National Mine Service Company

Maurice K LeBegue

Earl C Michael

Charles R Herron

Gerald L Baum

Ronald W Keen

Donald E Keller

Barry R Kelley

Henry E Wilson

An improved material gathering device is for a mining machine or the like of the type which includes a mobile body supporting a mining head at a forward end thereof for dislodging material from a mine face. A gathering platform is on the mobile body adjacent and below the mining head for receipt of the dislodged material thereon. An endless conveyor extends longitudinally of the mobile body to convey the dislodged material away from the forward end to the rearward end of the mobile body. A pair of oscillating arms are on transversely opposite sides of the gathering platform and are driven by a gear train including a transversely extending shaft to cause the arms to feed the dislodged material onto the endless conveyor. The endless conveyor includes a sprocket and drive shaft at a forward end thereof to cause the endless conveyor to extend into the gathering platform to terminate near a forward edge thereof. The drive shaft for the endless conveyor is coupled by gears to the transversely extending shaft of the pair of oscillating arms.

Material gathering device for a mining machine

A continuous mining machine includes a mobile body portion with a cutter drum member rotatably mounted on the front of a boom member which extends forwardly of the body portion. The cutter drum member has an intermediate drum section and a pair of canted end drum sections. Driven input shafts extend through openings between the intermediate section and the end drum sections. Each input shaft is drivingly connected to a first stage of a two stage planetary gear assembly which surrounds an end drum drive shaft that extends the length of each end drum section. A second stage of the planetary gear assembly is drivingly connected to and is axially aligned with the first stage to transmit rotation outwardly to the end of the end drum section. A shearable driving coupling is axially positioned on the end drum drive shaft at the end of the end drum section. An external portion of the drive coupling is connected to the second stage and an internal portion is connected to the end drum drive shaft. The drive coupling transmits rotation from the second stage to the end drum drive shaft and therefrom to a drive shaft for rotating the intermediate drum section. In the event the load on the end drum section during the mining operation exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the drive coupling shears to prevent damage to the other drive components under overload conditions.

Drive assembly for mining machine cutter drum

An operator's compartment for a mobile machine, such as a machine used in underground mining operations, is pivotally connected to the machine frame for positioning at a preselected elevation above the ground or in contact with the ground to follow the contour of the ground in a 'free floating' condition. The first overhead canopy is supported above the operator's compartment at a fixed elevation. Positioned beneath the first overhead canopy is an operator's seat securely positioned on the platform to provide an operator's station from which the machine is operated. Positioned in underlying relation with the first overhead canopy is a second overhead canopy that extends forwardly from the operator's station. The first and second canopies provide for complete overhead protection of an operator. The second overhead canopy is pivotally connected at one end to the machine frame and includes at the opposite end a control panel which is suspended downwardly from the second overhead canopy to a position opposite the operator's seat. Suitable height adjustment means, such as a fixed length or piston cylinder assembly, is connected to the second overhead canopy to permit adjustments in the elevation of the second canopy and the control panel. With this arrangement not only is the second canopy adjustable relative to the first, but the control panel may be repositioned on the platform to allow a change in the position of the controls to suit the operator.

Machine operators compartment

A self-propelled mining machine includes a mobile body portion with a boom extending forwardly therefrom. The boom rotatably supports a rotatably driven cutter drum having peripherally extending cutting elements. The boom member includes a trough formed by inclined sidewalls. The inclined sidewalls are positioned in space relation and extend upwardly on opposite sides of the receiving end of a conveyor that extends continuously the length of the machine body portion. The sidewalls slope downwardly toward the lateral edges of the conveyor receiving end and form a material receiving bin or hopper. The receiving end of the conveyor forms the floor of the hopper. The front end of the hopper extends the length of the cutter drum. Suitable drive means rotate the cutter drum to dislodge material from a mine face and direct the dislodged material by rotation of the cutter drum over the cutter drum and rearwardly into the hopper. The dislodged material is directed down the inclined sidewalls of the hopper onto the receiving end of the conveyor. The conveyor transports the dislodged material rearwardly on the mining machine to a discharged end of the conveyor. The boom member together with the receiving end of the conveyor and the hopper are pivotally movable with the cutter drum member as the cutter drum is raised and lowered to form a shear cut in the mine face.

Mining machine loading bin mounted on boom structure and method

A self-propelled boring type mining machine includes a mobile frame and a pair of spaced apart drive shafts that extend forwardly from a gear box mounted on the frame. A pair of rotary boring heads are nonrotatably connected to the pair of drive shafts and are operable to cut a pair of bores in a mine face to dislodge the mine material. Cusps formed at the mine roof and floor are dislodged by upper and lower cutter chains that are carried by upper and lower cutter bars movably positioned on the front end of the frame. Cutter bar extensions are movably positioned on both sides of the upper and lower cutter bars by control links pivotally connected to the extensions and the mobile frame. The upper and lower cutter bars are vertically extended and retracted by piston cylinder assemblies. Movement of the cutter bars is transmitted to the cutter bar extensions which are guided on the respective cutter bars along combined horizontal and vertical paths. Thus the cutter bar extensions are automatically moved to an operating position corresponding to a preselected position of the cutter bars for supporting the cutter chains in a preselected cutting position on the mobile frame.

Apparatus for extending and retracting the cutter bars of a boring type

A rotor arm cutting assembly includes a plurality of cutter arm members extending radially outwardly from a hub portion which is adapted for nonrotatable connection to a drive shaft extending from the front of a mining machine. Each cutter arm member includes a front face for supporting cutter bits operable to dislodge solid material from a mine face upon rotation of the drive shaft. A slot extends longitudinally outwardly from the hub portion to the end of each cutter arm member on the front face. A cutter arm extension is positioned for longitudinal movement in the slot. Complimentary guide members and guide ways associated with the extension portion and the cutter arm member maintain the extension portion movable in a longitudinal direction in the slot. The extension portion is extended and retracted relative to the cutter arm member by operation of a fluid actuated cylinder positioned for convenient servicing within a recess in the back of the cutter arm member. The extension portion also supports cutter bits so that extension thereof from the end of the cutter arm member extends the effective cutting length of the cutter arm member.

Extensible and retraciable rotor arm cutting assembly

A cutting tool assembly adapted for mounting on a driving mechanism of a mining machine to dislodge solid material in mining operations includes a base member rigidly secured as by welding to the driving mechanism. A cutter member having an elongated shank and a conical head is releasably positioned in a bore through the base member. The conical head extends from the upper end of the shank and supports a hard cutting tip that is operable to dislodge solid material from a mine face upon rotation of the driving mechanism. The shank has a tapered body positioned in a tapered portion of the base member bore. The surface of the tapered body cooperates with the bore tapered portion to form a locking fit of the shank in the base member substantially free of relative movement between the shank and the base member to prevent wear of the base member bore. A securing device engages the lower end of the shank to exert a downward force on the shank and urge the complementary surfaces of the shank and the base member into wedging engagement within the bore. Wear of the base member bore is thus substantially prevented resulting in an extended operating life of the base member and reduced downtime for replacing a worn base member.

Cutting tool assembly

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.

Stabilizing assembly for a mining machine

A continuous mining machine has a mobile body portion with a boom member pivotally secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. A cylindrical drum member is rotatably mounted on front of the boom member and includes a cylindrical intermediate section and a pair of end sections extending outwardly from the intermediate section. Cutting elements for dislodging material from a mine face extend from the respective drum sections. The cutting elements of the end sections are spaced from the adjacent cutting elements of the intermediate section by a pair of openings separating the intermediate section from the end sections respectively. A pair of nonrotatable housing assemblies extending forwardly from the boom member extend around the pair of openings. Each housing assembly has a tubular portion through which input shafts extend to transmit rotation to each of the end sections and therefrom by shafts extending from the end sections to the intermediate section to rotate the intermediate section. Each housing assembly has a body portion extending around the respective opening between the drum member sections and includes an outwardly projecting portion provided with tapered sidewalls that terminate in an edge portion. The housing tapered edge portions are operable to dislodge material from the mine face in front of the pair of openings between the end sections and the intermediate section so that a kerf is cut from the mine face extending along the entire length of the drum member.

Continuous mining machine having a boom member with a fixed material

A pair of differential side gears are splined to separate driven shafts that rotate the driven wheels of a vehicle. Rotation of a driven shaft is transmitted through a differential case and spider gears to the side gears. The side gears are rotatably mounted on a thrust assembly. Belleville spring assemblies exert a biasing force upon interleaved clutch plates alternately splined to the case and the side gears. Upon the occurrence of an unequal torque distribution between the driven shafts the gear separating forces exerted by the spider gears upon the side gears become imbalanced. The side gear associated with the driven shaft of the wheel having reduced traction is displaced axially toward the spider gears. This axial movement is transmitted through the thrust assembly to the side gear associated with the driven shaft of the wheel having the greater traction to axially move the side gear and compress the clutch plates to frictionally engage the case and the side gear. Rotation is transmitted from the case through the clutch plates to the side gear to increase the torque of the driven shaft of the wheel having the greater traction and thereby rotate the wheel having the greater traction.

Limited slip differential

A cutter drum member of a continuous mining machine is rotatably mounted on the front end of the machine. The drum member includes an intermediate section and a pair of canted end sections. Cutting elements extend from the surface of the respective drum sections and provide a continuous cutting pattern along the entire length of the drum member. Input drive shafts extend through rear openings between the adjacent ends of the intermediate section and the end sections. Rotation is transmitted from the input drive shafts through meshing bevel gears and planetary gears to rotate the intermediate section. The adjacent ends of the intermediate section and end sections include meshing gear teeth secured to the external surface of the sections so that the canted end sections are driven by the external meshing gear teeth. Passageways formed between the gear teeth on the external cylindrical surfaces of the drum sections facilitate the flow of dislodged material between the gear teeth to prevent material from accumulating between the teeth and thereby ensure positive drive to the canted end sections.

Continuous mining machine and cutter drum drive therefor

A continuous mining machine is propelled on endless crawler tracks and includes a body portion with a boom extending forwardly therefrom. The boom rotatably supports a drum having peripherally extending cutting elements. A boom stabilizer mounted on the boom includes a plate member pivotally connected at one end to the boom rearward of the drum. A piston cylinder assembly is pivotally mounted on the boom member and includes an extensible piston rod that is pivotally connected to the opposite end of the plate member. Extension of the piston rod pivots the plate member upwardly to a preselected height where the plate upper surface lies on a line tangent to the cutting path of the cutting elements at the top of the drum. When the drum is positioned adjacent the mine roof for sumping into the mine face, the stabilizing plate abuts the mine roof with the cutting elements displaced from the mine roof. As the drum is sumped forward the stabilizing plate prevents the drum from climbing the face into the mine roof. Thus, the drum drive motors are not overloaded by the drum simultaneously cutting the mine roof and face, and a preselected mine roof height is maintained during the mining operation.

Boom stabilizer for an underground mining machine

A self-propelled body portion is provided with a forwardly extending boom member pivotally secured thereto. The boom member includes a pair of parallel forwardly extending arm members that are pivotally secured to the body portion. A pair of parallel support members are movably secured to and extend laterally from the respective arm members. A drum member having cutting elements thereon is rotatably supported at the forward end portion of the support members. A pair of piston cylinder assemblies are secured to the respective arm members and each includes an extensible piston rod secured to a support member. The piston cylinder assemblies are connected by fluid conduits to a hydraulic valve member. A selected one of the drum member end portions may be moved laterally relative to the respective side edge of the gathering device by introducing fluid under pressure from the valve member into the piston cylinder assembly adjacent that side of the mining machine. The piston rod retracts within the assembly, and the fluid is transmitted therefrom through a conduit back to the control valve and then to the other piston cylinder assembly to extend the other piston rod therefrom. The simultaneous extension and retraction of the piston rods moves the support members laterally to one side of the body portion to position a drum member end portion within the confines of a side edge of the gathering device. With this arrangement, a selected side edge of the gathering device may be positioned abutting the mine rib to permit the gathering device to pick up the loose material adjacent the mine rib.

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Argillite, KY, United States of America

Maurice K LeBegue