US1290021A - Mining and loading machine. - Google Patents

Description

N. D. LEVIN. MINING AND LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION man Aue. 7. 1913.

1,290,021 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

MTM-I BY N. D. LEVIN. M|N|NG AND LOADING MAcmNE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7.|9I3. 1,290,021

WITNESSES; Fly 4 INVENTOR. MJ/W M 5 A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 31,1918-,r

N. D. LEI/1N. MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I. I9I3. 1,290,021, Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 3- I 55 46' 5536 34 NVENTOR.

A TTORNE MTNESSES,

Wim

N. n. LEVIN. A MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED AUG.. 1913- n 1,290,021 Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEEI 4.

I A TTORNE Y.

UNTTELD STAT s PATENT onirica. l

NILS LEVIN, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASS-IGNOR TO THE -TEliltEY MANUFACTURING i COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' i MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Speoincation of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Original application led August 7, 1913, v.Serial No. 783,564. Divided in part and this application led August 7, 1913. Serial No. 783,565.

- Machines, of which the following is a specificaticn, reference being had therein to the "device adapted to attack the coal wall lo? accompanyin drawing.

The inventlo-n relates to mlning and loading machines which are provided with means for undermining coal 1n its natural bed, means for breaking it down out of the said bed, and means for loading it onto cars by means of which it is removed' from the mine.

I am well aware that machines for this class of work have been heretofore proposed, but according to earlier proposals, machines constructed to carry on the three operations,

above enumerated have beenadapted only to attack a -coal face .substantially perpen dicularly. According to my invention the machine can Ibe moved in a curved path substantially parallelly to the curved forward face of a mine roomand vcan undercut and break down a long curved strip of coal 'and convey the broken coal to points relatively remote from the face. One object of my invention therefore is to provide a machine having its parts arranged as above described to move in a curved path. Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine adapted to move substantially parallelly to a coal face whether on curved li'nes or straight lines, the combination of an undercutting means, and a Ibreaking down cated behind the undercutting means and in a plane transverse and substantially per endicula-r to the main face of the coal. till further objects of the invention are to provide certain improved features of constructioirwhich will be fully apparent from the following specification; -In the accompanying drawings I have shown constructions which are intendedmerely to be illustrative of the invention and various modifications and changes can bem'ade within the scope of thgclaims appended to the specification.

0f the drawingsl Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine in operative position in a mine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the ma'.- chine in detail.

Fig. 4 is a side View showing the machin in detail.-

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing the breaking down device.I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view-.taken along the line 7-7 of' Fig. 3. i Y

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing part of the-breaking down device.

Fig. 9 is another detail view showing a part of the breaking downI device.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view guide-ways on a cutter-head 3 secured to the main frame casting 4. The sprocket wheel l2 is carried by a vertical head shaft 5 which is journaled in suitable 'bearings 6 and 7. Near the upper end of the shaft 5 is a master gear 8 which meshes with the pin- .ion 9 on the armature shaft of the motor 10. Conveniently located on the main frame is a bracket 11 in which is journaled a feed shaft 12 carrying a feed` drum 13. 14 is ,a rope ada ted to be4 Wound at one end upon the feed g other end to a suitable jack 15 which is so located that the strain on the rope will draw the cutter head into the coal to be cut. Keyed toithe upper end of the feed shaft 12 is a wonm'wheel 16 which is driven by a worm 17 secured to the shaft 18. The shaft 18 is journaled in 'suitable bearings on the main frame and carries a ratchet wheel 19 which can be engaged by a pawl 20. The pawl 1s mounted on Aan arm 21 which is mounted tovoscillate about the shaft 18 as al rum 13 and to be connected at the ofthe ratchet Wheel 19 are arms 24, the

outer ends of which are connected together by a trunnioned nut. Threaded in this nut is a screw 26 which is connected to the main of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet broken down -upon it.

cylinder Wheel. A hand wheel 28 is secured to the screw 26 and by means of this hand wheel the screw can be adjustedto move the shield with respect' to the pawl. As oscillated by means of the arms 21 it will be held out of engagement with wheel 19--during more or less of its stroke according Ato the position 'of the shield 27. In this Way 'the operator my means of the hand wheel 28 can control the rotation of the feed drum 13.

The main frame casting 4 is extended over the floor -of the mine toform a flat p lateor pan 29.V This plate is positioned in the plane of the bottom of 4thekerf cut' by the undercutting mechanism and is adapted to be pushed under any loose coal or slack and to receive any coal that may be ,loosened and Formed at the extreme inward and rearward corner of the plate 29 is an upward extending flange I30.

Supported upon the flange 30 is a slideway 31 in which is mounted for longitudinal adjustment a base casting 32. Upon this base casting there is universally pivoted a pick mechanism which may be offany well known type. YThe preferred construction which is shown will be described in d-etail, but it will lie-understood that other forms of pick mechanism may be used without deniy invention. The pick mech parting from anism shown consists of a main cylinder casting 33 in which there is slidably mounted a 34 carrying at its forward end a rod 35. Attached to the forward end of the rod 35 is a hammer 36 adapted to strike the end of a pick tool 37 to drive it against the coal. Within the ,cylinder 34 are two springs 38 and 39, each bearing at one end on one end of the cylinder and at the other end against one side of the piston 40. Connected to the piston 40is a piston rod 41 which is connected by means of the connecting rod 42 to a crank pin 43 on the Worm wheel 44. The worm wheel meshes with a worm 45 on the shaft of a motor46 mounted 'onthe frame casting 33. Formed on the main cylinder casting 33 are trunnlons 47 which arejournaled in suitable bearings in upstanding arms 48 lon a pivot castlng, 49. The casting 49 is provided with a bcarmg stud 50 which is seated in a suitable aperture in'the base casting 32. The castlng 32 is provided with a depending lug 51 having a threaded aperture adapted to rec eive and to be engaged by a rotary threaded rod 52 which can be turned by means of the crank 53. The op'rator by turning the crank '53 can mbve the casting 32 in the slide-way the pawl' is the ratchet 31and thus adjust the whole pick mechanism longitudinally.

The pick tool 37 isfreely slidable in a guide-way, one part of which is formed integrally with the casting 33 and is indicated 1n the drawings by 54. The'other part of the gulde-way consists of the plate 56 which is hinged tothe part 54 by means of the lugs 55, 55 and can be secured in place by means of the bolt 57 and the nut 58. By means of this construction the picktool can be readily secured in place and can be readily loosened for remova Positioned within the forward end of the cylinder casting 33 is a solenoid 33a surround` ing the adjacent endsof the hammer 36 and the pick tool 37. 'When this solenoid is en ergized it sets up magnetic currents through .I

the hammer and the pick tool aid serves to hold them in contact, the tool reciprocating with the hammer.

. Positioned on the main 33 is a handle 59by means mechanism can be swung verse aXis of-the trunnions 47 and about the vertical axis-of the bearing stud 50. By

cylinder casting of which the pick about the trans'- means of this handle the operator has complete-control of the pick mechanism to effect vertical and transverse adjustment, and by means of the crank 53 can effect longitudinal adjustment.

The machine here selected for illustrating one form embodying my invention is provided with a pivot device adapted to Abe placed on the center line of the mine room or s entry being worked. This pivot device comprises a base plate 60 having a plurality of upward and inward extending arms 61 which are joined to form a bearing 62. This bearing 62Qcarries a vertical column 63, th .upper part of which is screw-threaded for engagement with a threaded hand-wheel 64. Above the hand-wheel is a sleeve 65 at the upper end of which is a cap 66 which is adapted to,

engage the mine roof. By turning the handwheel the cap'can be forced against the roof and the whole pivot device securely anchored in lace.

jivotally mounted on the column 63 and supported by the bearing 62 is the head.

casting 67 of t-he conveyer 68. The frame of the conveyer extends from the head casting 67 to the base plate 29. This conveyer frame serves as a radial strut to guidethe operativev parts of the machine in a circular path about the pivot devices as a center. The con-' veyer 68 comprises an endless chain which travels in suitable guideways and carries hor- 4 izontally eXtending fiights or Scrapers which push the material along a suitable trough. 69 is a head sprocket for the chain and this is journaled upon a'sleeve 70 formed on the head casting 67.

The head sprocket 69fhas connected to ita. drive sprocket whee17l which engaged by in the drawings by 7 4 and to this chain are attached flights 75 adapted to engagematerial on the plate 29 and move it into and along the trough 76 which extends along the conveyer frame from the plate 29 to a point of discharge near the head of the conveyer. The conveyer frame consists of suitable structural steel shapes 77 which are arranged to serve as guides for the conveyer chain 74.

These guides are bolted at one end to the head casting 67 and at the other end to a casting `79 'secured to the plate 29 by means of bolts 80. The foot sprocket for the chain is indicated by 81 and this is mounted upon apin 82 secured in a casting 83. The casting 83 is connectedto the plate 29 by means or' bolts 84 which lextend through slots in the casting. By means of a screw 85 the casting 83 together with the foot sprocket can be adjusted with respect to the main part of the conveyer frame'to regulate the tension in the chain.

:The machine is also provided with a second conveyer 87 which is of the same type as the main conveyer 87. It is mounted on a truck 88 having wheels 89 resting on the rails of themine track 90. The inward end of the trough of the conveyer 87 is formed with a receiving hopper 91 adapted to rest on the plate 60 between the arms 6l to rev worm gearing at 99 and the motor 101. This motor is mounted on the truck 88.

1 jack 15 ceive thefmaterial discharged from the gathering conveyer 68. An endless chain with- Scrapers 492 carries the material through the trough 93 and discharges it into'a car 94 on the track 90. This conveyer 87 is driven by the sprocket wheel 95, the chain 96, the sprocketvheel 97, the vertical shaft 98, the

Referring to the operation of the machine, the pivot device is first secured in position at the center of aroom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The swinging part is initially positioned at the extreme right hand side of the room and the feed rope is connected to a positioned at the extreme left handside. Posts or jacks 102 are placed along the curved face of the room for holding the rope in position intermediate its ends. car 94 haying been lplaced in position the motors are started and the machine advances ,under the action of the feed mechanlsm.

As the 4machine advances under the influence of the feed mechanism the undercutting mechanism cuts the kerf at the bottom of the room into the curved coal face, this kerf gradually increasing in depth to the center of the room and decreasing in depth after the center of the room is passed.' Obviously the stress on the machine will be less l 'i during the initial and ythe latter parts of the cut and the feed `mechanism can therefore ments of coal which fall upon the plate 29 and are caught by the conveyer flights 75 and moved up the conveyer trough. The

coal discharged from the first conveyer is caught, by the second conveyer and finally deposited in the car. It will be seen that the operator has full control of the pick mechanism to move it vertically or laterally with v respect to the direction of movement or to move it longitudinally. In this Iway it is possible to attack the Whole surface of the exposed rear wall which extends transversely to the face along which the machine advances.

In Fig. 11 I have indicated diagrammatically the method of moving the machine bodily from one position of use to another. At the end of a cut the swinging part of the machine is moved backward to the right hand rib of the room and then the feed rope is carried forward over a snatch block on a jack 103 and is carried back and secured to the main pivot device whi-ch is then loosened. When the feed rope is wound it serves to draw the .whole machine bodily forward `into position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 11. When this position is reached the pivot device is then secured in place and another cut is started.

7hen the cutting mechanism and its carrying frame are arranged, as in the mechanism herein shown, to swing around a vertical axis, the free face of the rear wall newly formed by the breaking mechanism, will be Vin planes approximately longitudinal of the carrying frame although not exactly longitudinal in relation to the lines of the mine room or chamber. When the front face is more nearly fiat or straight, transversely, the plane of the newly broken face of the rear wall will be approximately longitudinal, both in respect to the room and in reillustrated, or in mechanisms moving on straight lines, such as are therein illustrated.

In my aforesaid application 7 83564 there are combined an undercutting mechanism, breaking-down devices and a conveyer. 1 The breaking-down means in that apparatus are devices which have a wedging action and are made active by the practically constant forward draft force exerted by the feeding mechanism. In the present. apparatus the breaking down of the coal is effected by a blow-imparting pick mechanism having peculiar advantages incident to it when constructed and related to the other parts as is herein described.

The present mechanism is of a class readily distinguishable from heading or breast machines. The latter are each constructed and operated in such way that the cutters and the cutter carriers, when at work, advance directly inward on longitudinal lines at right angles to the vertical planes of the normal front coal face, for example the face at the inner end of a room, the latter being bounded along its sides by fixed vertical coal walls. Such breast or heading machines have been provided with reciprocating coal breaking but the latter were arranged to strike on longitudinal lines, that is,

blows lines parallel to the lines of the direct inward `longitudifl nal thrust ofthe cutters, and conveyers situated centrally between the sides have been used with these heading machines.

Machines of the other class (which includes the present mechanism) are designed to have the principal movement of the cutter carrier, While at work, occur, not on lines intersecting, but on lines parallel to the normal front coal face, and to have a continuous traveling movement across the entire face.

And with apparatus of this class, also, it has been proposed to combine conveyers lfor automatically taking the coal away from the face on lines at right angles thereto.

Some of the machines of this sort have been designed to get the coal out in blocks, smaller or larger, this to be done by forming multiple kerfs (horizontall or vertical or both) and kerfs formed by saw-like cutters rotating in planes inside of, parallel to and at a distance from the planes of the normal front face, that is, so positioned as to follow the planes of the next succeeding front face.

In other cases a cut is formed of the shape of a large loop, which severs a block of the coal at the top and at the bottom, and at vertical lines (inwardly remote from the front face) connecting' the top kerf section and the bottom kerf section.

In still other cases it has been proposed to cut a horizontal kerf in-relatively high horizontal planes along the front face and picks thenput into operation a machine having planes intersecting the planes of the normaly front face of the coal; this being in contradistinction from the chamber formed and the manner of forming it, incident to the use of the heading or breast machine.

rIhe present mechanism differs materially and is gradually A.

from all of the earlier machines which move i bodily continuously on transverse lines, that is, on lines parallel tothe front face, in that I provide a blow-striking,

coal-breaking tool' which, is so arranged' as to producev the transversely advancing coal face that intersects the vertical planes of the normal front face, the tool being' adapted to impart the blows at option at any of the points distributed this transversely advancing face. l

Such mechanism enables me to dispense with the numerous cutting lelements and the complicated cutter carriers which have been necessary to carry and to operate the cutters in the other mechanisms above referred to. The kerf extends from sixy to eight feet under the coal and provides clearance for the vertical movement of the mass V.when dislodged. Thev mass being without support at the fron-t face, it is comparatively easily dislodged at the top and at the inner vertical planes by the blows of the pick. .These can be delivered at points immediately `adjacent to thekerf or at points near to the top of the coal mass. Most of the coal formations are such that when a single clearance kerf is cut the blowsof the tool are suflicient to separate the material at the inner vertical lines of the kerf from the solid native mass beyond them. I do not limit myself to a single horizontal kerf but have found this sufficient where the coal is not one of the tougher or more tenacious sorts.' A breaking down device of this sort is of advantage when it is desired to em-. ploy a conveyer such as isvillustrated. The

vertically and longitudinally over justed vertically or horizontally as desired, Without either of these parts of the mechanism interfering with the other. The coal dropping from the pick point falls directly to the conveyer.

This 'rear wall or free face is in a vertical 'plane which is at an angle or is inclined to the normal front face, and it is approximately parallel to the vertical plane of the lines along which the undercutters act as they1 advance. The blows of the pick are delivered on lines approximately perpendicularor at right angles to the said vertical plane at the forward end of the kerf. The mechanism in this respect difers from those in which undercutters have been used which are thrust directly forward into the coal and above which drills have been placed whose blows are directed against the front normal face of the coal.

l. In a mining mechanism adapted to l travel continuously along the normal front movable .continuously along" said normal front face, an inward projecting horizontal -kerf cutter carried by the frame, a tool holder carried by said frame, a blow-strikvin'g coal-breaking pick mounted on said holder and adjustable as set forth to impart blows to the coal at optionally selected points distributed vertically and longitudi nally overthe said transversely advancing longitudinal face. 2. In a minin apparatus ofthe class described, the com ination of the frame adapted to be moved while in operation along the 5 said frame holderat successive points alongI normal front face of a native coal bed,

means engaging said Aframe to f hold it to predetermined lines of travel transversely along said face, means for fastening the ylongitudinal lines intersecting'said face, for

. successive operations, a horizontal kerf cutter carried by said frame, and a blow-striking coal-breaking. piel;` movable bodily on l `lines parallel to said lines of advance of the kerf cutter and arranged to break down the undercut c'oal and form a transversely advancing face positioned in vertical planes intersecting the planes of the front coal` face and to optionally apply blows in different directions at points distributed over the said longitudinal transversely advanc= ing face.

3 In a mining apparatus of the class described, the combination of the frame adapted to be moved along and close to the front l face of a native coal bed, means engaging said frame to hold it to predetermined transverse lines of travel, devices for fastening said holding means in place at successive point-s along longitudinal lines intersecting said face, a horizontal Vkerf cut-- ter carried by said frame, a. tool holder movable bodily on lines parallel to the lines of advance of the kerf cutter and held to said lines by said fastening devices, and a blow-striking coal-breaking pick mounted onsaid holder and arranged to break down A the coal behind the kerf cutter and form a chamber with a transversely advancing wall extending vertically from the horizontal kerf, said pick being adapted to impart blows in optionally varied directions at points distributed over the said transversely advancing face.

4. In a coalmining apparatus adapted to be moved bodily, while operating, on lines parallel and close to the normal front face of a native bed of coal, the combination of an inward projecting horizontal kerf cutter, a frame carrying said cutter and hav,- ing an element extending into and movable in the kerf, a support on said frame ele' ment positioned in vertical lines inside of the planes of the "said front coal face, a

. horizontally swingingV tool carrier on said support, and a vertically adjustable blowimparting coal-breakin pick mounted on xSaid carrier and positioned bodily inside 'of the vertical planes of the front coal face, said pick being adapted,v to impart blows to the coal above the kerf and directed on lines approximately parallel to-the linesl of advance of the kerfcutter.

5. In a mining apparatus of the class described, the combination of the frame adapted to be positioned close, and to be moved parallel. to the normal front face of a native coal bed, means to hold the frame to predetermined lines lwhile advancing transversely lalong the face, an inward projecting horizontal kerf cutter carried by said frame, fastening devices to secure the frame holder atI successive points along longitudinal lines'intersecting the said face, a tool holder mounted to. travel bodily simultanef-ously with the coal cutter along said front face,l a blow-striking, coal-breaking pick mounted on the said tool holder and arranged to break down the coalv behind said Icutter and form a chamber with a trans- 4 versely advancing wall, said pick being arranged to impartblows to said transversely advancing wall at points distributed vertically and horizontally over its face, and power actuated feedin exert draft on the pic planes of the/front face of the coa means arranged to j` at points near the the coal,

out the forming of said kerf and separate it from the overlying material l coal remaining in the vertical lines idly together,

6. In a coal mining apparatus adapted to be moved bodily, while operating, on lines close and parallel to the normal front face of a native coal bed, the combination of means for cutting a horizontal kerf in a conveyer having its forward lower end positioned relatively behind the kerf cutter to vreceive broken down coal, a power-actuated blow-striking coal-breaking pick-like tool' positioned to extend, when in operation, across thev vertical longitudinal planes of the conveyer yand to break down the coalfthereupon, and form a gradually elongating transversely positioned chamber behind the kerf cutter and having a forward advancing wall with a vertical face in planes intersecting the vertical planes of the normal front face ofthe coal, said pick being universally adjustable and adapted to strike blows at points distributed over the face of the said transversely advancing wall, means supporting the kerf cutter and the pick, means connecting their supports rigand means for advancing them together bodily along the front face ofthe coal.

7. In a mining mechanism adapted to travel continuously along the normal front face of a coal bed and .to form a relatively shallow horizontal kerf and to remove the coal positioned in the vertical lines of the kerf by ablow-striking picking action with:

either horizontal or vertical, the combination of a frame adapted to be moved continuously along said normal front face, a cutter carried .by the frame for forming a single relatively shallow horizontal kerf which is continuouslyv lengthened transversely while the machine is in vand a blow-striking coal-breaking pick' movable bodily on\lines parallel to the lines of advance of the kerf cutter and arranged break down the coal in thevertical lines and `also separate it from its ative bed on the innermost vertical llines of t e kerf,`said pick being adapted-to form a transversely advancing face in planes intersecting the planes of-the front face by imparting blows in optionally varied directions at points distributed over the said transversely Iadvancing face. 8. In a mmlng mechanism adapted totravel continuously along the front. face of a coal bed and.` form a single relatively shallow horizontal kerf and to dislodge the kerf and form parallel to the face a adually elongatmg transverse chamber by inan angle to the 10. The combination of the main frame movable laterally along the coal face, the. of supplemental kerfs operation,

of said by cleavage from arate it from the solid mass beyond it, the combination of a frame, means for moving it along said normal front face, a cutting mechanism carried by the frame which forms a single relatively shallow horizontal kerf, a blow-striking coal-breaking pick arranged to impart blows to the coal andform behind the kerf cutter a chamber with a.

gradually advancing forward wall and to break the coal above the kerf from the solid material above it and also break it from "the solid native Vcoal behind it, said coal tending in operation from points outsidel u the coal face to points near the innermost lineof the kerf lines of travel of the said plate deliver coal and power mechanism on the main frame in front of the conveyer, and means for breakcutters and to have and arranged to follow the thereto, the motor ing the coal down adapted to attack the coal f above the conveyer and on vertical'planes at front face of the coal.

cutting apparatus projecting therefrom to undercut the coal, means on the `frame outside the bounding lines of 'the coal face for moving the frame. and cutting apparatus laterally along the face of the coal, and a coal breaking pick carried by the`frame and arranged to impart blows on lines approximately at right angles to the vertical plane of the forward end of the kerf'fonned by the undercutters.

11. The combination of the main frame movable laterally along the coal -f ace, the cutters projecting therefrom to undercut the coal, means on 'the frame outside the bounding lines of the coal face for moving the frame and the undercutters alongy the face of the coal, said vframe extending into the kerf formed by the undercutters, anda coal breaking pick carried b Y the frame and adapted to form a free face on the coal inside of and at an angleto its normal front face and said pick being arranged to impart blows to a face suc-h as last aforesaid while bodily advancing with the ratus.

In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

.NILs D. LEVIN. Witnesses: f

E. P. SNIVELY, F. E. MILLER.

cutting appa-

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