US3910709A

US3910709A - Joint assembly for disconnecting a segmented cutter bar

Info

Publication number: US3910709A
Application number: US438634A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claude B Krekeler
Original assignee: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co
Current assignee: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co
Priority date: 1974-02-01
Filing date: 1974-02-01
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07

Abstract

An improved segmented cutter bar for mining machines and the like wherein a cutting chain carrying bits is adapted to run continuously around the periphery of the cutter bar. The cutter bar comprises a flat elongated member having straight uninterrupted sides. A plurality of segments, also having straight uninterrupted sides, is adapted to bear flush against the sides of the cutter bar. The side segments are provided with suitable grooves, usually T-shaped, to receive T-shaped members extending from the cutting chain. The side segments are maintained flush against the outer peripheral sides of the cutter bar by means of threaded bolts extending from the adjacent bottom of the T-shaped slots and into a threaded nut placed within a bore extending into and/or through the cutter bar proper adjacent the peripheral edge thereof. A plurality of these bores and nuts is arranged at spaced intervals adjacent the peripheral edge of the cutter bar. Suitable openings extend from the side edges of the cutter bar to the respective nut-bores so that the threaded portion of the bolt may pass therethrough into engagement with the correspondingly threaded nut. The bolt is provided with an enlarged head which seats within an appropriate recess provided in the segment so as to hold same flush against the cutter bar.

Description

.United States Patent [191 Krekeler [451 Oct. 7, 1975 [75] Inventor: Claude B. Krekeler, Cincinnati,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: The Cincinnati Mine Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio [22] Filed: Feb. 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.1 438,634

[52] US. Cl. 403/8; 30/387; 37/142 A; 299/82; 403/20; 403/317; 403/377; 403/405 [51] Int. Cl. F16D 1/10 [58] Field of Search 299/82, 83, 84; 52/758 F; 29/427; 403/2, 7, 8, 19, 20, 22, 317, 379, 405, 406, 407, 408; 172/271; 37/142 R, 142 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,096 12/1912 Ray 403/8 1,201,072 10/1916 Morris... 403/8 1,890,981 l2/1932 Finkl 403/2 2,147,163 2/1939 Jimerson.... 403/379 2,156,732 5/1939 Lewis 299/83 2,533,572 12/1950 Fulke..... 299/82 2,654,923 10/1953 Johnson 403/8 2,883,012 4/1959 Hoffman 403/408 3,550,962 12/1970 Goodrich et a1 299/82 Prim/1r: Frnmir ar w rnl=r H .Qrhrnfirlpr Assistant Exammer-Conrad L. Berman Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Melville, Strasser, Foster &

Hoffman [5 7 ABSTRACT An improved segmented cutter bar for mining machines and the like wherein a cutting chain carrying bits is adapted to run continuously around the periphery of the cutter bar. The cutter bar comprises a flat elongated member having straight uninterrupted sides. A plurality of segments, also having straight uninterrupted sides, is adapted to bear flush against the sides of the cutter bar. The side segments are provided with suitable grooves, usually T-shaped, to receive T- shaped members extending from the cutting chain. The side segments are maintained flush against the outer peripheral sides of the cutter bar by means of threaded bolts extending from the adjacent bottom of the T-shaped slots and into a threaded nut placed within a bore extending into and/or through the cutter bar proper adjacent the peripheral edge thereof. A plurality of these boresand nuts is arranged at spaced intervals adjacent the peripheral edge of the cutter bar. Suitable openings extend from the side edges of the cutter bar to the respective nut-bores so that the threaded portion of the bolt may pass therethrough into engagement with the correspondingly threaded nut. The bolt is provided with an enlarged head which seats within an appropriate recess provided in the segment so as to hold same flush against the cutter bar.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,910,709

U.S. Patant Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,910,709

ff} nnnmum US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 Of3 JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR DISCONNECTING A SEGIVIENTED CUTTER BAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an improved segmented cutter bar for mining machines and the like, and more particularly to improvements by which the segmented guide means for the continuous cutting chain are fastened to the cutter bar.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various cutter bar and cutter chain assemblies have been tried by the prior art. One of the older arrangements is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,806 vto William Archibald Logan wherein the cutter bar was provided with a shallow peripheral groove extending continuously throughout the side thereof. Elements of ,the cutting chain adapted to travel around the cutter bar were provided with a pair of members which straddled the edge of the bar and which had turned in portions extending from the straddle members into grooves provided on the upper and lower faces of the cutter bar; the chain members also had additional projections extending into the shallow groove.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,962 to Ross H. Goodrich, et al. disclosed a somewhat different arrangement although the cutter bar, like that of Logan just mentioned, did employ a shallow groove extending throughout the peripheral side thereof. In the Goodrich, et al. arrangement, however, this groove received the tongues of a plurality of segments which were bolted to the cutter bar and which segments were provided with T-shaped slots at the peripheral edge thereof to receive corresponding members of the chain, the slotted segments thus serving as guide ways for the chain. The segments had tongues extending into the groove in the peripheral side edge of the cutter bar and such tongue and groove arrangement provided locating means for the guide ways comprised of the slotted segments. Schuberts U.S. Pat. No. 869,659 is also of interest.

Claud B. Krekelers U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,755 disclosed a variety of cutter bar and cutter chain arrangements. One of these was generally similar to that of Logan in that the chain had members having a pair of spaced legs adapted to straddle and to slidably engage the peripheral edge portions of the cutter bar. Various wear strips and the like were employed. In another arrangement in Krekeler the cutter bar was provided with a peripheral channel of inverted T-shaped cross-section and the chain was provided with members adapted to be slidably engaged in the cutter bar channel.

These earlier arrangements, although each successful in its own time to a certain degree, presented problems in that it was difficult and expensive to repair the cutter bar-cutter chain assembly when it became worn. In those arrangements wherein the chain directly engaged the peripheral edge of the cutter bar, or even various wear strips provided thereon, the bar itself was eventually subject to wear to such a degree that it had to be replaced and this was an expensive item. In those arrangements wherein segments were fastened to the bar, the cutter chain engaging the segments, it was difficult to remove and replace the segments when they became worn. An object achieved by the instant invention, therefore, is that of providing an inexpensive, easily made construction by which the worn segments of the cutter bar may be rapidly and economically replaced as required. These and other objects and achievements of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An elongated flat cutter bar is provided with a plurality of segments extending substantially continuously throughout the periphery thereof, the segments having flat surfaces engaging the flat peripheral sides of the cutter bar. The segments provide means for engaging the cutter chain which moves around the cutter bar and which chain carries the cutter bits. The segments are arranged to be quickly and easily disengaged from the cutter bar when they become worn. This is achieved by providing a plurality of spaced bores extending into and/or through the cutter bar, the bores being adapted to receive nuts therewithin. Openings in the side edges of the cutter bar lead into these bores. The segments are provided with corresponding openings to receive bolts which pass through the segment openings and the cutter bar openings so that-the threaded portion of the bolt may engage a correspondingly threaded portion of the nut. The bolts have enlarged heads which engage suitable recessed portions of the segments so that when the bolts engage the nuts the segments are held flush against the peripheral side edge of the cutter bar.

The segments are removed from the cutter bar simply by driving a drift or the like through the cutter bar bore into engagement with the nut whereby to breakoff the threaded stem of the bolt lying within the nutand cutter bar bore. The thus broken bolt and the nut may then simply be dropped out of their respective openings and bores and the segment removed from the cutter bar. This removal operation is unhampered by any corrosive interference from mining fines and the like including dust, debris, corrosive mine waters and similar substances. This is to be distinguished, for example, from arrangements such as shown in the said Goodrich, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,962 wherein, when the fastening means become frozen within the segments and cutter bar, as surely they must, there is no convenient, satisfactory way of removing them in order to replace the segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS yet another modification of the arrangements depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary prespective view of a cutter bar and cutter chain carrying segment assembly.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one way by which a segment for an outside running cutter chain may be attached to the cutterbar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 5 wherein a segment for an inside running cutter chain is attached to the peripheral side edge of a cutter ban-and particularly to FIG. 1, a typical cutter bar' is indicated at 10 and a segment at l 1. It will be uncommodate an inside running cutter chain and, for this purpose, it is provided with a T slot 12. It will be further understood, as is well known in the art, that this T slot '12 will accommodate mating elements extending from certain of the cutter chain components. A critical problemin the past has been the replacement of segments 'I1"'as"they became worn and the solution of this problem is a primary object of this invention as will now be describedl' The peripheral side edge of the cutter bar 10 is straight '(flat) as indicated at 13. The segment 11 has a corresponding surface 14 adapted to abut the surface 13. The cutter bar 'l'0is provided with a plurality of bores 15, one of which is shown in FIG. 1 (but see also FIG. which bores preferably extend completely 'through'the bar 10. A threaded nut 16 is adapted to be just ni'cely'received within the bore 15. Preferably, but "not necessarily, this nut will be cylindrical and, of course, is internally threaded as indicated at 17. The cutter bar is also provided with an orifice 18 which, in the modification of FIG. 1, is larger in diameter than the threaded section 17 of the nut 16.

Thechain carrying segment 11 is provided with a stepped 'o'rifice'19-20 extending completely through that body portion of the segment which abuts the cutter bar surface 13, the stepped orifice forming a shoulder The attaching means for connecting the cutter chain carrying segment 11 to the cutter bar 10 is a bolt or screw generally indicated at 22 in FIG. 1. This particular member 22 includes a threaded stem 23 adapted to engage thethr'eads 17in the nut 16 in'the usual manher a shoulder 24 adapted to be just nicely received within the Orifice: 18 provided in the cutter bar 10, and an enlarged head 25 adapted to abut the shoulder 21 formed in the segment 11, and internal sockets 26 adapted toreceive a tool for effecting engagement of the threads 23 with the threads 17 as is well known in thcartf' I Toeffect engagement of the cutter chain carrying segment 11 with the cutter bar 10 so that the surfaces l3an'dl4-of the cutter bar and segment 10 and 11 respectively abut one another, a nut 16 is located within thebore so'that the threads 17 are axially aligned with the orifice 18. A bolt or screw 22 is then placed within the stepped orifice 19-20 and brought into threaded engagement with the nut 16 until the enlarged head 25 abuts the shoulder 21 at which time the exterior surface 250 of the head will be at least flush, and preferablyinwardly spaced from, the bottom surface 12a of the T-shaped slot 12; it is important that the member 22 not interfer with those elements of the cutter chain which ride within the T-shaped slot 12. In the arrangement of FIG. 1 the engagement of the shoulder 24 within the orifice 18 provides a quite stable connection of the segment 11 to the cutter bar 10.

When the cutter chain carrying segment 11 becomes worn to the extent that it is necessary to replace it, such segment may easily be removed simply by applying a drift (not shown) against the nut 16 and breaking the threaded stem 23 off the bolt or screw 22 whereafter the nut 16, having a part of the threaded portion 23 therein, and the remaining part of the bolt or screw 22, may simply be shaken from their respective positions in the cutter bar 10 and chain carrying segment 11, whereafter the members 10 and 11 are completely free of one another. In thisarrangement it will readily be apparent that it matters not whether the threads 23 become bonded in any way to the threads 17; there is no need to effect removal of a complete bolt or screw 22 from the combination. This represents a decided advance of the art. Indeed, it may be desirable to effect a positive binding between the

threads

17 and 23 as, for example, by distorting them or by applying a binder coat or by otherwise setting up an interference between them.

The arrangement of FIG. 2 is very much like that of FIG. 1 and, therefore, like parts have been designated by like reference numerals. The FIG. 2 arrangement differs from that of FIG. 1 essentially in that a bearing sleeve 27 is provided within the orifice 18. This sleeve 27 is preferably of a harder'material than that of which the cutter bar 10 is comprised. The orifice 18 of FIG. 1 is now indicated as a corresponding orifice 18a provided within this bearing sleeve 27. It will be readily apparent that this arrangement provides even further protection for the cutter bar 10.

FIG. 3 also illustrates an arrangement much like that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2and, as before, like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts. In the arrangement of FIG. 3 the unthreaded shoulder portion 24 of the bolt or screw 22 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been eliminated, the threads 23 extending clear to the head 25 as indicated at 23a. As before, that portion 20 of the stepped bore 19-20 is in alignment with the orifice 18 provided in the cutter 10. As in the arrangements of FIGS. 1 and 2 the

flat surfaces

13 and 14 of the cutter bar 10 and chain carrying segment 11 are held flush against one another by insertion of the bolt or screw 22 into threaded engagement with the nut 16, the enlarged head 25 bearing against the shoulder 21, thus insuring that the segment 11 remains in the position illustrated until such time as the nut 16 and threaded stem 23 are broken for removal of such segment.

The arrangement depicted in FIG. 4 is'r'n'u cl'ilike That illustrated in FIG. 3 differing therefrom in much the same manner as the arrangement of FIG. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1, namely, a hardened bearing sleeve 27a is provided within the orifice 18. In the arrangement of FIG. 4 the hardened bearing sleeve 27a passes not only through the orifice 18 of the cutter bar 10 but also through the portion 20 of the stepped bore 19-20 provided in'the chain carrying segment 11.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications, not shown, may be made in the arrangements depicted in these FIGS. 1 through 5. Thus, by way of example, the sleeve 27 shown in FIG. 2 may be arranged like that illustrated at 27a in FIG. 4 so that it passes not only through the orifice 18 but also through the portion 20 of the stepped bore 19-20; this stepped bore would, of course, have to be enlarged so as to receive such sleeve but in any event the bolt or screw 22, its head 25 engaging the shoulder 21, would maintain the

surfaces

13 and 14 flush against one another. It would also be possible to modify either or both of the arrangements of FIGS. 2 and 4 by providing the hardened bearing sleeves '27 27a with threads suitable to receive the threads 23 of the bolt or screw 22. All of these arrangements are within the pervi'ew of this in vention. i i y Earlier in these specifications was noted that eutt'er chain car'ryingsegments lImay beadapted to accommodate outside running chains as well as the inside running chains. Such segments may also be secured to the cutter bar so as to realize theadvantages ofthis invention and an example of this is illustrated in FIG. 6. In describing this FIG. 6 like reference numerals will again be utilized to designate like parts. In this arrangement of FIG. 6 the chain carrying segment 11 is adapted to receive an outside running cutter chain and, therefore, the T-shaped slot 12 has been eliminated. This segment 11 is provided with

surfaces

30 and 31 which are designed to be straddled and engaged by appropriately shaped members or legs provided on certain elements of the outside running chain.

The chain carrying segment 11 of FIG. 6 is adapted to be secured to the cutter bar in much the same manner as is illustrated in connection with the arrangement depicted in FIG. 1 so that the

flat surfaces

13 and 14 of the cutter bar 10 and chain carrying segment 11 are maintained in flush engagement. Thus, the segment 11 is again provided with a stepped bore 19-20 and a bolt or screw 22 having a threaded stem 23, a shoulder portion 24 and an enlarged head is adapted to be received therein. Bores IS in the cutter bar 10 are provided to accommodate nuts 16 having threads 17 to receive the threaded stem 23. FIG. 6 also more clearly illustrates that preferred embodiment wherein the outside surface 25a of the bolt or screw 22 is spaced inwardly from the outside surface 11a of the replaceable guide segment 11 so as not to interfer with any portion of the bit carrying chain mounted on such segment; this surface 25a could also be flush with the surface 110. (This corresponds to the arrangement 25a-12a discussed in connection with FIG. 1 wherein it was stated that it is desirable for the surface 25a to be spaced inwardly from the surface 120 so as not to interfer with those chain components which ride within the T- shaped slot 12.)

When the replaceable guide segment 11 becomes worn to the extent that it is desirable to replace same, such segment 11 may be disconnected from the cutter bar 10 in the same manner as this is accomplished. by the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. Thus,

therefore, it is necessary only to apply sufficient pressure against the nut 16 as to break off the stem 23 from the remainder of the bolt or screw 22 whereafter these broken parts may be readily removed and another guide segment attached to the cutter bar 10 simply by employing new nuts 16 and bolts or screws 22. In joining the segment 11, whether it be that designed to accommodate an inside running chain such as indicated in FIGS. 1 through 5 or whether it be such as to accommodate an outside running chain as indicated in this FIG. 6, the bolts or screws 22 are engaged within the nuts 16 until such time as the enlarged head 25 abuts the shoulder 21.

It will be apparent that the modifications not only depicted in FIGS. 1 through 4 may also be utilized in connection with the arrangement generally indicated in FIG. 6, but also that those modifications discussed, but not shown, in connection with these FIGS. 1 through 4 mayalso be utilized in connection with the arrangement ofthisFIG. 6. i In addition to the foregoing it willbe"'apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made in this invention'without departing from .the scope and spirit thereof; Thus, by way of further example, instead of the straight (flat) mating surfaces 13 and 14 illustrated in the various FIGURES, other shapes maybe given these surfaces. {\tongue and groove arrangement such as shown in earlier mentioned Us. Pat. No. 3,550,962 could be employed, or mating convex-concave surfaces could" be used. Thus, while the flat surfaces 13-14 are highly desirable, other surfaces which have a flush mating engagement with one anotherthro'ugh'outa substantial "portion thereof could conceivably be employed. In this connection it is believed that the foregoing constitutes a full and complete description of the basic invention. And while such invention has been illustrated and discussed in connection with a number of embodiments utilizing certain structures and arrangements, the invention is not to be limited to such structures and arrangements except insofar as they are specifically set forth in the subjoined claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An improved segmented cutter bar combination for mining machines and the like comprising: a cutter bar having a top surface and a bottom surface and an external peripheral side edge between said two surfaces; a threaded attachment means located within a bore provided in said cutter bar inwardly from said side edge and extending from one of said surfaces towards the other of said surfaces, said bore being of a size closely receiving and maintaining said attachment means; a cutter chain holding segment having a mating edge held against said side edge; a separate threaded attachment member rotatably located in a smooth bore provided in said segment and having a head thereon, said attachment member being received by a smooth orifice provided in said side edge and being in threaded engagement with said attachment means; and an abutment means in said segment being engaged by said head when said side edge and said mating edge are in abutting engagement with one another and when said attachment means and said attachment member are in threaded engagement with one another; whereby said segment may be disconnected from said cutter bar by applying pressure through said first mentioned bore against said attachment means to break said attachment member.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said first mentioned bore extends clear through said cutter bar to facilitate the breaking of said attachment member and removal of said attachment means when disconnecting said segment from said cutter bar.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said attachment member has a portion thereof free of threads and being closely received in said orifice when said segment is connected to said cutter bar and when said side edge and said mating edge are in abutting engagement with one another.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said side edge and said mating edge are flat.

5. The combination of claim 1 in which said second mentioned bore is stepped and having one diameter of a portion of said bore greater than the diameter of an adjacent portion of said bore, said abutment means being located at the juncture of said portions.

6. The combination of claim 1 in which said threaded attachment means and said threaded attachment member are positively bound together.

7. The combination of claim 1 including a bearing sleeve located in said orifice and through which said attachment member extends.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which said bearing sleeve also extends into a portion at least of said second mentioned bore.

9. An improved segmented cutter bar for mining machines and the like comprising: a cutter bar having a top surface and a bottom surface and an external peripheral side edge between said two surfaces; said cutter bar being provided with a bore located inwardly from said side edge and extending from one of said surfaces towards the other of said surfaces, said bore being of a size to closely receive and maintain a threaded attachment means therein; said cutter bar also being provided with a smooth orifice in said side edge extending to said bore so as to receive an attachment member rotatable therein; whereby a cutting chain holding segment may be secured to said cutter bar by means of a threaded attachment member passing through said orifice into engagement with a threaded attachment means located in said bore.

10. The improved segmented cutter bar of claim 9 in which said side edge is a single planar surface extending from said top surface to said bottom surface.

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