US3372956A

US3372956A - Articulated planer mining machine members with interposed partition

Info

Publication number: US3372956A
Application number: US559970A
Authority: US
Inventors: Heyer Willy
Original assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
Current assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
Priority date: 1965-06-29
Filing date: 1966-06-23
Publication date: 1968-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 1985-03-12
Also published as: BE683355A; DE1231641B; GB1145504A; ES327642A1

Description

March 12, 1968 Fig. 5

W- HEYER ARTICULATED PLANER MINING MACHINE MEMBERS WITH INTERPOSED PARTITION Filed June 35 1966 z: 4 I I INVENTOP: W/L LY H EVER BY fl Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,956 ARTICULATED PLANER MINHNQ MACHINE MEMBERS WITH INTERPOSED PARTKTIGN Willy Heyer, Eochum-Gertbe, Germany, assignor to Gewerlrsehatt Eisenhutte Westfalia, Wethmar, near Lunen, Westphalia, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed June 23, 1956, Ser. No. 559,970 Claims priority, application Germany, June 29, 1965, G 44,017 7 Claims. (Cl. 299-454) The present invention relates to articulated mining machine members with interposed partition, and more particularly to an improvement in a mining planer having a pair of spaced apart base means and corresponding keels provided with an intermediate means interposed longitudinally between the pair of base means and articulatedly interconnecting the base means, whereby to form a pocket preventing excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space between the base members and the keels.

Mining machines are known which include a pair of longitudinally spaced base members articulatedly interconnected and having appropriate keels extending rearwardly under the guide means used with the mining machine, such as a mining conveyor, whereby to achieve reinforced support of the mining machine against tilting which might occur where excessive counter forces are met by the cutting means of the mining machine during extractive engagement with the mine face. As particular construction is shown in US. Patent 3,178,229. Where such multipartite mining machines having more than one separate keel are utilized, a certain free space remains between the spaced apart base means to which the keels are connected, which has the disadvantage that a considerable amount of fine coal or other mineral being worked enters this free space and passes under the bottom of the mining conveyor in connection with which the mining machine is used, where the same gets into the bottom flight of the conveyor, i.e. the return flight thereof, and thus interferes with the conveyor operation and also with the guidance of the mining machine associated therewith, such as a planer, as well as with the advancement of the roof prop system commonly associated with the foregoing arrangement in longwall mining operations.

Specifically, a gap is formed between the pair of base members of the mining machine and in turn the keels attached thereto and underlying the conveyor, together with the bottom edge of the conveyor itself. The fine coal enters this gap into the bottom flight of the conveyor, all to the detriment of the efiiciency of the mining operation. Generally, the thickness of the keels is about 50-60 mm. and the conveyor is thus raised about this distance from the mine floor as the keels pass therealong. Since the mining machine is constantly extracting minerahsome of such mineral enters the gap between the keels which is accordingly about 50-60 mm. in height so that the problem in question is constant during the entire mining operation.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the foregoing drawbacks and to provide articulated mining machine members with an interposed partitition whereby to avoid excessive entry of fine coal or other mineral from the side of the mining machine adjacent the mine face to the side thereof remote from such mine face and in turn to avoid entry of such fine mineral under the conveyor or other guide means in connection with which the mining machine is used.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such as arrangement with constructional parts which define a cushion pocket with the adjacent portion of the mine face, whereby accommodate fine particles of mineral, such as coal, which serve as a sealing cushion between the mine face and the partition thereat to prevent excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space between the adjacent portions of the pair of base means of the mining machine, the keels attached to such base means, the underside of the guide means in question, and the mine floor therebeneath.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the within specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top schematic partial view of an arrangement of base members each provided with a keel articulatedly interconnected with an interposed, intermediate means in accordance with one embodiment of the in vention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1,. and showing the disposition of the intermediate means of the invention together with an alternate form of a conveyor, and

FIG. 5 is a side view of an articulated arrangement including a pair of spaced apart base members connected by an upper element and disposed in front of a mining conveyor in the prior art manner, illustrating the gap or space between the base members and at the underside of the conveyor, such gap having a height corresponding with the thickness of the keels extending thereunder.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that an improvement may now be provided in a mining machine adapted to be conducted along a longitudinal guide means extending adjacent a mine face, with such mining machine in operative engagementwith such mine face for extracting mineral therefrom, in which such mining machine includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart tandem-arranged linkably interconnected base means and each said base means includes a keel adapted to underlie such guide means and slide along the mine floor thereat, said keels being correspondingly spaced apart. Specifically, such improvement comprises intermediate means interposed longitudinally between the pair of base means and articulatedly interconnecting said pair of base means, the intermediate means forming a longitudinal partition between the pair of base means which defines a cushion pocket with the adjacent portion of the mine face between the pair of base means, whereby to accommodate fine particles of mineral which serve as a sealing cushion between such portion of the mine face and the intermediate means thereat to prevent excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space defined between the adjacent portions of the pair of base means, the keels, the underside of such guide means and the mine floor therebeneath.

Preferably, the intermediate means includes an upright wall extending across and occupying the space between the pair of base means as well as a keel. stub, comparatively shorter than the keels and extending substantially in the same direction and plane as said keels and occupying the space between the keels in the vicinity of the'adjacent portion of the guide means at the pair of base means.

Optionally, an upper element may be disposed in the spa-Ce between the corresponding upper portions of the pair of base means, with such element articulatedly interconnecting the pair of base means thereat whereby to define an upwardly limiting cover member above the intermediate means to enhance the prevention of excessive entry of extracted mineral into such defined space. Conveniently, the mining machine may take the form of a view taken along the mining planer or plow adapted to be conducted along a mining conveyor of the conventional type.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a pair of articulated mining machine members 1 and 1 including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart

base members

8 and 8, each having a corresponding keel 4 and 4' and optionally a

retaining log

5 and 5 at the free end of the keels for more eificient guidance of the mining machine under the conveyor 3, shown only schematically. The base members 8 and 8' are articulatedly interconnected with the intermediate member or link 13 at the connections 2 and 2 whereby a space 12 is provided between the adjacent or medial portions of the

keels

4 and 4. The intermediate link 13 includes an upright wall 16 and a keel stub 17 whereby to form a longitudinal partition between the base means 8 and 8. The guides 6 and 6 are optionally provided to maintain a clearance 7 above the keels 4- and 4' between the appropriate base means 8 and S and the adjacent portions of conveyor 3 thereat. Shown schematically is an upper element 18 which may be provided over the intermediate link 13 to define an upwardly limiting cover member above the intermediate link whereby to enhance the prevention of excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space 12.

In FIG. 2, the disposition of the clearance 7 between the front side 9 of conveyor 3 and the adjacent portion of base means 8 may be appreciated as well as the positioning of the rearwardly extending keel of member 1 under conveyor 3 having the lug 5 at the free end thereof for proper guidance of the mining machine along the conveyor. It will be appreciated that generally the mining machine is conducted along the mine face by attachment with a traction cable, such as a cable attached at its ends to the lugs 5 and 5', with the traction cable being looped over appropriate spaced apart drive sprocket means, or the like in the conventional manner.

In FIG. 3, the disposition of the sealing pocket 14 is shown between the upright wall 16 of the intermediate link 13 at the front side 9 of conveyor 3 and the mine face. The underside 11 of the conveyor is in engagement with the keel stub 17 which fills the space 12 between the keels 4 and 4' so that none of the fine coal 15 forming a cushion in pocket 14 can enter the space under conveyor 3 to produce the disadvantages noted above in connection with prior art arrangements.

As may be seen from FIG. 4, even in the area adjacent the articulated connection 2, the pocket 14 is provided with a fine mineral cushion, generally in the form of fine coal dust where coal is being extracted, such that the underside 11 of the side wall 9' of the conveyor 3' is not disturbed with entry of undesired mineral thereat. This figure also illustrates the preferred similarity in thickness of the keel stub 17 and the appropriate keel (keel 4 being shown schematically), so as to achieve an efficient sealing of the underside 11 of conveyor 3 against entry of unwanted mineral thereat.

FIG. 5 shows a prior arrangement in which the link 13 of the invention is omitted from the space 12 so that the gap 10 at the underside of 11' at the front side wall 9' of conveyor 3 may be appreciated. The thickness of

keels

4a and 4a attached to the base means 8a and 8a raises the conveyor 3' to form the longitudinal gap 10 between the underside 11 of the conveyor and the mine floor along which the keels and base means slide. In this view, the optional upper element 18a is shown which is articulatedly connected at 19 and 19 to the corresponding upper portions of the base means 8a and 8a. Comparing FIG. 5 with FIG. 4, the longitudinal partition between the

base line

8a and 8a provided by the link 13 in accordance with the present invention can be appreciated and the manner in which the space 10 is occupied by the keel stub 17 while the space 12 is occupied by the upright wall 16. The cushion pocket provided between the mining machine and the adjacent portion of the mine face advantageously prevents further mineral from passing therethrough to the underside of the conveyor. Advantageously, the construction and arrangement provided in accordance with the present invention has proven better in practice than previous measures utilized such as metal wool, e.g. steel wool inserts, covers, or the like in the area in question. It will be realized that in accordance with the present invention the fine mineral cushion, such as fine coal, that is entrained by the mining machine, especially a mining planer, and constantly renewed, is not subject to wear and is not required to be replaced constantly as was true with metal wool inserts, covers, or the like. Instead, the very operation of the mining machine serves to replace as necessary the fine coal cushion. The collection of fine coal or other mineral beneath the conveyor diminishes abruptly in mining operations, for example, where the construction and arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is provided with the intermediate link of the present invention, for instance shown in FIG. 4. Significantly, by reason of the presence of the keel stub on the intermediate link, the fine mineral, such as coal, is unable to flow down onto the mine floor through the gap 10 (see FIG. 5) between the spaced apart keeis.

Whereas the fine mineral such as coal constantly was pumped through the space 12 into the gap 10 beneath the conveyor 3 (shown in FIG. 5) and thus into the bottom flight of such conveyor, whereby to raise the conveyor and the path along which the mining machine was being conducted, in accordance with the present invention, these problems do not develop, and a gradually built up layer of fine mineral which becomes progressively thicker does not occur.

By simple modification, the intermediate link 13 may be provided with an elastic apron or the like in place of the upright wall 16 where the upper element 18 is provided thereabove. This is because upper element 18 will protect the intermediate link 13 from direct exposure to impingement of large lumps of mineral, and in such instance a fine coal or other mineral cushion will again collect on the side of such flexible apron adjacent the mine face and remote from the conveyor which will be constantly replenished as the extraction of mineral progresses, yet suitable blockage of the space 12 will exist to avoid the foregoing disadvantages of the prior art.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a mining planer adapted to be conducted along a longitudinally extending mining conveyor adjacent a mine face to achieve operative engagement with such mine face for extracting mineral therefrom may now be provided, which comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced apart base means, and an intermediate means longitudinally interposed therebetween and articulately interconnecting said pair of base means in tandem-arranged linkably interconnected relation, each said base means including a keel adapted to underlie such mining conveyor and slide along the mine floor thereat, said keels being correspondingly spaced apart, said intermediate means including an upright wall extending across and occupying the space between said pair of base members as well as a keel stub comparatively shorter than said keels and extending substantially in the same direction and plane as the keels and occupying the space between said keels in the vicinity of the adjacent portions of such conveyor at said pair of base means, said intermediate means thereby forming a longitudinal upright partition between the base means and a longitudinal keel stub partition between the keels which define a. cushion pocket with the adjacent portion of the mine face between the pair of base means whereby to accommodate fine particles of mineral which serve as a sealing cushion between the mine face and the intermediate means thereat to prevent excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space defined between the adjacent portions of said base means, said keels, the underside of such conveyor and the mine floor therebeneath.

It will be realized by the artisan that the particular arrangement shown in the drawings is but one construction which may be used with the intermediate link 13 of the present invention. Other such base means having rearwardly extending keels may be articulatedly interconnected with the intermediate link 13 of the invention whereby to provide in the space betwen the pair of base means, and preferably also in the space between the corresponding keels, a longitudinal partition which defines a cushion pocket of the foregoing type. Generally, such base means will be provided with cutting blades thereon for engaging the mine face, such as for example in the case of a mining planer or other mining machine of the type contemplated.

It will be appreciated that the instant specification and drawings are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mining machine adapted to be conducted along a longitudinal guide means extending adjacent a mine face, with such mining machine in operative engagement with such mine face for extracting mineral therefrom, in which such mining machine includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart tandem-arranged linkably interconnected base means and each said base means includes a keel adapted to underlie such guide means and slide along the mine floor thereat, said keels being correspondingly spaced apart, the improvement which comprises intermediate means interposed longitudinally between said pair of base means and articulatedly interconnecting said pair of base means, said intermediate means forming a longitudinal partition between said pair of base means which defines a cushion pocket with the adjacent portion of the mine face between said pair of base means whereby to accommodate fine particles of mineral which serve as a sealing cushion between such portion of the mine face and said intermediate means thereat to prevent excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space defined between the adjacent portions of said pair of base means, said keels, the underside of such guide means and the mine floor therebeneath.

2. Improvement according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate means includes an upright wall extending across and occupying the space between said pair of base means as well as a keel stub comparatively shorter than said keels and extending substantially in the same direction and plane as said keels and occupying the space between said keels in the vicinity of said adjacent portion of such guide means at said pair of base means.

3. Improvement according to claim 2 wherein an upper element is disposed in the space between the corresponding upper portions of said pair of base means which element articulatedly interconnects said pair of base means thereat whereby to define an upwardly limiting cover member above said intermediate means to enhance the prevention of excessive entry of extracted mineral into said space defined between the adjacent portions of said pair of base means, said keels, the underside of such guide means and the mine floor therebeneath.

4. Improvement according to claim 3 wherein said mining machine is a mining planer adapted to he conducted along a mining conveyor.

5. Mining planer adapted to be conducted along a longitudinally extending mining conveyor adjacent a mine face to achieve operative engagement with such mine face for extracting mineral therefrom, which comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced apart base means, and an intermediate means longitudinally interposed therehetween and articulatedly interconnecting said pair of base means in tandem-arranged linkably intercom nected relation, each said base means including a keel adapted to underlie such mining conveyor and slide along the mine floor thereat, said keels being correspondingly spaced apart, said intermediate means including an upright wall extending across and occupying the space between said pair of base means as well as a keel stub comparatively shorter than said keels and extending substantially in the same direction and plane as said keels and occupying the space between said keels in the vicinity of the adjacent portions of such conveyor at said pair of base means, said intermediate means thereby forming a horizontal upright partition between said base means and a longitudinal keel stub partition between said keels which define a cushion pocket with the adjacent portion of the mine face between said pair of base means whereby to accommodate fine particles of mineral which serve as a sealing cushion between such mine face and said intermediate means thereat to prevent excessive entry of extracted mineral into the space defined between the adjacent portions of said base means, said keels, the underside of such conveyor and the mine floor therebeneath.

6. Planer according to claim 5 wherein an upper element is disposed in the space between the corresponding upper portions of said pair of base means which element articulatedly interconnects said pair of base means thereat whereby to define an upwardly limiting cover member above said intermediate means to enhance the prevention of excessive entry of extracted mineral into said space defined between the adjacent portions of said pair of base means, said keels, the underside of such conveyor and the mine floor therebeneath.

7. Planer according to claim 5 wherein said planer is associated in combination with a mining conveyor with said keels and keel stub underlying said conveyor and said cushion pocket is defined operatively between the adjacent portion of the mine face the said upright portion of said intermediate means and the said pair of base means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,178,229 4/1965 Lobbe 29934 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,346,999 11/1963 France.

ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A MINING MACHINE ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED ALONG A LONGITUDINAL GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING ADJACENT A MINE FACE, WITH SUCH MINING MACHINE IN OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH SUCH MINE FACE FOR EXTRACTING MINERAL THEREFROM, IN WHICH SUCH MINING MACHINE INCLUDES A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APART TANDEM-ARRANGED LINKABLY INTERCONNECTED BASE MEANS AND EACH SAID BASE MEANS INCLUDING A KEEL ADAPTED TO UNDERLIE SUCH GUIDE MEANS AND SLIDE ALONG THE MINE FLOOR THEREAT, SAID KEELS BEING CORRESPONDINGLY SPACED APART, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES INTERMEDIATE MEANS INTERPOSED LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF BASE MEANS AND ARTICULATEDLY INTERCONNECTING SAID PAIR OF BASE MEANS, SAID INTERMEDIATE MEANS FORMING A LONGITUDINAL PARTITION BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF BASE MEANS WHICH DEFINES A CUSHION POCKET WITH THE ADJACENT PORTION OF THE MINE FACE BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF BASE MEANS WHEREBY TO ACCOMMODATE FINE PARTICLES OF MINERAL WHICH SERVE AS A SEALING CUSHION BETWEEN SUCH PORTION OF THE MINE FACE AND SAID INTERMEDIATE MEANS THEREAT TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE ENTRY OF EXTRACTED MINERAL INTO THE SPACE DEFINED BETWEEN THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID PAIR OF BASE MEANS, SAID KEELS, THE UNDERSIDE OF SUCH GUIDE MEANS AND THE MINE FLOOR THEREBENEATH.