US1596435A - Mining apparatus - Google Patents

Description

M. P. HOLMES MINING APPARATUS Aug. 17, 1926. 1,596,435

Filed Oct. 22 1921 F g- Z Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

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MOR'BJIS 'P. HOLMES, 0F CLAREMQN'T, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR ,TO SULLIVAN IMAGIIINERY COMPANY, A (IGRPQRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MINING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 22, 1921.

My invention relates tomining apparatus.

It has for its object to provide andmproved mining machine and more espec ally an improved mining machine especially adapted to operate on pitching seams. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved means adapted to be'applied to a standard mining machine whereby such a machine may be controlled in its movement up a pitch and whereby the pulling out of a jack or .the like, which would otherwise result in the machine sliding .down the pitch with resultant injury to .the operator and damage to the machine and props, is rendered harmless. These and other advanof .my improved construction will, however, hereinafter .more fully appear.

In .the accompanying drawings I have.

shown for purposes of illustration two forms which my invention may assume in practice. 7

In these drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of .a mining machine constructed in accordance. with .one'torm of my invention, the machine being shown in cutting position adjacent a face.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the form of the construction shown in Fig. l, the machine being shown moving .up a pitch.

Fig. 3 is aidetail view partially in section of the ares land 2.

Fig. a is a detail sectional View on line ll of Fig. 3. p

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and showing .amodified construction of controlling mechanism.

In these illustrative embodiments I have shown a standard vform of mining machine which, while the invention is not limited thereto, is ot'the longwall type including a usual machine casing 1 carrying at one end thereof a pivotally mounted cutter bar 2 adapted to be laterally disposed .to undercut a face as theopposite .end of the machine is moved in advance thereof along the face nuder the action of a .feed operating member .3 controlled by a usualzcontrol mechanism ineluding a member t and propelling .the .machme along a .fiexible teedmg memberb, the feed operating member herein being shown .in the form of a .feed sprocket member and thejflexible .teeding member in the .torm of a chaimalt'ioughiit will be evicontrolling mechanism shown in Fig- Serial No. 509,694.

dent that any other form of propulsion means may be used. It will also be understood that the cutter mechanism and the feed operating member are driven from a motor (not shown) carriedinthe machine casing and operatively connected to these elements in a usual manner.

In my improved construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a safety member, herein in the form of a flexible member or cable 6 is disposed between the machine and the props when the machine is at the face, one end of the fiexiblemember being connected at the top of the pitch and the other at the bottom to suitable abutments of such strength as to enable the entire weight -of the machine to be placed upon the member 6 should the abutment or jack to which the flexible feeding member 5 .isconnected, be pulled out, or the flexible feeding. member break. In preferred form of my invention this cable 6 is disposed at such a height above the bottom as to bea'bove the free end of the flexible feeding member which is fed out on the prop s'ide oi the machinefby the feed operating lmember, the same preferab'ly also being disposed at such a- "height as to bring it substantially in theplaneloi the machine controlling mechanism, herein typilied by the member 4. As shown, the member 6 also extends through a suitable clamp 8 at the prop side of the front end ojf them'achine, which is carried on a bracket 9 in such amanner as to project slightly later-ally I ber 8, however, normally being projected into contact with the cable-thy means of springs 16 seated in apertures 17 in the member13 and acting between that member and the flange 14. :Operatively associated with the flange 14. is also a horizontally disposed controlling member 18 pivoted at 19 at a point adjacent one of its ends on a vertical pivot on the irontend ofthe-menih'er 9 and having on its outer end andpre'ferably adjacent. the pivot, spaced extensions en gageable with the outside surface of the flange 1 f.

As a result of my improved construction it will be observed that when the machine is moving up a pitch, the parts occupy the position illustrated in Fig. 3, the spring pressed member 8 being projected into clamp releasing position by the friction on the cable 6 so that the machine may move freely relative to the cable 6 and along the member 5. When, however, the machine starts down the pitch, as for instance when the jack for the flexible feeding member 5 pulls out, the friction of the clamp on the cable causes the member 8 to move longitudinally in its bore 12 and thereby to clamp the machine to the safety cable 6. Further, it will be noted that whenever the operator for any reason desires to move the machine down the pitch, this is readily accomplished by simply releasing the member 18 and letting the machine slip as desired under the constant control of that member.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a modified form of the construction hereinabove described Where it will be noted that the clamping member generally indicated at 8 in that figure is formed of a plurality of parts 21 and 22, one of which, 21, is connected through a suitable toggle mechanism to the member 9, herein through a plurality of toggle links 23 pivoted in that member and the member 9, while the other, 22, is normally projected into clamping position by suitable resilient means, herein in the form of a plurality of coiled springs 24 seated in an extension 25 on the member 9. In this construction extensions 26 are also provided on the member 21 and engaged by the spaced extensions 20 on the member 18. The operation of this construction will evidently be the same in principle as that of the preceding construction, friction on the cable 6 acting automatically to apply and release the clamp, While the operator may lower the machine down the pitch under control of the control member.

Through the use of my improved construction it is found possible to operate with entire safety upon pitching seams of as high as 55 degrees wherein safe operation of the machine has heretofore been thought impossible due to the risk to the lives of the operators below the machine and the damage to the machine and props which would result from the pulling out of the upper jack for the flexible feed member or the breaking of the latter. Further, it will be noted that the control member is conveniently located so that an operator operating the usual control member 4 of the machine may readily also operate the control member 18. Attention is also directed to the fact that my improved mechanism may be very cheaply produced and applied to a standard machine without change in the latter machine and at a very small expense while the safety mechanism itself is of a rugged character well adapted to withstand long service.

While I have in this application specifically described two forms which my in'ven. t-ion may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine including feeding means, a stationary member relative to which said machine is movable, means for frictionally engaging said member automatically upon movement of said machine in one direction, and means for releasing said engaging means during such movement.

In a mining apparatus, a mining machine including feeding means, a stationary member reiative to which said machine is movable during feeding, and ating with said stationary member in controlling machine movement comprising means normally gripping said member but automatically released on feedingmovement, and means for releasing said gripping means on movement in a direction opposite such feeding movement.

3. The combination with a mining machine having a feeding means, of a cable element and a cable gripping element, one of said elements being stationary and the other connected to said machine for movement therewith and said cable gripping element comprising means permitting free relative movement during normal machine feeding but automatically operative to check relative movement in a reverse direction.

4:. The combination with a mining machine having feeding means, of a cable element and a cable gripping element, one of said elements being stationary and the other connected to said machine for movement therewith and'said cable gripping element comprising meanspermitting free relative movement during normal machine feeding but automatically operative to check relative movement in a reverse direction, and means operativeat will to cause said last mentioned means to permit free opposite relative movement.

5. In a mining apparatus, a flexibly fed mining machine slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom and having a projecting cutter bar, a safety member, and means whereby said machine is'connected thereto upon a rearward movement of said machine.

6. In a mining apparatus, a flexibly fed mining machine slidable on its bottom on a means COOPQY- I mine bottom and having a projecting cutter bar, a safety member, and normally operative manually releasable means for connecting said mining machine to said member upon machine movement.

7. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having a projecting cutter bar, feeding means connected to said machine to feed the same along a face, a safety cable, and clamping means connected to said machine and movable along said cable including normally operative cable gripping elements.

8. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine having a projecting cutter bar, feeding means connected to said machine to feed the same along a face, a safety cable, and clamping means carried on said machine and movable along said cable and including normally operative cable gripping elements releasable by an operator.

9. In a mining apparatus, a mining machine movable along a face and having a projecting cutter bar, a safety cable disposed parallel to the face, cable clamping means on said machine comprising a gripping member and means normally holding said member in contact with said cable, and a control member controlling said gripping member.

10. In a mining apparatus, a flexibly fed mining machine including a projecting cutter bar, a safety cable disposed parallel with the path thereof, and clamping means on said machine engageable With said cable and including a toggle connected member and a cooperating spring pressed member and a controlling member controlling the movement of one of said members.

11. In a mining apparatus, a flexibly fed mining machine including a projecting cutfor bar, a safety cable disposed parallel With the path thereof, and clamping means on said machine engageable With said cable and including a toggle connected member and a cooperating spring pressed member and a controlling member controlling the movement of said toggle connected member.

12. In a mining apparatus, a flexibly fed mining machine slidable on its bottom on a mine bottom and having a projecting cutter bar, a safety member in the form of a flexible member extending substantially parallel to the path of machine movement, and means connected to said machine and engaging and moving freely along said flexible member during forward machine movement operative upon a rearward movement of said machine to connect the latter to said flexible member in a manner to preclude substantial rearward movement. v

In testimony whereof I afflx my si nature.

MORRIS r. HoLiiEs.

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