US1737327A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1929. E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed,Sept. 16, 1924- 9 Sheets-Sheet fizveizz'or: Err 4E0 07004:;

' mmssesx E OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Nov. 26, 1929.

Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 izventaz':

Witnesses E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 Nov. 26, 1929.

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 172087380 .50/4/460 Oroozs,

Witnesses Nov.'26, 1929. EOTOOLE" ,73

MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 [Fitness-es: jmeiztor:

fan 4E0 07004 E,

Nov. 26, 1929. E. foTooLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 [raven for: Aim 42.0 070045,

m\\ k QMV Q/ w M k t: vvm mm \m j mhw hm \m {M W A M \m M nu M N Us My Witnesses Nov. 26, 1929. E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 m WM 3557298595: flan/W Nov. 26, 1929. E; OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 mentor: [OH/4E0 070045;

Witnesses:

Nov. 26, 1929. E. OTOOLE MINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 16, 1924 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 R Inventor )Vz'inesses Err/450 070015,

Nov. 26,1929.

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ina enter Patented Nov. 26, 1929 nnwimno'roonri, or GARY, wEs'r'vIRerNr-A MIN-ENG MACHINE Aliplic'atiofllfildi September 1-6, 1924. Serial N:-738,0342.

This" invention relates to mining machines and more particularly te a! combined roof support and advancing rig for use with the long-Walk type: of mining; machines adapted to bemove'd bodily! forwardiinto the material beingsmined;

The object of the present invention is:' to provide a combine'dreoi support an d advancing rig adaptedito support the roofand advance with the machine':

Another object is to; provide a device of this class having a tract0r=torm of propelling mech'anismat'both the upper andlow-er ends adapted toengage both the root and-floor of the mine,

A further object is to. provide a device of the class described hamirrgtlie ncve'l construction, combi'n at'i'o'n} and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and i'l'lust-rat'ed' in. the

accompanying drawings; 1

In the drawings I p Figures 1 and 1 combine toiillustrate a plan view of a mining machine. with wh ch the combinedroofsupporting;andadvancuig rigs of thisinvent'ien arepriinarily adapted for use.

Figures Qand Q comb ineito" sh'cwf. rear elevation ofi tlie' rnacliin'e of Fi'gzures" 1: and 1?. Figure 3 is anlendvisW ofthe buttend of the machine of Figures 1 and 1 showing the roof support-ingand advancing rigs in position; i I I t Figure 4 isanenlarged rcarelev aticn oi the d eliveryend of 'theinini'ng machine} Figure 5" isan enlarged end elevation of the delivery end of the mining machine;

Figure 6' is 'a transversese'ctional elevation through the mining"; in achine on th'e line Figure 7 is a transverse-sectionalelevation through one of the drive connections of the mining machine which -drive the roof sup porting andvradvancing rigs;

Figure: 8is an enlarged side elevation. of one oi the combinedrooiisupporting andadvancing rigs. I Figure-9 is atop-plan thereof.

Figure 10 isa: sectionalelevation 0nthe line -XXof Figure'9.

Figure 11 is a similar elevation of the l line "XI-XI of Figure" 9.

7 Referring more particularly to the drawings; the letter mainframe of th A designates the elongated eminingmachineas a- Whole,

bottom' f ace otthebottomrplate2j and serve as both skids and stiijl'fening -membersg i r A- cutterxchain-idler sprocket 1'1 isjournal'ed to" rotate; about substantially ventical axis in a bearing longitudinally-10f thejrame A-byfmfeans of block 12 which is adjustable the screw threads-ch adj ustingbar .l-3-niountied i in the rigid cross bar ,f 14:secured betweenthe cutter chainguides-Band 6;

As cutter chain head 'orpovversproclietlb is mounted on a substantially vertical shaft 16 ournaled at'the head-end of theunachine.

A cu'tter' chain L7 of standard design is trained over the sprockets? 1 1 and-1 5 and h passes throughthe guides 5 6a A conveyer idler. sprocket 1-9 15" 3 ourn aled to rotate about a substantially verticals axis in an adjustable-bearing. block 2Q slidabliv mountedbetW'een-ashort den'gth of channel 21 and the channel The bearing block 20- is adapted? to bje adjustedby means ofscrew threaded: adgusting r0dr22 threaded into a Thehead or loading end ofg -the-ftame-A' is inclined upward re'ctily into cars." sprocket 25 is vertical shaft 2 frameAs Q A conveyer' ch 1v sufliciently to permitthe conveyejr 1to disehargethemined material di- As conveyer head or; power mounted on a substantially 6 at thehead-endotithe ain} is around the sprockets 19 and 25 and carries conveyer flights 28. The flights 28 are substantially triangular shaped in plan and comprise a vertically disposed material engaging face or wall 28 and a pair of rearwardly extending flanges 29. The flights 28 are pivotal at their heels, asat 30, to the conveyor chain 27, and

are adapted to be'folded back along the con veyor chain during their return'passage so that the flanges 29 extend over and under the chain 27. The flanges 29 are provided with rollers 31 for a purpose to be described;

The forward face of the, channel 4 is provided with a hardened wear plate 32 and the conveyer chain 27 and flights 28 are adapted to ride along this plate when conveying material, so that the rollers 31 will contact with the plate and prevent the flights from moving about their pivotal connections 30. Therefore, the flights will be held in extended position to convey the mined material.

The main or rear channel member 3 is bent rearwardly at thehead end of the frame, as at 33,.to provide clearance for the extended conveyer flights 28 as they travel around the head sprocket 25. As the flights pass around the sprocket they will engage the back of the channel 3 and be moved about their pivotal connections so as to fold back along 6 the chain 27. The space between the channels 3 and 4 being considerably less than the length'of the conveyer flights 28, the flights will be held in their folded position as they return to the butt end of the machine.

A wear-and guide plate 34 is secured between the flanges -of the channel 4 and the lbutt end of the plate 32. The plate 35 is slotted to permit the chain 27- to engage the teeth of the sprocket 19 and also serve as a guide-against which the rollers 31 of the flights 28 will engage and thus force the flights outwardly into extended or material engaging position. The rear or mam channel member 3 is also bent rearwardly at the butt end of theframe, asat 37,- to provide clearance for the flights as they are forced into extendedposition.

The cover plate8 is extended over the forward edge of the channel '4, as at 37?, and

' serves'to maintain'the conveyer chain 27 in position.

A plurality of worm and worm-wheel casings 38 are secured at spaced intervals along the rear faceof the main channel member 3 shaft 26. 1

- The driving gearing and shafts fordr'iving the conveyer chain 27 are so arranged. and

openings adapted to receive a filler bar 43 and the squared forward end of a power shaft 44 adapted to be connected to the drive mechanism of the combined roof support and advancing rigs to be described.

The main frame A has its head end widened out and extended forwardly to provide a support for the driving motor B and its associated gearing, shafting, etc., necessary to drive the machine.

The motor B is mounted on the extreme forward portion of the main frame and has its armature shaft coupled directly to a shaft 48 which has a bevel gear 49 on its rear end in mesh with a bevel gear 50 on a substantially vertical stub shaft 51. The shaft 51 also carries a sprocket 52 which is operatively connected by'a chain 53 with a sprocket 53 on the shaft 16 on which the cutter chain head orv power sprocket 15 is mounted. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the cutter chain is driven by the motor B through the above mechanism, and it is to be noted that the above drive connections are so arranged that the cutter chain willbe 'driven in clockwise direction.

The shaft 48 is connected through suitable reducing gearing 55 to a shaft 56 which carries a bevel gear 57 intermediate its ends and a c1utch 58for operatively connecting the gear 57 with the shaft. The gear 57 is in mesh ,with a bevel gear 58 on a spurv shaft 58 which is connected through gears 58 to the power shaft 41 which extends lengthwise along the rear side of the machine.

The shaft 56 extends beyond the gear 57 to the rear of the main frame and has a gear 59 thereon adapted to be connected to or disconnected from the shaft by means of a clutch 60. The gear 59 is in mesh with a gear 61 on a stub shaft 62 which also is provided with a sprocket 63. The sprocket 63 is connected by a chain 64 with a sprocket 65 on a I stub shaft 66, which also carriesa sprocket 67 which isconnected to a sprocket 68 on a head shaft 69 by'a chain6 9 The shaft 69 carries a bevel gear 70 which meshes with. a

bevel gear 71 on the conveyer head sprocket connected that the conveyer chain will be driven in a counter-clockwise direction, that is, in the opposite direction to the direction of travel of the cutter chain 17, so that the return strand of the cutter chain moves parallel wlth and 1n the same direction as the unease? working or conveying strand of the conveyingchain, and thus the cutting bits of the cutter chain and-'the flights of the conveyer will co-operate-to move-the mined materi-al lengthwise ofthe machine.

The mining machine shown and described is made the subject: of my co pendingapplication, Serial No. 131,810,:filed'kugust 13. 192%. It will beunderstood that while the :combined roof supporting advancing rigs, to which this application is primarily directed, are particularly adapted for "use with amining machine such-wasishownfiand described, their use is not li miited to such machines, but they maybe used with any other mining machine where it is desired to. have combined: roof supports and advancing rigs. The combined roof support and advancing rig of this invention comprises a base -72 which is built up of structural shapes and plates and is prov-ided along its bottoinface with a centrally arranged recess 73 and side flanges 74-. A plurality of anti-friction rollers 75 are mountediintherecess '1' 3 and project below'the'lower or bottom'face of t ie base 7 2, and have their axles 7-6 ournaled in suitable bearing openings in the flanges 74. The forward end of the base 7 2 is shaped as at 77 to fit against the rear face of the beam 3 of the mining machine.

The base 72 isprovide'd at its opposite ends with bearings 78 and 79, respectively, for transverse tractor shafts 80 and 81 having sprockets 82 against each end, over which are-trained tractor chains83 adapted toenthefloor of the mine-when in operation to feed the lowerportion of the device or rig forwardly.

The bearings {78 and 79 are-provided withcushioned mountings so :as tozpermlt a limited vertical movement of the shafts 8.0 ifllld 81, re-

I spectively. The rear bearing 78 is cushioned by ai-ubber cushion member Simounted in the base 72- above said bearingiandi adapted to be compressed thereby. The forward bearpermit vertical movement thereof.

The base 7 2 is provided witha centrally arranged acl: supportingplate86ihaving a Ty ilurality of upwardly projecting spring guides 8'7 thereon. A. plurality of heavycoil springs 88 are mounted on said-jack supporting plate, and a jaclnbase 89iis mounted on the springs 88 and adjustably heldzin position by. tie bolts 90-passing throi i-gh-asuitable.apertures in the jack base and; screw thread'ed'into the. plate 86.

A jack 91'of any ordinary; and well known construction, but preferably of the hydraulic c. -type,is mounted on the kj'ack-base89. The

ing 79 is cushioned by springs 85 so asto sprocket'123 on the tractor shaft102.

The beam or ro o'f'memberi :95 isl'built .up of structural shapes landp'lates and is provided along its upper face with a'central'ly arranged rollerrecess- 96 and side flanges '97. A' pluspective'ly, in which are j'ou'rnaled transverse "tractor shafts 102 andi1031having sprockets 104, over which are trained tractor chains 105 adapt-ed to engage the-roof ofthezmine when in operationztorfeed the upper portioir gc of: the rig forwardly.

The bearings 100 and 101. arexcushionedzfor vertical movement by means ofspring. mount lugs-106 'and'107,.respectively.

A drive shaft 1G8ismounted-on the irsars85 end of the base member 7 2 directlyabove the sprocket shaft 80 and is supportedat one end on' the shaft 80: by a connecting beariirgi memher .109, andat its other end=by the drive gearing ho-usingll t). il-t-willwthusibe seeuseo that any vertical movement of :the sprocket shaft 80 will be communicated direct tothe drive shaft 108 and, therefore tlreseishafts will remain constantly spaced, irrespective of the VGT'lHCHl'IHOVEHIGDt of the shaft80 denote-W its cushioned bearing.

Theshafts 108 and "80 are provided with worm Wheels 111 and 112, respectivelymvithin the housingllO, which mesh .withwth-eaopposite'si'des of :a worm 113:0ii a longitudmally extending shaft 114'journaled lllithG. housing 110. The shaft llkisiprovidedwith 'awo-rm wheel-115m mesh with a worm 116ml avertical shaft 117 j'ournaledin.thehousing110,

and provided with'ia beveljgear 118 on itsiilaoa lower end, which is in mesh with a-bevel gear 118 on the rear-endof'a horizontahpower shaft-119, which extends through the 'f'orwa rd end of the housing and is connected to the power shaft 44: by a universalcoupling' bllo member 120. a

The shaft 108'is provided with a sprocket 121 at its end oppositethe worm wheel 111,

which is connected by a chain 122 to a From the above description of the drive mechanism it will be readily seen-,tha-tasthe shaft 41 is operated by the 1notorofwthe'1na chine, each of the several roof supporting and advancing rigs will be steadily' and constant- 1y driven so .asto slowlyadvance and push the mining machine :into the material being mined. m

This steady'advance of the iroof supporting rigs at a rate equal to the advance-ofthe mining machine eliminates" the dangerof a roof fall between the: machine and 1 theeroof supports, and also eliminates'the labor and delays necessary to move up other forms of stationary supports. 1 31 to the specific construction shown, since various modifications may be made without departing fromthe scope of my invention as defined in' the appended claims.

' 1; The combination with a mining machine, of means separate from and located at the rear of said machine for supporting the roof of the mine and for advancing said machine into the material being 'mined, said means including a power jack member and power advancing means for simultaneously advancing the machine and jack in a horizontal direction.

2. The combination with a mining machine, of means separate from and located at the rear of said machine for supporting the roof of the mine and for advancing said machine into the material being mined, said means'comprising a base having its forward end in engagement with said machine, a jack on said base, a roof support carried by said jack, tractor members on said base and roof support, and means for driving said tractor members; V

3. The combination with a mining machine, of means separate from and located at the rear of said machine for supporting the roof of the mine and for advancing said machine into the. material being mined, said member'having a plurality of rollers jourmeans comprising a base member having a plurality of anti-friction rollers along its bot tom face, and having its forward end in engagement with said machine, a jack on said base, a roof support carried by said jack, sald roof support having a plurality of anti-friction rollers along its upper face, tractor memberson said base and roof support, and means for driving said tractormembers.

4. The combination with a combined longwall mining and loading machine, of a combined roof support and advancing rig separate from said machine comprising an elongated base member having its forward end in engagement with the rear side wall of said machine, a ack member mounted on said base member, an elongated roof support carried by said jack, tractor members on said base and said roof support, and means for driving saidtractors v V p 5. A combined roof support and mining machine advancing rig comprlsing abase naled along itsbottom face, tractor chains mounted along each side of said base and adapted to engage the floor of the mine, a

plurality of coil springs mounted" on said base, a hydraulic jack mounted on said coil springs so as to permit a limited vertical movement of said jack, a roof support mounted onsaid jack, said roof support having a plurality of rollers journaled along its upper face, and tractor chains along each side of said roof support adapted to engage the roof of the mine, the tractor .chains onsaid base and said roof support being adapted to be driven simultaneously to advance said device.

6. A combined roof support and mining machine advancing rig comprising a base member having a plurality of rollers journaled along its bottom face, tractor chains mounted along eachside of said base and adapted to engage the floor of the mine, a jack mounted on said base, a roof support mounted on said jack, said roof support having a plurality of rollers ournaled along its upper face and tractor chains along each side of said roof support adapted to engage the roof of the mine, the tractor chains on said base and said roof support being adapted to be driven simultaneously toadvance said device.

7. The combination with a combined longwall mining and loading machine comprising a substantially rectangular frame, said machine being adapted to be moved bodilyinto the coal being mined, of a plurality of com bined roof supports and advancing rigs located to the rear of said machine, said roof supports and advancing rigs each comprising a base member adapted to engage the rear face of the machine. frame and having a plurality 'of rollers journaled along its bottom face,

the mine, a drive shaft journaled along the rear of said machine frame, and means operativelyrconnecting each of said combined roof supports and advancing rigs with said drive shaft. to drive said tractor chains, whereby said combined roof supports and advancing. rigs and mining machine will be simultaneously moved .forward into the coal being mined.

'8. The combination with a mining machine of the longwall type, of a plurality of combined roof supports and advancing rigs lo cated to the rear of said machine, said roof supports and advancing rlgs each comprising a base member adapted to engage the rear face of the machine, a plurality of rollers j ournaled along the bottom face of saidbase, tractor chains mounted along each side of said base and adaptedto engage the floor of the mine, a jack mounted on said base, a roof support mounted on said jack, said roof support having a plurality of rollers jour-- naled along its upper face, tractor chains arranged along each side of said roof support, power driving means carried by said machine, and means for operatively connecting said tractor chains with said power driv ing means, whereby said combined roof supports and advancing rigs and said mining machine will be simultaneously moved forward into the coal being mined.

9. A roof supporting machine for supporting the roof of a mine comprising a base member having a plurality of anti-friction rollers along its bottom face, a jack on said base, a roof support carried by said jack, said roof support having a plurality of antifriction rollers along its upper face, tractor members on said base and roof supports, and means for driving said tractor members.

10. A roof supporting mechanism for supporting the roof of a mine comprising a base member having a plurality of anti-friction rollers along its bottom face, tractor chains mounted along each side of said base and adapted to engage the floor of the mine, resilient means mounted ,on said base, a jack mounted on said resilient means so as to permit a limited vertical movement of said jack, a roof support mounted on said jack, said roof support having a plurality of rollers journaled along its upper face, and tractor chains along each side of said roof support adapted to engage the roof of the mine, the tractor chains on said base and said roof support being adapted to be driven simultaneously to advance said device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD OTOOLE.

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