Phasing valve assembly for supplying water to a mining machine cutter

Abstract

A boom mounted cutter drum assembly of a continuous mining machine includes a center drum section, a pair of intermediate drum sections, and a pair of end drum sections. Spray nozzles on the cutting elements of the cutter drum assembly phasingly 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 stationary annular housings positioned between the intermediate drum sections and the end drum sections. Water is conveyed through passageways in the annular housings to corresponding passageways in a sealing and valving assembly located in the end drum sections having stationary and rotating components. The gear case is surrounded on one side by a cat seal and on the other side by a lip seal to prevent liquid leakage from flowing into the gear case. Also, a leakage passageway is provided in communication with the passageways in the seal and valving assembly to permit liquid leakage to flow to atmosphere. The passageways in the sealing and valving assembly phasingly communicate with axial liquid passageways. The axial liquid passageways lead through the end drum section and into various zones in the end drum sections, the intermediate drum sections, and the center drum section to phasingly supply liquid to the spray nozzles located on the cutting elements as they dislodge material from the mine face.