US3658385A

US3658385A - Mining machine having vertically adjustable chain cutter

Info

Publication number: US3658385A
Application number: US54918A
Authority: US
Inventors: Terence Oven; Gordon Ernest Boast
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1970-07-15
Filing date: 1970-07-15
Publication date: 1972-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-25

Abstract

A mineral mining machine for advancing a shortwall face has a vertically adjustable cutter head which supports an endless cutter chain carrying cutter tools arranged to excavate all the mineral from the face and which carries the drive motor for the cutter chain. A supporting guideway maybe rigidly mounted on the cutter member and arranged to be slidably engaged by slide members carried by the cutter chain.

Description

United States Patent Oven et al.

[ MINING MACHINE HAVING VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE CHAIN CUTTER [72] Inventors: Terence Oven; Gordon Ernest Boast, both of Burton upon Trent, England a [73] Assignee: Coal Industry (Patents) Limited, London,

England [22] Filed: July 15, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 54,918

[52] US. Cl. ..,..299/43, 299/67 [51] Int; Cl. ..E2lc 25/56 [58] Field of Search ..'.299/3 1 32, 34, 43-47,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,314,722 4/1967 3,471,20! l 0/l969 Small Webster "299/3 1 [451 Apr. 25, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR'APPLICATIONS 692,884 6/1953 Great Britain ..299/45 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attorney-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT A mineral mining machine for advancing a shortwall face has a vertically adjustable cutter head which supports an endless cutter chain carrying cutter tools arranged to excavate all the mineral from the face and which carries the drive motor forv v the cutter chain. A supporting guideway maybe rigidly mounted on the cutter member and arranged to be slidably engaged by slide members carried by the cutter chain.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures arr--- PATENTEDAPR 2 s 1912 SHEET 30F 7 PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 3, 658,385 SHEET u 0F 7 32 34 III FIG-4.

This invention relates to mineral mining machines for advancing shortwall faces.

In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a mineral mining machine of the kind adapted to excavate all the mineral from the excavation to allow the machine to be advanced further into the excavation.

One known such mining machine comprises a series of base units and a conveying track for cut mineral extending transversely of the base units. A guideway for an endless cutter chain is supported by the base units and comprises separate upper and lower runs each extending in the guideway parallel to the conveying track. The upper and lower runs of the guideway are independently movable vertically relative to the adjacent base units. The drive motor for the cutter chain is mounted on a base unit.

Such machines are relatively complicated and expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and simple machine which can operate at a shortwall face, such as a heading. 7

According to the invention a mineral mining machine comprises a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for cut mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base,a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, an endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, and a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member.

The cutter chain may carry loading flights adapted to cooperate with the conveying track.

Alternatively, the base may comprise a conveyor with its leading track mounted at floor level.

Advantageously, a supporting guideway is rigidly mounted on the cutter member and is adapted to be slidably engaged by slide members carried by the cutter chain.

Preferably, the supporting guideway comprises first and second supporting guideway sections rigidly mounted on the cutter member adjacent to the upper and lower runs, respectively, of the guideway, and third and fourth supporting guideway sections rigidly mounted on the cutter member adjacent to the two ends, respectively, of the guideway.

By way of example only, three embodiments of a mineral mining machine adapted to excavate all the mineral from the excavation to allow the machine to be advanced further into the excavation will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing'sin which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mining machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional end view of a slightly modified mining machine to that in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional end view of a second embodiment of mining machine.

FIG. 4 is a part rear view of the machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan of a mining machine which is similar to the secondembodirnent but has an alternative form of supporting guideway;

FIG. 6 is a rear view ofthe machine shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the machine shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a section along the line VIIIVIII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a section along-the line IX-IX in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is an incomplete section along the line X--X in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a mineral mining machine excavating mineral to advance a shortwall face. The mining machine includes a base 2 comprising a round-the-houses type conveyor 4 having an open-fronted leading track 6 mounted adjacent to floor level to facilitate easy entry of cut mineral into the path of conveyor flights 8 which are hauled along by an endless chain 10 (only a part of which is shown in FIG. 1) driven by a motor 12. The rear track 14 of the conveyor 4 is raised sufficiently to allow one end of a discharge conveyor 16 to be positioned beneath.

Two support members 18 pivotally connected at 20 to the base 2 support a rigid cutter member 21 comprising a guideway 22 having upper and

lower runs

24 and 25, respectively, and curved end portions (not shown). Pivotable movement of the member 18 allows vertical movement of the member 21 relative to the base and is controlled by two rams 28 which in turn are pivotally connected to the base 2 and the members 18. Guide means (not shown) for the members 18 are provided to prevent sideways movement of the member Slidably supported by the guideway 22 is an endless mineral cutter chain 30 which carries a plurality of support arms 31 having holders 32 for cutter tools 34 and which drivably engages a sprocket (not shown) driven by a motor 37 mounted at one end of the member 21. The sprocket constitutes a part of the adjacent curved portion of the guideway 22.

Two thrust pads 29 are secured around the guideway 22 so as to slidably engage the support arms 31. In an alternative embodiment only one pad 29 is secured around the guideway 22.

In operation, the cutter chain 30 is caused to slide around I the'guideway 22 so that the tools 34 cut mineral from the whole cross-sectional area of the face, the machine being continuously'advanced by advancing rams (not shown) so that the tools 34 are in constant engagement with the face. The rigid cutter member 21 ensures that a constant thrust is applied to all-the cutter tools 34 irrespective of their position on the guideway 22. Also the depth of penetration of the tool 34 is accurately controlled. Such an operational procedure enablesa high rate of face advance to be achieved. As the machine advances cut mineral is guided onto the leading track 6 and conveyed along the face to the conveyor 16.

As the shortwall advances it is possible to steer the machine by suitable actuation of the rams 28 which angularly adjusts the member 21, about the horizontal pivot 20, and, thereby adjusts the cutting horizons of the cutter tools 34.

The holders 32 are mounted on the arms 31 in such a manner that the cutting forces about the cutter chain 30 tend tobe balanced. This entails mounting holders for single tools in line with the chain and mounting holders for pairs of tools one on either. side of the chain at the same distance from the chain.

As the cutting forces on the arms 31 will not always balance, as for example when the machine cuts hard strata adjacent to a boundary of the mineral seam, an additional supporting guideway 33 (see FIG. 2) is rigidly mounted on to the innermost side'of the member 21, the guideway 33 being slidably engaged by slide members 35 carried on the arms 31. In alternative embodiments the guideway 33 comprises sections which extend around only the curved end portions of the member 21. A further supporting guideway similar to the guideway 33 may be provided on the outermost side of the member 21. This guideway may be instead of, or in addition to, the guideway 33.

To facilitate changing of the tools 34 it is possible by the ac tion of the advancing rams to withdraw the machine away from'the face. Also the cutter member. 21 may be telescopic to allow an operator to pass to the leading side of the member 21 and to facilitate re-tensioning of the chain 30 when the operator has completed his task.

FIG. 2 shows that the machine allows the roof adjacent to the cutter tools 32 to be supported by roof engaging beams 47, and because the machine is relatively narrow, props 39 can be set at a relatively small distance from the face, giving rise to a desirable small prop free front distance.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of mining machine which has a similar rigid cutter member 21 to that of the first embodiment but in which the cut mineral is conveyed along the shortwall face by means of loading flights 36 carried by the cutter chain 30. The flights 36 associated with the lower run 25 are just clear of a ramp plate 38 so that in operation, as the machine advances, cut mineral is guided up the'plate 38 into the path of the flights 36 and is conveyed along towards the end of the face. Upon reaching the end of the face, the

flights 36 lift and guide the cut mineral around the end curved portion of the excavation until the flights 36 sequentially reach a position as indicated by the flight 36a in FIG. 4 when the cut mineral slides down an inclined chute 40 on to the discharge conveyor 16.

Plates 42 are provided to prevent cut mineral passing to the rear ofthe machine.

Referring now to H65. 5 to of the drawings which show a mineral mining machine excavating mineral which is similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 but having an alternative form of supporting guideway. As previously described the machine includes a base 2 and a rigid cutter member 21 supported by two support members 18 pivotally connected at 20 to the base 2. Pivotal movement of the support members 18 is controlled by rams 28 which in turn are pivotally connected to the base 2 and the support members 18. The cutter member 21 includes the guideway 22 which has upper and

lower runs

24 and 25, respectively, and within which slides the endless mineral cutter chain 30 carrying the support arms 31 which have the holders 32 for the cutter tools 34. At the two ends of the cutter member 21 the chain 31 engages drive sprockets 50 driven by hydraulic motors 37.

As in the second embodiment mineral cut by the tools 34 is conveyed along the shortwall face by means of loading flights or paddles 36 carried by the cutter chain 30. The paddles 36 associated with the lower run lie just in front of the ramp plate 38 so that in operation as the machine advanced cut mineral is retained in the path of the paddles 36 and is conveyed along towards the end of the face. Upon reaching the end of the face, the paddles 36 lift and guide the cut mineral around the end curved portion of the excavation and deliver it into a discharge conveyor 16.

Secured to each support arm 31 is an outer slide member 51 and an inner slide member 52. Each of the

slide members

51, 52 comprises a first part 54 which slidably engages first and second supporting

guideway section

56, 58 secured adjacent to the upper and

lower runs

24, 25, respectively of the guideway 22. Each of the outer slide members 51 also comprises a second part 60 which slidably engages third and fourth supporting

guideway sections

62, 64 secured adjacent to the two ends respectively of the cutter member 21 and arranged to support the arms 31 on the parts of the chain passing around the drive sprockets 50. The rear face of each of the inner slide members 52 is arranged to abut the leading faces of the sprockets 50 (as shown in FIG. 7) to ensure that a balanced forward thrust is applied to the support arms 31 as they pass around the sprockets 50. The

slide members

51, 52 and the

guideway sections

56, 58 62 and 64 are constructed such that the support arms 31 are trapped to the cutter member 21.

The ends of the first and

second guideway sections

56, 58 overlap the ends of the third and

fourth guideway sections

62, 64 to ensure that the support arms 31 are supported and trapped throughout the length of the chain 30. The overlap of the

guideway sections

56, 58 with the guideway section 64 is sufficient to allow for the telescopic movement of the cutter member 21. Such telescopic movement facilitates tensioning of the chain 30 and is controlled by a ram 65.

The third and fourth guideway sections62, 64 have slots 66 (see FIGS. 6 and 10) through which small mineral carried by the chain 30 can pass. This prevents material accumulating in these guideway sections62, 64 which would have eventually blocked the passage ofthe slide members 51.

Operation of the machine shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 is similar to that described earlier with reference to the other embodiments.

in further alternative embodiments of the invention for use in relatively thick mineral seams the guideway 22 comprises more than two horizontal runs. Alternatively, the cutter member 21 may be mounted so as to be capable of substantial vertical displacement.

In still further alternative embodiments, the machine comprises a curved conveyor which enables the discharge conveyor 16 to be dispensed with.

Whatever the particular form of the machine described above, the machine has the advantage that there is no need for haulage arrangements for a cutter unit reciprocable along the face. This avoids the need also for trailing electric cables or hydraulic hoses which are very difficult to handle in the confined space available.

The machine is of small dimensions transverse of the face so that roof supports can be set immediately behind it and yet relatively close to the face. The machine is suitable for continuous advance by powered roof supports, the advancing rams mentioned above could be the advancing rams of such supports.

We claim:

1. A mineral mining machine comprising a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for cut mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base, a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, an endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, and a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising loading paddles secured to the cutter chain and adapted to cooperate with the conveying track.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising a conveyor with its leading track mounted at floor level.

4. A mineral mining machine comprising a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for out mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base, a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, an endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member, a supporting guideway rigidly mounted on the cutter member, and slide members carried by the cutter chain and arranged to slidably engage the supporting guideway.

5. A mineral mining machine comprising a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for cut mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base, a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, an endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member, first and second supporting guideway sections rigidly mounted on the cutter member adjacent to the upper and lower runs, respectively, of the guideway, third and fourth supporting guideway sections rigidly mounted on the cutter member adjacent to the two ends, respectively, of the guideway, and slide members carried by the cutter chain and arranged to slidably engage the supporting guideway sections.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, in which the first and second supporting guideway sections are adapted to be slidably engaged by one part of the slide members carried by the cutter chain and the third and fourth supporting guideway sections are adapted to beslidably engaged by a second part of the slide members.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, in which the first and second supporting guideway sections overlap the ends of the third and fourth supporting guideway sections.

8. A mineral mining machine comprising a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for cut mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base, a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, and endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member, a supporting guideway assembly rigidly mounted on the cutter member, and slide members carried by the cutter chain and arranged to slidably engage, and to be trapped to, the supporting guideway assembly throughout the whole path of travel of the cuttr chain.

Claims

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, comprising loading paddles secured to the cutter chain and adapted to co-operate with the conveying track.

4. A mineral mining machine comprising a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for cut mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base, a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, an endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member, a supporting guideway rigidly mounted on the cutter member, and slide members carried by the cutter chain and arranged to slidably engage the supporting guideway.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5, in which the first and second supporting guideway sections are adapted to be slidably engaged by one part of the slide members carried by the cutter chain and the third and fourth supporting guideway sections are adapted to be slidably engaged by a second part of the slide members.

8. A mineral mining machine comprising a base having a leading portion adjacent to floor level so as to form a conveying track for cut mineral extending lengthwise of the base, a cutter member supported by the base for vertical movement as a whole relative to the base, a guideway on the cutter member having upper and lower runs extending parallel to the conveying track, and endless cutter chain supported by the guideway, a drive motor drivably connected to the chain and mounted on the cutter member, a supporting guideway assembly rigidly mounted on the cutter member, and slide members carried by the cutter chain and arranged to slidably engage, and to be trapped to, the supporting guideway assembly throughout the whole path of travel of the cutter chain.