US2581667A - Mining apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8,1952 4 Jf F. JOY v 2,581,667

" MINING APPARATUS Filed sept. 4, 194e A e sneeuw-sheet 1 Jan. 8,'1952 .1. F. JOY

MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 4, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1952 J F, JQY 2,581,667

MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 4, 1946 6 Sheets-She'et 3 J. F. JOY

MINING APPARATUS .I an. 8, 1952 `e sheets-sheet 4 Filed Sept.' 4. 1946 ]2206222029.- JsepzlYJay Jan. 8, 1952 J, F, Joy 2,581,667

MINING APPARATUS' Filed Sept. 4, 1946 6 SheetsfSheet 5 Ely/2. f

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Jan. 8, 1952 J. F. JOY 2,581,667

MINING APPARATUS Filed sept. 4, 194e Y vs"sheets-snm'c s f @2 f5,

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Patented Jan. 8, 1952 vMTNIN G APPARATUS Joseph Joy, Pittsburgh, Pa.,

Manufacturing assigner to Joy Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a

corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application September 4, 1946. Serial No. 634.779

13 Claims. (Cl. Z55- 51) This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to improved mining apparatus for drilling and breaking down material, such as coal in underground coal mines, thereby to dislodge the coal without the use of explosives.

In accordance with the present'day practice of coal in underground coal mines. the coal is usually cut by a coal cutting machine and the coal face is drilled by a coal drill-to provide a series of blast holes for receiving explosive charges-so that the cut coal may be dislodged from the coal seam. The present invention contemplates improvements over previous mining practice in that the use of explosives andthe attendant objections and dangers are avoided.

In accordance with the present invention, the cut.

coal is drilled and broken down from the coal seam by a 'self-contained mobile apparatus embodying means for drilling the coal face and for breaking down the coal, thereby eliminating the objections and dangers encountered in blasting with explosives.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mining apparatus. Another object is to provide an improved adjustable supporting structure for a mining instrument. Yet another object is to provide an improved self-contained mobile apparatus for drilling and breaking down the material to be dislodged in an improved manner. A further object is to provide an improved combined drilling and breaking down mechanism whereby the coal may be drilled and thereafter, without removing the drill from the bore hole, a powerful breaking down pressure may be imparted to the coal to dislodge the coal. A still further object is to provide an improved drilling and breaking down apparatus embodying improved means for supporting and adjusting the drilling and breaking down mechanism with respect tothe work. Yet another object is to provide an improved drillingand breaking down mechanism embodying a rotary drill and an expansible breaker device encircling the drill spindle rearwardly of the drill head and having improvedconveying means associated with the drill head for conveying the cuttings created by the drill head rearwardly through the breaker device along the drill spindle. A further object is toA provide an improved adjustable supporting structure `for a drilling tool whereby blast holes may be drilled in the coal face at any desired location. Still another object is to provide an improved drilling and breaking down apparatus of the rubber-tired. mobile type especially designed for use in trackless mining without-.the aid of a guiding trackway. Yet another object is to provide an improged mining apparatus having improved arrangements and combinations of parts. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will. however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown fcr purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings;

Fig. l is a top plan view of a coal mining apparatus constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l2 is a side elevational view of the mining apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the drilling and breaking down mechanism in its lowered position on the base.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. l, with parts of the drilling and breaking down mechanism removed to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in central longitudinal vertical section through the drilling and breaking down mechanism, illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view showing details of the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 'l-'I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. "I, showing parts of the adjustable supporting structure for the drilling and breaking down mechanism.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 2.

Fig, 10 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line lll-.l0 of Fig. 9, showing a portion of the steering gear.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view taken on line {|*II o f Fig. 9, showing a portion of the traction wheel drive.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the hydraulic system of the machine.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section through the valve box, the controlling valve assembly of the hydraulic system.

Fig. l4lis a vertical section on the plane of the line |4-I4v of Fig. 13.

Fig. l5 is a diagrammatic view in plan, showing the mining apparatus in operating position in a mine.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic side view showing the mining apparatus in a mine with the drilling and breaking down mechanism in elevated position.

Fig. 17 is a Side view showing the drillirng and breaking down mechanism in coal breaking position in a coal seam.

In the illustrative embodiment of. the invention, there is shown a mining apparatus of the self-contained mobile type supported on rubbertired wheels' and designed for use in trackless coal mines and embodying improved drilling and breaking down mechanism for dislodging the cut coal from a coal seam without the use of explosives.

The mining apparatus generally comprises a mobile base or chassis I, an adjustable supporting structure generally designated 2 mounted on the base and amining instrument, herein a combined drilling and breaking down mechanism, generally designated 3 carried by the adjustable supporting structure. The mobile base comprises' a base frame 4 mounted on rubber- tired wheels 5, 5 and 6, 6, adapted to travel overthe oor of a mine without the aid of a guiding trackway. The front wheels 5, 5 are steering wheels, and the rear wheels, 6, 6 are traction Wheels. The traction wheels may be driven in unison by separate motors 1, I supported on the base with their axes arranged in alignment and in a transverse vertical plane in which the wheel axes also lie, and these motors are preferably of the variable speed, reversible, electric type. The speed reducing transmission connections between the motors and the traction wheels may assume-various. forms and herein comprise, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11, a helical pinion 8 fixed to each of the motor power shafts and meshing with helical planet gears 9 fixed to shafts journaled on a rotatable planet carrier I0. Fixed to the planet gear shafts are helical planet gears I I of smaller size meshing with an internal helical reaction gear I2 secured to a gear housing I3 attached to the .motor casing. Keyed to the planet gear carrier I is a drive shaft I4 in turn keyed to the hub of a traction wheel. The planet carrier I0 is journaled in bearings supported within the motor head I and the housing I3, as shown in Fig. 9. Electrical control means I6 is provided for effecting operation of the motors l, l in unison and the motors are preferably started in series to provide a relatively high starting torque and are thereafter connected in parallel to give an increased driving speed in a well known manner. Under the regulation of the control means I6, the motors may be operated at variable speeds and the planetary gearings provide a substantial speed reduction between the motors and the wheels. Suitable brake bands I'I cooperating with brake drums I8 on the wheels are provided for braking the wheels in the desired manner.

The front steering wheels 5, 5 have their axles I9 swivelled at 20 at the opposite ends of a trans- Verse front axle 2|, which is pivotally mounted at 22 centrally on the base frame to rock about a longitudinal axis. Any suitable means may be employed to swing the steering wheels on their pivotal mountings, 'and herein the swivelled axles I9 are interconnected by conventional linkage 23 to a crank 24 pivoted on an upright axis at the bottom of the base frame. This crank is pivotally connected to an operating rod 25 extending longitudinally of the base fram'e and pivotally connected at its rear end to an operating screw 26 (see Fig. 10); This screw threadedly engages a nut 21 mounted in a housing 28 secured to the bottom of the base frame. Formed on this nut is a worm wheel 29 engaged by a worm 3 0 keyed.

to a vertical operating shaft 3| to the upper end ofV which is secured a steering wheel 32. Mounted 4 on the top of one of the wheel-driving motors 'l is a seat 33 for the operator, so arranged that the operator may sit in a convenient position with respect to the steering wheel 32 and the several control elements of the apparatus. Thus, by operating the steering wheel 32, the operator may readily turn the steering wheels 5, 5 in one direction or the other,l as' desired.' through the worm gearing and linkage.

The improved adjustable supporting structure 2 comprises a lower horizontal circular frame 34 (see Fig. 8) xed to the base frame rearwardly of the front wheels, and swivelled at 35 on the frame 34 is a lower horizontal turntable element 36 having projecting upwardly therefrom spaced vertical side plates 3l. Pivotally mounted at their forward ends on these side plates at 38 are pairs of parallel motion arms or links 39, 39 in turn pivotally connected at 40 at their rearward ends to vertical side plates 4I on a frame 42. An upper horizontal turntable 43 is swivelled at"44 on the frame 42. A hydraulic jack cylinder 45 is pivoted at 46 on the side plates 31 in alignment with the front pivots of the lower arms 39, 39 and contains a reciprocable piston 45 having its piston rod 41 pivotally connected at 48 to the upper arms or links 39, 39. When uid under pressure is supplied to the jack cylinder, the piston is moved to swing the arms upwardly to vary the elevation of the upper turntable while'the turntable axis always remains vertical. By trapping the iiuid in the cylinder 45the arms may be locked in adjusted position, and when fluid is discharged from the jack cylinder, the arms may be lowered. A pairA of parallel horizontal hydraulic cylinders 49, 49V are attached to the side plates 31,011 the lower -turntable 36 and contain reciprocable pistons 50 having their piston rods projecting rearwardly and carrying sheaves or pulleys 5I. A cable 52 is attached at its ends to the rear cylinder heads 53 and passes around the sheaves 5I with its intermediate portion lying in an arcuate groove 54 extending about-the peripheral edge on the stationary bottomvframe 34 and centrally xed to the latter. Similar par.- allel horizontal hydraulic cylinders 55, 55 are attached to the side plates 4I beneath the upper turntable 43, and reciprocablein these cylinders are pistons 56 having their piston rods projecting forwardly and carrying sheaves' 'or' pulleys 51;.`l A cable 58 is attached at its endsv to the frontcylinder heads 59 and passes around the sheaves- 51 and has its intermediate portion lying in an arcuate groove 60 extending about the peripheral edge ofthe upper turntable 43 and-centrally iixedto the turntable. The drilling and breaking down mechanism 3 is mounted on the upper turntable. It is accordingly evident that whenrfluid under pressure is supplied to one of the lower cylinders 49 and discharged from the other, the lower turn-- table element 36 may be turned about its swivel 35 in one direction or the other to swing .thel parallel arm structure 39 horizontally toward one side of the base. By supplying fluid under-pressure to one of the cylinders 55 anddischarging fluidfrom the other, the upper turntable 43 be 'turned in one direction or ,the other about its swivel 44 to swing-the drilling and breaking down mechanism 3 horizontally into different angular positions with respect to-the base. Byfftrapping'- the `huid in the cylinders, thel arm, structure and drilling and breaking mechanism may be locked in adjusted position. The means for controlling the fluid supply to the-several cylinders above-.de-- scribed willbelater explained Now referring more specically to thedrilling and breaking down mechanism 3, it will be noted that pivotally mounted at 6| on a transverse axis on upstanding side plates 62 of a frame E3 secured to the upper turntable 43 is an elongated, open-centered guide frame 64 which overlies the base frame. This elongated guide frame is swingable in a vertical direction about 'its pivotal mounting on the upper turntable by means of hydraulic double-acting jacks 65 having their cylinders 66 pivotally connected to the side plates 62 and containing reciprocable pistons B1 having their piston rods pivotally connected to the guide frame 64. By means of these jacks, the guide frame 64 may be tilted upwardly or downwardly as desired, and by trapping fluid in the cylinders, the guide frame may be locked in adjusted position. The combined drill and breaker is. slidably mounted on the guide frame and includes a rearwardly located motor 68 having its power shaft connected through a conventional speed reducing unit 69 to a drill rotating shaft or spindle 'IIIl extending longitudinally centrally within a stationary outer tube or tubular housing 1I secured at its rear end to the motor casing. This-tubular housing is made up of alined , tubular sections 12 and 13, and a collar 14 welded to the rear end of the front section is threadedly secured to the front end of the'rear section for rigidly uniting the sections. Attached to the front end of the drill spindle is a rotary drill head or drill bit having cutting teeth 16. The drill shaft or spindle 10 has spiral conveyor vanes or flights 11 secured thereto toprovide a conveyor for conveying the cuttings created by the drill bit rearwardly through the tube 1l to discharge through a rearwardly located bottom discharge opening 18. The motor casing has lateral-guides 19 engaging the longitudinal guideways of the guide frame 64 and the tube 1| is slidably guided in a front guide 80 which also has lateral guides 8| slidably engaging the guideframe guideways. -Suitable stop lugs 8| are arranged at the front end of the guide frame 80 for hunting forward movement of the drill and breaker. Surrounding the front tube section 12 of the tubular housing is an expansible tubular breaker in the form of a rubber bag 82 secured at its ends to the tubular housing by means of inner and outer collars 83 and 84, the former welded to the. ends of the front. tubular section and the latter surrounding and embedded in the ends of the rubber bag. Thus iiuid tight iointsfare provided between the rubber bag and the tubular housing at the ends of the bag. Threaded on the forward end of the front housing section is a. collar 85 arranged between the lfront end of the bag and the rear side of the drill bitL as shown in Fig. 4. Threaded on the front end of the front. housing section in advance of the. collar 85 is a bell-mouthed member 86 which serves. toV direct the cuttings created by the drill bit into the tubular housing toward the receiving end of the spiral conveyor. 'Ihe drill bit is of such size as to form a bore hole of a diameter -suiiicient to receive the expansible breaker as the drill bit forms a bore hole in the material to be broken. The drill and breaker unit per seis being claimed' h1 a divisional application, Ser. No. 14,057, led March 10. 1948.

Various means may be employed for feeding the associated drill and breaker longitudinally along the guideways of the guide frame 64. The means shown in the drawings for accomplishing this purpose comprises a. hydraulic cylinder frame.

88 arranged longitudinally at one side of the guide frame 64 and containing a recprocable piston 89 having its piston rods SDF and 90B. extending forwardly and rearwardly through the opposite heads of the cylinder. The opposite piston rods each carry at their free ends a pair of sheaves or pulleys, those at the rear of rod 90B being numbered 9IR" and 9IR", and those at the front motor casing, and to a lateral lug BSF or SSR, as

the case maybe, secured to the guide frame 64. A desirable reeve for the cables is, using as an example the cable 94B, from a point of attachment on the lug 95R on the motor casing, around the sheave 93B, outwardly and around the sheave SZR', forwardly and around the sheave SIR', then rearwardly and around the sheave 92R, then forwardly and around the sheave 9 IR", and then rearwardly to the connection to the stationary lug SBR. Accordingly, when fluid under pressure is supplied to one or the other end of the feed cylinder, the drilling and breaking means may be fed at a speed substantially higher than the speed of the feed piston, either forwardly or rearwardly along the guide frame, as

desired. The valve mechanism for controlling fluid iiow to the feed cylinder will later be described, and when the iiuid is trapped in the feed cylinder, the drilling and breaking means may be locked in adjusted position. A conduit 91 is connected to the interior of the breaker bag 82 and leads rearwardly along the exterior of the tubular housing to a suitable supply of liquid under pressure so that the rubber bag may be expanded to effect its breaking down function when desired.

The hydraulic system, shown diagrammatically in Fig. l2, comprises a-llquid pump 98 driven by a motor 99 arranged at the front end of the base frame and having its intake connected by a conduit |00 to a liquid tank 20|. Mounted on the base frame rearwardly of the rear traction wheels is a horizontal Valve box |82 having parallel bores containing reciprocable control valves |03, |04, |95, |05, |81 and |08, preferably of the balanced spool type. The valve box has parallel discharge passages |09 and I l0 connected together by an end passage i I I which is in turn connected by a discharge conduit II2 back to the tank IUI. Arranged Alongitudinally between the discharge passages in the valve box is a supply passage ||3 communicating with the passage H4 connected by a pressureconduit IIS to the discharge of the pump 98. The supply passage |I3 of the valve box is communicable, under the control of a valve IIB, with one of the discharge passages |09 so that the pressure in the system may be manually controlled as desired. This valve ||6 is of the conical type and is urged toward its seated position by a spring I I1. Connected to the valve stem is an operating rod H8, in turn pivotally connected to a hand lever H9, con'- veniently located near thev operators station, whereby the pressure control valve may be'readily operated. VThe pressure in .the system may be regulated by varying the amount of communication of the supply passage ||3 with the discharge passage and is automatically limited by the presence of the spring ||1. The bore in the valve box containing the valve |03 is connected by a circuit |2| to the conduit 91 leading to the interior of the breaker bag 82, and the valve may be controlled to connect the conduit 91 with either the supply passage ||3 or with the discharge passage ||0. The valve box bore containing the valve |04 is connected by conduits |22 and |23 to the opposite ends of the feed cylinder 88 so that either end of the feed cylinder may be connected to the supply passage while the other end is connected to a discharge passage to effect either forward or rearward feed. The valve box bore containing the valve is connected by conduits |24 and |25 to the opposite ends of the tilt cylinders 66 so that huid under pressure may be supplied to either end of the cylinders to eiect tilting of the guide frame 64 either upwardly or downwardly. The valve box bore containing the valve |05 is connected at its opposite ends by conduits |25 and |21 respectively to one end of each of the cylinders 55 to eiect rotation of the upper turntable 43 in one direction or the other. The valve box bore containing the valve |01 is connected by conduits |28 and |29 to one end of the cylinders 49 so that the lower turntable 36 may be turned in one direction or the other. The valve box bore containing the valve |08 is connected by a conduit |30 to the lower end of the lift cylinder 45 so that the parallel arm structure 39 may be swung upwardly as desired. As previously stated, the several valves may be positioned to trap the liquid in the several cylinders to lock the parts adjusted thereby in their adjusted positions.

Arranged in a horizontal chamber |32 within the rearward portion of the base frame is a horizontal cable reel |33 for winding in and permitting paying out of an electrical conductor cable for the electric motors 1, 68 and 99 in a manner well known to those skilled in theI art. The front and rear wheels of the mobile base are provided with suitable guards |34 and |35 to protect the operator, and headlights |36 are arranged at the opposite ends of the base. Control switches |31 and |38 are provided for starting the pump motor 99 and the drill motor 58, and these control switches are also conveniently located with respect to the operators station. The electrical control means |6 for the traction motors 1 also has a conveniently located control lever |39.

The general mode of operation of the improved mining apparatus is as follows. The apparatus may be moved about the mine when practicable at a relatively high speed under the propulsion of the ltraction wheels 6 driven by the motors 1, and steering of the apparatus may be eiected by the front steering wheels 5 under the control of the steering wheel 32. When the apparatus is travelling through relatively sharply curved mine passageways, the traction motors 1 may :be operated to effect propulsion of the apparatus at a relatively slow speed under the control of the electrical control means I6. When the coal face is reached and the apparatus is located in the position shown in Figs. and 16, the wheel brakes |1, IB may be applied to hold the apparatus in a stationary position. It will be understood that the coal face has been previously undercut, as at |40, as shown in Fig. 16, by a conventional coal cutting machine in a well known 8. manner. When the apparatus is positioned. as shown with respect to the coal face, the .lifting jack 45 may be operated under the control of the valve |08 to swing the parallel motion arms 39. upwardly to elevate the drilling and breaking down mechanism 3 as desired. The swing cylinders 49 and 55 may then be operated under the control of the valves |01 and |06 to swing .the arm structure llaterally on the base to locate the upper turntable 43 in the desired position at either side of the base and to swing the drilling and breaking down mechanism horizontally into'.= the desired angular position, as indicated in dot-H. ted lines in Fig. 15. The tilting jacks. GEfmaythen be operated under the control of the valve |05 to tilt the drilling and breaking down mechanism upwardly as indicated in dotted -lines in Fig. 16. When the drill bit is located in.the.de sired position with respect to the coalface, the switch |38 may be operated to start the drilling motor 58,* thereby rapidly to rotate the drill bit; and fluid under pressure may be supplied to the feed cylinder 88 under the control of the valve |04 to feed the drill bit into the coal. As the bore hole'is'formed in the coal by the drill bit, the expansible breaker member 82 enters the bore hole, so that when the bore hole is-completed, the breaker assumes the position shown in 16. Fluid under pressure may lthen be conducted through the conduit 91 -under the control of the valve |03 to the interior of the breaker bag 82 to' expand the latter, thereby to apply a-fpowerful breaking down force tothe coal to vdislodgethe coal in the manner shown -in Fig. 17.- Priori-to the coal breaking operation, the fluid 'lin-the' cylinders 48, 55, 66 and 88 may, iiUdesired,` be dis-- charged so that as the coal is-brok'en down,.th'e drill and breaker may move freely,` thereby to; prevent bending of the drill spindle and'possible damage to the associated parts. -After thebreaking down operation, the feed maybe reversed -to' retract the drill bit and breaker from -thecoal face. By suitably adjusting the parallel supporting arms and upper and lower turntables-and.v by tilting the guide frame, the drill and breaker may be moved laterally and vertically relativeto'- the base to locate the same in various positions with respect to the face of the coal; and the drilling and breaking down operations may be .re-L peated in each position of the drill and breaker; completely to dislodge the coal from the coal face above the undercut. Upon completion ufl the drilling and breaking down.operations,the'` wheel brakes may be released and the apparatusv may be propelled rearwardly away from the coal4 face. l f

As a result of this invention, an improved min.- ing apparatus is provided for drilling and breaking down the coal inan'undergroundmine, there' by to dislodge the coal from the solid without the -use of explosives. vBy mounting the drill' and breaking down mechanism cna-mobile base and by the provision of the improved adjustable supporting structure for the drilling and breaking down mechanism, the apparatus may' be 4readily moved about the mine and quicklyadiusted into the desired drilling and breaking' down position; By associating the breaking down with the drill, the expansible breaking -down member may enter the bore hole formed. by. the drill, and upon completion of the drilling operation, the breaking down member may-be ex-, panded to dislodge the coal in an extremelyE 4ax--l peditious manner. 'I'he apparatus is not tml-y.`

readily mobile and ilexible Vin-:ii'dj115K.@51511211135.18;

Ialsoirelatively simple and rugged' in design, well adapted to' meet the severe demands nf service in a coal mine. Other uses and advantages of the improved mining apparatus will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. Whilezthere is in' this application speciilcally described one form which the invention mayassume in practice, itwill be understood that the invention may be modified 'and embodied in vari` ous other vforms without departing from its spirit or the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: -1.'In a mining apparatus, an adjustable supporting structure vfor a mining 'instrinnent comin combination, a mobile base having pairs of front and rear wheels and :a frame .carried by said wheels, a horizontal turntable mounted on vsaid base frame rearwardly of said front wheels and located nearer to the front end of said base than to the -rear end thereof, a parallel motion arm structure carried by said turntable'and extending rearwardly above said base frame, a horizontal turntable carried by said arm structure and disposed nearer to the-rear end of the base than to the front 'end-thereof, an elongated guide frame :for guiding the mining instrument toward and from the work and pivotally mounted on said second mentioned turntable to tilt in vertical planes with respect thereto, said guide frame extending vlongitudinally above said base frame and tiltable on its pivotal mounting relative to said second mentioned turntable into a position wherein its forward portion is located intermediate said front wheels, and a motor driven mining instrument mounted on said'g'uid frame and movable longitudmally-back and forth therealong. 2L Ina mining apparatus, an adjustable supporting structure for a mining instrument compris'ing, in combination, a mobile base having front and rear wheels and a frame carried by said wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said -base frame rearwardly of said front wheels to swing'horizontally and in vertical planes with respect to said frame, said arm structure extending rearwardly above said base frame, a support swiveled on the rearward extremity of said aim structure to turnrelative thereto about an upright' axis, an elongated guide frame for the mining instrument pivotally mounted on said swiveled support to tilt in vertical planes with respect thereto, lsaid guide frame extending forwardly from said swiveled support above said base frame and tiltable into a position wherein its forward portion lies intermediate said front wheels,l and a motor driven mining instrument mounted on said guide frame for -movement longitudinally back and forth therealong.

3. In a mining apparatus, an adjustable supstmcture for fa mining instrument comprising, in combination," a mobile base having front andrea'r wheels and a frame carried by said wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said base to swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect to 4 said frame, said -arm structure extending rearwardly above said base frame, a support swiveled on the rearward extremity 'of said arm structure 'to turn relative thereto about an upright axis, an elongated guide frame for the mining instrument pivotally mounted on said swiveled support to tilt in ver-- tical planes with respect thereto, said guide frame extending forwardly from said swiveled support above 'said base frame and tiltable "into aA position wherein its forward portionA is located intermediate said front wheels, a motor driven mining instrument mounted on said guide frame for movement longitudinally back and forth therealong, and feeding means for said instrument carried by said guide frame for feeding said instrument therealong toward and from the work.

4. In a mining apparatus, an adjustable supporting structure for a mining instrument comprising, in combination, a mobile base having front and rear wheels and a frame carried by said wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said base frame rearwardly of said front wheels vto swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect to said frame, said arm structure extending rearwardly above said base, a support swiveled on the rearward extremity of said arm structure to turn relative thereto about an upright axis, an elvi-:ngated guide frame for the mining instrument pivotally mounted on said .swiveled support to tilt in vertical planes with lrespect thereto, said guide frame extending forwardly from said swiveled support above said baseA frame and tiltable into a position wherein its forward portion is located intermediate said front wheels; and a driving motor for the instrument -guided on said frame for movement back and forth therealong.

5. In a mining apparatus, an adjustable supporting lstructure for a mining instrument comprising, .in combination, a mobile vbase having lfrontend rear wheels and a frame carried by said wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said base frame rearwardly of said front wheels to swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect thereto, said arm structure extending rearwardly above said base, a support swiveled on the rearward extremity of said arm structure to turn relative thereto about an upright axis, an elongated guide frame for the mining instrument/pivotally mounted on said swiveled support to tilt in vertical planes with respect thereto, said guide frame extending forwardly from said swiveled support above said base frame and tiltable about its pivot into a position wherein its forward portion is located intermediate said front wheels, a driving motor for the instrument guided on said frame for movement back and forth therealong, and means for feeding said motor and the instrument back and forth along said guide frame.

6. In a mining apparatus, an adjustable supporting structure for a mining instrument comprising, in combination, a mobile base having front and rear wheels and a frame carried by said wheels, al frame swiveled on said base frame rearwardly of said front wheels to turn about an upright axis, a parallel motion elevating structure carried by said swiveled frame, a third frame swiveled on said elevating structure to turn about a parallel axis,` said elevating structure always maintaining said axes in parallelism irrespective of the elevated position of said second frame, an elongated guide frame for the mining instrument pivotally mounted on said second frame to tilt in vertical planes with respect to said iirst frame, said guide frame being tiltable about its pivot into a position wherein its forward portion is located intermediate said front wheels, and a motor driven mining instru--l ment mounted on said guide frame for movement longitudinally back and forth relative thereto.

'7, In a mining apparatus, an adjustable supporting structure for -a mining instrument comprisingjin combination, a mobilev base having front and rear wheels and a frame carried by said Wheels, an adjustable frame structure pivotally mounted on said base frame rearwardly of said front wheels to swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect thereto, an elongated guide frame for the mining instrument, means for pivotally mounting said guide frame on said adjustable frame structure to swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect thereto, said guide frame being tiltable about its pivot into a position wherein its forward portion is located down between said front wheels, and a motor driven mining instrument mounted on said guide frame for longitudinal movement back and forth therealong.

8. In a mining apparatus. an adjustable supporting structure for a mining instrument comprising, in combination, a mobile base having front and rear wheels and a frame carried by said wheels, an adjustable frame structure pivotally mounted on said base frame rearwardly of said front wheels to swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect to said frame, an elongated guide frame for the mining instrument, means for pivotally'mounting said guide frame on said adjustable frame structure to swing horizontally and in vertical planes with respect thereto, said guide frame being tiltable about its pivot into a forwardly and downwardly inclined position wherein its forward portion is located down between said front wheels, a motor driven mining instrument mounted on said guide frame for v movement longitudinally back and forth therealong, a source of fluid under pressure embodied in the apparatus, fluid operated devices for swinging said frame structure, fluid operated devices for swinging said guide frame, uid operated devices for feeding said mining instrument back and forth along the guide frame, and control means on said base for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure from said source to said several fluid operated devices.

9. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base having pairs of front steering wheels and rear traction wheels, said base including a frame supported by said wheels, a support swivellymounted on said base frame rearwardly of said front steering wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said swivelled support to swing relative thereto and extending rearwardly above said frame, a second support swivelly mounted on the rear extremity of said arm structure, an elongated guide frame pivotally mounted on said second support and extending longitudinally above said base frame and having its forward portion disposable when said guide frame is tilted downwardly intermediate said front steering wheels, and a drilling tool mounted on said guide frame and movable back and forth longitudinally therealong.

10. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base having pairs of front steering wheels and rear traction wheels, said base including a frame supported by said wheels, a support swivelly mounted on said base frame rearwardly of said front steering wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said swivelled support and extending rearwardly above said frame, a second support swivelly mounted on the rear extremity of said arm structure, an elongated guide frame pivotally mounted on said second support and extending longitudinally above said base frame and having its forwardv portion disposable when tilted downwardly inter- 12 mediate said front steering wheels, a drilling tool mounted on said guide frame and movable back and forth longitudinally therealong, fluid operated means for independently turning v'said supports respectively about their swivel mountings, fluid operated means for tilting said guide frame relative to said second support and for holding the same in tilted position, fluid operated feeding means for moving said tool along'. said guide frame, a motor operated pump on said base frame, and control valve means for individually controlling fluid flow from said pump to' said several fluid operated means.

1l. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base having pairs ofvfrout steering wheels and rear tractionwheela: said base including a frame supported by said wheels, a support swivelly mounted on said base 'frame rearwardly of said front steering'wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said swivelled support t'o swing relative thereto and extending rearwardly above said frame, a second sll'DDOrt swivelly mounted on the rear extremity of said arm structure, an elongated guide frame pivotally mounted on said second support and extending longitudinally above said base frame and having its forward portion disposable when said 4 guide frame tilted downwardly intermediate said front steering wheels, a drilling tool mounted on said guide frame and movable back and forth longitudinally therealong, said swivelled supports being turnable on their respective swivelled mountings and said arm structure being tiltable to vary the angular position of said guideqframe both laterally and in vertical planes with respect to said base frame.

12. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile 'base having pairs of fifront steering wheels and rear traction wheels,l said base including a frame supported by said Awheels, a support swivelly mounted on said baseframe rearwardly of said front steering wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said swivelled support to swing relative thereto and extending rearwardly above said frame, a secondvsllPPOrt swivelly mounted on the rear extremity of said arm structure, an elongated guide frame pivotally mounted on said second support and exguide frame including a fluid cylinder arranged longitudinally along one side of said guide frame and containing a reciprocable piston having oppositely extending piston rods, and multiple reeve. cable and pulley, speed multiplying connections between said piston rods and the opposite ends of said guide frame respectively.

13. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising a mobile base having pairs of front steering wheels and rear traction wheels, said base including a frame supported by said wheels. a support swivelly mounted on said base-frame rearwardly of said front steering wheels, an arm structure pivotally mounted on said swivelled support to swing relative thereto and extending rearwardly above said frame, a second *support swivelly mounted on the rear extremity of said arm structure, an elongated guide frame pivotally mounted on said second suppOrt and extending longitudinally above said base frame and 13 having its forward portion disposable when said guide frame is tilted downwardly intermediate said front steering Wheels, and a drilling tool mounted on said guide frame and movable back and forth longitudinally therealong, said arm structure comprising parallel motion arms, and a fluid cylinder connected between said rst swivelled support and the upper one of said parallel arms for swinging said arms in vertical planes about their pivots and for holding said arms rigidly in adjusted position.

JOSEPH F. JOY.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Name Date Joy July 30, 1918 Number Number Number Name Date Levin Apr. 12, 1921 Foltz Oct. 26, 1926 Cliord May 31, 1927 Joy Dec. 1, 1936 Osgood Feb. 28. 1939 Noble Mar. 21, 1939 Stoltz July 23, 1940 Osgood Oct. 15, 1940 Chandler Oct. 28, 1941 Austin et al. Aug. 4, 1942 Osgood Nov. 16, 1943 Knoizen et al. Jan. 23, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Aug. 21, 1896 Great Britain 1931

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