Joy Global Underground Mining LLC

Joy Mm Delaware, Inc.

Charles W Watson

William L Harney

Michael Nolan

Charles M Anderson, Jr

A machine includes a frame having a first frame member selectively coupled to a second frame member. The machine also includes an alignment and connection assembly including a protrusion coupled to the first frame member. The protrusion is receivable within the second frame member to align the first frame member with the second frame member. The alignment and connection assembly also includes a fastener coupled to the protrusion. The fastener is operable to secure the first frame member relative to the second frame member.

Alignment and connection mechanism for coupling frame members

A tensioning system for a conveyor element of a conveyor. The tensioning system including a hydraulic apparatus, a locking plate, and a take-up bar. The hydraulic apparatus includes a cylinder having an extendible piston. The take-up bar is coupled to the cylinder and coupled to a shaft of the conveyor. The take-up bar moves the shaft of the conveyor in a forward direction away from the centerline of the conveyor when overcoming a locking force from the locking plate.

Systems and methods for tensioning a conveyor in a mining system

A conveyor system includes a plurality of crawler members, a frame supported via the crawler members, a skid pad moveable relative to the frame to raise and lower the frame relative to a ground surface, and an intake structure supported by the frame. The intake structure includes a first conveyor. The conveyor system further includes a discharge boom supported by the frame. The discharge boom includes a second conveyor.

Conveyor system for mining equipment

A conveyor assembly includes a frame having an intake end and a discharge end, the intake end and the discharge end defining a material flow direction therebetween. The conveyor assembly also includes a conveyor supported on the frame and configured to move material along the material flow direction. The conveyor assembly also includes a first non-driven idler shaft coupled to the conveyor at the intake end, a drive shaft coupled to the conveyor at the discharge end, and a tensioning system coupled to the drive shaft and configured to move the drive shaft relative to the idler shaft when the tensioning system is activated.

Tensioning system and drive positioning on a conveyor assembly

A method of tensioning a conveyor element of a conveyor. The method includes generating, with a proximity sensor, an output signal indicative of the conveyor element being under-tensioned, receiving the output signal from the proximity sensor, and activating a solenoid-controlled valve to an open state in response to receiving the output signal from the proximity sensor. The method also includes driving, with a pump, a piston of a cylinder while the solenoid-controlled valve is in the open state, pushing, with the cylinder, a take-up bar including a second portion of a ratcheting mechanism to engage with a first portion of the ratcheting mechanism of a locking plate, and imparting, via the locking plate, a locking force on the take-up bar. The method further includes overcoming the locking force and moving the shaft of the conveyor away from a centerline of the conveyor with the take-up bar when the locking force is overcome.

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Paris, KY, United States of America

Charles W Watson