US443925A - stine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

ZShBetS-Sheet 1.

S. B. STINE '8u J. V. SMITH. GOAL MINING MACHINE.

Patented Deo. 30,1890.

All* u I ill-IU (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.v S. B'. STINII 8a, J. V. SMITH.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

Patented Deo. 30, 1890.

Nrrn rares ATnNr SAMUEL B. STINE AND JAWES V. SMXTH, CF OSCEOLA MILLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNCRS TO THE STlNE-SMITH MACHINE CO., OF SAME PLACE.

'COAL-MINING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. M3,925, dated December SO, 1890.

Application filed September 6, 1886- Serial No. 212,779. (No model.) I

T all wiz/0m it may concern.-

Be it known that we, SAMUEL B. STINE and JAMES V. SMITH, of Osceola Mills, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coal-Mining Machines; and we do hereby declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to mining machines 1o emploved in undercutting the vein of coal in coal-mines, and has special reference to that general class of coal-mining machines shown in Letters Patent No.` 343,346, granted to us June S, 1886, its object being to simplify the t5 construction of these machines and add to their efficiency for work, as hereinafter set forth. In the mining machine shown in said Letters Patent objections were found to the operation of certain parts, the principal ob- 2o jection being that the driving-chains could not be drawn so tight as to prevent a slight swaying of the chains, and the knives or cutters thereon were thus thrown against the walls of the kerf or under-cut and frequently subjected to sufficient strain to break them off. In that and other like mining-machines complicated gearing has been employed to transmit power from the engine-shaft to the driving-chains,and in the mechanism for feed- 3o ing and withdrawing the traveling carriage at the forward end of which the cutter-bar was mounted,and the cost of the machine was increased thereby, while great loss of power was occasioned by friction and the parts could not 3 5 be made as heavy as desirable and were more liable to breakage under the severe strains to which the machine was subjected. By our improvements these objections are substantially overcome.

In our improved mining-machine we have combined with the traveling carriage having the rota-ry cutter-bar mounted at the forward end a chain-shaft mounted in the carriage back of the cutter-bar and driven by an end- 4 5 less chain and a short driving-chain mounted on said chain-shaft and cutter-bar and carrying knives or cutters to cut a course for the chain in the coal, the chain carrying the cutters being so short that all liability of the 5o swaying thereof and the breaking of the cutters is overcome. XVe have also mounted the engines on an incline and connected the engine or crank shaft directly to the drivingshaft by suitable gearing, and we have operated the feeding mechanism from the drivlngshaft and the receding mechanism from the engine-shaft, thereby dispensing with both the intermediate shaft and the recede shaft, and so simplifying the power mechanism of the machine. We have also mounted the 6o worm-rack, with which the feeding and receding mechanism engages, on the stationary bed under the feeding and receding mechanism, so dispensing with the two worm-racks and double sets of such mechanism engaging therewith. XVe have also improved the construction of the clutch mechanism.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompany- 7o ing drawings, in which Figure l is a top or plan View of our 1mproved mining-machine. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line m a1, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal 75 section of the cutter-bar and chain-shaft on the line y y, Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a View of the mechanism for operating the clutch.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each figure.

The stationary bed A is formed of the two side portions a, secured together by the rear housing a' and the cross-braces a2, the bed being mounted on runners a4 to provide for the moving of the machine within the mine, the runners supporting the bed the proper distance above the mine-door, and the rear housing ct extending across between the side portions a back of the course of the traveling carriage B, While the cross-braces d? of 9c the bed extend across from the runners CL4' close to the floor, so leaving space between the side portions a for the movement of the operative parts ofthe traveling carriage, and so venabling the engines and operative mech- 9 5 anism to be lowered between the side portions of the bed. Supported longitudinally on the cross-braces a2 of the bed is the wormrack a3, with which the feeding mechanism engages to feed and recede the carriage, as roo hereinafter described. The traveling carriage B is mounted in said stationary bed, as

fully described in said Letters Patent No.

343,346, the carriage being formed ol' the side bars Z1, connected at the rear by the bed-plate c, supporting the power apparatus, and in front of the bed-plate by the cross-brace li and diagonal bars b2. rlhe bed-plate c is bolted tothe side bars I) by means of bolts c', passing through slots or elongated bolt-holes c2, so permitting the longitudinal adjustment ot' the bed-plate on the carriage, as hereinafter described, screw bolts c, passing through lugs ct on the side bars l) against the front edges of the bedplate to arrange for an exact adjustment thereof on theA carriage. Bolted t0 the side bars l or bed-plate c are the engine standards or frames c, at the rear ends of which are the engine-cylinders E, having the valve-chests d on their innersides, the air-supply pipe d communicating with the valve-chests, and air being admitted thereto through the valve (Z3 in the pipe (Z2. The valves are operated by eccentrics d4 on the crank-shaft. The crank-sliaftf is journaled in bearings fon the bed-plate in front of the vstandards c, the cranks f2 being secured thereto beyond the carriage, and the standards having the guides e for the slides e2 0f the pistons e, which are connected to the cranks by thc pitmen e, Journaled in the bearings g on the bed-plate c is the driving-shaft (l, the ends of which extend through openings in the standards e (shown in dotted lines) beyond the carriage to receive the sprockets for the outer driving-chains, the crank-shaft and driving-shaft being the only cross-shafts on the bed-plate.

Power is communicated from the crankshaft to the driving-shaft through the gearwheels 7L 7i', the gear-wheel h on the drivingshaft being made sufiiciently large relatively to the gear-wheel 7L to reduce the speed and increase the power necessary to drive the cutter-bar at the required speed and without the interposition of any intermediate gearing, and the friction of such gearing and the shaft supporting the same being done away with. As hereinafter described, the carriage is fed forward and withdrawn by mechanism operated directly from these shafts fg, and for this reason they are placed close to the bedplate, and to apply the power from the engine to the crank-shaft f without interfering with the driving-shaft g the engines are mounted on an incline, as shown, the slides e on the engine-frames e being placed above the driving-shaft g and inclined correspondingly to the engine-cylinder, as fully shown in Fig. 2.

Mounted in bearings 7a2 7c3, secured to the cross-brace b and bed o, respectively, is the longitudinal shaft 7c, carrying at its forward end the worm-wheel 7c', which meshes with the worm-rack a3 on the stationary frame A, and through which the traveling carriage is fed 'forward and back in operating the machine. The carriage is fed forward by means ofthe worm-wheel 1T on the driving-shaft g,

which meshes with the worm-gear i ruiming loosely on the shaft i: and engaging therewith throughthe clutch m keyed to said shaft, and the carriage is fed backward or withdrawn by means of the worm-wheel Z on the crankshaftf, meshing with the worm-gear Z ruiming loosely on the shaft t' and engaging therewith through the clutch m. The speed of the driving-shaft is about one-fourth that of the crank-shaft and the feed of the worm` gearing i' il is very slow, as it is made singlethreadcd, with but slight pitch, so that a slow feed ot' great power is obtained, while the worin-gearing Z l is operated from the fastrunning crank-shaft, and is made doublethreaded and of more than double the pitch of the worm-gearing 'i i', and all necessary speed for receding the machine is obtained. By placing' this feed and recede gearing in the center of the machine and supporting the worm-rack on the cross-braces of the stationary bed and under the feeding mechanism, we dispense with the double set of such mechanism and worm-racks, so simplifying the feeding mechanism, and we also apply the power in such position as to obtain more direct action of the parts.

The clutch m is operated by means of the sliding rack bar ni', mounted in suitable guides and having lingers m2 fitting in the annular seat m3 in the clutch m. A pinion n on the lower end of the vertical bar n engages with the rack-face on the bar m', the said bar n having a handle n?, by means of which, through the pinion n and rack-bar m', the clutch can be thrown into and out of engagement with either worm-gear l or t', accoi-ding to the, desired movement of the carriage B. By these devices the clutch-lever can be located at the rear of the carriage in a more convenient position for its operation by the workman. To stop the carriage on its backward or recede movement, the clutch-bar n is provided with the lever which, when the clutch engages with the recede worm-gear Z', extends back of the bar a in such position that when the carriage reaches the rear of the stationary bed it strikes against the stop or arm a5, secured to the stationary bed, and is by it pressed forward, so turning the clutchbar n', and through the pinion n, and rack bar m drawing the clutch m out of engagement with the worm-gear l', and so stopping the backward movement of the machine. In order to stop the machine in its forward movement, a similar stop or arm nf" is secured to the stationary frame at a suitable point to operate the lever n3, when the traveling carriage is advanced the full distance into the Coal, the lever n3 then striking against the stop n and drawing the clutch out of engagement with the worm-gear L", and so stopping the machine in case the operator neglects to operate the clutch-lever to reverse the machine. The clutch-bar a is supported at its upper end by the bracket al, secured to one of the valve-cases- The. bedplate c is cut IOO where it is reduced in width.

The rotary cutter-bar p is journaled in bearings p at the forward end of the machine, and the driving-shaft g transmits power to the rotary cutter-bar through the medium of chains, a chain-shaft? being journaled at the forward end of the carriage just back of the cutter-bar p, and the rotary motion of the driving-shaft g being first communicated to the chain-shaft and thence to the cutter-bar. The driving-shaft is provided with sprockets s, oneI within the carriage and one at each end of the shaft, where it extends beyond the carriage, and the chain-shaft lr has corresponding sprockets 7*',the driving-chains S S passing over these sprockets and the drivingchain S within the carriage passing above and below the engine-shaft f, and the outside chains S being mounted on the shafts g r beyond the cranks of said shafts, so that there is no interference between them.

Rotary motion is imparted to the cutterbar p from the chain-shaft r by the endless chaint passing over the sprocket r2 on the chain-shaft and the sprocket pzon the cutterbar, the driving-shaft thus acting to rotate the cutter-bar through the endless chains S S, the chain-shaft, and the endless chain t. In orderto eut a course or path for the endless chain t, we employ the knives or cutters 'u on said chain, as fully shown in Fig. t, this short chain carrying the cutters instead of providing the main driving-chains S S' therewith, and the ordinary cutters t' on the cutter-bar cutting out a path into which thc main driving-chains S S enter. By so construct-ing the cutting apparatus we are` enabled to employ a short cutter-chain instead of the long chains described in the patent above referred to, and this short cutter-chain can be so mounted on the chain-shaft and cut-ter-barjthat there is practically no swaying movement therein, and hence there is no liability of any one of the cutters striking against the coal in such manner as to subject it to such severe strain as to cause its fracture. The short chain also requires but few cutters, and for this reason the labor of sharpening and repairing the cutters is reduced.

At w is shown the ordinary jack to engage with the face of the coal and support the stationary bed during the cutting operation, a similar jack being employed at the rear of the bed.

When the machine is in operation, after the stationary bed has been secured in place, air is admitted to the engines and the rotary motion imparted to the cutter-bar through the cog-gearing h h', driving-shaft g, chains S S, chain-shaft 7", and cutter-shaft t. The clutch m is then caused to engage with the wormgear i', and through the worm t' on the driving-shaft, worm-gear t', shaft 7c, worin-gear k',

and worm-rack a* under the feed-gearing thc carriage is then fed forward, the cutter-bar entering and undercutting the coal. rlhe cutters n on the chain if cut a path in the coal for the chain, the cutters t on the bar cutting apath for the rest of the carriage which enters under the coal, and the coal-dust is carried back by the driving-chains S S', which act to clear the course for the carriage as well as drive the cutter-bar. As soon as the carriage is advanced the full distance into the coal the clutch is withdrawn from the worm-gear i" and caused to engage with the worm-gear l', and through the worm l on the crank-shaft and worm-gear Z the shaft 7c is turned in the opposite direction at a much higher speed and acts through the worm 7c and worin-rack d4 to rapidly withdraw the carriage. In case the operator neglects to operate the clutchlever either in making the cut or withdrawing the traveling carriage as the lever its during the forward movement of the carriage strikes against the stop fn by turning the clutch-bar n through the pinion n and sliding rack m it draws the clutch from engagement with the worm-gear i', thus throwing the feed out of gear and stopping the forward movement of the machine, and, in receding, as the carriage approaches the rear portion of the stationary bed-frame the lever n3 comes in contact with the stop a5 and through the same mechanism draws the clutch from .engagement with the worin-gear l', thus throwing the recede out of gear and stopping the backward movement of the machine. The machine can then be shifted into position for the next cut and the operation repeated.

By our improvements the operative mechanisin is much simplified and friction of the parts and the power necessary to operate the machine greatly reduced, While at the .same time heavier and stronger gearing may be employed without increasing the weight and height of the machine, which is very important in this class of machinery, which is operated in mines and is necessarily shifted from point to point therein. The employment of the short cutter-chain also reduces breakage of cutters to a minimum and reduces the power necessary to operate the machine.

IV hat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a mining-machine, the combination of a traveling carriage having a cutter-bar and a chain-shaft mounted at its forward end and a short chain passing around said cutter-bar and chain-shaft and driving the cutter-bar from the chain-shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination of a traveling carriage having a cutter-bar and a chain-shaft mounted at its forward end, a short chain passing around said cutter-bar and chain-shaft and driving the cutter-bar from the chain-sh aft, and cutters on the chain to cut a path therefor in the coal, substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

3. In a mining-machine, the combination of a traveling carriage having a cutter-bar mounted at its forward end, a chain-shaft mounted back of said cutter-bar, a chain or chains driving said shaft, and a short chain carrying cutters driving the cutter-bar from the chain-shaft, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4t. In a mining-machine, the combina'ttion, with the stationary bed A, of the traveling carriage B, moving' longitudinally thereon and carrying the cutter-bar at the forward end, the engine-standards c, supporting the engines in an inclined position, thev crankshaft f, mounted infront of the standards e and in journals on the bed-plate and carrying the gear-wheel 7i, the driving-shaft mounted in journals on the bed-plate back of the crankshaft and carrying the gear-wheel 71 and the driving chain or chains driving the cutter-bar from said driving-shaft and passing above and below the crank-shaft substaiitially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In amining-machine, the combination of the crank-shaft carrying the gear-wheel h and recede-worm Z, the driving-shaft carrying the gear-wheel 71,', meshing with the gear-wheel h and the feed-worm t", driving chain or chains, and feeding and receding apparatus operated by said worms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In mining-machines, the combination of the stationary bed having the cross-braces a2. the worm-rack a4, secured to said braces, and the feeding and receding gearing located above said rack and formed of the recedeworm Z, feed-worin fr', longitudinal shaft 7e, worm-gears Z t" thereon, clutch m, and worm 7o 0n the shaft 711, meshing in the worm-rack, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In mining-machines, the combination,

with the stationary bed and the traveling can riage carryingfeed and recede mechanism,of the clutch engaging therewith, the clutch-bar carrying the lever n3, and the stops n 'n on the stationary frame acting to engage with the lever n3 and operate the clutch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. In a mining-machine, the combination of the following elements, namely: a bed, a carriage traveling thereon and carrying the cutting apparatus, the engines mounted directly upon the carriage, the crank-shaft on the carriage between the engines and cutter-bar, the mechanism for advancing the carriage and receding it, said mechanism having a revolving thread on the carriage, and having a threaded bar on the bed to engage with the revolving thread, and power-transmitting devices between the crank-shaft and the said revolving thread, substantially as set forth.

9. In a mining-machine, the combination of the following elements, namely: a bed, a carriage traveling thereon and carrying the cutting apparatus, the engines on the carriage, the crank-shaft situated between the engines and the cutter-bar, carriage-moving mechanism h-aving a threaded bar secured to the bed, and having a revolving thread on the carriage, a continuously-moving worm and worm wheel to advance the carriage, and continuously-moving devices between the crankshaft and the revolving thread for withdrawing the carriage, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we, the said SAMUEL B. STINE and JAMES V. SMITH, have hereunto set our hands.

SAMUEL B. STINE. JAMES V. SMITH.

WVitnesses:

E. BOLLINGER, WMY E. IRWIN.

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