GB708336A - Improvements in or relating to coal cutting, stripping, conveying and loading machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

708,336. Mining machines. SMALL, E. Oct. 19, 1951 [Oct. 19, 1950], No. 25473/50. Class 68(1) A mining machine has kerf cutting means j and a plough l positioned either to the rear or ahead of the kerf cutting means so as to load on to a conveyer h, without the necessity of further kerf cutting, coal completely or partially detached from the seam by the cutting means during a previous traverse by the machine along the mine face. When the plough is to the rear of the cutting means, face by the machine and the prepared coal loaded on the return traverse. When the plough is ahead of the cutting means, the coal prepared by a previous traverse is loaded whilst kerfs are formed in the newly exposed face. The cutting means may be such as to make under, over and shear cuts, the means being endless chain jibs or an undercutter jib having at the outer end a vertical bar cutter the upper end of which is enlarged to form a disc cutter. The machine may be self-propelled or have a haulage system which comprises a winch at each end of the face, or a winch on the machine and a winch at one end of the face, or a reversible winch on the machine engaging a fixed rope or chain. The machine may be mounted on a skid or move on the side forms of a conveyer which may be advanced up to the new face by a wedge member towed by the machine and acting between the roof props and the conveyer. A plough may be provided at each end of the machine and have floor, shear and roof cutting edges that lead to inclined ramps so shaped as to direct the coal on to the conveyer. The whole of the cutting edge of the plough may be oscillated in the direction of movement of the machine or have formed therein a number of oscillatable chisels.