US594897A

US594897A - Mining-machine

Info

Publication number: US594897A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1914-12-07

Description

(No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 3.

G. 0. PALMER.

MINING MACHINE.

No. 594,897. Patented Dec. 7,1897.

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6 SheetsSheet 4.

Patented Dec. 7, 1897.

O. 0. PALMER. MINING MACHINE Witnesses (No Model.)

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(No Model.) 6 sheets-sheets. O. O. PALMER.

MINING MAGHINE.

N0. 594,897. Patented D60.7,18 97.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheds-Sheet 6.

G. 0. PALMER. MINING MACHINE.

No. 594,897. I Patented Dec. 7, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

CHARLES OTIS FALMER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MINING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,897, dated December '7, 1897.

Application as AprillB, 1894.. Serial a. 508,022. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES OTIS PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mining-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Although many of my improvements are applicable to other classes of excavating-machines, yet my invention relates more especially to improvements in that class of miningmachines in which the cutting apparatus is carried by a swinging arm journaled in the turret of the mining-machine frame and is in the nature of an improvement on the miningmachine described in my patent No. 472,177, dated April 5, 1892.

Among other things these improvements consist in the skeleton form of frame employed, which secures the requisite strength with a minimum weight; in the elastic support under the forward end of the miningmachine, which allows of a greater range of irregularity of the floor without interfering with the working of the machine and at the same time secures a more true and .uniform floor-surface in the construction of the track to more effectually resist the thrust of the cutters when in operation; in the arrangement for grooving the floor, giving a firm brace for the track and securing a uniform parallel advance cutting movement of the mining-machine; in the swinging movement of said router, which allows it to be turned upward clear of the floor to prevent injury during the placingand loading and unloading of the machine, as well as during its transportation; in the means of feeding the machine when making the straightcut; in the means of feeding the machine to make therotary cut; in improved means for communicating power to the cutter-wheel; in improved means for holding the machine while inspecting, removing, and inserting the cutter-chisels; in various details connected with the inserted chisels employed for cutting the coal and in the means for securingt-hem in place; in means for autom atically removing the slack formed by the cutter-wheelyin the improved form of constructing the cutter-carrier to cheapen the cost of manufacture and facilitate repairs,

and in the combination and arrangement of parts intended to simplify and strengthen the mining-machine and to better adapt it for its intended purpose, as will be hereinafter explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan of the machine embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line G H of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section with the cutter-wheel swung under the frame. Fig. 5 is a view of the right sideof the machine with the cutter-wheel in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6isahorizontalsectionapproximately in line S Tin Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section in line I J, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the clutch g in the worm-wheel and is similar to the clutch t in the worm-wheel 6 Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a top view of the machine when nearing the end of its straight cut. Fig. 10 is a top and a side view in projection of the track shoe-clips Fig. 11 is a plan of a mine-room, illustrating the mode of operating the machine. Fig. 12 is a detailed plan and edge view of part of the left rail of the track for operating the mining-machine. Fig-13 is a detailed plan and edge View of part of the right rail. Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the track. Fig. 15 represents two views in projection of the Wrench for adjusting the turret-feet. Fig. 16 represents two views in projection of the crank- .handle for operating the cross-feed shaft K,

feed-drum shaft t, and rotary-feed shaft g by hand. Fig. 17 is a top View of the cutter- Wheel with part broken way to show the groove for the escape of the slack on the under side of the rim. Fig. 18 is an edge View of the cutter-wheel shown in Fig. 17, so that the bottom side is up. Fig. 19 i'sa section of the cutter-wheel on line K L of Fig. 17. Fig. 20 is an edge view of the cutter-wheel as in the ordinary position, with the top side up. Fig. 21 is an enlarged section through the cutter-wheel pinion just below the housing and above the cutter-wheel. Fig. '22 is a vertical section on line Q R of Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is a vertical section on line M N of Fig. 17 showing the inclination of the middle cutterchisels. Fig. 24 is a vertical section on line 0 P of Fig-17, showing the inclination of the ICO outside cutter-chisels. Fig. is a detail in projection of the side and edge views of the cutter-chisels. Fig. 26 is a detail in projection of the top, side, and edge views of a middle chisel-wedge. Fig. 27 is a detail in projection of the side, edge, and bottom of an outside chisel-wedge. Fig. 28 illustrates a modified form of my cutting device. Fig. 29 is a modified form of my elastic support. Fig. 30 is a side view of a modified form of my router. Fig. 31 is a vertical longitudinal section of the router shown in Fig. 30. Fig. 32 is a plan end view of an outside cutterwedge in place.

The frame of my improved mining-machine consists of two sides 0 0, attached at their diverging ends to the track-shoes 0 0 which are secured to the extremities of the crossbrace 0'. Between the converging ends of the sides 0 c is held the turret-ring c by having its side bars a 0 attached to the said machineframe sides. Extending across the middle of the machine-frame and joining the extremities of the turret side bars 0 0 is the middle brace 0 which is strengthened bycross-braces 0 extending to the turret-ring c and between said cross-braces is held a boss, into which the center stud c is inserted with a driving fit. Journaled on the center stud c is the beveled stud-gear cl, on whose elongated shank are keyed the driving-pinion d and the driving-pulley cl. The upper end of center stud d is tapped to receive the screweye (1 which passes through and holds the washer (Z in place. The screw-eye d is used in raising the machine for inspecting, adjusting, or removing the cutter-chisels e Bolted to theupper side of the cutter-carrier e and journaled in the turret-ring c is the turret-worm wheel 6', which also acts as a journal for the cutter-carrier e. An opening is made through the web of said turretring and flanges formed on the outside of said ring on the top and bottom sides of said opening; also, vertical ribs are formed at the ends of said opening connecting said flanges together and to the web of the turret-ring. The said flanges and webs form a housing for the turret-worm. The outer side of said housing is also inclosed to protect the worm and further increase the strength of the turret-ring. By this construction the turret-ring is reinforced at what would otherwise be the weakest point by the top and bottom flanges, that add greatly to its strength. Besides, the vertical ribs serve as braces to take the end thrust of the worm. Engaging with said Worm-wheel e is the turret-worm a by which it is driven. The said cutter-carrier journal is prevented from end motion in the turret-ring c by its own flange on its upper side and by the cutter-arm e, which forms the lower flange. Secured to the under side of the opposite end of the cutter-carrier e by the screws (2 is the platebearing 6', on which revolves the cutterwheel 6.

There are some very important advantages secured by having the worm-wheel within the turret-ring. It occupies less room vertically than would be the case if the worm-wheel was placed on the flange at the end of the bearin g and thereby reduces the height of the machine. The application of the rotating force between the ends of the bearing brings less strain on the frame than would otherwise be the case. The wormgearing being entirely covered by the bearing protects it from the coal-dust as well as injury by contact while being transported.

The cutter-carrier has heretofore been cast in one piece with its journal, making thereby quite a heavy piece, and one that required unusually large and expensive tools to do the turning and gear-cutting on the same. My cutter-carrier journal being made in a separate piece and bolted on the carrier allows the turning and gear-cutting to be done on much smaller and less expensive tools, while the facing on the arm 0 is done on a planer of ordinary size.

My improved cutter consists, in a general way, of a large thin cutter-wheel c, with gearteeth 6 on its periphery and having a hub and spokes about half the thickness of the rim. Aport-ion of the gear-teeth are mortised to admit an inserted chisel 6 that projects beyond its periphery to operate on the coal. Said chisels e are straight pieces of steel of uniform section file-cut or roughened on one side and suitably tempered.

My cutter-chisels being of uniform section are cheaply manufactured, and they have the advantage insharpening that they only need grinding on the end and do not require forgin g. The chisels when new and long are used for outside cutters, where the long shank helps to secure the chisel against sidewise displacement; but after being worn down shorter by repeated sharpening they answer for middle cutters, where they are completely surrounded in the mortise to within a short distance of the end and there is little tendency for sidewise displacement.

As heretofore made the cutter-wheel spokes have been radial, and as their motion was at right angles to the radial spokes the slack on the bottom of the kerf was simply scraped round and round with the wheel, obstructing its progress, clogging its movement, and uselessly consuming power.

The arms at of my cutter-wheel, as herein shown, incline from the hub backward toward the rim in the direction opposite to the direction of motion when in use. As material moved with a slanting scraper gradually slides off the receding end of the scraper, so the slack made by the cutters is scraped toward the rim of the wheel. The gear-teeth are so arranged that a tooth projects from the rim of the wheel in line with each spoke, and on the under side of the rim, preferably between the said tooth and the one preceding, is a groove i along which the slack scraped by the spoke escapes from the cutter-wheel.

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. kerf made by the cutter-wheel.

Removable cutters have heretofore projected from the face of the cutter-wheel and been held in position by wedges secured in place by set-screws inserted and turned from the outside of the wheel. In order to allow the headof the set-screw to pass between the teeth ofthe driving-pinion, it necessitates a very wide tooth on the cutterwheel gear, thereby increasing the pitch of the teeth and decreasing the number of teeth on the driving-pinion, which is always too small at best. This small number of teeth in gears, as is well known, greatly increases the friction and consequent loss of power and wear on the teeth. In my cutter-wheel the screw enters from the inside of the rim, thus allowing of a narrower cutter-wheel tooth of correspondingly less pitch, with the consequent increase in number of pinion-teeth and the consequent diminution of waste friction. I

In order that the mortises for the chisels may not weaken the tooth too much, they are made much narrower than the thickness of the rim. In this case it requires the combined cutting edges of four cutter-chisels e placed side by side to equal the height of the These four cutter-chisels constitute a set and are arranged to follow each other successively on the cutter-wheel. sets on a cutter-wheel, as may be determined by the hardness of the coal, the depth cut by the chisel, &c. In the present instance there are four sets which follow each other successively around the circumference of the cutter-wheel.

The cutter-chisels e are held in position by the cutter-wedges t i whose side next the chisel is file-cut or roughened to fit the filecut or roughened adjoining side of the cutter-chisel. Each cutter-wedge is tapped longitudinally toadmit the wedge-screw 2', that enters the cutter-wheel rim from the inside and lies parallel to the cutter-chisel e 011 the under side of the head of said wedgechisels which project beyond the plane of the cutter-wheel, as already mentioned. The outside cutter-chisels have a cutter-wedge 2' that is dovetailed on the edge opposite the cutter-chisel, as is shown in Figs. 27, 17, and 18. By file-cutting or roughening the adjacent sides of the cutter-wedge and cutter-the friction between them is increased and they are so prevented from slipping on each other. As long as there is no slipping between them There may be one or more drive it radially into the wheelonly serves to press the wedge tighter and hold the cutter firmer in place. Likewise with the dovetail wedge any force tending to displace an outside cutter outward from the wheel only tends to set the wedge tighter against the cutter and .thus hold it firmer in place.

Supported in the center of the turret-worm wheel e by the radial arms d is the turrethub d, and journaled in this hub centrally of the turret-ring c is the cutter-wheel-pinion shaft (1 Keyed onto the lower extremity of shaft 61 and engaging with the teeth of the aforesaid cutter-wheel e is the cutterwheel pinion e having the upper end of its teeth shrouded, as shown, in the ordinary manner. On the upper end of the cutterwheel-pinion shaft is keyed the intermediate gear 6 that engages with the driving-pinion 61 which is j ournaled, as aforesaid, on the center stud 0 I Projecting from the under side of the cutter-carrier outside the cutter-pinion are one ing-machine is carried. These elastic supports consist each of a vertical screw g, having a large head on its lower end, which passes through and is splined in a boss g on the lower side of the turret-arm e. The upper end of the screw 9 is screwed into the bushing 9 which is internally threaded and is provided with a flange on the outside lower edge. The said flanged bushing g is fitted to the interior of the lug g on the inside of the cutter-carrier journal 6. Surrounding said flanged bushing g inside said lug g and compressed between said flange and the up per side of the lug is the spiral shoe-spring 9 The weight of the forward end of the machine is conveyed from the lugs g on the carrier-bearing, through the spring 9 and flange-bushing 9 to the supporting-screw g, which rests on the door of the room. Passing diametrically through the upper end of the flanged bushing g is the pin g which fits into a slot 9 in the adjusting-Wrench g and holds it from slipping when being turned by said wrench.

When the cutter-carrier rests on a solid support, any slight rise in the floor or foreign matter under the said supporting-foot raises the cutter-wheel proportionally, and this raising of the cutter-wheel makes a still greater rise in the floor, being formed by the cutterwheel, and this is again repeated and enlarged in the succeeding out. A depression in the floor under a solid supporting-footlikewise lowers the cutter-wheel correspondingly and to a greater extent, and the depression so made in the fioor is likewise repeated and enlarged in the succeeding out. When the cutter has raised an amount equal to the clearance allowed 'on the upper side between the cutter-wheel and the top of the kerf, then the wheel and possibly its carrier come in contact with the top of the kerf and any further rising of the cutter-wheel is liable to stall the machine or break it. lVhen the machine rests on an elastic support, however, the support itself yields to the slight elevation under it and allows the machine to pass over the obstruction without injury to itself, and where the elevation is not too great it may pass under without raising the cutter-wheel and so perpetuating the elevation. In the same way should a depression in the floor occur the flexible support is forced downward to the bottom of the depression without lowering perceptibly the cutter-wheel and thereby perpetuating the depression in the out being made; The floor thereby becomes smoother with each succeeding out.

For raising the height of the cutter-wheel the flanged bushing is turned by the adjusting-wrench g, which, by unscrewing the screw g from its bushing 9 raises the turret end of the machine and so the cutter-wheel efland the mine-floor slightly inclines upward as the work progresses. Of course turning the bushing g in the opposite direction lowers the cutter-wheel and the floor slopes d ownward as the work progresses.

Running longitudinallythrough the center of the machine-frame is the router-shaft h, which is journaled at its forward end in the bushing h,that is fastened in the middle brace c by the set-screw 7L2, as shown in Fig. 4, and its rear end is journaled in bearing 7L3, that is bolted to the cross-brace c. On the forward end of said router-shaft is fastened (with a set-screw or otherwise) the beveled gear h, which engages with the beveled gear d, journaled on the center stud c. On the rear end of the router-shaft is formed the worm hithat engages with the friction worm-wheel 7a 011 the cross-feed shaft 70. The said worm-wheel it turns loosely on its shaft 7t between flanges k is, which are splined to the cross-feed shaft 70, and between the frictionwheel and flanges k and k are leather friction-disks 70 The aino out of friction,and therefore the force transmitted from the worm-wheel 7 5 to the shaft k,is regulated by the amount of pressure on the friction-disks k which is governed by the compression of the spring 70, which in turn is regulated by the position of the collar k that is fastened to the shaft 7e by a setscrew or by other well-known means.

Running longitudinally through the turretworm e is the rotary-feed shaft (1, that is journaled in the turret-bearing c at its forward end and at its rear end in the right bracebracket q, that is bolted to the cross-brace c and prevented from endwise motion by the collar g that is held in position by screw 9 On the turret end of said shaft is splined the turretavorm 6 and on the track end is journaled the rotary-feed worm-wheel g having teeth of clutch g on the side thereof.

Splined to and sliding longitudinally on the rear end of the rotary-feed shaft q is the clutclrsleeve g having in its end half of the teeth of cluth g that engage with the-correspondin g teeth in the worm-wheel g VVormwheel g is prevented from sliding into engagement with clutchs1eeve g by the shoulder on shaft q. The clutoh-sleeve Q is prevented by the collar from slipping off the end of the shaft q and the end of shaft q is squared to fit the crank-handle 9 On the left side of the machine-fra1ne and running longitudinally therewith is the feeddrum t, which is fastened by screw 2 to feeddrum shaft 25', whose forward end has a bearing in the middle brace c and whose rear end is j ournaled in the left brace-bracket 15 that is bolted to the cross-brace c, as shown in Figs. 1 and O. Journaled on said drum-shaft t is the worm-wheel t, having teeth of clutch on the side thereof. Splined to and slidin g longitudinally on the outer end of the drum-shaft t is the clutch-sleeve 6 having on its end teeth that engage with correspondingteeth on the worm-wheel t forming clutch i. \Vorm-wheel Z is prevented from sliding into engagement with sleeve '6 by the shoulder on shaft '6. Sleeve i is kept on the end of the shaftt by the adjoining collar, and the end of the shaft is squared to fit the crankhandle The details of drum-clutch t are similar to those of clutch which is shown in Fig. 8.

Cross-feed shaft 70, before referred to, is journaled in two bearings, the journal g 011 its right end in the upper side of the rotaryfeed bracket g and the left end in bearing 0 at the top of the left shoe c Keyed on the right end of cross-feed shaft 70 outside the bearing g is the cross-feed wormq, that engages with the worrn-wheel The worm (f is kept in place by the hexagonal head 011 the end of shaft is. Cross-feed shaft k'is prevented from longitudinal motion to the right by the collar (1 which abuts against said bearing and is held in place by a screw in the side thereof. The thrust of the spring 71: against the friction-flange 70 as before referred to, is transmitted from the flange 70 to the sleeve 7t and to the collar g Keyed on the crossfeed shaft k and adjoining the bearing a is the drum-worm t, that engages with drum-worm wheel i and formed 011 the end of worm i is the ratchet-wheel 27, with which engages the pawl i that turns on the stud t. The pawl i is drawn in solid lines in engagement with the ratchet-wheel t and in dotted lines as out of engagement.

To withstand the powerful thrust of the cutter, which sometimes moves the ordinary tracks on the mine-floor in spite of the pres sure of the jacks, my machine is provided with means forgrooving the mine-floor. The track is also provided with a downwardlyprojecting flange 1 that sets in said groove and receives the said thrust. As the distance from the track to the groove cutter or router is constant, each succeeding position of the track is made parallel to its previous one, so that as the work progresses the room is worked out in a straight line at right angles with the track, so that when the track is once cor rectly set the pillar of coal with straight sides and uniform thickness is maintained between the rooms.

J ournaled to swing on the bushing h on one side and on thelongitudinal feed-shaft h on the other is the router-yoke in the center of which is j ournaled the shank of routergear w and through whose hollow center passes the router w. Fastened to the end of the shank of router-gear w by the set-screw 10 is the collar 10 as shown in section in Fig. 6. The router 'w is here shown as atwistdrill well backed off on the sides, so that it is adapted to cut on the side instead of the end, as ordinarily used. A reamer or any other similar tool adapted to side cutting may be used for the purpose. The router w is held in place by the set-screw 10 which is screwed through both the collar 10 and the shank of router-gear w.

A rotary motion is communicated to the router by the beveled gear 10, which is keyed on the router-shaft h and engages with the router-gear 10. To the side of the middle brace c is bolted the router-screw bracket 00, through whose top passes the router-screw as, having the nut 00 screwed on its end and held between two projecting lugs on said bracket w. On the opposite end of the router-screw a; is an eye through which passes the bolt 10 on which it turns loosely and which fastens it to the router-yoke arm 10*. To prevent injury to the router when not in use, it is swung to the horizontal or nearly horizontal position shown in Fig. 6 and by the dotted lines in Fig. 7. When, however, the machine is making the straight out and the cutter-carrier 6 projects out from the machine, as shown in Fig. 9, then the router is brought to the perpendicular position shown in Fig. 7 by turning the nut 50 on the router-screw 00, and

when so turned the router cuts a groove 1 in the floor of the room, into which sets the downward-projecting track-flange y when set for the succeeding cut. Upon the track-rails, which are designated in a general way by y, rests the rear end of the mining-machine, the said rail y being made of a Z-shaped bar y, to one flange of which is riveted the angleiron g On the end of one of the rails y is riveted the plate 1 having a jack-hole in its end. The end of the abutting rail also has a jackhole 11 which registers with said hole g in said track-plate and when in position forms one continuous hole for the lower end of the jack y when the ends of the rails y are abutting. As the track-groove g is only cut from the central position of the machine on the left side of the room. to the central position on the right side, as shown in Fig. 11, so the flange 2 which sets into the groove, does not extend the full length of the track, but ends at the same point 3 as indicated in Fig. 11. The lower end of the track-jack 1 is turned cylindrical and fits into these holes 11 and thus holds the rails in their proper relative position, while the shoulder on jack if rests on top of the rails and holds them firmly to the floor. The outer ends of the rails y y are also held in position by jacks in a similar manner,-while the lower track-flange g sets in the. floor-groove if, made by the router during the previous undercutting.

For the purpose of guiding the machine on the track the shoes 0 c are furnished with downward-projecting flanges 50 and m ,which engage the top of the rail on either side. For

preventing the machine-frame being raised from the track each shoe has a clip 0: sliding in a groove in the top thereof. Each clip 00? has a hook-shaped end that engages under the top flange of the rail, as shown in Fig. 3, and is held in place by the screw 00", which passes through a slotted hole in the clip and is screwed'into a tapped hole in the shoe. When it is wanted to lift the machine from the track, the screw m is unscrewed and the clip is slid forward sufficient to disengage the clip from the flange of the track.

The power for operating the mining-machine is communicated to it from a motor by the driving-rope 7", which runs in the groove of the driving-pulley 61 as shown in Fig. 9.

As before stated, Fig. 9 illustrates the machine when making the straight out, the direction of rotation of the cutting-wheel being indicated by the arrow on its right. At the right-hand end of the track is the trackbracket z, having the bracket-pulley z attached thereto by the yoke 2 the said bracket .2 being hooked onto theend of the track 'y by the hook 2 The hauling rope or chain 2 has one end attached to the drum t by the screw Z5 and after passing around the bracketpulley z is attached to the bolt z in the middle brace 0 The hauling-rope .2 might be hitched to the end of the track; but by putting the rope around the bracket-pulley z and fastening to the machine, as here shown and described, the line of draft is brought nearer the working breast and so more nearly to the center of resistance to the moving of the machine. This lessens the friction caused by the gripping action of the shoes on the track, requiring less power for feeding and less strain onthe machine.

To operate the mining-machine in a mine worked by the room system, the track is placed in position with its flange g in the floor-groove previously cut and held by the jacks @f, as shown in- Figs. 4 and 11. The mining-machine is placed on the track at the left side of the room next the working breast, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 11, the cutterwheel being under the middle of the machineframe. The machine is then secured to the track by the shoe-clip the track-bracket z hooked on the right end of the track, the hau1ing-rope'z .11nwound from the drum 25, passed around the pulley z and secured to the bolt Z6 on the machine.

Its

To facilitate the Windin g and unwinding of the rope on the drum t, the clutch is thrown out of engagement and the drum turned by the crank-handle g which fits on the end of the drum-shaft t. The driving-rope r after leaving the motor-pulley passes around the idlers b and b and the driving-pulley cl on the mining-machine, as shown in Fig. 9. The clutch g is then engaged, and clutch t and pawl are disengaged.

The power which is conveyed by the driving-rope r to the driving-pulley d is transmitted by gears (Z c and e to the cutterwheel a, giving it a rotary motion (in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1) for cutting away the coal. The power from drivingpulley d is also conveyed by gears (Z and 7L4 to the router-shaft it, that carries worm k which engages worm-wheel it on shaft 76.

On the cross-feed shaft is are keyed worm 25 that engages worm-wheel t on the drum-shaf t t, and worm q, that engages worm-wheel g on rotary shaft q. By engaging clutch g the rotary motion of worm-wheel g is transmitted to shaft q and to turret-worm 6 that engages the turret-worm wheel 2, and the cutter-carrier 6, being bolted thereto, is given the slow rotary motion required to feed the cutter to its work. hen the cutter-carrier has progressed to the outward position, (shown in Fig. 9,) the cutting feed is stopped by throwing the pawl 75 into engagement, thus keeping the cross-feed shaft 71 from turning and compelling the friction-wheel 75' to slide on the friction-disks k on either side thereof. The clutch g is now thrown out of engagement, the router gradually swung to its vertical or Working position, the clutch t thrown into engagement, and the pawl 75 released. Then the straight out across the room commences and continues to the dotted position shown on the right of Fig. 11. Again the pawl 15 is thrown into engagement, the router swung to the horizontal position, clutch t disengaged, the track-bracket z removed, the hauling-rope a wound on the drum t, the

clutch engaged, and when pawl 23 is disengaged the rotary feed is again resumed. After cutting the upper righthand corner of the room the feed is again stopped with the cutter-wheel under the middle of the machine, as shown in dotted lines on the right in Fig. 11. The driving-rope r is now removed from the machine, the jacks taken down, the mining-machine loaded on its truck, and the track removed to one side. The coal is then brought down in the usual manner.

Sulfur balls and other obstructions are sometimes encountered in the coal, which require additional power to feed the machine and also to drive the cutter-wheel. The power employed in feeding is limited by the friction 011 the sides of friction-wheel 7c,which is constant. Therefore when the demand for feed-power exceeds this limit the rate of progress is reduced or may be stopped entirely, thus preventing injury to the cutter-chisels or possibly other parts of the machine. When the operator judges by the laboring of the machine that an obstruction is reached, it is preferable to stop the feed by throwing the pawl i into engagement and operate the-feed by hand by means of the crank-handle which fits on the end of the cross-feed shaft k. Should the cutter be unable to cut through the obstruction, it is withdrawn from the kerf by being swung to the left, half around. The obstruction is then removed by hand and the cutting resumed as before. When the cutter e is not operating on the coal, the cuttercarrier e may be more rapidly rotated by disengaging clutch g and turning shaft g by means of the crank-handle g which fits on the shank on its outer end.

I have shown my mining-machine as driven by a belt or rope; but it is evident that it may be driven by means similar to those of my Patent No. 4E72,178 for driving mechanism, dated April 5, 1892, or my patent for a mining-machine, No. 472,177, dated April 5, 1892.

Not only is the machine adapted to be driven by a motor on a separate truck, but the motor itself may be placed on the machine-frame, a gear substituted for the pulley 1' on the shaft h, and a pinion on the motor-shaft made to engage said gear.

Although a rope is well adapted for trans mitting power to the mining-machine from a motor placed on a separate truck, yet a very compact arrangement may also be made by driving it by a belt on the dotted pulley r on shaft h.

lVhen it is desired to remove the cutters for sharpening, a hook or rope is passed through the center stud -eye d and the machine is raised until the cutter-wheel clears the floor several inches. The cutter-wheel is then revolved, (either by the driving-pulley d, the intermediate gear 6 or the cutter-wheel 6 thus bringing the cutter-chisels on its periphery successively into the position for inspection or removal for sharpening.

The pawl t and ratchet t might be dispensed with and the drum feed controlled by throwing the clutch 25' in and out of gear and the rotary feed by throwing clutch g in and out of gear; but these clutches cannot be engaged instantly unless the notches happen to be opposite at the time. So, also, in disengaging them the pressure between the engaging teeth is so great as to make it possibly diflicult to slide the sleeve out of engagement; but the pawl and ratchet is certain, instantaneous, and easily made.

If it is desired to move the machine on the track in the opposite direction, as is sometimes the case when an obstacle is encountered, the hauling-rope is rigged with the track-bracket hooked on the left end of the track, when the winding of the haulingrope on the drum moves the machine on the track to the left.

Although I have here shown a rotary cutter composed of a cutter-wheel with cutterchisels on its periphery, which is the kind I prefer, yet this may be replaced by a horizontally-revolving cutter-chain supported on the cutter-carrier and driven by a pinion on the cutter -pinion shaft. This modification is illustrated in Fig. 28 of the drawings-with sufficient clearness to render more particular description unnecessary.

In the modified form of the elastic support shown in Fig. 29 the screw 9 has a steep spiral thread cut in its shank, which screws into the internally-screW-threaded lug. Pressure on the lower end of screw g rotates it and winds the spring at its upper end. The tension on said spring is adjusted by turning the collar g on its boss, to which it is secured by one or more set-screws, as shown.

In the modified form of the routerin Figs.

30 and 31 a side-milling cutter is journaled.

' planation.

I have not in this application broadly claimed the cutter-fastening herein shown and described, as it forms part of my copending application, Serial No. 593,359, filed May 27, 1896, for cutter-chain for mining-machines.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination in a mining-machine, of a machine-frame, a cutter-carrier projecting from the forward end thereof, a horizontally-revolving cutter supported by said carrier, one or more elastic feet supporting said carrier, a rigid track supporting the rear end of said frame, means for imparting a revolving motion to said cutter and sliding said frame on said track.

2. The combination in a mining-machine of a machine-frame having track-shoes on the two rear corners thereof, a cutter-carrier journaled on the forward end thereof, a horizontally-revolving cutter journaled on said carrier, an elastic foot under said cutter-carrier, a track under said track shoes, and means for revolving said cutter and sliding the machine on said track substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a mining-machine of the undercutting type, of a machine-frame, a cutter-arm supported by said frame and carrying a horizontally-revolving cutter, a track-rail supporting the rear end of said frame, a hole in the forward end of the machine, a vertically-sliding plunger passing downward through said hole to the floor of the mine, a spring-cushion interposed between the machine-frame and plunger upon which is supported its forward end, together 4'. The combination in a mining-machine of a machine-frame having track-shoes on its rear end, a cutter-carrier j ournaled in its for ward end, a horizontallyrevolving cutter journaled at the extremity of said cutter-carrier, a cutter-wheel pinion j on rnaled centrally of said cutter-arm journal, and engaging said cutter, turret-screw g, on the under side of said cutter-carrier, bushing g on the upper end of screw g, spring 9 compressed between said bushing g and the cutter-arm journal, a track under said track-shoes and means for revolving said cutter-wheel pinion and moving the mining-machine on said track.

5. A mining-machine track-rail having an aperture in the end thereof, an abutting rail formed with a hole therein registering with the said aperture,in combination with a trackjack having its lower end fitting said registered holes for securing said rails together and to the floor.

6. A mining-machine track consisting of a flanged beam, an angle-bar having one limb attached to the vertical flange of said flanged beam, and the other limb projecting horizontally from said flange, a flange on said track projecting below the floor-surface and engagsaid registered holes substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A mining-machine track consisting of two or more abutting rails, registering holes in the ends of said rails, a track-jack engagin g said registering holes, a downwardly-pro jecting flange on said track engaging with a track-groove in the floor, an L-shaped flange projecting upward from said track, a trackshoe clip engaging said: upper flange, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination with a mining-machine adapted to the undercutting of coal, of a track supporting the rear part thereof, said track formed with a downwarddepending edge adapted to enter and be held in a groove in the floor, and a router operatively connected with the driving mechanism of the machine and arranged to cut a groove in the floor of the mine parallel with the track and in adrevolving router journaled in said yoke in operative connection with a gear on the routershaft and adapted to cut a transverse groove in the floor of the mine when the said arm is in its downward position and to swing upwardly to clear the said rotating cutter and carrying-arm when in their inner position, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a mining-machine a horizontal router-shaft and means for driving the same, a router-yoke journaled concentrically with said shaft, an arm on said router-yoke, a router-screw attached to said arm, an adjusting-nut on said router-screw and lying between lugs on the router-screw bracket, together with a router jonrnaled in said router-yoke and driven from said routershaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a mining-machine the combination with a continuously-rotating cutter-wheel, of a feed-drum shaft, a feed-drum fixed on said shaft, a worm-wheel on said drum-shaft, a cross-feed shaft journaled on the machine frame, a friction-gear journaled 011 said crossfeed shaft and normally coupling the feeding-train, a worm secured to said cross-feed shaft and engaging the drum worm-wheel, a ratchet fixed on said cross-feed shaft, a pawl engaging and disengaging said ratchet whereby when the pawl is in engagement with the ratchet the feed is arrested, and conversely.

14:. A 1nining-maehine frame, a cutter-carrier c projecting from the forward end thereof and carrying a horizontally-revolving cutter thereon, pinion e engaging said cutter, together with gear 6 on shaft (1 pinion d gear (Z and pulley (Z journaled on stud 0", gear h and worm 7L5 on shaft h, gear 7t and worm i on shaft 70, worm-wheel t and drum 25 on shaft t, track-shoes c and 0 attached to the machine-frame and engaging track y, all combined and operated substantially as set forth.

15. The combination in a mining-machine of the machine-frame having a turret-ring on the forward end, an opening through the web of said turret-ring, flanges formed on the outside of said ring on the top and bottom sides of said opening, vertical ribs at the ends of said opening connecting said flanges, a cutter-carrier having cogs 011 its periphery j ournaled in said turret-ring and carrying a horizontally-revolving cutter, a worm situated in the said opening and engaging said cogs, a shaft splined in said worm and having at its outer end means for attaching a crank-handle for operating the same substantially as set forth.

16. In a mining-machine, the machineframe having a turret-bearing at the forward end thereof, a cutter-carrier journaled in said bearing, shaft d journaled in said cutter-car- 'rier journal, combined with gear 6 pinion d pulley d", pinion e", cutter-wheel c also gears cl and h shaft h worm 7L worm -wheel 7r shaft 7t, worm q, worm-Wheel g shaft q, worm e and worm-wheel e, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

1.7. A spur-cog cutter-whcel, the teeth of which have radially-disposed inwardly-tapering mortises therethrough, cutter-chisels seated in said mortises,inwardlytapering and radially-tapped dovetailed cutter-wedges fitting inwardly from the peripheral openings of said mortises and adapted to be tightened in their seats by the inward pressure upon the cutter-chisels in cutting, radial wedgescrews operated from the inside of the rim engaging said wedges and drawing the same radially inward to retain the wedges in close engagement with the cutter-chisels, substantially as described.

18. In a mining-machine, a horizontally-revolving cutter-wheel consisting of' a hub, a rim, and receding spokes connecting said hub and rim, of grooves on the under side of said rim in line with the front of said spokes, and cutters projecting from the rim of said Wheel all combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a mining-machine in combination, a horizontally-revolving cutter-wheel consisting of a hub, a rim, and receding spokes connecting said hub and rim, and grooves on the under side of said rim in line with the front of said spokes; cutting-chisels passing radially through the gear-teeth of the cutter-wheel and secured therein, wedge-screws passing through said rim and serving to secure said chisels substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

20. In amining-machine, a revolving turret on the forward end thereof, a gearwheel j ournaled in said turret, a cutter-carrier on the under side of said gear-wheel carrying on its outer end a horizontally-revolving cutter consisting of a cutter-wheel having receding spokes and grooves on the underside of said rim in line with the front of said spokes, cutting-ehisels on the periphery passing radially through the gear-teeth of the cutter-wheel and held in place by radially-tapped cutter-wedges, wedge-screws passing radially through said rim and engaging said wedges, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

21. In a mining-machine, a cross-feed shaft 7r, carryin g worm g on said shaft, Worm-wheel g shaft q, worm e worm-wheel d attached to the rotating arm 6 for operating the rotaryfeed motion of the mining-machine, and worm i worm-wheel i shaft 16 carrying the drum t, for operating the straight feed and friction gear-wheelja, substantially as set forth.

22. In a mining-machine a cross-feed shaft 70, worm i thereon engaging the drum wormwheel t and shaft 25 carrying drum tand worm g engaging the rotary-feed worm-wheel g shaft q, worm e worm-wheel cl attached to the rotating arm e, friction-gear 713' on said shaft, ratchet-wheel t fixed on said shaft, pawl i engaging said ratchet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

23. In a mining-machine the combination of the machine-frame having a turret-ring on its forward end, a cutter-carrier journaled Within said turret-ring and having cogs on the periphery of said journal within said ring, and a Worm engaging said cogs, substantially as described.

24. The combination in a mining-machine of the machine-frame having a turret-ring on the forward end, an opening through the Web of said turret-ring, flanges formed on the outside of said ring on the top and bottom sides of said opening, vertical ribs at the ends of 25. In a mining-machine, the combination with the machine -frame of a turret ring thereon having a worm-housing substantially as described, formed on the side thereof, a cutter-carrier arm having a. journal fitting the interior of said turret, said journal having a Worm-gear cut into its periphery at its middle part and having a bearing on the interior of said turret each side of said gear, and a worm situated in said housing and engaging the gear on said journal, substantially as described.

CHARLES OTIS PALMER.