US680683A

US680683A - Coal-mining machine.

Info

Publication number: US680683A
Application number: US64901497A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert Ball
Original assignee: Sullivan Machinery Co
Current assignee: Sullivan Machinery Co
Priority date: 1897-08-21
Filing date: 1897-08-21
Publication date: 1901-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1918-08-20

Description

No. 680,683. Patented Aug. 20, 190i.

A. BALL. COAL MININGMACHINE. (Application filed Aug. 21, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Shem l.

(No Model.)

INVEN U r --Z1 @Wmmdavs.

m: NORRIS Pzrzns cc. PNOTO-LWHll. wAsnmmou, u, c

Patented Aug. 20, MN.

A. BALL.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 21, 189%) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

\NITNEEEEE INVEN U THE Nonms PETERS c0. PHoro-umu, wAsmrmmu. n. c.

r A. BALL.

GOAL NIINING MACHINE.

(Application filed Aug. 21,1897.)

Patented'Nug. 20, I901,

' (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Shut 3.

Unrreo stares ALBERT BALL, OF CLAREMONT,

Parent Car ion.

NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE ILLINOIS.

COAL-MINING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,683, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed August 21, 1897. Serial No. 649,014:- (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT BALL, a resident of Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Coal-Shear ing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to coal-mining machines, its object being to provide a compact, simple, and durable machine for relieving the vein of coal with a vertical out extending from the top to the bottom thereof and of proper depth.

I propose by myinvention to provide a machine by which this Work can be accomplished in a very short time with very little labor on the part of the operator, while at the same time a straight and even out can be made of proper depth.

My invention comprises certain novel features, all of which will be fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of my improved machine standing on the track ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a top view of the forward portion of the machine, showing the manner in which the cutter-bar is braced. Fig. 3 is a side view of the truck as it appears in position for running on the track to convey the machine from one part of the mine to another, the frame carrying the feed mechanism, drc, being omitted. Fig. at is a rear View of the machine. Figs. 5 and (S are detail views of guides for the cutter-bar. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the guide portion and chuckhead which holds the picks. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the front portion of the cutter-bar, showing the form of cut made by the picks. Fig. 10 is a face view of the cutter-bar head, showing one form of arrangement of picks. Figs. 1]. and 11 are like views showing a different arrangement of picks. Fig. 12 is an enlarged side View, partly broken away, of the rear portion of the machine. Fig. 13 is a side View of the independent track-section. Fig. 14 is a plan view of same. form of my invention,

and Fig. 16 is a detail View thereof.

Fig. 15 is a modified Like characters of reference indicate like parts in each view.

The letter a represents a suitable truckframe which has the wheels I) I), mounted on the axles b journaled in suitable bearings thereon, said wheels when in operation being adapted to run on the common track laid in the mine for the transportation of the machine from one part of the mine to another, also to transport the coal-cars. Beyond the wheels I) b are the rollers or wheels d d, said rollers being journaled on the pins Win the hangers e. The hangers e are mounted rigidly on the shafts f. These shafts f are supported on the truck-frame a and are held within suitable bearing-blocks g, bolted to the frame by means of the bolts 9'. These bearing-blocks 9 have an enlarged opening or slot 9 formed therein to allow for a certain amount of vertical movement on the part of said shafts for the purpose more fully hereinafter set forth.

On the lower side of the truck-frame a and secured thereto by means of the same bolts 9' are the blocks h, said blocks having the incline h and the recess h This recess 712 is adapted to receive a stud or pin 2' on the hangers 6 when the rollers 61 d are resting on the track, whereby the wheels I) h are raised from contact with the rails c, as will be more fully hereinafter set fortln Mounted in suitable hearings in the truckframe a is the worm-wheel j, adapted to be operated by the wormj on the vertical shaft j working in the bearing j, the upper end of said shaft havingthe handlej. Mounted on the same shaft 7; which carries the wormwheelj is the sprocket-wheel A chain Z passes over the sprocket-wheel 7t" and down and under two idle sheaves Z,the said chain being secured to a projection 'm at one end of the independent track-section c, engaging with a projection m at the opposite end of said track. The idle sheaves Z act to guide the chain over the sprocket and prevent it from slipping out of the sprocket-teeth. The chain Z may be secured to any other fixed support in line of the sprocket. In this manner by turning the handle j the truck-frame may be moved along the track, found necessary in the operation as may be of the machine. The movable independent track-section a is one that is used as an extension of the main track, and as such it is of course desirable that it be constructed in such form as to be readily adjusted into position to receive the machine from the main track over which it has been transported to the place of operation. For convenience in handling this track-section 0 may consist of rails of suitable length, held together and braced by means of the cross-plates 0. These crossplates 0 have the lips c at the ends thereof, which engage the outer flanges of the rails. Clips 0 are pivoted to the plate 0, so as to swing freely thereon, said clips having their forward ends, as at a, shaped to fit over and bind the inner flanges of the rails. When the clips are in this position, the rails are held together and maintained parallel. If itis desired to take the track apart, it is only necessary to swing the clips into such position as to free them from the flanges of the rails, when the rails can be removed.

By the construction of the truck-frame just described I have a frame with eight wheels, the wheels I) Z) only being in use when the machine is being conveyed from one part of the mine to the other, and as said wheels are arranged close to each other there is no difficulty in the turning of curves or liability of the machine being derailed. The rollers 01 01 when the machine is being transported from one place to another are thrown up into the position shown in Fig. 3; but when the machine is in position for operation these rollers d d are swung down into position to rest on the rails, and by applying force in the proper direction the pins 1' on the hangers e are forced along the inclines h of the blocks h until said pins enter the recesses 71 By this operation the shafts f are forced to the upper ends of the slots 9 thereby acting to elevate the truck-frame a and free the wheels b Z) from engagement with the rails. truck and the machine carried thereby will then be supported entirely upon the rollers d d, and as said rollersare located beyond the wheels b b the frame is supported nearer its ends. Consequently a firiner platform for the machine to rest upon is provided, and the weight of the wheels I) b when lifted from the track helps to steady the machine, while at the sametime, as stated before, said wheels upon which the machine is transported from one place to another are sufficiently close to each other to permit the truck to turn sharp curves readily Without liability of slipping from the rails. I do not wish to limit myself, however, to the use of rollers d d, as I may employ a form of support which will slip or slide along the rails of the independent tracksection. This modified form is illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, and will be referred to more fully hereinafter.

Bolted or otherwise secured to the truckframe ct is the machine-frame rt. Acylinder 0 is trunnioned on the frame n by means of the The trunnions0,said cylinder being supplied with the steam-chest 0 containing suitable valve mechanism for reciprocating a suitable piston contained within said cylinder 0. Projecting out beyond the cylinder 0 through a suitable stuffing-box at the end of said cylinder is the piston extension p, to which the cutter-bar p is connected by means of the chuck or coupling p". The forward end of the cutter-harp enters a socket in the enlarged extension-piece g, which carries the head q, to which the picks g are secured. I prefer to arrange the picks in the cutter-head in two gangs, as shown, so that when the cut is made a core will be left between the two gangs of picks. This is clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. As the picks enter the coal the core between is broken down, and consequently a wider cut is made. The advantage of arranging the picks in this fashion lies in the fact that instead of cutting the coal this entire width of the cut it is only necessary to out two narrow cuts, the central core breaking down of itself and leaving the wide out. Only two picks may be employed in each gang, as shown in Fig. 11, if desired. A guide r, supported at the forward end of the T-bar 8, supports the front end of the cutter-bar, said guide 4", having the groove 7', adapted to engage flanges s of the T-bar, one portion of said groove being made up of the hooked portion r of a bolt r passing through said guide, whereby upon turning the nut r the guide may be loosened or tightenedupon the flanges s and so moved from one position to another thereon. The T-bar s is supported at its rear endin the frame at, said bar being supported within the guides tt', said guides having the setscrews t for holding said T-bar s firmly therein. By this construction the T-bar s can be moved back or forward, as desired, when the truss-rods'tt are not employed. By merely loosening the set-screws t the T-bar can be quickly moved back in order to enable the machine to turn sharp curves when moving the machine, and said barcan be set to project anydistance in order to support cutting-bars of various lengths. These truss-rods u are secured at their inner ends to the projections u on the front end of the cylinder 0 and extend forwardly, engaging the ends of the cross-bar u and being secured at their forward ends to the T-bar s. Loops u are formed at the inner ends of the rods u, said loops engaging the projections 11/, whereby said truss-rods may be readily disconnected when not in use. These truss-rods act to hold the supporting T-bar s rigidly from the side for starting the out; but after the out has been started and is at a sufficient depth these truss-rods u are disconnected and laid aside until the cut is finished, whereby the supporting-bar is permitted to enter the cut in the same way as the cutter-harp.

Extending up from the frame to is the curved rack-bar 'v, with the teeth of which the worm- Wheel 4) engages, said worm-wheel being mounted on the shaft 12 with the worm-wheel 11 said worm being operated by means of the handle to. By turning the handle wthe cutter-bar may be raised and lowered, the parts rocking on the trunnions o. Extending out from the cylinder 0 or other part of the rocking frame is the lever x, said lever having the notches 00 formed therein. A chain y engages with the notches 5c of the lever w, said chain passing down and under the sprocket-wheely, mounted on the shaft 3 When the long extension in the cutter-baris removed, the chain is slipped into a notch nearer the cylinder, as the swinging motion is greater when the short cutter-bar is in and the spring has less Weight to balance. The sprocket-wheel y is mounted eccentrically in order to cause a uniform tension on the lever 00 as the front end of the cylinder is raised or lowered, as will more fully hereinafterappear. Thechain' z isconnected to a bolt .2 within a passage 2 in the frame, said bolt having the nut A spring 2' is interposed between the nut 2' and the frame, whereby the cylinder and cutter-bar are balanced. As the cutter-bar descends, the chain drawing on the bolt 2, will act to contract the spring e while in the same manner as the cutterbar ascends the contraction on the spring will be relieved, and said spring will be permitted to expand, wherebya perfect balance is always maintained.

It will be observed that the curved rackbar '0 lies against the side of the piston extension p, thereby serving as a support for the piston and cutter-bar, so as to steady the latter. Furthermore, said curved rack-bar is located in front of the trunnions 0, and consequently the latter are not subjected to the same amount of strain that they would be subjected to were the rack-bar located back of said trunnions.

As hereinbefore stated, Figs. 15 and 16 show a modified form of support for the machine when in operation. The numeral 2 indicates the truck which carries the machine, and 3 the wheels ordinarily employed for transporting the machine to the point of operation. At the ends of the truck are the upright guides 4, Within which are the vertically-movable posts or supports 5. A rack-face 6 is formed at the upper ends of said posts, with which a pinion 7 on the guide 4 is adapted to engage. It is apparent that by turning the pinion 7 the post may be raised or lowered. The posts have openings 8 therein, and the guidest have corresponding openings 9, so that when said openings are brought into coincidence with each other pins 10 may lower end of the posts 5 are the shoes 11, adapted to slide on the rails of the track-section 0. When the machine has been transferred to the movable track-section, the posts 5 are lowered and the wheels 3 raised. As the machine advances or recedes the shoes 11 slide along the rails.

I do not wish to limit myself in any man- A worm w engages be inserted. At the ner to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but Wish to include all equivalent constructions.

WVhen my improved machine is employed in the mine, the operation is as follows: The machine is first transported to that part of the mine where it is to be employed by means of the wheels I) b, which run on a common track laid in the mine for the mining-Work. As stated before, when the Wheels 19 b are transferring the machine to the point of operation the rollers d d will be thrown up in the position shown in Fig. 3, the entire Weight of the machine therefore resting upon the four wheels I) b. The machine is thus trans ported to the place of operation. It is then transferred to the section of track 0. When in proper position to do the cutting, the rollers d d are swung around, so as to rest in contact with the rails c. In this position the hangers 6 will be at a slight incline with refen once to the rails; but by passing a bar in under the hubs of the rollers 61 CZ the said rollers are forced onto the track, so as to bring the hangers e to a vertical position with relation thereto, whereupon the shafts f, to which said hangers are secured, will be moved up within the slots g in such position as to elevate the truck and raise the Wheels Z) Z) from contact with the rails. WVhen the rollers d d have been brought into this position, the pins i will be in engagement with the grooves 71 of the truck-frame. The machine is now supported entirely by the four rollers d (1, located at points adjacent to the ends of the truck-frame, so that a broad and firm support is provided for the machine to work upon. The chain Z is then secured to the projections m m, when the machine is ready for operation. The cutter-bar p is raised to the proper height opposite the coal which projects most, at which point the cut is to begin by means of turning the handle w, whereby the worm-wheel o operates on the curved rack-bar 1). Steam or air is then admitted to the cylinder 0 to cause the reciprocation of the piston therein and corresponding movement of the cutter-harp. The cutter-bar is gradually lowered by means of the handle to, the position of the machine with relation to the breast of the coal being regulated by turning the handle 7' By the reciprocation of the cutter-bar and the gradual lowering of the same a vertical cut is made extending from the top to the bottom of the vein. After the cutter-bar has made a vertical cut from the top to the bottom of the vein said cutterbar is raised to the top of the out again and the machine is advanced the proper distance by turning the handle The cutter-bar p is again put into operation and in the same manner as before is gradually lowered in the out until it has traversed it a second time. Each time, of course, the cut is getting deeper and the machine has to be advanced upon the rails c a corresponding distance. In this manner the cut is deepened and the machine is operated until the carriage has advanced to the front end of the rails, whereupon the cut will have been completed, the length of the cutter-bar having been previously determined for the depth of cut to be made.

It is apparent that by the use of the balance mechanism described the raising and lowering of the cutter-bar by means of the worm mechanism and the rack can be dispensed with, as said cutter-bar may be raised and lowered by hand. The advantage, however, of using the worm mechanism and rackbar lies in the fact that the coal is not uniform in hardness, and where the cutter-bar is raised and lowered by hand it might glance or jump when striking the coal and cause delay and inconvenience. By the use of the worm mechanism and rack or its equivalent the cutter-bar is held in such a position thatit cannot glance or jump when striking, and consequently the work is more continuous and even.

By my invention I provide a machine which is readily controlled by the operator, so that an even and uniform vertical cut is made without severe strain upon the parts of the machine and is easily operated by the man working it. i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a balancespring, a chain connected to said cutter-bar and operating mechanism and to said spring, said chain engaging a wheel on said frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a balancespring, a chain connected to said cutter-bar and operating mechanism and to said spring, and an eccentric wheel on the frame with which said chain engages, substantially as set forth.

In a mining-machine, the combination with asuitable frame, of a cutter-bar mounted to swing in a vertical plane, mechanism for operating said cutter-bar, a balance-spring, connections between said spring and cutterbar and means for maintaining the tension of said spring uniform at all positions of the cutter-bar.

4:. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a lever having notches therein extending out from said cutter-bar and operating mechanism, a balance-spring, a chain connected to said lever and spring, and an eccentric wheel with which said chain engages, substantially as set forth.

5. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a T-bar eX- tending out from said frame, a guide having a groove adapted to engage the upper flanges of said T-bar, a bolt forming one of the sides of said groove, whereby said guide may be secured to said T-bar, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a suitable truckframe, two independent sets of wheels mounted therein, swinging hangers suspended from said frame carrying one set of said wheels, said hangers being adapted to elevate the other set of wheels, projections on said hangers, said frame having seats formed therein with which said projections engage, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a lever having notches therein and extending out from said cutter-bar and operating mechanism, a balance-spring and a chain connected to said lever and sprin 8. In .'a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a supportingbar for the cutter-bar, and means for adjustably clamping said supporting-bar to said cutter-bar-operating means so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of said supportingbar.

9. In a mining-machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a reciprocating cutter-bar and its operating mechanism mounted to swing in a vertical plane, a supportingbar for the cutter-bar, means for adjustably clamping said supporting-bar to said cutterbar-operatin g mechanism, so as to permit longitudinal adjustment of said supporting-bar, and removable truss-rods connected to said supporting-bar.

In testimony whereof I, the said ALBERT BALL, have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT BALL.

Witnesses:

FRANK A. BALL, THOMAS W. FRY.