. This construction leaves an open space, 52, between the ends of' alternate links. Outside of this open space and overlapping the adjacent ends of the alternate links is a steel plate, 53, which is secured in place by the same rivet, 49, that passes through the ends ot' adjacent links, so that when the complete chain is made, each rivet passes iirst through a plate, 53, which extends in one direction, a link 48 extending in the opposite direction, a second link 48 extending in the direction ofthe iirst plate, and a second plate 53 extending in the direction ofthe first link 48. ters 50 are arranged zigzag. The same is also true ofthe spaces 52, so that there is a cutter and a space opposite to each other in every compound link or section shown. The sprocket-whecls are constructed with reference to this peculiarity of thech'ain, being provided with spurs or teeth 54, arranged in a zigzag manner upon its periphery. These teeth take into the open spaces 52 and draw the chain around. The direction ofthe movement ofthe chains is indicated by the arrows. They pass from the stn'ocket-wheels 3l down the middle ot' the'machine in lines parallel with the ways 23. around the wheels 44, thence at right angles around the wheels 45, and thence by the wheels 46 to the sprocket-wheels 31 again. The points otthe cutters 50 extend forward, and when the machine is placed to cut against a breast o't' coal or other material, they strike the coal by a direct blow or impact, and then pass outward from the point ot' impact in opposite directions, so that the pressure of the cutters on one chain is against that of the cutdisplacement| ot'the machine is entirely obviated. The effect of this motion is also to cause the cuttings to be carried outward andA discharged outside of thc machine, so .that the machine is constantly clearing itself, and is not liable to become clogged or impeded in any way by the cuttings.

The peripheries ot' the sprocket-wheels 44 In such a chain the cnt- IOO IIO

ters on the other chain, and all danger ot' the ripheries of the wheels 44 and 45. This plate will keep the cutters upto their work by holding the chain in a straight line, and thereby preventing its yielding to the pressure. h

In order to keep the chains at a propertension, I have provided the followingtension device: At the inner ends of the sliding bars 24 I make a perforated lug, 56, and on the base-plate 26 of the sliding frame 25 I make similar lugs, 57, which extend out into line with the lugs 56, andare tapped and threaded. In the lugs 56 I place screws 5S, the threaded portions of which extend forward through the lugs 57, and engage the threads therein. In the sliding bars 24 I make slots 59, two or more, as may be necessary, of a length slightly in excess of the length ot' one of the links ot' the chain. Extending up from the base-plate 2li4 of the sliding frame 25 are threaded bolts 60, provided with nuts 61. The operation of' this device is as follows: If any slack should occur in the chains it can be taken up by loosening the nuts 61 and then turning the screws 58, so as to project the sliding bars 24 farther outward. l/Vhen the movement has been sufficient to take up the slack and tighten the chains, the nuts 6l are screwed down, so as to fasten securely the sliding frame 25 and the bars 24 together.

I will now describe a particular construction I have adopted for journaling the sprocket.- wheels at the outer ends ofthe sliding bars 24. This construction is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Placed loosely inside ofthe sprocket-wheels is a thimble, G2, which is internally threaded. This thimble being placed inside ofthe sprocket-wheel, the latter is slipped sirlewise into place between the plates 40 and 42, and then two screws, 43, are inserted through the plates from `opposite sides, one of the screws being put through the plate 40 and the other through .the plate 42. These screws are screwed tightly into the tbimble 62, and fasten it rigidly in place between the two plates. The sprocketwheel being loose on the thimble turns freely on it, while the thimble serves to support the outer ends of the plates and keep them from binding upon the edges ot' the wheels. The advantages of this construction are that I secure the easy removal and replacement of the sprocket-wheels, which, being subject to great strain,` are more or less liable to wear and injury. Moreover, the spindles of the wheels being removable `without the necessity of disturbingthe attachment of the plates 40 and 42 to the sliding bar 24, I am enabled to rivet them permanently to the bar, and thus make a much stronger and more desirable construction. The outer heads of the screws 43, coming Hush with the face of the plates 4() and 42, give a smooth surface, and thus enable the sliding bars to 'move in and out ot' the cut without impediment, and canse it to work with great nicety. The chains are of the same width' as that of the sprocket- wheels 44 and 45. with their plates 40 and 42.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

'keyed to the shaft 12 and turns with it.

' 12 are driven by the shaft 9. The power to operate the wheels which turn the chains is vtaken from the shaft 12 by means of the beveledvpinion 15. At the rear side of the pinion 15 is one of the standards 63 of the sliding frame 25. As before stated, the pinion 15 is It meshes into the beveled gear-wheel 33 on the upper end of the shaft 28, and causes the shaft 2S to turn, and thereby operates the vertical shaft 29 by means of the gear-wheels 32. The sprocket-wheels 31, being mounted on the two vertical shafts 28a-nd 29, are turned thereby and move the chains in the direction of theA arrows. ing frame with its bars 24 toward the breast of coal or other material being cnt as the cutting progresses. The rate ofthis advance depends upon the nature of the material upon which the machine is beingused. material it is necessarily slow, while with softer material it may be increased correspondingly. This advance is made by means ofthe screw 17 and nut 36, the construction of which has been described. The screw 17 is operated by means ofa worm, 13, mounted on the shalt 9, meshing into a worm-wheel, 18, mounted loosely on the outer end of the screw 17. The clutch 19, being thrown into gear with the worm-wheel 1S, causes the screw 17 to be turned, and the thread ofthe screw 17, acting upon thethread ofthe nut 36, moves the sliding frame 25, with its bars 24, outward. When the sliding frame has traveled the desired distance outward, and it is necessary to cause it to be retract-ed, the clutch 19 is thrown out of connection with the worin-wheel 1S and into connection with the gear-wheel 20. This causes the motion ot' the screw-shaft 17 to be reversed, and its thread acting in the oppositedirection upon the nut 36, causes the sliding frame 25 to be moved inward and to re tract the cutters from cont-actI with the rock. When the sliding frame has been drawn entirely back, the entire machine is moved sidewise and caused to operate in the same manner againstanother portion of the surface of the rockor coal.

The outer portion of the cutting-edge of cutter 50 projects beyond the side of the chain., so that the cut in the rock shall be wider than the chain, in order to give clearance to the latter, because there is always a tendency in coa-l and similar formations o t' the sides to close inward and reduce the width of the cut. Especially is this the case if t-he vein of coal rests upon a bed of tire-clay, because the latter will swell assoon as the cut relie-ves it of a port-ion of the superincumbent weight, and partially close the cut. My construction ofthe cutters makes the cut sufficiently wide to allow for this closing, and so prevents danger of the chains becoming jammed or caught therein.

The frame 25 and bars 24 constitute a sliding carriage which sustains and carries the It is necessary to advance the slid- With hard ICO IIO

chains and their actuating` mechanism. rIhe cutters in one chain are always made to come opposite to those on the other chain, as illustrated in Fig. l. In case the work is very severe and the great strain on the cutters causes the ends ofthe bars 24 to give inward, I can make them support each other against this strain by providing every two or more links, as may be necessary, with projecting blocks on their outer faces, such links having no cutters. rIhen as the chains move these blocks come together `and iill the space between the chains, and prevent the bars from being lforced any nearer together or from springing inward.

The purpose of the trough 35 is to give an 'under bearing to the screwshatt 17, so as to enable me to use a semicircular or removable nut, 86. It sometimes happens that it is desirable to remove the nut out of gear with the screws to enable the traveling-carriage to be moved backward-without operating the machine. The most frequent cause of this is that the rock sometimes falls on the machine in such quantity that it is dangerous to operate the machine until the rock is taken off. In such ease the nut 36 may be raised by the lever 87, and the traveling carriage pried back by a crow-bar or other means until it is clear of the debris. Vhen the nut 36 is raised oit the: screw, the trough 35 supports and sustains the screw whilevits smooth inner surface presents no obstacle tothe backward motion 'of the carriage over the screw. NVhen the nut is in working position the trough supplies the requisite under-bearing for the screw.

In constructing the machine its various parts should be made powerful enough to enable it to stall the engines, so that, in case the cutters meet an obstacle they cannot overcome, the engines will not be powerful enough to break the machine.

A great advantage of my improvement consists in the fact thatthe cutters are working successively on the same line of cut, and this enables me to operate the machine with much less power land unich more rapidly than in that class of machines having a rotary cutter biting against the rock where the entire length ofthe cutter is operating at once. Another advantage is t-hat a clean'cut is made thereby, and no further work on the breast is necessary at that point. The cutters of the two chains strike the breast side by side at'a common point or center, and then turning cut outward in opposite directions a certain determined distance. No core in the middle nor uncut portion at any point in the range of the cutters is left to be subsequently broken down, as is the case when drilling and similar machines arensed.

' `The constructicndcscribed makes a compact, portable, efficient machine. I obtain the advantage of'two cuts by using thev two chains; and, as before stated, the making of these cuts in opposite directions from a central point takes the strain of the cutters oft' the machine. y

In practice the cutters 50 will not be mounted on every link. In some cases there will be one on every fourth link, and in others a less number.

I am aware that two rotary cutters revolving in opposite directions have heretofore been combined with a carriage provided with mechanism to cause the carriage to advance against the breast of coal, and do not herein claim such devices. p

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In amachine for mining coal and likel purposes, the combination of two chains provided with cutters and arranged to move in opposite directions in a plane or planes at right angles to the line of advance ot' the machine. substantially as and for thev purposes specified.

2. rIhe combination, in a machine for min ing coal and similarsubstances, of two revolving chains provided withl cutters mount-ed on suitable wheels to communicate motion to them, and moving side by side to the point of cut and then outward in opposite directions, substantially as and f'orthe purposes described.

3. In a machine for mining` coal and similar substances, two chains provided with cutters and mounted on 'suitable wheels for driving them side by side to the point of cut and then outward in opposite directions, in combination with a sliding carriage carrying said chains, and the mechanism for actuating the same, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a machine for mining coal and similar substances, two revolving chains provided with cutters, and mechanism for moving the chains in opposite directions and at right angles to the line of advance of the machine, in combination with a sliding carriage for sustaining the chains and operating mechanism, a lnut mounted on said frame, and a screw-shaft coacting with said nut to move said frame, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

5. In a machine for mining coal or similar substancestwo revolving chai usprovided with cutters, and mechanism for causing the chains to travel in reverse directions, in straight lines, and in planes at right angles to thc line ot' advance of the machine, in combination with a stationary power-shaft, and a feather-keyed sliding pinion ou said shaft, connected with and actuating the mechanism which operates the chains, substantially as and for the purposes described.

G. In a machine for mining coal and likepurposes, the combination ot' two cutters, and mechanism, substantially as speci fied, for caus` ing the cutters to move in right lines in opposite directions at right angles to the path of the machine while cutting, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. rlhe combination, in a machine for mining coal and similar substances, of a traveling IOO IIO

carriage carrying two cutter-chains', and mechanisi for 'causingsaid chains to move in a right line in opposite directions While cutting, a stationary shaft; having a sliding key-seated pinionfor actuating the chain-revolving mechanism, a not on said carriage, a screw-shaft; eo acting Witflrsaid nut to move the carriage, in order to feed che cutters to their work, and a powershafb connected with and driving the other two shafts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

S. The nwo sliding hars, each. provided with two loose sprocketwheels or chain-sh eaves secured at their outer ends in a cross-frame, and arranged parallel withv each other, in combination with the two cuttenchains and mechanism to move lthe latter in opposite directions after reaching the end of the hars," suhsizantiaily as and for the purposes described.

9. The cntienchain for mining-machines, composed of a series of cutter-links arranged with the lapping ends, and support-plates arranged on the sides of the chain parallel with and opposite to each cntter-linmrwhereby the cutters are placed zigzag in the chain, and the sprockefg-holes are in' iine with the cutters, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. The combination, in a machine for mining coal and similar substances, of a vpair of cutter-chains moving side by side to the point placed on the adjacent sides of opposite links, 4o

substantiallyas and for the purposes described. In testimony whereof' I have hereunto set my hand this 23d day of March, A. D. 1883.

VAN AMBURGH LECHNER.

Witnesses:

E. E. CORWIN, J. M. LOWE.

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