US1247459A - Mining-machine. - Google Patents

Description

F. L. SESSIONS.

MINING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, I910- RENEWED MAY 25,1917- Lwmm v Patented Nov 20, 1917.

ISHEETS-SHEET I.

F. L. SESSIONS.

MINING MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, I910- RENEWED MAY 25. I917. mmw

Eatented Nov. 20, 191?.

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F. L. SESSIONS.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23. 1910. RENEWED MAY 25,1917.

1 fiwfifiu Patentml Nov. 20, 191?.

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F. L. SESSIONS.

MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1910. RENEWED MAY 25,1917. J1 %%7 459 Patentm Nov, 20, 191?.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23,1910- RENEWED MAY 2511911. LQQ7A5QD Patentefi Nov, 20, 191?.

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W, 6 QM M Witwwwo F. L. SESSIONS. MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FllLED MAR-23,1910- RENEWED MAY 2511917. LQQKAEQ.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

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IIIIIIIIIIII Witnesses KJM F. L. SESSIONS- MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED MAR. 23, 19:0. RENEWED MAY 25, m1.

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FRANK L. SESSIONS. 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 23, 1910, Serial 110.551068. Renewed May 25, 1917. Serial No. 170,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. SESSIONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new.

type which are especially adapted for use in room and pillar mining. These machines have a main frame and cuttingapparatus rigidly mounted on and projecting from the inner end of the frame. In operation the frame slides over the floor of the mine, the machine being propelled along the face by a cable or the like which exerts a draft on the main frame at points adjacent the coal face, while the cutters are held to the work by guiding devices comprising a cable or the like which is arranged to exert a rearward draft on the outer part of the main frame and which is paid out under a resistance, variable at the will of the operator, as the machine advances.

- The object of my present invention is to improve the last named devices for guiding the machine or holding it to its work by providing in connection with devices for offering a variable resistance to the paying out of the retarding cable, suitable means for positively stopping such paying out.

While my improvements, structurally considered, relate to the retarding devices, functionally considered they are related to the machine in a more general way, and I therefore fully show and describe a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mining machine embodying my improvements.

-Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. i'is a transverse section on the line 41- 1: of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 5 are enlarged sections on the line 55, Fig. 1, showing the operating mechanism and the cutter frame respec tively.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 6-6, Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line 7--7, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an outer end elevation of the friction held angling or guiding drum.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of said drum.

Fig. 10 is a vertical'section on the line 10-40, Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 11-11, Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a plan view on a small scale showing the machine in position near the right rib of a mine room to begin the enter- 111%01 sumping out.

ig. 13 is a similar view of the machine with the sumping cut partially completed.

Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the machine when the sumping out has been completed.

Fig. 15 is a plan view on a small scale showing the machine as it is propelled across the room along the coal face to make the under out.

For the purposes-of illustration 1 have shown in the drawing a mining machine of which A indicates the main frame as an entirety, B the cutting apparatus extending laterally therefrom and supported thereby, C, C the feeding and guiding mechanism for advancing the cutting apparatus and machine either longitudinally or laterally, D the motor mechanism, and E the auxiliary parts employed when it is desired to have the cutting apparatus advanced into the coal transversely to the face thereof.

The main frame may be of any suitable construction. I have shown it comprising a shoe 1 adapted to rest upon the ground with freedom to slide freely in all directions, longitudinally arranged angle bars or plates 2., 2 secured to said shoe at either side thereof and a suitable platform 3 resting upon and secured to said longitudinal side bars. 1-, 1-

are webs or plates depending from the platform 3 and carrying at their lower ends the laterally turned longitudinally extending cutting apparatus guides 5, 5.

The cutting apparatus comprises a longi tudinally arranged horizontally disposed base plate 6, two longitudinally arranged horizontally disposed guide plates 7 above said base plate and spaced therefrom by the longitudinally arranged bars 8 so as to form a chain guide or recess 9, the parts just rel.

Patented Nov. so, neat.

ferred to being secured together in any suitable manner, as by rivets 10. 11 is an inner sprocket wheel mounted upon a vertical axle 11, and between the inner end of the base plate 6 and a top plate 12 suitably .secured 'to the base plate and having an outwardly extending centrally arranged part 12 fitted snugly between the top bars 7 7 of the chain frame.

The motor D is suitably secured upon-the platform 3 with its armature shaft 13 arranged longitudinally ofthe machine. 14 is a longitudinally arranged shaft, preferably having its axis in the vertical longitudinal plane of the axis of the chain frame. lt is suitably mounted near either end in- bearings 14 and 14, one of which is carried by a bearing'standard 14 suitably secured to the platform 3. The standard 14 extends transversely of the machine in either direction from the shaft 14 for the purpose to be hereinafter described. 15 is a spur gear rigidly secured to the shaft 14 and meshing with a pinion 16 secured to the inner end,

of the armature shaft 13. 17 is a bevel pinion loosely mounted on the shaft 14 near the outer end thereof. 18 indicates a positive clutch interposed between the said shaft 14 and the bevel pinion '17, the longitudinally stationary element 18 of said clutch being secured to the said bevel pinion and the longitudinally movable element 18 being splined to the shaft. 18 indicates suitable mechanism for moving the element 18 of theclutch in either direction.

"19 is a vertically disposed shaft suitably mounted in bearings carried b the main frame of the machine and having its axis in the vertical plane containing the axis of the shaft .14. 20 is a bevel gear secured to the upper end of the said vertical shaft and in mesh with the bevel pinion 17. 21 is a sprocket drive wheel rigidly secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft 19;

22 indicates as an entirety an endless cutter chain or carrier extending around the sprocket drive wheel 21 and the inner sprocket 11 carried by the cutter frame, it

being arranged at either side within the uides 9 of the said cutter frame and carrying laterally extending cutters 23 of any suitable construction. The cutter frame is supported from the main frame by the longitudinally arranged slides or guides 5 depending from the main frame and arranged to fit snuglybetween the base plate and the upper plate of the chain frame. The main frame and the chain frame are normally screw threaded shaft 24 mounted near its inner end ina bearing in a depending plate extend the chain frame relative to the main frame or to force it in the opposite direction relatively thereto, as desired.

28 is a Worm gear rigidly secured to the longitudinally arranged shaft 14 near the inner end thereof and ,between the bearing standard 14 and the gear wheel 15 secured to the said shaft. 29 is a shaft arranged beneaththe said shaft 14 and transversely of the main frame. It is suitably mounted in a bearing 29 secured to the platform of the said frame. 30 is a worm wheel secured to the,inside end of the said transverse shaft 29 and in mesh 'with the worm 28 on the shaft 14. 31 is a worm rigidly secured to the outside end ofthe shaft 29.

32 is a longitudinally arranged shaft mounted near either end in bearings 32, 32, carried by bearing standards 14 and 32, the latter being arranged parallel to the former and of substantially the same width and secured to the platform of the main frame.

The axis of this shaft 32 is in a vertical longitudinal plane on the opposite side of the vertical longitudinal plane of the axis of the shaft 14 from armature shaft ,13. .33 is a worm wheel rigidly secured to the outer end of the shaft 32 and in, mesh with the worm 31 on the transverse shaft 29. 34 is a spur gear loosely mounted upon the shaft 32 adjacent to the bearing standard.14*-, and 35 is a gear wheel of greater diameter than the gear wheel 34 and loosely mounted upon the said shaft 32adjacent t0 the bearing standard 32*. 36 indicates as an entirety clutch mechanism for alternately connect-' so. I

secured to the gear wheel 35 and at its other end clutch jaws 36 adapted to engage with the clutch jaws 36 carriedby the gear wheel 34. 37 indicates as an entirety suitable mechanism for shifting the movable element 36 of the clutch in either direction at will.

'38 is a longitudinally arranged drum shaft suitably mounted near either end' in bearings 38, 38 in the bearing standards, 14 and 32 respectively. The axis of the shaft is on the opposite side of the vertical plane containing the axis of the shaft 14 from the axis of the shaft 32. 39 is a gear t emes wheel rigidly secured to the shaft 38 near the outer end thereof and in mesh with the gear wheel 34 on the shaft 32, and i is a gear wheel of smaller diameter than the gear wheel 39 rigidly secured to the inner part of the shaft 38 in position to mesh with the gear wheel 35 on the shaft 32.

41 is a cable winding drum loosely mounted on the shaft 38 and preferably adjacent to the gear wheel 40 at the inner end thereof: The periphery of the cable drum may be spirally grooved as indicated at 41' to assist in the spooling of a draft' cable upon the drum. The drum is preferably oonnected to the shaft 38 by means of a friction clutch 41, one element of which is a" ring or casing 41 carried by the drum and extending .outwardly therefrom, and the other element of which is a pulley or rin 41 havingits rim radially slotted at 41', 4:1, as indicated. 41 are adjustable wedges or expanders arranged between the sections of the rim at said slots and adaptedto force the periphery of' the rim into engagement with the inner Walls of the ring 41* in the Well known manner. By varying the adjustment of the expanders, the clutch can be made to slip when the resistance to the rotation of the winding drum reaches any given amount. 43 is a pulley or sheave arranged to receive and guide the cable at as it is wound upon or is paidout from the drum 41. This pulley 43 is mounted in a swivelin support'having a spindle mounted in abrac et bearing 43. The pulley spindle can be turned so that the pulley can be made to lie in either of several planes. When the machine is in operation and is being bodily advanced along the face of the coalthe pulley is substantially at ri ht angles to the longitudinal lines of the machine. When the machine is being advanced longitudinally to make the sumping cut the pulley is turned into its outward positiomas shown in Figs; 12, 13 and it, as will be more fully described presently. The

pulley. may in fact be made to take any sired to unload the machine from the truck on which it is transported from room to room, the pulley'may be turned inward and the draft cable made fast at some point in front of the machine to draw the machine from'the truck. in order to have the pulley 43' automatically assume the most advantageous position when stress is being exerted upon the cable, the pulley support or carrier is so constructed as to hold the pulley axis in a plane other than the plane of the axis of the, spindlepart. In other words, the pulley carrier is similar to the fork carrier of a caster wheel.

'wound. This drum is mounted upon a bracket 47 on the outer end of the machine, said bracket being provided with a horizontally and outwardly extending hub or stub shaft l8, upon which the drum 46 turns. The drum is held in position upon the shaft 48 by means of screw bolt 49. In addition to the groove or recessed part 46 of the drum upon which the cable is wound, a cylindrical extension 50 is provided with which a flexible brake band 51 cobperates. Clamping lugs 52- and 53 are riveted or otherwise secured to the respective ends of the brake band 51. These lugs are perforated to receive a clamping bolt or screw 54: and the lug 53 is slotted to receive a nut '55. This nut, when the parts are in position as shown in Fig. 8, engages the bottom of the slot formed in the lug 53 so that it cannot turn; And thus by turnin the bolt 54 one way or the other the brake and may be tightened or loosened as desired. As a convenient means for turning the screw bolt 54 a handle 56 is pivotally Secured to the end of said bolt. A partial revolution ofthe bolt can be made wlth the handle and then by swinging the ,handle on it's pivot the turning movement can be continued. The lug52 is formed with a vertical extension or flange 52 which is perforated so asto pass over a cylindrical boss 57 on the bracket 4:7, and the brake band is thus prevented from being bodily. displaced. v

- At times it is desirable to positively lock the drum against rotation independently of the brake hand. To this end a locking pin 58 is slidably mounted in the bracket 47, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, in position to engage any oneof a series of holes or sockets 59 formed in the adjacent face of the drum 4:6 or of its extension 50.. The pin 58 is pivotallyconnected to a hand lever 60 by means of which it can be readily movedinto and out of locking osition.

The sha't 48 upon which the drum is mounted is preferably formed with suitable ducts 61 through which oil may flow to the bearing surfaces of the drum, and a duct 62 may be formed in the bracket 47 through which oil may be supplied to the duct 61.

Fhr the purpose of feeding and guiding the machine during the initial or sumping cut I provide the following devices. 63 is a guide frame which comprises a bottom part or shoe 6% designed to slide over the floor of the mine and an upper transverse bridge part 65 which rests'upon the shoe 64 and spans the cutter frame in the manner shown in Fig. l. The transverse frame part 65 carries a depending guide bracket 65*,

which extends between and slidably engages the side bars or plates 6 and 7 of the cutter frame, a relative sliding movement between the guide frame and the cutter frame of the machine being thus 'provided for. The extent of this movement is indicated in Figs. 12 and 13, which show the extreme positions of the guide frame in relation to the machine. The'bridge part 65 is provided at its ends with upstanding rounded lugs 65, 65 which are adapted to receive the lower ends of screw jacks, such as 66 (see Fig. 12), which may be set between the guide frame 63 and the 'roof of the mine so as to clamp the guide frame rigidly on the floor of the mine, or at least hold it against movement transverse of the machine.

vIn order thatthe winding cable 44, may be efficiently used, in connection with the guide frame 63 for makin the sumping cut, the main frame of the mac ine is preferably provided with guide sheaves or pulleys 67,

68 and 69. The cable 44 may be extended outward from the swiveled pulley 43, passed around the pulleys 67 and 6S and thence extended inward over pulleys -69 to a suitable anchoring device, such as a jack at 70.

The manner in which my improved machine operates will readily be understood from the above description. Assuming that it is desired to under-cut the face of the coal in a room of a mine which is operated on the room and pillar plan, the machine is first put into the position shown in Fig. 12 adjacent the right rib and with the cutting apparatus directed toward the face of "the coal to be under cut. The guide frame 63 having been moved inward as far as it will 0 in relation to the cutter frame is now acked down, as indicated in Fig. 12, the draft cable 44 is passed outward over "the guide pulleys 67 and 68 on the rear corners of themachine and thence inward over the guide pulley 69 on the right side of the-machine to the jack 70. Current now being applied to the motor, it is set in operation and drives the shaft and gearing down to and including the clutch element at 18. and alsothe clutch element at 36. The operator upon shifting these drive clutch elements into engagement with their companion parts causes the power to be transmitted first to the cutting apparatus and secondly to the winding drum 41. Thereupon the machine as an entirety is drawn endwise toward and against the coal. As the cutters engage the coal the reaction tends to swing the inner end of the machine to the right, but such movement is prevented by the guide frame 63, which is effective for this purpose until the main frame of the machine is advanced into engagement with the guide frame at which point the motor is stopped. The position of the machine at this time is shown in- Fig. 13. The cutters are now so-far under the coal that further guidance by the frame 63 is not essential. Accordingly, the jack 66 having been removed the motor is again started and the remainder of the sumping cut is completed bringing the machine into the position shown in Fig. 14. During the latter part of the sumping cut it will be understood, of. course, that the guideframe 63 moves bodily with the machine.

The initial or sumping cut havin made in the manner stated, the mac ine is been Y next propelled laterally along the face of the coal to effect the undercutting in the following manner. The cable 44 is detached from the jack 70 and stretched along the face of the coal to the left rib where it is made fast to an anchor as, for example, a jack -71. The end of cable 45 is now made fast to the jack 70, which, if necessary, may be re-set in a position more nearly opposite the friction drum 46. The motor is now started, or if the motor'has been running idle the clutch elements 18 and 36 are thrown into,operative position whereupon the cutters begin to move and the winding drum 41 to rotate. The rotation of drum 41 draws upon the cable 44 so that the machine is gradually fed laterally along the face of the coal,the cutters meanwhile effecting the under cut. The position of the machine during this operation is indicated in Fig. 15. If the machine during this operation were subjected only to the draft force ofthe cable 44 and to the re-action of the coal upon the within his control a very simple yet efficient and convenient means for controlling the angular position of the machine 'in relation to the coal face. -If the outer end of the machine tends to swing too much to the left, due to the encountering of a hard streak of coal or hard foreign materials in the coal, it is only necessary to tighten .the brake band of drum 46 to sufiiciently retard the outer end of the machine. On the other hand, when the cutters move into softer material and the inner end of the machine tends to feed too rapidly in relation to the end, it is only necessary to loosen the brake band somewhat.

In the operationof the machine as above described, it is desirable at times to an le the machine quickly and to a considera 1e extent. It is to accomplish this in an efficient and satisfactory manner without interlid naaaaee fering' with the normal functions of the friction brake that I have provided the positive lock devices. When it becomes desirable to quickly swing the .inner end of the machine forward, the locking pin 58 can 7 be thrown into engagement with the winding drum 46 so as to positively lock the latter against rotation. The outer rear corner of the machine then becomes a practically stationary pivot point about which the inner end of the main frame and the cutting apparatus are'swung forward by the draft of the propelling cable 44 When the machine has in this manner been swung into the desired position in relation to the coaL face, the locking pin 58 is withdrawn from en gagement with the cable reel and the machine is allowed to advance bodily under the control of the friction brake on drum 46. The provision of'the positive lock for the drum 46- obviates the necessity of using the brake to effect a substantial locking of the drum, and this is advantageous as the brake tendsvto operate more reliably when the range of braking pressure or tension is not too great. It is obvious, furthermore, that the provision of the positive lock saves the braln'ng apparatus from considerable Wear and tear.

Occasion for the use'of the positive lock devices may arise from time to time as the machine advances along the face, due to variation in the character of the material encountered by the cutters, but the lock is found es eciallyadvantageous in guiding the machine at the very beginning of the side cutting. It willbe observed, upon referring to Fig. 14, that when the sumping cut is finished, the machine stands with its inner end angled somewhat rearward, the sumping out being made at a slight angle to the side wall or rib in order to maintain the width of the) room. But such an angular position of the machine is not suitable foi' making the under out along the face, the

proper angular position of the machine relative to the coal face being more nearly that shown in lFi 15. Therefore, when the sumping cut is completed and the side out is about to begin, the machine is angled from the position shown in Fig. 14 to that shown in Fig. 15, and this is readily accomplished by locln'ng the windin 46 against rotation by means of t e positive lock which l have provided. When the machine reaches the desired angle, as shown in Fig. 15., the positive lock is disenga ed and the machine continues its advance un er the control of the friction brake.

The means for guiding and controlling the .machine while the entering or sumping cut is being made, as set forth in this application, were invented by me but if make no claim to said means herein as they'form the subject-matter of my co-pending application, Serial No. 567,201, filed June 16, 1910.

What'l' claim is,

1. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, cutting apparatus pro jecting from the inner end of said frame, a flexible draft device acting on the inner end of the main frame to propel the machine along the face of the coal, and iding means for resisting the advance 0 the outer part of the main frame comprising a cable reel on the main frame, a cable on said reel adapted to have one end anchored to a stationary holder on the rear side of the machine, an adjustable brake device adapted to offer a variable resistance to the rotation of the reel, and means operable independently of the brake device for positively locking the reel against rotation.

2. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, cutting apparatus projecting from the inner end of said frame, a flexible draft device acting on the inner end of the main frame to propel the machine along the face of the coal, and guiding means for resisting the advance of the outer part of the main frame comprising a-bracket rigidly mounted on the main frame, a cable reel mounted on said bracket, a cable on said reel adapted to have one end anchored to a stationary holder on the rear side of the machine, an adjustable brake device adapted to ofl'er a variable resistanc to the rotation of the reel, and means operable independently of the brake device for positively locking the reel consisting of a'bolt slidably mounted in the said bracket and recesses in the reel adapted to receive the end of the bolt.

In testimony whereof afix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK 1L. SESSIONS. Witnesses: k

DUDLEY T. liism, E. P. Smvnnr.

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