Eimco LLC

Eimco Coal Machinery, Inc.

Ronald W Keen

Maurice K LeBegue

Jonathan G Faw

A longitudinally extending conveyor discharge section is connected for horizontal and vertical pivotal movement on a frame of a mining machine. A pair of service shoes is connected at one end to the machine frame below the conveyor support frame for pivotal movement into and out of contact with the mine floor. A pair of double acting piston cylinder assemblies is connected at opposite ends to the conveyor discharge section and the service shoes. The conveyor discharge section and the service shoes are removably pinned to the machine frame. The pins for the conveyor discharge section are removed when it is desired to elevate the conveyor by actuation of the cylinder assemblies in a first mode. To perform maintenance operations on the mining machines, the machine frame is elevated by lowering the service shoes to engage the mine floor. The conveyor is lowered and pinned to the frame. The service shoes are then released from their pinned connection to the frame to actuate the cylinder assemblies in a second mode to lower the shoes into contact with the mine floor and elevate the end of the machine frame. With this arrangement a single set of piston cylinder assemblies located at the rearward end of the mining machine frame control movement of both the conveyor discharge section and the service shoes.

Conveyor lift and service shoe assembly and method of moving

A boom mounted cutter drum assembly of a continuous mining machine includes an intermediate drum section and a pair of end drum sections. Spray nozzles on the cutting elements of the cutter drum assembly direct liquid spray at the mine face as mine material is dislodged to suppress dust and frictional ignition. Liquid for the spray nozzles is supplied on the mining machine through a stationary housing positioned between the intermediate drum section and the end drum sections. Water is conveyed through ports in the housing to a rotary seal assembly having stationary and rotating components. The ports are sealed by O-rings which communicate with passageways that divert liquid leakage at the rotary seal assembly away from the gearcase. The rotary seal assembly is surrounded by lip seals in the gearcase to separate the liquid passageways to the spray nozzles from the lubricant supplied to the gearcase. The lip seals communicate with the passageways vented to atmosphere so that any liquid leakage is diverted away from the gearcase. The lip seals exposed to the flow of liquid through the rotary seal assembly are also lubricated to maintain the seals operational during periods when liquid is not supplied to the spray nozzles. The lip seals and O-rings surrounding the rotary seal assembly also act as redundant liquid seals to prevent liquid from contaminating the gearcase.

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Blacksburg, VA, United States of America

Ronald W Keen