US1729177A - morgan - Google Patents

Description

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E. C. MORGAN LOADING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 8, 1917 13 Sheets-Sheet l5 3 wvo/wko@ 7d/aafla! ij/aiya@ @ttor/naw 0 ua u Patented Sept. 24, 1929 E DlUND C. MORGAN, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, N. Y.; OLIVE EUGENIE MOR- GAN EXECUTRIX OIT' SAID EDMU'ND C. MORGAN, DECEASED LOADING MACHINE Application filed Ifecember 8, 1917, Serial No. 206,260. Renewed April 9, 1927.

rThis invention relatos to a machine for loadfag cv al and other material, and is especially adapted tor use in mines in which the vein or stratun'i ot' coal is very thin so that the root ot the mine chamber opening is very low.

The object of the invention is to provide a nlac -ine ot the class named which shall be of in'iproved construction and operation.

rEhe invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement ot parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended cla'ins.

li the drawings- Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through ...ne chamber showing one embodiment of present invention in place therein.

Fig. 2 is a ver-ical sectionai view of the chamber shown in 1 and represents the loading machine in elevation.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 taken together constitute a top plan view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but on a larger scale.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 together constitute a horizontal sectional view et the machine taken on a plane just above the lower portion of the runway ior the coal., portions of the machine being broken away to show details of construction.

9, 10 and 11 togeher constitute a side elevation oithe machine in place in a mine chamber, parte ot the machine being broken Figs. 12, 13 and 14 constitute a vertical secal v`ew ot the machine substantially'on line 12-14 of Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Figs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 2O are transif'erseksectional views on lines 1515, 16-16, 17H17 of isis, isi-i9 of io,

r Fig. 5, respectively. lig. 21 is a top plan view ot a modified form of scoop nose for the machine.

Fig. 22 is a vertical sectional view on line eaves @i rig. 2i.

T 23 is a front elevation, and Fig. 24 eievation of still another form of scoop .z and ,if 5. and 26 are side and front elevaf tions, respectively, of a form of door especially designed for use on a car to be loaded by the machine shown in the other figures of the drawings. 1V hile in a great many mines that are being worked at the present time the veins are comparatively thin and the roofs, therefore, low, there are still other veins that are even thinner than those which are now considered as economically workable, and the present invention is designed to operate in such mines Yith. very loW roots; for example, the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is drawn to a scale of approximately one-quarter of an inch to the feot, so that this machine is represented as working in a mine having a thirty inch vein. In spite of the limited space in which the machine is operated, it is so constructed that ample passageway is provided for the coal, and the parts may be of liberal proportions and substantial construction. The loading machine proper comprises a rear truck A and a forward truck B, the rear truck being arranged to discharge into a car C, while the 'forward truck carries a scoop D, which is toi-ced beneath the coal by forward movement of the machine in the minel chamber, the coal having been previously blasted down or otherwise loosened in the chamber. The main iframe of the rear truck A, as shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 15, comprises a channel-shaped body having a bottom plate 1 and upwardly extending side plates 2 and 3. Secured to the outer faces of each of the side plates 2 and 3 are bracket plates 4 and 5, which are connected ith the side plates by inwardly bent portions 6 and 7, respectively, there being a connecting portion at each end of each of the brochet plates, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 16. Extending between each of the bracket plates 4 and 5 and their respective side plates, are short axles 8, 9, 10 and 11, on which are rotatably mounted Wheels 12, 13, 14 and 15, respectively, which constitute the supporting wheels .For the rear truck, and which travel upon the rails 16 of the mine track. A supporting plate 17 extends between the bracket plate 4 and its side plate 2, and upon the plate 17 is mounted a motor 18, shown in Figs. 3, 4 .9, l0 and l?, The motor 18 is, provided with a pair of shafts 19 and 20, which are connecte-d by reduction gearing` 21 and 22, respe ively, with the truck wheels 12 and 13, the wheels being prov`ded with gears 23 and 24 rigidly secured thereto. A pair of transverse shafts 25 and 26 connect the gears 23 and 2-lwith correspending gears 27 and secured to the wheels 14 and 15, respectively. lily this arrangement rotation ol the motor 18 will (firive all tour ot the truck wheels simultaneously in the same direction, thus propelling; the machine alongthe track 16. The direction and speed ot rotation of the motor 18 is governed by a controller 29 secured to to theY bracket member 7, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

Connected to the outer 'tace of the side wall 3, between the side wall and bracket member 5, is a second motor 30, provided with a set ot reduction gearing contained within the housing' 31, and arranged to drive a drum 32, on which cables 33 and 34 are wound. The cables 33 and 34 extend over guide pulleys 35 and 85, respectively, and the end or the cable is connected to projections 37 on one ot the cross ties at the rear of the machine, while the cable 34 is similarly connected to a mine jack near the forward end oit' the machine. The motor is governed by one of a series ot controllers 40, supported by the bracket member 6, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be apparent that rotation ot the drum 32 in one direction will move the loading machine forwardly to force the nose of the scoop beneath the material to be mined, while rotation ot the drum in the opposite direction will draw the machine rearwardly away from the material. Running- boards 41 and 42 are hinged to the outer faces ot' the bracket members 4 and 5, respectively, for the accommodation of the operator oi" the .machine These boards, as will be apparent, may be swung upward y against the outer faces of their respective bracket plates to permit movement ot the machine through narrow passageways, or between the props of a mine.

The forward truck B has a channel-shaped main frame member similar to that of the rear truck A which constitutes the body of the truck, and which is provided with a base plate 43 and side plates 44 and 45, as shownv in Figs. 4, 7 and 19. The channel-shaped body portions ot the front and rear trucks are pivotally connected with one another, as shown in Figs. 4, 7. 10, 13 and 1S, so that the :forward truck may swing' laterally about the trontend oit the rear truck. ln order to provide this pivotal connection, the forward end of the body portion of the rear truck A is enlarged and given a circular formation, as shown most clearly in 4 and 7, while the rear end ot the torward truck body is similarly shaped. rFhe side plates 2 and 3 oiI the rear truck body are curved outwardly, as

portions embrace similarly curved portions 48 and 49, respectively, of the walls 44 and 45 of the iront truck. ylhe bottom plates ot each of the truck bodies, between the curved portions of the respective side walls, are eX- tended to torni circular portions, the circular portion 5() oli the forward truck being arranged to lie upon the circular portion 51. of the rear truck, as shown in Fig. 18. As shown also in this ligure, the outer curved walls 4G and 47 of the rear truck are provided respectively with downwardly turned rims o1 flanges 52 and 53 which overlap the upper edges of jthe side plates 48 and 49. lt will be apparent that this arrangement provides a pivotal connection between the front and rear trucks which permits lateral movement oi the tront truck body, but holds the two body portions rigid relative to one another in respect to vertical movement. rlhe two circular base plates 50 and 51 may be provided at the central portion with a pivot pin 54, as shown in Fig. 18.

For the purpose of swinging` the two truck sections relative to one another, a motor 55, F 4 and 18, is mounted on a downwardly extendingportion 56 of the overlapping,l langre 53 of the curved side plate 47, and is provided with a worm 57, which meshes with a worm wheel 58, carried on a shaft 59, mounted in bearings GO, which are supported from the casing' of the motor. The sha'tt 59 carries a spur rear 61, which meshes with teeth on a rack 62 secured to the inner curved plate 49 of the front truck section. It is apparent that rotation of the motor will cause the body of the front truck to be swung laterally about its pivotal connection with the rear truck. Set screws with hand wheels G3 may be provided for locking,` the two truck sections a gains-t relative movement.

rllhe scoop D is pivotally connected by a hinge 64 to the front end et' the body portion of the forward truck, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14 This scoop is also channel-shaped in cr section, as shown in Figi". 20, and is provided with a base plate 65 and side plates GG. As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, Athe scoop is wider at its forward end than at its rear end, the side walls beingrr arranged to converge inwardly adjacent the connection between the scoop and the main portion ot the front truck trame. its will be seen trom Fig. 14, the base plate 65 ot the scoop D extends only to the hinge G4 where the scoop is connected with the iront end of the forward truck. The side members G6, however, are continued along the outside of the truck frame, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 10, and constitute lever arms 67, the upper edges ot the arms being provided with strengthening flanges 68. A rein- 'forcing' plate 69 is secured to the bottom tace ot the plate 65 in iront of the hinge 64, and is provided with shoes which rest on the sui-'tace of the min-e floor, as shown in Figs.

CIW

chains.

11 and 14. Short axles 71 project from the outer races of the lever arins 67, and truck wheels 72 are rotatably mounted on these axles and are n'iovahle with the arins 67 into and out of engaeeinent with the tracl rails 1.6. the two posit. is of the truck wheels corresponding to the different positions of the scoop D boina' shown in hrolren and full lines, respectively, Fic'. 2 of tile drawings. The rear ends et ne lever arms 67 are provided with socket inenihers 73, in which screws 74 are threaded. The lower ends oit the screws 7e are connected with the inain traine of the 'front truck oy hraclets 7?, and hy this ar rangement the rear ends of the lever arms G7 inay he sed or lowered relative to the `alain traine of the 'iront truck. The screws 74 are provided with operating handles 7 6 hy which they may he rotated. In this way the scoop ction D may he elevated or swunginto position to rest upon the floor ot the naine chamher and support the forward portion of the inachine.

Frein the foregoing description it will he seen that the inain traine-work ot the 1nachine is channel-shaped throughout its entire length, provi .ingl a central conduit .through which the coal may he transported frein the receiving' end oft the scoop into position to he discharged into the car C. A pair ot conveyor chains 77 and 7S extend the full length of the machine and are arranged so that the inner run of each chain travels rearwardly to convey the coaY troni the scoop to the car. Extending' longitudinally ot the central portion et the rear truck A, as shown (i, 1.2, 15, 1G and 17, is a plate 79 cured to the upper surface ot the bottoni plate 1 of the truck traine hy rivets 80. The inner runs ot the conveyor chains 7 7 and 7 8 slide along the upper surface ,of this plate and are guided on their inner sides hy a spacing;` plate 8l, the outer edges ot which fit between the links of the chains 77 and 78, as shown in Fig. 16. The plate 81 is spaced from the upper surface of the plate 79 hy spacer strips 82, so that the edges of the plate 18 may overlie the edges ot the lower links of the conveyor chains. The outer edges ot the inner runs ot the chains 77 and '78 are similarly guided hy strips 83 spaced upwardly from the plate 79 hy spacer strips 841-. This construction is also shown in Fig. G. The strps 84 are of less thickness than the plate 81, so that there is sufficient space between the strips 84 and the upper linlrs of the conveyor chains to permit the edges of plates 85 an d 86 to eX- tend beneath the upper links of the conveyor These plates 85 and 86 have upwardly hent side plates 87 and 88, respectively, which are connected to the side plates 2 and 3 of the main traine to the rear truclr section. By this construction the plates 81, 85 and 86 are made to constitute the floor for the runway over which the coal is transported, the floor thus formed hein@` provide@L with longitudinally attaining grooves indithe inner cated by the numeral 89, in which runs of the conveyor chains are through which the upper lifil esterni into position to ei i n the runway and cause it to trave-i roam". therein. its shown in the drawings, chains are not provid with. any special projections for entg'apD Y the coal, as iai most cases, the :friction of the chains and the coal is sullicient to cause the coal to travel aloney the runway. will he noted that very little elevation of the coal rerpiired throughout its entire travel, and this reason no positive engaging devices are usually required. It in seine cases it is found necessary, the links ot the chains may he provided with projections for positively enoao'ine1 the coal.

'D A nt their rear ends the cliains are directed into their return path hy grooves 90, in a block 91 fastened to the upper sui-tace et the plate l. lt will he seen that the chains rel turn between the plate l and plates and 97 and the return runs ot the chan somewhat lower level than the For this reason the grooves are inane to slope downwardly toward the outer sides ot the inachine to brina` the return runs et the conveyor into properl level. las will l seen trein Fig. 19, the inain traine of' the trent sections is provided with. plate 92, corresponding` to the plate 79 of the rear truck section, hut oli somewhat less thickness. Sinih ilarly the inner runs of the conveyor chains are spaced trein one another' by a plate 3, corresponding; to plate 8i ot the rear truck, while the return runs ot the conveyor are covered hy plates 94 and 95, corresponding to plates 85 and 86 et the rear truck.V in the central portion of the machine, where the two trucks are pivote-d together, the plate 79 has its lower surface cu; away, as shown at 96 in Fig. 1S ot the drawings, so that the circular portion 5() ot' the hase plate 413 of the front truck section will lie between 'the eircular portion 51 the rear truck section and the part et the 'plate 7 9 not cut away. The part et the plate ay has its trent corners hevelee in to pei-init lateral .i up,

7, i liront tiuclz. while the central por on or" the plate rounded out upon `the line 98 in order to lit a complementaryprojection eXtending` frein the rear end ot the plate 92. The spacplates 81 and are similarly rounded so that their ahntting` ends lit one another alena` the line 9S, there heine; a projection 100 on the forward spacing plate 9?, corresponding to the projection 99 on the plate 92. The forward ends of the cover pilates and S6 for the return runs of the conveyors are rounded off, as shown hy broken lines 101 and 102 in Fig. 4 of the drawings,

while the rear ends ot the cover plates Y9a lOO and 95 are similarly rounded, as shown at 103 and 104, the ends of the forward plates overlapping the ends of thc rear plates, so that rearwardly moving coal will not catch upon the overlapping edges. rThe upwardly bent portions 37 and 88 of the cover plates 85 and SG are extended to a greater height through the central pivotal portion of .the machine, as shown at 105 in Fig. 13 of the drawings, so that these extended port-ions form the side walls for the passageway through this portion of the machine. rllhese upwardly extended walls 105 of the rear truck are not connected with the cover plates 85 and 86 through this portion of the machine, as is shown in Fig. 13. rllhis will permit slight lateral springing movement of these walls when the forward truck is swung laterally about its pivotal connection with the rear truck. The cover plates 85 and Soiare extended, as shown at 107 and 108, a slight distance on each side of the runway, so that the side walls 105 will not be moved beyond the edges of the cover plates when they are sprung to one side.

The conveyor chains 77 and 73 are driven by means of a motor 109, Figs. 11 and 13. rllhe motor 109 is geared to a shaft 110, journaled in brackets 111, extending from the motor casing, and provided with a sprocket wheel 112, over which the outer run of the conveyor I78 passes. r1`he lower end of the shaft 110 is liournaled in a bearing 113, which is secured to the plate 51, which, as previously stated, is the circular extension of the main base plate for the rear truck. The motor 109 is mounted upon this same rear truck frame by means of a downwardly exten ding plate 1111`connected with the overlapping edge 52 of the plate 16. The lower end of the shaft 110 carries a gear wheel 115, which drives a pair of idlers 116 and 117 mounted on the lower surface of the plate 51, and which in turn drive a gear wheel 118 connected with the lower end of a short shaft 119, journaled in a bearing 120, which extends through the plate 51, the upper cud of the shaft being also journaled in the bearing 60. The shaft 119 carries a sprocket wheel 121, which drives the outer run of the conveyor chain 77. rl`he motor 109 is governed by one of the controllers 40 previously mentioned. The gears 115, 116, 117 and 118 are protected by a housing 122 secured to the under surface of the plate 51. The plate 50 is provided with arcuate slots through which the bearings 113 and 120 project and in which they slide when the forward truck section is swung laterally relative to the rear section.

The coal receiving or scoop portion of the machine is provided with a pair of cover plates 1241 and 125, corresponding to the cover plates of the two truck sections, and is also provided with a plate 126 on which the active runs of the conveyor chains slide, and also with a spacer plate 127 lying between the two conveyors. Spacer strips for these various plates are also provided, as shown in Fig. 20. 'lhe forward end of the scoop section is provided with a nose block 128, which is moved beneath the coal when the machine is fed forwardly, and this block is provided with a rearwardly projecting plate 129 in which grooves 130 are cut for guiding the conveyor chains around their turns at the forward end of the machine. r1`he chains are provided with sufficient* slack to permit the lateral movement of the front portion of the machine without unduly stretching the chain. The active runs of the chains will, of course, be kept taut, and the slack will accumulate beneath the cover plates in the scoop section of the machine where there is plenty of space.

ln Figs. 21 and 22, there is shown a modi fied nosepiece 131, which is provided with rearwardly projecting prongs or horns 132. rhese horns are for the purpose of breaking up a mass of coal so that it will fall apart and onto the conveyor. 1t sometimes happens that when a mass of coal is undercut and shot down, although it is shattered by the eXplosion, it continues to hang together and simply settles slightly in its original position. YUnder these conditions the mass may be further loosened and caused to fall apart by first forcing the scoop with the form of nosepiece shown in Figs. 21 and 22 beneath the mass by a forward movement of the machine and then drawing the machine back. lhen this is done the prongs will catch the coal on their rearward movement and by a raking action cause it to fall apart and onto the conveyor.

Still another form of nosepiece 133 is shown in Figs. 23 and 24 of the drawings. 1n this form downward projecting ribs 134 are secured to the lower face of the nosepiece, and are provided with forwardly projecting chiseling points 135 which serve to break up and loosen any inequalities which may project from the floor of themine chamber. It should be observed that the spacedapart chiseling devices 135 are provided with forward bevel surfaces which are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the floor. The elongated ribs 134C act as skids to slide over the mine floor and because of the reduced area in Contact with the floor the friction is minimized. This construction is particularly adapted for operating on semi-compact masses of coal broken down from the face of the mine wall by means of blasting or otherwise. The forward chisel ends 135 will move along the floor and by reason of the bevel surfaces at the forward ends will wedge under the material to be loaded and such material will ride up on the inclined surface 133 into the trough to be acted upon by the conveyor mechanism. The forms of nosepieces shown in Figs. 217 22 and in Figs. 11, 14 are also pro vided with beveled surfaces at the forward ends so that the bottom of the nosepiece will slide over the Jlloor and the beveled surface Will Wedge under the material to be loaded and keep the conveyor nosepiece at the floor. It should also be noted that in all of the .terms olf nosepicces herein disclosed the scooping portion designated D in Figs. and ll is elongated and quite narrow in thickness. Vlhis is desired so that the beveled .nose 128 may be rr toi-ced under t e material at the Vl'loor quite a distance `While the conveyor chains are being operated to transfer the niaterial toward loading position at the rear end of the trough or channel `which extends parallel to the track and very close thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. By providing a i'lat bottomed elongated scoop with a beveled nosepicce the latter may be readily forced under the material to be loaded and riding up on the material Will be prevented. In other Words, the construction is such as to assure 'under the coal to be loaded by having the beveled nosepiece 128 act as a Wedge to hold the scoop D in close contact with the lioor during the scooping operations.

lt will. e seen. from Figs. l., 2 and l2 of ,he drawings that the discharge end of the l" .chine not elevated to discharge e coal over the side of the car C, but eX- ciids through the forward end of the truck.

n'iay be desirable to provide this end of cnr with a door Which can be opened and er to permit the insoiitioii of the rear end i loading insel ine into the car and to prevent coal from l ig out ot the car 'when .Willi on' fr the machine no longer in loading position.

ich a "3?: arranged along their curved fi. catch lll-O is pivotally mount- Y sine the car tor holding the door o cned or closed position, the closed 1g shown in full lines in Fig. 25 .raivingzs While the open position is shown in broken lines.

operation after the coal has been broken n any one oi 'the usual Ways, the load naehine is run into the mine vein upon el; lo, and the ends of the cables 83 and 'l in lined position with the toroop section D adjacent the down 'co-.l to be loac ed. In the drawear cable shown as being connectjectiofis on the cross ties, as previd, while the liorivardly extending nnected to a toggle-jack ifi-l, which bear against the Walls ot hamber. Any suitable method 'he c. l may be employed, howhe inmenient of the loading into the mine chamber, the lever arms 5"? are lowered to bring the Wheels T2 into engagen'icnt with the rails ot the track.

This position causes the scoop to be elevated, as shown in broken lines in Fi 2. 'Vhen the iachiiie is brought to the place Where it is to be operated, the screws -/l are rotated to swing the scoop doWnWar-dl into engagement with the door ot the mine chamber, and thus shii't the weight of the front end of the machine from the truck Wheels 7 2 to the scoop. There ivill be no great weight upon the scoop, however, or the portion of the machine in the rear of front axle ol the rear truck Will counterbalance the greater portion of the Weight ol' the front part of the machine. Willen the scoop is brought into its operating position, the truck Wheels 7 2 Will be raised to clear the track rails, shown in Fig. l0, so that the scoop may be swung laterally into any desired position. rEhe track itself extends only a very slight distance, usually less than tivo inches, above the surface of the mine iloor, so that the vertical movement of the forward truck Wheel is never very great. The motor for driving the conveyor' chain may nowbe started to operate and the machine may be run forward by means of the drum 32 and the cable 231i, to force the nose of the scoop beneath the material to be loaded. As fast as the material is brought upon the scoop` it will be carried rearwardly through the central portion of the machine by the conveyor chains and deposited in the car at the rear of the machine. The scoop may he :ted forwardly in a straight line, as shown in full lines in Fig. l, and also may be fed torivardly While it is swung to either side of the track, as shown in broken lines in this ligure. In this Way the 'al in a chamber of considerable Width o loaded by a single scoop. As the man' is ted into the car, the rear portion of u.ie car Will first be iilled and the car may be movol rearwardly by hand relatively to the machine to cause the material to be distributed in the car, but roost this rearward movement oit the car will be accomplished autom ticaliy by the pressure of the material it is discharged from the end of the conveyor. lt is not c csirable to make the action o the conveyor chain upon the material any more il'zositive than is necessary to carry the material to its discharging position, for the reason that the less positive this engagement is, the less danger there is ot breaking parts of the machine in case the material becomes choked up. Since there is but very little elevation in the material throughout the entire loading operai" on, it is not usually necessary provide any projections upon the conveyor chai' ior engaging the coal, but ot course, such projections i'iriv be provided iii cases where it is tonal that theyr are desirable.

t will be seen that the construction of the machine is such that the material is transi'erred through the central portion of the inachine on practical.)7 the same level that the The.

material occupies betere it is loaded.

continuous channel arrangement ot the mac xine without any obstructions over Which the material must be lifted, makes such an operation possible. and this method o't operation permits the use of the machine in mines Where the root is so low that other forms ol' machine cannot be used. The arrangement of the supporting Wheels and other operating mechanism at the side of the channel permits ot the use of operating parts ot liberal proportions, so that the machine may be made amply strong in spite of the cramped position in which it is designed to operate. lt is apparent Vtrom Fig. 2 of the drawings that the machine may be ied forwardly during loading operations until the it'ront- Wheels oit the rear truck come to the forward end ot the track. rlhis makes it possible for the machine to Work for a long distance in 'front ot the track in the mine chamber.

This loading machine is intended to operate in conjunction with a mining machine substantially like that shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 196,294rtiled October l2, 1917. Both machines are track mounted so to enable them to be quickly moved from one mine chamber to another on a suitable mine track constructed in advance, the preferred plan ot operation being as follows; the track is first set in the desired position ending a considerable space back from the mine Wall. This Work prete"- ably done by a special gang olE nien Who devote all oi' their time to this Work. rlhe miningv machine is next run into the chamber by its set of operatives, and by its novel construction is enabled to undercut the coal face and also drill the blast holes in addition, ii' desired, doing this Work Without extending the mine track. ritter it has completed operation it is run out ot the room on the mine track. All the coal that has been undercut by this operation is then loosened by blasting or other suitable means, a. special set ot operatives being detailed for this Work. The loading machine is then run into 'the room and performs its operation Without any extension ot the mine track. The chamber is then ready for the iirst mentioned gang oit men to extend the track for the next operation` All of these operations can be car .ied on simultaneously in a systematic manner by providing a plurality of mine chambers, enabling a large amount of coal to be mined and transported trom the mine with a great saving of labor and concentrating the work so that a comparatively small number oiE mine chambers are required. By the novel construction of my invention the loading machine is enabled to gather and load substantially all of the coal at the closed end ot a .mine chamber at one operation, Without ei;- tending the track, that it is possible for the undercutting machine to undercut at one rnnnation` I claim l. ln a loading machine, the combination With a trough .extending in a general horizontal direction and longitudinally to adapt the machine for use in a very low root mine chamber, of means for supporting such hori mentally extending trough With its bottom close to the door of the mine chamber and substantially parallel thereto, and means tor gathering material from a position in advance of said trough and transferring such materialy along said trough toward the rear delivery end thereof by reciprocating movement rectilinearly ot the entire loading machine.

2. In a loading machine, the combination with a 'frame having an elongated conveyer passageway extending horizontally along a mine chamber adjacent the floor thereof, ot Wheels 'for supporting said frame tor movement over the mine floor, the axes ot said Wheels being approximately in the plane et the bottom et said passageway so that the latter may occupy such position, and means for eifecting the transfer of material longitudinally along such passageway.

3. ln a loading machine, the combination with a frame having an elongated channel extendin horizontally along the central portion thereot, oll Wheels rotatable on the axes approximately at the bottom et said channel to support the latter close to the ground and with the trent and rear portions substantially at the same elevation, and means 'for propelling the material along said channel ndiile occupying such low positions all the way from the trent ot the loading` machine to the rear end thereof.

In a loading machine, the combination with a trame having a conveyor conduit ett tending longitudinally along the central portion thereof, and Wheels on opposite sides et said frame with their axles above 'the bottoni thereof to support said conveyor conduit to intersect the axes ot' said Wheels and to support said conveyor conduit to occupy such low position close to the mine door all the way trom the 'trent to the rear end thereof'.

In a `loading` machine, the combination with a channel-shaped trame having horizontal longitudinally extending bottom ot approximately the width ot a niine track, et Wheels connected with the outside ly teral faces ot the upright walls oi said tra, ie to support said bottom in a horizontal position extending parallel to the mine 'track and longitudimilly thereof, and means tor movn material longitudinally along the channelsshaped iframe in lines parallel to said rack.

G. ln a loading machine, the ot a channel-shaped conveyor' traine with the l'iettom thereof extending in approximately the same horizontal plane throughout its entire length, and Wheels located at combination 'the .sides of said frame to support the same on a mine tracl with the bottom parallel 'to such track and adjacent thereto with sufijcient clearance for said frame to move freely longitudinally of such tract'.

7. in a loading machine, the combination with a conveyor frame having a channel for the movement of material therethrough, of a jointed connection between sections of .s id channel, and means for supporting the sections and the jointed connection to maintain the bottom of the channel on substantially the same level across the jointed connection during the various relitivc positions of said sections.

8. In a loading machine, the combination with a frame having two sections, of connections between said sections to afford adjustment of the forward section laterally to various positions, and means for scooping material into the forward section and transferring such material rearwardly into the rear section and along the latter without changing the level of such section.

9. n a loading machine, the combination with a conveyor frame having a front and a rear section, of means for connecting said sections to permit the forward section to be adjusted laterally While maintaining a continuous channel passageway from one section to the other, the floor level of said channel passageway being uninterrupted by the connection between said sections or by the adjustment of the forward section to various lateral positions, and means for effecting the introduction of material into the forward section in the various adjusted positions of the latter and movement of such material rearwardly along such channel toward loading position at the rear end of said channel.

l0. ln a loading machine, a frame comprising front and rear sections provided w channel-shaped conveyor passageways extending longitudinally thereof, said sections being pivotally connected for lateral movement relative to one another', the channelshaped passage of each section being arranged to form a continuation of the passage of the other section so that material may be moved on the same level throughout the entire length of said machine.

ll. ln a loading machine, the combination with a frame comprising two channel-shaped sections pivotally connected together to form continuous trough with the forward section laterally adjustable, of means for supgorting said sections with the floors thereof in substantially the same horizontal plane, and means for effecting the introduction of material into the forward section and movement rearwardly of such material along such sectional trough to the rear end of the rear section.

ln a loading machine, a frame comprising a pair of channel-shaped sections having their adjacent ends pivotally connected with one another for lateral movement and arranged to form a continuous channel with the floor thereof extending in substantially the same horizontal plane throughout its entire length, and wheels connected with the outer sides of said channel-shaped sections for supporting` said frame so that the floor of said sections shall be in close proximity to the surface over which said machine operates and below the aXes of said wheels.

13. In a loading machine adapted for operation in very low roof mine chambers, the combination with a wheel supported elongated frame having a trough adapted to travel on a mine track, of a scoop connected to the forward end of said chute and adjusted to positions for scooping material from a space in advance of the mine track and at the sides of such space, means for operating said scoop by moving the same rectilinearly parallel to the tracl: while in any one of adjusted positions for scooping the material, and means for conveying the scooped material along said trough out of the rear end thereof.

lll. In a loading machine adapted for operation in very low roof mine chambers, the combination with a frame having an elongated channel extending in a general horizontal direction longitudinally, of gathering means extending in a general horizontal direction in advance of said channel, means for moving said gathering means rectilinearly to gather a load from the space in advance of said frame, and means traveling along said channel for transferring the gathered material in a general horizontal direction to the rear delivery end of the loading machine.

l5. A machine for loading material in a mine chamber comprising a frame having a passageway extending longitudinally thereof, the floor of said passageway being on substantially the same level throughout its entire length but slightly inclined downwardly at the forward end thereof to permit of the movement of material from the floor of said chamber into said passageway, and chain conveyor mechanism for causing material to be transferred along said passageway and discharged from the rear end thereof into a transporting receptacle.

16. A. machine for loading material in a mine chamber comprising a frame having a channel-shaped passage extending longitudinally therethrough, said frame and passage being provided with a pivotal joint intermediate the ends thereof to permit lateral movement of the opposite ends of said frame relative to one another, the floor of said passage being of the same height throughout the greater portion of the length thereof but slightly inclined downwardly at its forward end to permit movement of material into said passage from the floor of said mine chamber,

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