US2302461A - Cuttings-conveying mechanism - Google Patents

Description

7, .942. D. R. RICHARDS CUTTING'S-CCNVEYING MECHANISM s-Sheei. l

2 Sheet Filed Nov. 20, 1939 atfy.

bwi hmmmm Nov. 17, 1942. D R, c ns 2,302,461

CUTTINGS-CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 19:9 e heet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTINGS-CONVEYING MECHANIS Dwight E. Richards, Grantham, England, assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,331

20 Claims. (Cl. 262-30) This invention relates'to mining machines, and more particularly to improvements in a cuttings-conveying mechanism or so-called gummer especially designed for use with a coal mining machine of the endless cutter chain type, for mechanically removing the cuttings or gum from the neighborhood of the return run of the endless cutter chain and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal;

In coal mining machines of the endless cutter chain type, during the cutting of a kerf in the coal the cutting'sor so-called gum carried out from the kerf by the endless cutter chain piles up around the machine so that the accumulation of the cuttings or ,gum hinders been found that the continual churning of the cuttings by the endless cutter chain considerably increased the power consumed in the cutting operation and further appreciably increased the wear of the cutter chain parts and cutter bits or picks, and increased maintenance cost and the time occupied in changingcutter bits, and the cost of bit sharpening and replacement.

Also the accumulation of cuttings around the or machine hindered the proper setting of the roof props.

A primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide improved means whereby the cuttings or gum are mechanically removed from the neighborhood of the endless cutter chain and discharged to a position where they will not hinder traverse of the machine over the mine floor and the effective operation of the cutter chain during the making of'a cut. object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveyor mechanism or gummer designed for attachment to a coal cutting machine whereby the cuttings or gum are mechanically removed from adjacency to the machine and conveyed to a convenient point of disposal. Still another object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism embodying a conveyor arranged at the trailing end of a coal mining ma- A further lying the return run of the endless cutter chain whereby removal of the cuttings from the machine is effected in an improved manner. vA still further object is to provide an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism designed for attachment to the trailing end of a longwall coal cutting machine at the rearside of the'cutter bar for removing the cuttings from adjacency to the return run of the cutter chain. -Yet another object is to provide an improved cuttings; conveying mechanism having improved means for mounting the same on andattaching the same to a coal cutting machine whereby the mechanism is not only extremely compact and rugged but may also be conveniently moved from its position in adjacency to the cutter chain without dismounting thereof, from the machine, thereby to facilitate changing of the cutter bits or picks.

The invention according to one mode may comprise a rotary conveyor member such as a revolving disc or table, the cuttingsreceiving portion of which underlies the orbital pathof the cutter bits or picks of the inner portion of the return run of the cutter chain so that'the cuttings or .gum carried alongby said cutter bits are received on the table, and associated conveying means such as blades or vanes which may move in a path-above the table so as to carry away the cuttings on the table toa position for dischargetherefrom. Preferably the blades or vanes are carried by a rotor which is mounted for rotation about a substantially verticalaxis,

and the tablealso preferably rotates coaxially with and in the samedirection as the rotor. The axis of rotation of the rotor and the table may be slightly inclined to a vertical plane so. that said axis is convergent in an upward direction with the axis of the cutter chain drive shaft of the mining machine. Pusher means may be provided for discharging the cuttings from the table, and such means may comprise pivoted pusher plates each of which extends between two blades vorvanes of the rotor and is suitably actuated such as by a cam means which directs them inwardly and outwardly between the blades or vanes, outward movement taking place when the pusher platesare approaching the discharge position, and inward movement as they pass from the latter position to the place where the cuttings are received on the table. The table and rotor may be driven through a suitable overload release device, such as a friction clutch, by a chain driven from a sprocket secured to the :chine with its cuttings-receiving portion under- 55 shaft which carries the chain sprocket that drives the cutter chain, and the friction clutch may be spring loaded so that if obstruction is offered to the rotary table or rotor, slipping of the clutch may occur until such time as obstruction is removed, thereby to prevent breakage of the parts. While the various features mentioned may all be included in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the latter is capable of wide variation in different embodiments, and accordingly reference to the appended claims should be had for an understanding of the scope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustrationone form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of a coal cutting machine with which the illustrative embodiment of the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism is asso ciated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the coat cutting machine and the associated cuttings-conveying mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

N Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional View taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged View in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a substantially horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 65 of Figs. 2 and 5.

Fig. '7 is a substantially horizontal sectional viewtaken on line 'I| of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 81-8 of Fig. 5.

In carrying out the invention according to one mode, the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism, generally designated I, may take the form of an attachment which can be secured in operative position on a coal mining machine, generally designated 2, of the character described, for example, in my prior application Serial No. 172,994, filed November 5, 1937, now matured into Patent No. 2,262,049, granted November 11, 1941. The mining machine comprises a machine frame 3 having a smooth bottom surface 4 adapted to rest upon and slide in any direction over the mine floor. The machine frame comprises a front feed frame section 5, a central motor frame section 6 and a rear cutter frame section I, the frame sections being suitably rigidly united. Mounted within the front feed frame section is a horizontal feed drum 8 with which a feed cable 9 cooperates in the feeding of the machine. Pivo-tally mounted at I!) on the cutter frame section at the rear end of the machine frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor, is an elongated horizontal plane cutter bar or jib II projecting laterally from the machine frame and having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter bit or pick carrying cutter chain I2. The cutter frame section includes a bottom plate I3 providing the bottom surface of the cutter frame section, and the lowermost portions of the cutter bits or picks of the cutter chain run in horizontal planes in close adjacency to the upper plane surface I4 of this plate, so that the bottom of the kerf cut by the cutter chain lies near to the mine floor on which the mining machine rests. As fully described in the copending application above referred to,.the feed cable 9 is attachable to a swivelled hanger frame I5 otal axis of the cutter bar.

which carries the cutter bar, to effect swinging of the cutter bar about its pivot, and the cutter bar may be locked in a right angle position at either side of the machine frame or in a position extending lengthwise of the machine frame by means of a conventional locking device, herein comprising a shiftable latch I6, guided in a vertical recess in the cutter frame section and having an eccentric operating means I'I provided with an operating handle IB conveniently located at the side of the machine. This latch is receivable within any one of a number of appropriately located locking recesses I9 in the cutter bar hanger frame I5.

As shown in Fig. 5, fixed to the rear end of the motor power shaft is a bevel gear 20 meshing with a bevel gear 2I which drives a spur gear 22, the latter in turn meshing with a spur gear 23. The gear 23 is connectible by a conventional sliding clutch 25 to a vertical shaft 25, herein arranged with its axis of rotation coincident with the piv- Secured to the lower end of this shaft is a chain sprocket 26 which engages and drives the endless cutter chain I2. The hanger frame I5 is swivelly mounted on bearing sleeves 21 supported by a cylindric hearing support 28 formed on the cutter frame section. Extending transversely across the lower end of the cutter frame section, at the inner machine end of the cutter bar, is a cuttings-receiving chamber 29 through which the cutter chain passes as it circulates about the cutter bar, this chamber being located immediately above the bottom plate I3 and beneath the hanger frame bearing mounting 21, 28. From the foregoing it is evident that when the sliding clutch 24 is connected, the cutter chain I2 may be rapidly circulated about the cutter bar I I through the gearing above described. As fully described in the copending application above mentioned, during the making of a cut the cutter bar I I may be swung by the feed cable 9 from a position extending lengthwise of the machine frame to the right angle position shown in Fig. 1 and locked to the machineframe by thelatch I6, it being understood that during the swinging movement of the cutter bar the cuttings-conveying mechanism I is detached from the mining machine. When the cutter bar islocked in such right angle position shown and the cutter bar is sumped into the coal, the feed cable is detached from the hanger frame I5 and extended, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, longitudinally in a forward direction and connected at its free end to an anchor jack located in adjacency to the coal face in advance of the mining machine. The cuttings-conveying mechanism I is then attached to the rear end of the mining machine, at the trailing side of the cutter bar, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and as the cutter chain is rapidly circulated about the cutter bar and the feed cable is wound in by the feed drum, the mining machine is fed bodily along the coal face to make a horizontal cut in the coal near the floor level, and during the making of the cut the cuttings or gum created by the cutters of the cutter chain are, to a large extent, removed by the conveying mechanism from the neighborhood of, the cutter chain and mechanically conveyed to a convenient point of disposal, as will later be explained. As the mode of operation of a longwall mining machine is well known to those skilled in the art, further description thereof is herein unnecessary.

The cuttings-conveying mechanism I' comprises a suitable casing 30 to enclose the working parts, provided with means forits attachment to the cutter frame Section I of the mining machine. This attachment means consists of a pair of arms3l, 3| secured, as by bolts 32, to the upper side of the casing and each having at its inner end a pair of apertured lugs 33. Each pair of lugs mates with a lateral extension 34 on a bracket 35 secured to the rear side of the cutter frame section of the machine at the lateral center thereof, and an attachment is effected by retaining pins 35, each'of which extends through apertures 3! into one pair of lugs and in an alined aperture 38 extending through the lateral extension of the bracket. One of the retaining pins is provided with an annular groove 39 which is normally engaged by a spring-pressed detent 40 which is carried by thecasing and may be withdrawn from the groove to permit withdrawal of the retaining pin so that the casing and its contained parts can be swung horizontally on the other retaining pin clear of the mining machine, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, when this should be required. Within the casing there is mounted for rotation about an upright axis inclined slightly with respect to the vertical, a rotor 4| consisting of a central arbor 42 having paddle-like blades or vanes 43 extending outwardly therefrom, which blades or vanes have their respective forward surfaces 44, speaking in terms of direction of rotation, conforming in curvature to the walls, of cylinders having the same radial dimension and having axes equally spaced from each other and also uniformly spaced from the axis of rotation of the rotor and parallel to the rotor axis. The side wall of the casing adjacent the cutter frame section is interrupted at 45 to provide an inlet for receiving the cuttings from the cuttings-receiving chamber 29 of the mining machine, and the opposite side is also interrupted at 46 for discharge of the cuttings therefrom. Fitting against the lower side of the rotor in coaxial relation therewith is a circular table or disc 41 which rotates with the rotor but is of a diameter greater than the diameter of the latter, so as toprovide a marginal portion to underlie the orbital path of the cutter bits or picks of the inner portion of the return run of the endless cutter chain. The bottom plate [3 is arcuately cut away at 48,

at the rear side of the cutter frame section, to

receive the cuttings-receiving portion of the table, and the table has its top surface 49 substantially fiush with the top surface [4 of the bottom plate at their adjacent edges. The arbor .rotatably surrounds a tubular projection 50 extending downwardly Within the casing and is driven by a substantially vertical shaft 5| which extends through the tubular projection and carries, at its lower end, a flange 52 which fits within and is secured to the arbor. The flange just mentioned is provided with a central, downwardly extending stub shaft 53 to which is secured the rotary table, and the latter is driven by key-like projections 55 from the flange which fit into keyways 56 cut in a boss 51 secured, as by rivets 53, to the central portion of the table. The stub projection is screw threaded at 59 to receive a nut 60 which engages the boss for holding the table in position. The vertical shaft 5|, at its central portion above the tubular projection 50, has a plurality of friction rings 6| which are held from rotation with respect thereto but are all capable of axial sliding movement thereon. The rotor shaft is driven by means of a drive sleeve 62 secured to the upper end 'of said,

shaft, through a second'set of friction rings 63, located in an enlarged lower portion 64 of the sleeve, and extending between the aforementioned friction rings. The friction clutch thus provided is spring-loaded by means of springs 65 which surround pins 66 which extend upwardly from the upper flange ring, and seats at their upper ends in recesses 61 in the upper wall of the enlarged part of the drive sleeve. The friction clutch is set to a predetermined slipping point so in the event of obstruction encountered by the rotor, the clutch automatically slips to prevent damage to the parts. The upper end of the drive sleeve 62 is provided with gear teeth 68 for engagement by a pinion 69 fixed to the lower end of a shaft 19 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in bearings carried by the frame, the upper end of this shaft having fixed thereto a sprocket wheel ll arranged to be driven by an endless chain 12 from a sprocket wheel 13 secured to the upper end of the shaft 25 which carries the chain sprocket 26 for driving the endless cutter chain, Each two adjacent rotor blades 43 of the rotor have between them a swinging pusher plate 15 which at one end carries an apertured lug 16 adapted to fit between apertured lugs 11 extending from the outer ends of the rotor blades, the latter and the pusher plate being pivotally connected together by means of a pin 18 which extends through the alined apertures in the lugs. Each pusher plate 15 carries a pin 19 which extends upwardly therefrom into a cam slot in an upper wall of that part of the casing which encloses the rotor, and the slot is so shaped that each pusher plate is swung inwardly within the space between the adjacent blades as it approaches the position where the cuttings are received on the table so that the cuttings can enter the spaces between the vanes of the rotor, and is moved outwardly as it approaches the discharge space 46 so as to push the cuttings out of the space between the vanes transversely over the margin of the table through the discharge outlet 46 of the casing.

In order that the cuttings carried along from the kerf by the cutter chain may be confined in the chamber 29 fo'r'removal by the cuttings-conveying mechanism, the cutter frame section is provided with a curved guard plate 82 which fits against the edges of and is secured to the top and bottom walls of the cutter frame section. This guard plate is pivotally mounted at 83, so that it may be swung laterally to obtain access to the inner endof the cutter chain, and is held in its closed position against the cutter frame section by means of a locking pin 84. This guard plate has alateral projection 85 extending within the inlet 45 of the cuttings-conveying mechanism, in the manner shown in Fig. 6, and acts to direct the cuttings from the chamber 29 into the inlet opening of the conveying mechanism.

The table 41 revolves in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the cutter chain drive sprocket 26 at approximately the same speed as the cutter chain, and as the table revolves it throws the cuttings out of the path of travel of the return run of the cutter chain and moves the cuttings within the inlet opening 45 of the conveying mechanism. As the cuttings are moved within the conveying mechanism, they are received from the table by the rotor blades and are conveyed rearwardly and are discharged at the rear side of the conveying mechanism in the path of travel of the machine by the pusher plates. By tilting the-axis of rotationof the table slightly with respect to the vertical, the rear'discharge end of the conveying mechanism is elevated slightly from the mine floor, thereby to improve the discharge action of the pusher plates and to reduce the possibility of obstruction due to unevenness of the mine floor. The pusher plates positively eject the cuttings from the rear side of the conveying mechanism, and when in their cuttings-ejecting position, as shown in Fig. 6, the curved surfaces of the plates conform to a curved surface of the casing, so that the carrying of the cuttings back into the mechanism is prevented. When it is desired to change the cutter bits or picks, the detent 4!! may be released from the groove33 to permit withdrawal of the retaining pin 35, to enable swinging of the conveying mechanism clear of the mining machine, thereby to obtain access to the rear side of the chamber 29, and as a result changing of the cutter bits or picks is facilitated. Access to the cutter bits is further facilitated by releasing the locking pin 84 and swinging the guard plate 82 outwardly from the side of the machine.

If desired there may be suitably associated with the cuttings-conveying mechanism a conveyor arranged to receive the cuttings discharged from the table through the discharge opening 46 for depositing them at a more convenient place on the mine floor. The conveyor may be bodily adjustable to vary the position of the deposit therefrom.

As a result of this invention it will be noted that an improved cuttings-conveying mechanism is provided for mechanically removing the cuttings from the neighborhood of the endless cutter chain. It will further be noted that by the provision of the rotary table or disc having its cuttings-receiving portion underlying the return run of the cutter chain, the cuttings are effectually removed from the path of the cutter chain.

It will also be evident that by the provision of the attachment means for the conveying mechanism, the same may be readily attached to a coal mining machine, and, due to the pivoted arm mounting structure, may be swung relative to the machine frame to facilitate changing of the cutter bits or picks. It will also be evident that the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism is extremely rugged and compact and may be readily attached to a coal mining machine of a standard construction with a minimum of change Other uses and advantages of the improved cuttings-conveying mechanism will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with and to derive its driving power from a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting kerf cutter, comprising, in combination, a conveyor adapted to remove the cuttings from adjacency to the kerf cutter and means so constructed and arranged as to be adapted for the attachment of the conveyor to and in driven relation with the mining machine and embodying means for pivotally supporting the conveyor for horizontal swinging movement relative to the mining machine toward and from the kerf cutter.

2. A *cuttingseconveying mechanism adapted for association With and to derive its driving power from a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting kerf cutter, comprising, in combination, a conveyor adapted to remove the cuttings from adjacency to the kerf cutter and means so constructed and arranged as to, be adapted for the attachment of the conveyor to and in driven relation with the mining machine and'embodying means for pivotally supporting the conveyor for horizontal swinging movement relative to the mining machine toward and from the kerf cutter, said means for pivotally supporting the conveyor including arms adapted for pivotal attachment to the mining machine, means for releasing the pivotal attachment of one of said arms from the mining machine while the conveyor is supported by the other arm, and means for pivotally mounting the conveyor on said latter arm to swing horizontally relative thereto.

3. A'cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and

means arranged in coaxial relation with said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal, said last mentioned means including cuttings-engaging means between which and said table relative movement occurs during cuttings discharge.

4. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting kerf cutter carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted'to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged in coaxial relatiori with said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal, said means including an eccentrically movable blade adapted to sweep over the top of the table.

5. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar 'and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged in coaxial relation with said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal, said means comprising one or more pivoted blades adapted to sweep over the top of said table.

6. A cuttings-conveying .mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a' projecting" cutter bar carry ing an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain formoving the cuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged in coaxial relation with said table for receiving the cuttings upon said table and discharging the cuttings at' aconvenient point of disposal, said means comprising one or more pivoted blades adapted to sweep over the top of said table and a cam for controlling the pivotal movement of said blade or blades to cause the latter to eject the cuttings from said table.

'7. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association With a coalmining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an' endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be disposed on an axis inclined slightly with respect to the vertical at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having its lower marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to be disposed in close adjaceny to the return run of the cutter chain of the coal mining machine for moving the cuttings directly out of the path of the cutter chain, and means arranged coaxially with said table for receiving the cuttings thereon and for discharging the cuttings from the table.

8. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for moving the cuttings out of the path of the cutter chain, and a conveyor device arranged coaxially with said table above the latter for receiving the cuttings thereon and for discharging the cuttings from said table, said conveyor device including means for exerting a discharge-efiecting force on the cuttings in addition to centrifugal force.

9. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate device operating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from the table and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal.

10. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association With a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and i arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate device operating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from the table-and discharging the cuttings'at a'convenient point of disposal, said pusherplate device comprising one or more pusher plates adapted to sweep over the top of the table.

11. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the'cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed I and arranged as to be adapted to underlie thereturn run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate device operating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from the table and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal, said pusher plate device comprising one or more pusher plates adapted to sweep over the top of the table and a cam for controlling the pivotal movement of said'plate or plates.

12. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain for removing the cuttings from the path of the cutter chain, and a revolving pusher plate device operating in planes above the table for removing the cuttings from the table and discharging the cuttings at a convenient point of disposal, said pusher plate device comprising one or more pusher plates adapted'to sweep over the top of the table at the receiving side of the latter and for positively ejecting the cuttings from the table at the side thereof remote from the cutter chain.

13. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for associationwitha coal mining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying a cutter chain,

comprising, in combination, substantially hori zontal conveyor means so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to be disposed at the trailing end of the mining machine in close adjacency to the cutter bar for removing the cuttings directly from the path of the cutter chain, and cooperating means for sweeping the cuttings from said cuttings-removing-means and for positively ejecting the cuttings from the mechanism, said cooperating means including a sweeper- 1 means movable in planes parallel to the planes of operation of said conveyor means during the sweeping operation.

14. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying a cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal rotor having paddles so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to be disposed in adjacency to the cutter bar for removing the cuttings from the neighborhood of the cutter chain, and pusher plates pivotally mounted on said rotor for positively ejecting the cuttings from between said paddles.

15. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table adapted to be arranged at the trailing side of the cutter bar and having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a rotor arranged coa-Xially with and above said table and having paddles projecting outwardly over the table for receiving the cuttings thereon and cooperating ejecting means movable between said paddles for positively ejecting the .cuttings from between said paddles.

16. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a rotor arranged coaxially with and above said table and having paddles projecting outwardly over the table for receiving the cuttings thereon, and pusher plates pivotally mounted on said rotor for positively ejecting the cuttings from between said paddles.

1'7. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a cutter bar carrying an endless cutter chain, comprising, in combination, a circular revolving table having a marginal portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain, and a rotor arranged coaxially with and above said table and having paddles projecting outwardly over the table for receiving the cuttings .thereon, pusher plates pivotally mounted on said rotor for positively ejecting the cuttings from between said paddles and a cam relative to which said rotor is rotatable for controlling the pivotal movement of said pusher plates.

18. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising a conveyor member having a peripheral conveying portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain and which is movable in a substantially horizontal plane to remove the cuttings away from the path of the cutter chain, said conveying portion being movable about a substantially upright axis located at the trailing side of the cutter bar, and means movable in the plane of the surface of said conveyor member above the latter for moving the cuttings over said surface from said conveyor member and ejecting them from the machine, said last mentioned means including cuttings-ejecting means between which and said conveyor member relative movement occurs during cuttings ejection.

19. A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising a conveyor member having a conveying portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain at the trailing side of the cutter bar and which is movable in a substantially horizontal plane to move the cuttings away from the path of the cutter chain, and a pusher device movable above the surface of said conveyor member for pushing the cuttings from said conveyor member and ejecting them from the machine.

20. .A cuttings-conveying mechanism adapted for association with a coal mining machine of the kind having a projecting cutter bar carrying an endless circulating cutter chain, comprising a conveyor member having a peripheral conveying portion so constructed and arranged as to be adapted to underlie the return run of the cutter chain and which is movable in a substantially horizontal plane to move the cuttings away from the path of the cutter chain, said conveying portion being adapted to move in a direction opposite from the direction of movement of the cutter chain about a substantially upright axis located outside the orbit of the cutter chain at the trail ing side of the cutter bar, and means associated with said conveyor member and movable, in similarly disposed planes, relative thereto for exerting a discharge-effecting force for discharging the cuttings from said conveyor member.

DWIGHT R. RICHARDS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

November 17, 1914.2.

Patent No. 2 02mm.

DWIGHT R. RICHARDS.

eby certified that error appears in the printed specification tion as follows: Page 5, first "into" read--in--; line 15,

It is her of the above numbered patent requiring correc column, line 10, strike out "an"; line 12, for for "in" read into; second column, line 7 for and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this in that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 27th day of April, A. D. 19%.

" seats" read -seat;

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Sea1) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

correction there'

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