US1340731A - Mining and loading machine - Google Patents

Description

E. C. MORGAN. MINING AND LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG I9I3 RENEWEI) JUNE I7. 191.8. Patented May 18, 1920.

4 SHEE'lS-SHEET I.

I A. 1 1I III E. C. MORGAN.

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Aua.4, 1913. RENEwEn :une I7, 191s.

Patented May 18, 1920. 'I

4 SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

1 lf/mund C morgan E. c. MURGAN. MlNNGAND LOADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG 4. 1913 RENEWED )UNE l?, 1918 Patented May. 18, 1920.

4 SHEE] S-SHEET 3.

L QN. En. mm.

maryan. @M 7,4%.,

E. C. MORGAN. MINING AND LoAmNG MAcmNE.

` APPLICATION FILED'AUGA, 1913. RENEWED JUNE 17, |918. I 1,340,731 Patented May 18, 1920.

4 SHEES--SHEET 4.

Cook, have invented certain DMUND C. MORGAN, OF CHICAGO,. ILLINOIS.

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Application led August 4, 1913,Seria1 No. 782,766. Renewed .Tune 17, .1918..

To all lwhom it may concern lie it known that I, llnMUNn C. MonoAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the State of Illinois and county of new and useful improvements in Mining and Loading Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to improvements'in mining and loading machines, more particularly, though not necessarily, adapted for the purpose of entering the mine room and breaking loose andv removing the coal or other material from the mine after the kerfs,

which divide the body of the vein into large blocks, have been cut.

One of the objects of my inventionl provides an improved machine of'this character which will be simple, durable and reliable in construction and effective and efficient in operation. ()ther objects of my invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a machine in elevation embodying my invention, the machine being positioned in the mine room and in the act of breaking loose and removing material therefrom.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section lsubstantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view substantially on the line 4-4 ofy Fig.' 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail top plan view of the 'mechanism immediately below the main platform, the main platform being shown in dotted lines to illustrate its position relative to the other parts.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the main platform, and y Fig. A7 is a perspective view of the shovel.

The machine which I have illustrated in the drawings and which constitutes one embodiment of my invention, is more particularly designed for handling coal, and I will describe my invention in connection with the machine shown for this purpose, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, after having obtained an understanding of my invention from the disclosures yherein made, that .my invention is equally as well adapted to the handling of various other kinds of materials and that the structure of the machine 66 may be modified to meet the requirements of Specification of Letters Patent.

coal. These blocks Patented May 18, 1920.

serial No. 240,524.

such other materials'without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention.

In mining coal it is desirable to cut a plu- I rality of kerfs in the vein or body of the material to be mined at various angles to each other so as to' divide the vein into large regular and uniform blocks of coal. The particular machine shown in the drawings is intended to operate upon these large divisions or blocks of coal which have been formed by the cutting of the kerfs. By Way of eX- ample l have illustrated, diagrammatically, a mine room or entry A in which a series of large blocks of coal have been formed by the cutting of numerous kerfs, these blocks being in condition to be removed from the mine in order to make 'room for the cutting, by a mining machine, of another series of kerfs to form another series of blocks of B of coal are formed, in this instance, by the cutting of three horizontal kerfs C, vertical kerfs D, and a. rear vertical kerf E. The horizontal kerfs C eX- tend into the vein 4or body of coal and from side wall to side wall of the mine room. One of these horizontal kerfs is formed along the upper line of cleavage, another along the lower line of cleavage or Hoor of the mine room, and a third intermediate of the other two. The lower horizontal kerf C is preferably gripped or slightly inclined i downwardly with respect to the ioor of the mine in order that the apparatus may enter the kerfs to break loose and remove the coal without scraping the oor of the mine, this slight inclinatitn being clearly indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The intermediate horizontal kerf C may, and generally does, lie in a plane substantially parallel with respect to the floor of the mine, but in this particular instance I have illustrated it (see Fig. 1) as being slightly inclined downwardly toward`the forward end of the blocks in order that, as will hereinafter appear, the upper blocks of coal may be conveniently removed.

The horizontal kerfs are preferably cut first and as they are being cut a plurality of fiat portable supports or platforms F are placed at intervals in the intermediate and lower kerfs to take the place of the material removed by the kerf-cutting machine in order to support the undercut coal and prevent it from dropping of its ownweight until it is to be remover. After the horizontal kerfs have been cut and the supporting fplatforms placed in position-the vertical ker s D are cut. These vertical kerfs are i positioned between the series of supporting blocks of-coal projectf platforms so that the body of the mine are ing from the face or supported upon individual supporting platforms. It will be noted more particularly b reference to Fig. 2, that the supporting platforms are somewhat narrower in width than the width of the blocks of coal so that,

`as`will hereinafter appear, the shovel may they may be broken loose substantially along the line E from the body of the vein. Sometimes an intersecting vertical kerf E is cut at the inner ends of the blocks and extending upwardly and downwardly from the intermediate horizontal kerfs in order to weaken the undercut portions EV and insure the breaking of this undercut portion along more or less definite lines.

The machine. illustrated inthe drawings is intended tobreak loose or dislodge ,and remove the blocks formed after the cutting of these kerfs. This machinel is preferably adapted to travel alon suitable tracks 1 properly laid so that the machine will be posltioned with proper relative position to the blocks to be removed, and it is intended to transfer the blocks from their resting position to suitable cars 2, also adapted to I run on tracks properlydisposed relatively v shaft to .the machine. lmounted upon a suitable traveling truck 6 havlng lsultable wheels 3 mounted in pairs on ax es 4, land may be propelled along the track by means of a motor 5 substantially beneath the traveling truck platform 6,' the motor being connected, by suitable gears 7, with one o the wheel and coal handling all supported by'a mainframe 8 which is pivotally mounted upon the truck platform 6 so that the working partsmay be swung plane to ada t positions in vwhich the coal is disposed, "a

v suitable pivot being v'formed bymeans of a depending vprojection v9 fromr the frame 8 which passes through and is journaled in the center of the truck platform 6. The truck platform is preferably circular and provided with gear teeth on its periphery .to form a large gear. The platform 8 carries, in a .suitable bearing, a short` vertical having a pinion 10 on its lower end 1n mesh with .and adapted to travel around the large gear formed by the truck platform so that rotary motion may be imparted The entire machine isl axles. The working, parts of the machine are` in whic e platform 13.' This y 'two vertical side plates 30 and a horizontal plate 31 across the top of said vertical plates to the frame 8 and the parts supported thereby. This gear 10 may be driven in any suitable manner, such for instance, as a motor 11 supported upon the platform 8, and adapted to drive the shaft or pinion 10 by means of the .beveled gears 12, seen clearly in Figs. l and 5. Immediately above and substantially parallel with the frame 8 and truck platform 6 is a large platform 13 which is pivoted at 14 in suitable bearings on the frame 8 so that the pIlatform may be tilted or swung vertically. v his platform is mounted in this manner so that it may be inclined atfvarious angles with respect to the coal to be removed; ythat isto say, it is arranged in this manner so that it may be raisedfor lowered to position it in ay lane substantially parallel to planes in whic the' intermediate and lower horizontal kerfs C are cut, the planes of the kerfs, as before mentioned, being slightly inclined, so that the blocks` of coal, after being dislodged and raised or lowered as the case may be to the same level may travel in substantially a Given plane until they reach the cars 2. While it is obvious that any suitable mechanism for raising and loweringy the platform may be employed, I `have illustrated in the drawings one 4form of mechanism by which this may be accomplished. The frame 8 has an elongated horizontal bearing l5 (Fig. 5) in which is journaled a shaft 16 disposed immediately below the platform v13. This shaft carries a couple of crank arms 17, which carryrollers 18 at their ends. The

platform 13, as seen in Figs. .1 and"5,rests upon these rollers, and by actuating the shaft -16 'to swing the crank arms the platform 13'may be raised andlowered about its pivot 14. lThis shaft is shown as being driven by the worm gear 19 and worm 20 from the motor 21. The motor 21 is mounted upon av laterally extending arm 22 of the 'frame 8, and carries, in suitable beari' thereqnacounter-shaft 23,0ne end of which CarrestIi'WOrm' 20 and the other end of which basa gear 24 which meshes with and is driven by a similar gear v25 on the motor shaft. The provision f the worm gear 19 and `worm 20 eliminates any necessity of providin extra locking` means for holding the plat orm in any position to which it is raised lor lowered, for. the reason that this worm earing will remain in any position it is placed. The platform 13 supports a sub-frame G, which is arranged to slide or reciprocate longitudinally upon the frame is composed of to form a bridge over the central portion of the platform 13, and thereby provide a large clear .open space through which the blocks of coal may pass on their way to the cars 2.

The lower ends of the vertical plates 30 chored to the lugs v around winding edges of the lateral have lateral base plates 32 which slide upon the platform 13 and which are carried along a definite line on saidplatform 13 by means of the rib's 33 engaging suitable guide slots 34 in the upper face of the platform 13. Additional guides are provided at 33', 33'. In the drawings I have shown a simple mechanism for shifting -or sliding this subframe G along the platform 13. The platform 13 has two forwardly extending arms 36 and these extensions have laterallyl projecting lugs 37 at their outer ends. Similar lugs 38 are also formed at the opposite end of the platform, as shown clearly in Fig. 6. Cables or ropes 39 areprovided at each side.' of the platform and these cables are an- 37 and 38 on correspondingsides of the platform, as shown in Fig. The cables 39 pass around small sheaves or guide-pulleys 40 and loop upwardly drums .or sheaves 41 which are disposed at the top of the sub-frame. The small pulleys '40 are mountedupon'the base plates 32 of the sub-frame, hence it will be obvious that by Vrotating the winding drums 41 the subframe maybe readily shifted or slid in either direction along the platform 13. The drums orsheaves 41 are carried upon opposite ends of the shaft 42 whichv extends across and has bearings 43 in the upper end or top of the sub-frame G, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This shaft is driven from a counter-shaft 44 by means of a chain or rope 45 which passes .around a suitable pulley 46 on the shaft42 and a pulley 47 on the 'counter-shaft 44. The pulley 47, however, is loose on the shaft 44 and it may be connected to or disconnected from said shaft in any suitable manner, such for instance, as by means of an ordinary clutch. In thev drawings I have shown a clutch member 48 which is keyed to rotate with the shaft' 44 but to slide longitudinally thereof,

and this maybe shifted to or out of engagement with the pulley 47 to connect the pulley with or disconnect it from the shaft, by means of a hand-lever 49. The shaft 44*V is journaled in one of the vertical plates 30 of the sub-frame and in a bearing standardV 50 rising vfrom, the base of the sub-frame.- This shaft is driven from the main shaftV 51 through the medium of a worm 52 and worm gear 53. The main shaft 51 is driven from a motor 54 through the medium'of the gears i 55, the motor being mounted upon one of the sub-frame lateral plates 32 to travel therewith. I The main shaft is journaled in abearing standard 56 rising from the subframe base 33, .and also in bearings 57 formed 'on-.the motor 54. Other mechanism is driven from the main shaft 51, and hence I prefer to arrange this counter-shaft 44 so that it may be thrown into and out of operation at will. Any ordinary clutch may be that the frame may used for this purpose. In the drawings, the worm 52 is rotatable on the main shaft 51 and is arranged to be connected with. or disconnected from said shaft by means of a sliding clutch member 58 whichiis keyed to rotate with the shaft. This A.clutch member 58 is adapted to be shifted :into or out of engagement with the worm 52 by means of a suitable hand-lever 59 pivoted at 60'to the base of the sub-frame. At the forward end of the horizontal sliding plates 32, which form the base of the sub-frame, is a substantiall vertically disposed inverted U- shaped rame comprising two parallel legs or members which are ljoined together at their upper ends by the cross-bars or .members 66. This frame is pivoted at 67 in lugs 68 which depend from the under side of the members 32 of the sub-frame so that the frame may be rotated within limits about its pivots in a vertical plane, as'indicated by Vdotted lines in Fig, 1. Since this U- shaped frame is supported by the sub-frame it necessarily-travels therewith. In order be conveniently koscillated or rotated about its pivot 67 I provide a winding drum 69 upon which a cable 70 is wound, one end of thecable being anchored to a lug 71 on the upper end of the U-shaped frame 65. This cable drum is mounted upon a shaft which'is journaled in one of the vertical plates 3() of the subframe G and in the bearing standard 56 (Figs. 1 and 2) .and is adapted to be driven from the main-shaft 51 through the medium of the worm 7 2 and the worm gear 73. The wormv72, however, is loose on the shaft 51 and is adapted to be connected with lor disconnected from the shaft by'means of the sliding clutch member 74, which .clutch member is keyed to slide upon the shaft. The clutch member 74 may be conveniently shifted by means of the hand-lever 7 5 pivoted upon the' base of the sub-frame. Thismechanism for swinging the U-shaped frame about its pivot is preferred for the reason that the load comes upon the frame at one side of its pivot thereof and it is simply necessary to wind up or ease olf the cable againstthe action of gravity acting upon the load and the parts supported by the frame. The U-shaped frame carries a shovel member S which projects forwardly from the frame at substantially right angles thereto, and which -is arranged to slide or reciprocate vertically in said frame. Accordingly the rear end of the shovel (Fig. 7) has a vertically disposed' guide member 75 disposed on each side and these guides, as will be seen clearly in Fig. 3, are adapted to slide in guideways or slots 76 on the inner faces of the side members 65 of the U- shaped frame. The bottom end ofthe frame vframe and its shovel are all positioned within the confines of the projections orextensions 36 on the platform 13, and the pur-V poses of the extensions 36 are simply to increase the distanceto which the sub-frame,

moved forwardly on the platform 13.

the U-shaped frame and vshovel may be.A

This

shovel is adapted to be raised and lowered4 in its guide frame by means of suitable hoisting mechanism, such as shown in the drawings. This hoisting'mechanism comprises the worm 77 worm gear 78, belt or chain 79, shaft 80, winding drums 81 and cables 82. The winding drums 8-1 are mounted upon -the shaft 80, which shaft isjournaled in bearings in the cross bars 66 of the U-shaped frame, and the cables. 82 are fastened at their lower ends 83 to the guides 75 of the shovel Aand are adapted to be wound upon or unwound from the drums 81 to raise and lower the shovel. The worm gear 78 is mounted upon a stud shaft 84 outstanding from oneside 65 of the U- shaped frame, and this shaft, together with the shaft 80, carries pulleys around which.

the chain or belt 79 passes to impart motion from the shaft 84 to the winding drum shaft 80. The worm 77, which drives the Worm gear 78',l is mounted upon an extension 85 and this extension is connected to the main shaft -through the universal joints 86, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the worm gear 78 maybe driven at any angle to which it is positioned b the swinging of the U-shaped frame.- One member of one of the universal joints 86 is loosely rotatable on the end of the main shaft 5l and I is adapted to be` connected with or disconnected from said fshaft by means of the clutch member87 so 'that the raising and lowering of the shovel may be controlled at will. The clutch member 87 is, like thev clutch members previously described, keyed to slide' on the shaft 51 and is adapted to be manipulated by means of the hand-lever 88 pivoted uponthe base Aof the sub-frame. The scoop or `shovel. S comprises two side members 89 (Fig. 7) and bottom members l spaced apart to' form an open slot 91 t erebetween. They are connected at their rear ends by a bridge piece 92. The forward ends of the shovel are entirely open so that the blocks of coal ma Thgr side members 89 of the shovel are preferably spaced apart substantially the distance that the vertical kerfs D are spaced apart so that these sides may enter the horizontal kerfs. The bottom members 90 of formed between the bottom mem the shovel is suficiently wide to permit the frame, and then lowered in the be conveniently shifted therethrough.`

zontal kerf, and, as shown in Fig. 2, to form ledges or shelves which engage the lower portions of the faces of the b ocks ofcoal which project beyond the supporting sleds orplatforms F. The slot or oning 91 portable supports F to enter therein and to be removed through the rear end of the shovel after the shovel has been moved frward into position to engage and hold the blocks of coal. It will be noted that the bridge portion 92 at the rear end of the shovel is depressed so that its upper surface lies in the plane ofthe bottom faces of the members in order topermit the portablesupports to readily pass over it, and the platform 13 has a groove or slot 93 which registers with the slotin the shovel and like Wise able supports F. The forward ends of th`e side members 89 "and the bottom members 90 of the shovel, as will be noticed in Fig. 7 are rounded so that they may be readily entered into the kerfs surrounding the blocks of coal to be removed.

Afterv the -shovel -audits frame and the sub-frame have been moved forward until the shovel has entered the kerfs in position to embrace the particular. block to be removed, as shown inv dotted vlines `in Fig.' 1, the portable supports or platforms F may be withdrawn, as above described, and the block of coal allowed to drop upon the shovel and break loose alon vthe uncut portion E of its own weight. 'he shovel with its block of coalthereupon may then be with:-

drawn by vshifting its frame and the sub- U `shaped frame until its bottom members line with the upper surface of the platform 13, or, if desired, the block of coal may be broken loose or dislodged in any other suitable manner without removing the supporting platform F, said supporting platform F remainin in position after the shovel has been wit drawA with the block upon the shovel. In the drawings I have shown several ways by which thecoal may be dislodged. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 1 and2 that the sub-frame G has a rearwardly projectin horizontal arm 100 which is positione above the car 2 and which projects beyond the opposite edge thereof, and this arm carries at its outer end a large sheave or pulley 101 around which a cable 102 passes. One end of the cable passes around a winding drum 103 on the counter-shaft 44 by means of which drum the cable may be wound up. The other end of the cable passes through the sub-frame and U-shaped frame to the particular block of coal which is to be removed, to which block it may be temporarily fastened or anchored in any permits further Withdrawal of the port' vhooks 105 at theii` ends for. engagementl with the rear end of the block. rI'hus after the shovel has been positioned in the kerfs the cable maybe attached to the block ofcoal and by actuating the windigng drum to pull the cable the block of coal may be dislodged from the body of thevein and drawn from the shovel, after the shovel has been withdrawn and positioned in line with the vplatform 13, along the platform 13 and `on to the car 2, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This cable may also be used to withdraw. the portable Ysupporting platform F, as above described when the coal is v tobe allowed to drop upon the shovel instead of being broken loose by the cable. The winding drum 103 is loosely rotatable upon the lcountershaft 44 but maybe connected therewith or disconnected therefrom by means lof the clutch'l member 106 which, like the other clutches above described, is keyed to slide on said shaft and which may be manipulated'by means of the hand-lever 107.

it might be, under certain conditions, inadvisable to break the coal loose by allowing it to drop of its own weight or by pull ing it away from the body of the vein by the cable 102, as above described. ln'the dotted lines in-Fig. 1 l have illustrated how the shovel itself may bemanipulatedto sup ply sufficient force to lbreak'the block loose along the uncut portion F. 'lt will be seen that after the shovel has. beeninserted in the kerfs and in engagement with theblock, it may be raised in its guideway a slight amount and at the same time the U-shaped frame may be allowed to swing on its pivot 67 by easing ofi' -on the cable 70 so that the frame andthe shovel will assume positions substantially like that indicated bythe dotted lines 110 (Fig. 1). The force exerted by the shovel in moving upward in its guide frame will tilt the front end of the block upward, asshown in dotted lines 111, and

thereby break the block of coal loose along the uncut portion E. In this manner the block may be dislodged without the aid of the hauling cable 102, but the hauling cable may be afterward attached to the block to draw it from the shovel along the platform 13 and onto the car 2.V

The operation of the loading machine described above may be eected at any desired locationinside or outside of the mine, but itis particularly adapted for operation inside of a mine, asl illustrated'in Fig. 1. After the truck is moved along the rails onto the proper location in the mine tunnel A, the electric'motor is operated in one direction or another by means of suitable electric switches, including if desired an elec- .preferred, however,

tric reversing switch. The operation of the motor 11 effects the rotation of the pinion 10` on the large gear 6 and thus rotates the frame 8 on the pivot 9 to any angular position with respect tothe face of the mine wall where the kerfs D have been made by akerf cuttmg machine, as illustrated in Fig. 2. I

y operating the electric motori 21 to eHect the turning of the shaft 16, the lever 17 Y and the roller 18 may be moved upwardlyso as to. tilt the frame 13 on the pivot 14. ln this way, the plane of the lower part of the carrier S may be adjusted so'as to be substantially parallel with the planes of the horizontal kerfs in the mine wall, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The electric motor 21 may also be provided with the usual electric switches, including a reversing switch, and the worm gearing 19 and 20 may be depended upon to lock the apparatus in' adjusted position, so that the weight of the frame 13 will not turn the motor shaft,

tates the shaft 51 which is provided with a plurality of clutches, as shown in Fig. 1, for transmitting motion to various parts. IThe operation of the clutch 87 will eect the rotation of the shafts 84 and 80, asV shown in Fig. 1, which will in turn operate v the rope drums 81, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to lift the carrier S while the guide 65 holds `the latter substantially` horizontal. When the carrier reaches'` the proper position, the clutch 87 may be released and the worm lgearing relied upon to hold the carrier in its proper elevated position. Now by operating the clutch 58, the rope gear feeding mechanism at the sides of the inverted U-shaped frame Gr will feed forward the supplemental frametogether with the vertical guides 65 and the carrier S. In this' manner the carrier can be moved into the kerfs in the mine wall, the block F being straddled, as shown in Fig. 2. After the carrier S has been moved forward a suffey cient distance, the clutch 58 may be released and the clutch 74 then operated to tilt the vertical guides, together with the carrier, as illustrated by the 'dotted lines at the right hand portion of Fig. 1. It should also be. observed that at this step in the operation,

the horizontal platform 18 may be tilted upwardly by operating the motor 21. It is to rely on the rope 70 for tilting the carrier, and thereby breaking loose from the mine wall a lar e block of material. It should be observe however, that the tilting of the carrier may not always be necessary, because, in some instances, the weight of the block of material is suiliclent to break itself loose from the mine wall or it may be pried loose manually.

After the block of material is dislodged from the mine wall, and the carrier has been brought into proper position in the kerfs,

and brought to a position where it will register with the passageway through the frame The pivoted platforml 18 may then be tilted upwardly a suiicient distance to cause the block of material to slide oil'l the carrier and through the frame G onto a mine car 2.

I prefer, however, to provide means for positively pulling the material oi" the carrier while the latter is being held stationary in its initial position. As shown in Fig. 2, hooks 104, 105 are provided for engaging the block of material, so that it will be positively pulled onto the mine car when the clutch 58 is operated, and the clutch 100;"'as shown in Fig. 4, also operated. The clutch 58 may be thrown in and left in, and the clutch 48 (Fig. 4t) relied upon to control the longitudinal movements of the supplemental frame, and the clutch 106 used for controlling 'the block-pulling mechanism. Whenever the worm gearing isv of such pitch that it acts as lockingdevices, the motor 54 maybe provided with a reversing switch in the well-known manner, so that the supplemental frame may be retracted and the rope drum 69 operated so as to permit the guide frame 65 to be moved back to its initial position. Also by thereversal of the motor 54 the carrier S may be lowered to its initial position where its carrying surfaces 90 willregister withthe passageway through the supplemental frame.

After a block ofv coal has been dislodged and removed, the carrier S may be lowered to the floor of the mine, or nearly so, and then moved forwardly around the platform F until the proper position is obtained for the dislodging of the lower block of coal.-

The exposed lower ends of the platforms may be beveled, andv so also the forward end of the cross piece 92, 'so -that the latter may easily pass beneath such exposed ends of the platform F, particularly when the carrier enters an undercut. If desired, the platform F may be so inserted into undercuts that by means of wedges mine, so as 92 beneath the platform. Afterthe cross piece 92 is inserted beneath theplatform F" and the carrier is-lifted, the block of. c oal will be broken away from the mine wall.

Now, bypartially withdrawing or retracting the carrier, the cross piece 92 may be placed in position to clear the platform F,

and then by elevating the carrier theblock of coal may be lifted and removed to a position where it can be moved to the as before left on the vfloorv of the mine in convenient 'mine car,

1t may bellifted slightly and then retracted beneath theplatforms lthe exposed ends willbe a Ashort distance above the floor of the to facilitate the insertion of the cross piece exp1ained,the.platform F being l'na-maal its upper surface in a plane substantiallyV parallel to the planes of the horizontal kerfs. he forward movements of the carrier into the kerfs will then be'obtained with facility. The platform 13 serves as a track for the reciprocatin the carrier has been adjusted as to elevation Aand as to horizontal position, it may be moved forwardly into the kerfs`without any undue friction, if. the nosel of the 'carrier were inclined downwardl and dug into the solid mass of the coal. he platform 13 may have its forward end inclined slightly upwardly, however, within the limits of the thickness 4of the platform F, so that the plates '90 ofthe carrier will not envage the lower edge of which might be caused l The rearward inclination of the platmay then be taken advantage of to rI'he horizontal kerfs may be produced sil mnltaneously in the mine wall, or the u`ndercut may first be made and the uppercuts successively afterward, the platforms being inserted at intervals in the undercut before theA next upper .cut is made. when there 'is/any danger of the coal being broken down when horizontal kerfs alone are made, the coal will be held up by means of the platforms if the undercut is made first and the platforms insertedtherein at intervals, before the uppercuts are made. Ordinarily, however, the horizontal kerfs maybe simultaneousl cut without danger of the coal breaking (lbwn. The platforms may then be inserted in the undercut and the intermediate cut at vthe desired intervals, as shown in Fig. 2 by the dotted line positions F. After the horizontal kerfs are made. and the platforms inserted at the proper points or predetermined positions, the vertical kerfs D'may be made either `singly or a' plurality at a time. It will be evident that after the vertical kerfs are made theplatforms will retain the blocks of coal vin position to permit the carrier S to be operated as hereinbefore described.

It should alsobe noted that since the machine is pivotallymounted to turn on an Therefore,

1,340,731 v -f .'Z

upright axis on the truck, the scoop S may be swung around at right angles to the position shown in Fig. l so that the truck propelling mechanism may be used to force the scoop under material, to-be loaded. The scoop is open at its rear end and when in its initial position forms a continuation of the trough or chute formed by the walls' Gr i and the upper surface of,Y the platform'l between said walls. By referring to Figs. 3.,l and 7-it will be seen that the part 92 connectingj the horizontal spacedapart members 90 is adapted to extend into the trough 93 so as to be guided along the YlatterV and thus keep the scoop in alinenient with thepassageway between the walls G. The unloading mechanism is of course operyable independently of any forward movement of the scoop because the material may be pulled out of the rear end of said scoop even when the latter yis lin stationary position while in registry with said chute. owever, when, desired the scoop may be again started forward while the block of material is moved olf the scoop. Therefore, the scoop may be rec-iprocated while occupying various angular positions and while unloading cores out of the rear end of said scoop into the forward end of the chute and longitudinally along the latter to loading position.

` Obviously, those skilled in the artmay make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and l desire, therefore, not to be restricted to the precise construction of the apparatus herein disclosed.

Having thus Ydescribed an embodiment of my invention, what I claim and .wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier, of framework for supporting said carrier, upright guides on said framework for said carrier, means for shifting said Carrier bodily up and down in said guides to position it with respect to the material to be taken from a mine wall, means for shifting said carrier together with said guides in a generally horizontal direction 'intov the mine wall for taking a block of material directly therefrom and moving it back to al predetermined position relatively t`o said framework, and means acting directly on the block of material on said carrier to slide the same off of said carrier and over said frame.: work into position for loading.

2. In a loading machine, the combination with a horizontally traveling support, of a vertical frame pivoted thereto, a carrier supported by said frame and movable therewith into position to take a block ofsolid material directly from its position in a mine in its native bed, means for lifting and lowering said carrier relatively to said frame and said support to present said carrier at'the desired height with respect to the material to be tical frame pivoted thereon, acarrier sup,

ported by said Y' supplemental frame free from obstructions between any vertical position of the carrier and the mine wall and movable withsaid supplemental frame horizontally into the `mine wall to receive a block of material directlyV therefrom, means for floaded, means for tilting said frame with v lifting and lowering the carrier vertically y free from any obstruction between the same and thegmine wall to present the carrier at the desired height with respect to the block of material tobe taken directly from the Amine wall, means for tilting the carrier against'the block of material to dislodge the same from the body thereof, and apparatus for moving the material from the carrier toward loading position. l

4. The combination with a traveling support, of a frame pivotedlthereto, a carrier supported by said frame and movable there- 10o with to a position to take on a load, means for lifting and lowering the carrier to present it at the desired height with respect to material to be loaded, means for tilting the carrier to dislodge a portion of the material from the body thereof, and hauling mechanism for hauling the load from the carrier to a predetermined position.

. 5. The combination with atraveling trucl,v

of a hinged platform mounted thereon, a reciprocating frame mounted? on said hinged platform, a tilting frame pivoted to said reciprocating frame, a carrier mounted in said tilting frame, means for lifting or lowering said carrier in said tilting frame, mech- 4115 anism for holding sa1d tilting frame in adjusted position., apparatus for eecting the operation ofsaid reciprocating frame, means for moving said hinged platform up or down, and hauling mechanism for transfer-4 120 ring .ithe load from the carrier to a point off the reciprocating frame.

6. The combination with a platform adapted to be inserted into horizontal kerfs .in a

mine wall to support slabs of material produced by a plurality of vertical kerfs at angles to said horizontal kerfs, of a carrier, means for moving said carrier Yinto said kerfs around one of said platforms, and

mechanism for tilting said kcarrier to dis-l lodge the block of material above the platform with which said carrier is associated.

7. The combination with a supporting frame, of a platform pivotally mounted Y. thereon, means for lifting or lowering the forward end of said platform, a reclproeating frame guided on said platform for longitudinal movement thereon, apparatus for moving said reciprocating frame to -ad vanee or retract the same, a tilting frame mounted on said reciprocating frame and movable therewith, a carrier vertically mov.- able in saidA tilting frame, and means for withdrawing materia-lv from said carrier over said reciprocating frame.

8. In a loading machine, the combination 'th a carrier, 'of an upri ht frame for said carrier and con ning the same to positions substantially at thereto throughout its. various movements,

mechanism for said carrier and said frame a reciprocatory movement, andv apparatus for the path of reciprocation of said carrier.

9. In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier comprising spaced apart alms, of supporting structure for said carrier, a prop in a kerf in a mine wall, and means for opera said carrier to cause said arms toY enter said kerf while straddling said prop andremove a block ofinaterial from the mine Wall.

'10.- In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier, of an upright structure for said carrier its movements and confining the same to a right ,angle relation to Said structure, a' main supporting frame,

means for lifting and lowering said carrier while such relation, and means for forward said guiding structure relatively to said frame while said structure upright to Ycause said carrier to take a load of material from a mine wall.

11. In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier, of an upright guiding -structure for maintaining said carrler substantially at right angles thereto for all positions of said carrier, a main supporting frame, rope for controlling the elevation of said carrier, and means for operating said cari-ier relatively to said frame to take a load of material from a mine. wall.

12. In a loading machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a carrier, vertical guides laterally movable relatively to said frame, means movable along said guid for co angle relation with said guides, means conthe elevation of said carrier, and4 means for moving horizontally forward said guides and carrier relatively to said frame to take a load o'f material.

13. In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier, o f a main suporting frame,

right angles said carrier to a right upright spaced-apart guides mounted on said frame, guide blocks connected to the rear end of said carrier and confined to upright movements in said guides to hold relation to said upright guides, means for controlling the elevation of said carrier along said guides, and apparatus for thrustingforward said guides and said carrier relatively to said frame to cause the carrier to move into position to take a load at its adjusted elevation.

lng a longitudinal recess in alinementwith the space immediately above said cross-piece when said carrier isin its loading position, a guide frame for said carrier, and means for definitely positioning said carrierrela'- tively to said supporting frame in said loading position.

16.` In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier having a longitudinal slot, of a supporting frame having a recess in its upper surface lin registry withthe slot of said carrier when the latter is-in loading position, and means for operating said carrier to take a load of material and move it to such loading position.

17. Ina loading machine, the combination with a carrier adapted to receive aV block of material directly from a minewall, of a main frame, a supplemental frame for said carrier, a motor on said supplemental frame, a ropedrum on the latter frame, gearing between said motor and said drum, a rope connected at its ends to the ends of said with a main frame, of a supplemental frame,l

a carrier connectedto said supplemental frame, a transverse shaft on said supplemental frame, rope drums mounted on the ends ofy said shaft, ropes associated with said drums respectively and connected at their ends to the main frame at both sides ofsaid supplemental frame to hold the lat-` .said carrier in substantially right angle `a loading machine, the combi-na- 'tion with a carrier having spaced-apart arms7 Wlth an open space between them and` ter in placeon said main frame, guides for said ropes on said supplemental frame, andv mechanism on said supplemental power t said shaft main frame to cause said carrier to enter kerfs'V in a mine wall bounding a block of material and removing said block of `material from the mine to a predetermined position .relatively to said main frame, and mechanism comprising a rope for pulling the block of material from said carrier into loading position.

20. In a loading machine, the combination with a carrier, of means for operating said carrier to take a` load of material, a rear# wardly extending frame adapted tol extend over the'top of a mine car, a guide pulley mounted at the rear' end of said frame, a rope engaging said pulley, and means 'acting on said rope to -pull the materialfrom said carrier into loading position on the mine car.

2l. In a loading machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of an arm eXtending rearwardly from said supporting frame, a guide pulley on said arm, a rope associated with said pulley, a carrier on said frame, l

self-acting power mechanism for operating said carrier by mov-ing the saine into a kerf in an upright mine ,wall in position to receive a block of material from the mine Wall ,above .said kerf, devices connected to said rope for engaging directly the block of material on said scoop, and rope winding mechanism on said frame for exerting av pull on said rope to move said block of material oii said carrier and `'over said frame into loading position onfa mine car traveling on a mine track under said arm.

22. In a loading machine, the combination with a main frame, of an inverted U-shaped supplemental frame open from end, to end, means -for reciprocating said supplemental frame, a carrier on the supplemental frame, and means for pulling the load from said vcarrier into loading position through said supplemental frame.

23. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck, ofa rotary frame pivoted to said truck, turn-table mechanism forrotating said frame, amain frame pivoted to said rotary frame, apparatus for lifting and lowering said main frame on its pivot, a supplementalY frame slidably mounted on said main frame, a guide frame pivoted to said supplemental frame, a carrier mounted in said guide frame, hoisting mechanismfor lifting and lowering said carrier, means -for 4reciprocating said supplemental frame, nn-

loading ap aratus, and means f or tilting said guide rame together with said carrier.

24. In a loading machine, the 'combination with a supporting frame, ofa supplemental frame pivotally connected thereto on a transverse axis, a scoop carried by said siipplemental frame and guided along the latter for rectilinear adjustment in elevation, and means for tiltin said supplement-afl frame on said transverse axis to secure tilting of said scoop at its adjusted elevation.

25. A--mining and loading machine comprising supporting framework, a carrier mounted on said frameworkA for rectilinear adjustment in elevation, means on said framework forl holding said carrier at adsou j usted elevation, .mechanism for eiecting the dislodgine'nt from a mine wall of a block of Vmaterial onto said carrier from a space in a mine wall above said carrier, and means for operating said carrier to eect the transfer of the block of material away from the mine wall in a general horizontal direcf tion to a position spaced-therefrom in a general horizontal direction in a 'mine chamber.

saY

26. In a mining and handling system, the n combination with supporting framework, of a carrier mounted thereon tio-occupy suhstantially horizontal positions and for rectilinear adjustment in elevation, means for moving said carrier rectilinearly relatively to said framework to adjust the elevation of said carrier, mechanism for eiecting the. dislodgment of a vblock of material ont@ said carrier from a position in the mine reali 'above said carrier, and means for operating said carrier to move the block of materia in a general horizontal direction to a position spaced back from the mine wall.'

Y27.1In loading apparatus, the' combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame pivoted to said main frame for'np- Ward and downward movement of the forlward portion of said supplementai fra-nie,

a carrier mounted on said 'supplemental "frame for movement relatively thereto both upwardly and downwardly and in a general horizontal direction, means for moving said carrier rectilinearly to adjust the elevation thereof, means for reciprocating said carrier relatively to saidsupplementalirame in a general horizontal direction, and means for unloading material from said carrier out of the rear end thereof.

28. In loading apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame, of a traveling carrier mounted thereon for movement rel tively thereto in advance of said supporting frame, means for reciprocating 'said carrier in a general horizontal direction by moving it forward in advance of said supporting frame and retracting it to itsinitial position relative to said frame, pulling mechanism 30. In loading apparatus, the combinationwith supporting framework, of a carrier' v mounted thereon for adjustment in elevation lrelatively thereto, means for movin carrier forward relatively to said Ir work into position to take a load and retract said carrier with said load, and mechanisml mounted on said eral horizontal direction at Y while on said load-gathering 'tion of said carrier,

said

ame-

comprising locking worm gearing for rectilinearly adjusting the elevation ofsaid carrier-whereby said carrieris locked at ad justed elevation by said worm gearing.

31. The f combination with supporting framework, of la load-gathering device adjustment in elevation, means for reciproeating saidload-'gathering device in av genon the material device to move such material along such device'out of the tion, and mechanism acting rear end thereof. V

32. In loading apparatus, the combination with a frame comprising a chute, of a carrier open at its rear end and adapted to register with the forward end of said chute, means for rectilinearly adjusting the elevameans for reciprocating said carrier-in a general horizontal direction at its adjusted elevation, and mechanism acting on the material on said carrier to move the same rearwardly `out of the rear end of said carrier into said chute during the yregistry of the rear end of said carrier vwith the forward end of said chute.

33. In loading apparatus, the combination with a main frame, a scoop connected to said supple mental frame to move bodily therewith, means for reciprocating said supplemental frame together with said'scoop for the purpose of gathering loads of material, and means acting on the material'in said scoop to move such material 'out of the rear end Vof said scoop irrespective of whether said scoop is stationary relative" to said main frame or moving relatively to said main frame.

3st.A Inloading apparatus, the combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame comprising a chute, a load-gathering device supported by said supplemental frame,

i means for reciprocating said load-gathering device, mechanism. for moving'material from supplemental frame together with said loadfor moving said carrier supplemental frame framework for j rectilinear j .with-a chute, of

adj usted elevaframe, of a supplemental zontally said load-gathering device into said chute and self-acting power while said load-gathering device is in stationary posi-tion adjacent the forward end of said chute, and means for movingr said gathering device laterally yon said main frame.

35.l In loading apparatus, the combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame pivoted to said'main frame for movement 75 relatively thereto on an upright axis, a scoop supported by said supplemental frame for movement bodily therewith in a general horizontal direction, means for moving said on' such upright axis to 80 ei'ect lateral arcuate' movement of said scoop, means for rectilinearly adjusting the' elevation of said scoop, mechanism for mving said scoop forward in a general horizontal direction to take a load of material from an upright mine wall at the adjusted elevation and retract said scoop withl the' load thereon,.andxmechanism for discharg- Y ,ing 'the loadI of material Afrom said scoop and moving such material relatively to said J0 main frame toward loadingposition.

36. In loading apparatus the combination .a scoop open at its rear end, means for rectilinearly adjusting the elevation of said scoop above and below the forward open end of said chute, means vfor reciprocating said scoop in a general horizontalpdirection at its adjusted elevation, and mechanism for unloading said scoop into said chute independently of the movements yof said scoop and while said scoop occupies-a position adjacent the forward open end of said scoop. .Y .v

37. In loading apparatus, the combination with a main supporting frame, of a supplemental frame pivotally mounted on said main frame for lateral movement in an arc relatively to said main frame on an upright axis, a scoop mounted-on said supplemental frame, means for reciprocatingsaid scoop relatively to said'main frame in its various arcuate positions for the purpose of gathering loads of material, andmeans operable independently of the reciprocations -of said scoop for acting directly on the ma- 1'15 `tion lwith a supportingframe, of a lscoop mounted thereon in position to move horito receive a block ogf material having a lower horizontal surface, means permitting adjustment of said scoop to various radial posltions, means for operating said scoop by projecting horizontally relatively to said frame while being retained in posi- .tion to engage the lower horizontal surface of such block of material and carry such block of material in such position, and mechanism ,operable independently of the lace and carrying such block of with its lower surface in an approrimately4 loading the material in afgeneral horizon- .tal direction out of the rear end ofsaid 39. In loading apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame, of a scoop open at its rear end, means for confining said scoop to positions for engaging a hlock of material having a lower horizontal surmaterial horizontal plane, means for Areciprocating said scoop rectilinearly ina general horizontal direction while being maintained in such position, and mechanism for positively moving the material olf the scoop out ofthe i rear end thereof in a general horizontal di-A rection independently of forward movement of said scoop.

40. In loading apparatus, the combina- `tion with a supporting :trame provided with a chnte, of a scoop mounted on said frame for adjustment in elevation above and below the forward end of said chute, means' for reciprocating said scoop horizontally at adjusted elevation to gather a loadfrom anV npright mine wall, and mechanism for mov- A ing the material in saidscoop out of the open rear end thereof into said chute inde- S pendently of. forward movement of` said scoop and while said scoop occupies a posi- Y tion' registering with said chute. Ill; ln a loading machinethe combination with a supporting-'frame comprising a horizontal chute, oi a scoop conlined to horizontal vpositions on end'` of said horizontal chute while said 40 scoop is conned to horizontal positions,

means for moving said scoop orward relatively to said frame at the adiusted elevation of said scoop for the purpose of taking a load, and means or moving the load out v of said scoop into said chute while said scoop is in horizontal alinement with said chiite and moving such load horizontally along said chute out 'of the rear end thereof.Y

rial from said scoop .along said chute toward loading position.

43. In a loading machine, the combination with a supporting rame, of a scoop open at its rear end, means on sa`d frame 'zontal positions at the, various elevations Vter toward the rear end thereof to loading said supporting frame, means or adjusting said scoop rectilinearly in elevation ahove and below the forward 42. In a loading imachine, I the combi-V nation with a supporting frame, of a scoop 'for guiding said scoop rectilinearly to vari- .l

ous elevationsfmechanism at the rear end'of saidvscoop connected to sa1d guiding meaxis to confine said scoop to approximately horithereof, means for mpving said scoop ori ward 1n a. general horizontal direction at its adjusted elevation to move said scoop into a mine wall a distance approximately equal tothe entire length of said scoop, a chute on said frame, and means for moving the material on said scoop out of the' rear end Vthereof and horizontally along said chute into position for loading onto a mine car.

44:."In a loading machine,'the comhina- 30 ltion with a main frame, ol'Ia supplemental frame pivotally connected to. said main i Jframe for arcuate movement; relatively thereto on an upright axis, a scoop con nected to said supplemental rame' and extending in advance thereof in horizontal Apositions at various elevations, means for rectilinearly 'adju-sting the elevationof said scoop, means for reciprocating said reach .forward horizontally for loads in various arcuate positions -at various elevations at an upright mine wall, a chute back of'said scoop and in alinement therewith in a general horizontal direction when said scoop is in a predetermined position at a predetermined elevation, and means for transferring the material in said scoop out Lof the rear endthereof into the forward end of said chute and horizontally along the latposition,

45. In a loading machine, the combinaf tion with a main frame, of a supplemental frame pivoted on said main frame on a transverse axis for `up and downV tilting movement, a scoop connected to said supplemental frame to extend in advance of that end thereof'remote from said axis and transversely of such axis, means for tilting said supplemental frame to adjust the in 110 clination` of said scoop, a tertiary frame connected to said scoop and movable bodily therewith relatively to said supplemental frame, a chutel comprising portions of said supplemental and tertiarywframes, means for operating said scoop to gather a load, and mechanism for effecting the transfer ofV material from said scoop into said chute and along the latter toward loading .position. I

46. In a loading machie, the combination with a main fra-me, of a supplemental frame pivotally connected 'to said main frame for arcuate movement relatively thereto on an upright axis, a scoop connected to said supplemental frame and movable arcuately therewith, a chute back of said scoop and in alinement therewith and extending horizontally and longitudinally of said main from the front toward the rear frame thereof, means for rectilinearly adjusting 47. In a mining and loading machine, theA combination with a' suppo'rting frame comprising a chute o en lat its forward end, of a reciprocable carrier movable back andforth from a position at .thel forward portion. of said chute, means for dislodging material from a mine wall in advance of said and means for operating said carrier for receiving the'dislodged material directly from its position in the mine wall and transferring such material to the forward open end of said chute. A

48. In a mining machine, the combination with a frame, of a chute mounted thereon, means for adjusting the position of said chute adjacent the mine wall, and means for taking a large block of solid material from its position in the mine wall and delivering it intactdirectly therefrom into said chute.

rame,

49. In a mining and loading machine, the combination with a frame having an inclined chute open at its forward end and at its rear end, of mechanism for dislodging material from a mine wall for movement into the forward open end of said chute, and reciprocable mechanism mounted onv said frame in position to transfer material alongsaid chute toward loading position.

50. In a loading machine, the combination with supporting framework, of a platform mounted on said framework and movable vup and down rectilinearly relatively to said framework, means for adjusting the elevation of said platform reotilinearly relatively to said framework while maintaining said platform in a substantially horizontal plane, and means for operating said platform relatively to said framework in -a general horizontal direction to effect the transfer -toward loading position of a block of material bounded at the bottom, top and sides by kerfs while in its native bed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of ltwo subscribing witnesses, on this 1st day of August,

Witnesses;-

CHAs. M. Nissan,- CHARLES H. SEEM. t

EDMUND o. Moin-irait.v 1

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