The United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of

Bituminous Coal Research, Inc.

Robert D Harris

Robert D Saltsman

Aerial spinning toy

A bearing assembly for a rotary drilling tool for a continuous mining machine includes inner and outer races having respective annular bearing surfaces and an annular channel formed between the races for water lubrication and cooling of roller bearing members positioned within the channel. A pump supplies pressurized flow through the channel sufficient to lubricate the bearing and to prevent feedback of rock particles. A transfer passageway drains the water from the bearing assembly and feeds it to the tool to cool the cutter teeth and to allay the fine respirable dust which is potential health hazard to the mine workers. The rollers of the bearing each include an annular notch to form a portion of the flow channel. The notches occupy approximately fifteen percent of the cross-sectional area. Elastic ring support for the outer race absorbs a major portion of the drilling stress from the tool. Rotary water seals and wipers beside the bearings form a rotary water-tight joint. The bearing assembly maintains the concentric position of the fixed and rotary elements of the seals and wipers.

Water lubricated bearing assembly for mining machine

A model for simulating the emission of gas and dust in a mine during a continuous mining operation includes a tank and an inlet conduit for conducting fluid into the tank. A substantially rectangular housing is positioned in the tank and submerged in the fluid. The housing simulates a mine entryway and comprises a pair of sidewalls and top and bottom walls connected thereto, with a sealed end portion and an open end portion. A foraminous member secured to the open end portion directs fluid from the tank into the housing. Indicia medium, such as a dye, is directed from a reservoir to the foraminous member where the indicia medium and fluid are mixed. The indicia medium and fluid pass through the foraminous member into the housing and provide a visual indication of simulated emission of gas and dust from a mine face. The simulated impurities are diverted into a partitioned area of the housing and withdrawn from the housing through a simulated exhaust pipe. An additional feature includes the simulation of exhaust tubing having an inlet positioned adjacent the mine face and operable to withdraw the gas and dust emitted therefrom during the mining operation. The model also demonstrates mine ventilation control by supplying fresh air to the mine face through a ventilation pipe and removing the gas and dust generated from the mine face through an exhaust pipe. The conduit simulating the ventilation pipe may be moved laterally across the foraminous member to withdraw the indicia medium and fluid passing therethrough and demonstrate the operation of a scrubber device mounted on a mining machine for removing the impurities from the mine air in the entryway.

Growing community of inventors

Delmont, PA, United States of America

Robert D Harris