National Mine Service Company

Donald E Keller

Maurice K LeBegue

Ronald W Keen

A continuous mining machine includes a body portion. A longitudinally extending conveyor support frame is positioned on the body portion. A pair of parallel spaced side walls are positioned outboard of the conveyor support frame. A unitary stabilizing member is pivotally connected at an upper end to the lower edge portions of the side walls and extends transversely between the side walls beyond the width of and below the conveyor support frame. A lower end of the stabilizing member is adapted for movement into and out of engagement with the mine floor. A pair of piston cylinder assemblies for actuating the stabilizing member are connected to and positioned outboard and laterally of the side walls. The piston rods of the assemblies are intermediately connected to the lateral edges of the stabilizing member. A preselected lever arm distance is provided between the pivotal connections of the assemblies and the stabilizing member to the side walls for generating an increased force for pivoting the stabilizing member into contact with the mine floor to stabilize the body portion as the mining machine dislodges material from the mine face and the material is conveyed rearwardly on the body portion.

Growing community of inventors

Nashville, IL, United States of America

Donald E Keller