US1747196A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

F. \N. VODOZ MINING MACHINE Feb. 18, 1930.

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MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 8, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 18, 1930. F. w. VODOZ MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 8, 1926' Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK W. VODOI Z, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOODMAN MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS MINING MAOHIN E Original applicationfiled December 8, 1926, Serial No. 153,253. Divided and this application filed October 21, 1927. Serial No. 227,643.

This invention relates to mining machines and more particularly to a propelling and feeding means for a mining machine of the mounted type having a projecting kerf cutting element adjustable in varying positions relative to the main frame for making va- Y rious cuts including top or bottom slabbing cuts or side shearing cuts, and has among otherobjects, to provide a quick interchangeable means for propelling said mining machine on mine rails, or on the mine bottom at a plurality of speeds and feeding said ma chine into the material to be mined at a plurality of frictional controlled speeds either from the mine rails or the mine bottom.

This application is a division of my prior application, Serial Number 153,253, filed December 8, 1926. p

The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a side view of the machine showing the cutter bar disposed at the opposite side and projecting forwardly from said machine, indicating in dotted lines certain other permissible positions of the cutter arm;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in Figure l and also indicating in dottecl lines other permissible positions of the cutter arm; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan viewof the machine main body with parts of the gearing mechanism shown in cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine drawn to a somewhat smaller scale than Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of part of the gearing reduction mechanism taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View of another portion of the gearing reduction mechanism taken on line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure '4' is a detail section of the propelling clutch mechanism taken on line 77 of Figure 4;;

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged detail views of the interchangeable chain tread or track mechanism whereby the machine frame may be either mounted on the mine tracks or proa main frame 10 and a forwardly projecting cutting element 11. The machine is moved from place to place and in and out of cutting position by suitable traction means, herein comprising a pair of continuous tread mechanisms indicated generally at 13, 13, which are interchangeable with a set of track guided supporting wheels 14, 14. Means for operating and adjusting these interchangeable tractions devices will hereinafter be described in greater detail.

Referring now to the cutting element, the cutting element herein illustrated includes a cutter bar 15 carrying an endless chain 18 mounted in a groove 16 formed around the sides and end of the cutter bar in the usual manner. The cutter bar is supported at its inner end on a cutter head indicated generally at 17. This general arrangement is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in which it will be seen that the cutter bar and cutter head may be bodily rotated relative to the main frame 10 on an axis extending longitudinally of the latter as indicated in dotted lines in these figures. The cutter arm 15 is also mounted on the cutter head 17 for swinging movement in a plane parallel with the axis of rotation of said head. The construction of the mounting of the cutter arm 15 and the means for moving said cutter arm about the longitudinal axis of the machine frame and about an axis transverse to said longitudinal axis, and the means for driving the cutter chain 18 from an electric motor 2-0 in all possible positions of the cutter arm will not here be described, since this comprises no part of the invention disclosed in this application, and since the above named features have been fully described in my prior application, Serial Number 153,253, hereinbefore mentioned.

Means are provided whereby the machine may be driven at a fast speed in moving about the mine or at frictionally controlled slower speeds in feeding the cutter chain 18 into the coal by the motor 20. It may be noted that the motor 20 is the same motor used for driving the cutter chain and for moving the cutting element about longitudinal and transverse axes to its various positions. A motor pinion 21 drives a gear 22 which rotates a shaft 23. The shaft 23 is connected directly to a bevel gear reversing mechanism, including a pair of oppositely disposed beveled pinions 24, selectively connectible thereto through an intermediate sliding clutch mem ber 25. These two beveled pinions are meshed at opposite sides of a beveled gear 26 which is connected with a hub or sleeve 27 which forms the main driving member of a planetary gear reduction device indicated generally at 29.

Such planetary gear devices are well known in the mining machine art and need not be described in detail herein excepting to point out a low speed member 30, having clutch jaws 31 which may be selectively engaged by clutch aws 32 of a sliding clutch member 33 feathered on drive shaft 34 to drive the latter at a relatively low speed through the usual gear reduction devices in the planetary 29. The shaft 34 is driven at a higher speed by connecting the clutch jaws 32 directly to jaws 35 carried at the lower end of the sleeve member 27. In this case the shaft 34 is driven atthe same speed as sleeve 27 and beveled gear 26. With the reversing and planetary gear devices above described, it will be seen that power connections are available at a plurality of speeds and in reversible directions for several operative functions; of the machine.

A pinion 40 is keyed on the lower end of shaft 34 and engages a pinion 41 on a shaft 42 through an idler pinion 43. A worm 45 is keyed on the shaft 42 and is meshed with a work gear 46 on a shaft 47. A gear 48 is keyed to shaft 47 and in turn is meshed with a gear 50 keyed on a shaft 51. This shaft extends rearwardly of the machine frame as shown in Figure 3 and has a gear 57 mounted on its rear end which is meshed with an idler gear 58 which in turn is meshed with gear 59 loosely mounted on shaft 60. A sliding clutch member 61 is feathered on shaft and arranged to afford a driving connection between the gear 59 and shaft 60 in the usual manner. A beveled pinion 65 is mounted on the rear end of shaft 60 and is meshed with a beveled gear 66 on driving shaft 67 extending transversely of the rear'end of the machine, as is best shown in Figure 4. A pair of sliding clutch members 68 are provided for affording selective driving connection with sprocket wheels 70, 70, at the opposite ends of the shaft, these sprocket wheels forming a driving connection with the endless chain propelling devices 13, 13, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

It will be understood that power connections above described are reversible and at relatively low speeds. A still further power connection is aflorded for propelling the machine at a higher rate of speed. These connections include gears 75, 76 and 77, affording a direct driving connection between the gear 22, meshed with armature pinion 21, and the driving shaft 60 through sliding clutch member 61, as clearly shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to the propelling mechanism including the continuous tread devices 13, 13, and the track wheel supports which are interchangeable therewith, details of this mechanism are shown in Figures 7 to 11, both inclusive. The devices at opposite sides of the machine are similar so description of one set will sufiice for an understanding of both. As shown in Figures 7 to 11, the continuous tread devices each include the driving sprocket and an endless chain tread device passing forwardly therefrom about a pair of longitudinally spaced idler sprockets 80 and 81. These sprockets are mounted on axles 82 and 83 respectively, in position to provide sufficient clearance for the entire machine when it is being supported on the treads of the continuous chain.

Each of the track wheels 14, 14 are mounted on a disc 89 which has bearing in said wheel eccentric of the periphery thereof. Each of said discs in turn have an eccentric bearing 90 on its respective axle. The arrangement is such that the bearing 90 or discs 89 may be rotated about the axle into one position as shown in Figure 9 in which the wheels are raised out of supporting engagement with the ground, that is to say, above the normal level of the treads, of an endless chain. As a means ofrotating the discs 89, 89, I provide a plurality of apertures 91, 91, about the outer periphery of said disc in position to be engaged by any suitable wrench or bar. When the discs are rotated to raised position, as shown in Figure 9, any means maybe pro- Vided for locking them in place, as for instance a pivoted lug 92 may be mounted on the side of the main frame 10 in position tobe inserted in one of the apertures 91 to hold the same in locked position as'shown in Figure 9. Locking means are provided for securing the wheel and eccentric disc together and hold the wheel in disengagement with the ground, said means herein comprising a plunger 93 carried by one wheel and adaptable to engage a suitable recess 98 formed in a lug 99 projecting outwardly from the eccentric disc 89.

When it is desired to use the track wheels as a supporting and driving means, the discs are rotated to their lowermost position, as shown in Figures 8, 10 and 11, in which position the axis of the axle extending through the eccentric disc coincides with the true axis of the Wheel. Locking means are provided for securing the wheel and eccentric disc in this relationship, said means herein comprising the plunger 93 carried by one wheel and adapted to engage in a suitable recess 94L formed in a lug 95 projecting outwardly from the eccentric bearing 90 as clearly shown in Figure 10. Means are also provided for affording a. driving connection between the continuous tread sprockets 80, 81, and the forward wheels when the latter are in supporting engagement with the track as shown in Figures 8, 1O andll. As herein shown this connection consists of a pin 96 carried by one of the coacting members, as for instance, the wheel 14, and extending therethrough so as to be detachably connected in a suitable aperture 97 formed in the adjacent sprocket 81. By means of the above arrangement the continuous tread mechanism provides a driving connection for the wheels when the latter are in use and provides also directly the tractive efiort when the wheels are raised and out of use, and the entire mechanism is supported on the treads themselves.

The use and operation of the machine above described will now be clear to one familiar with the art. The machine may be used for making an ordinary shearing cut at either side of the machine. The machine may also be used in overcutting or undercutting, or in making a slabbing cut; these various cuts being produced either by maintaining the machine frame stationary and swinging the cutter bar upon its axis, or by positioning the cutter bar in a fixed position and feeding said bar by advancing the machine along the track or by a combination of each of these methods. The various feeding operations above discussed are well known in the art, and may be accomplished while the machine is either on the mine rails or off therails on the mine bottom by the quick and simple operation necessary to change the driving means from track wheels to a traction tread and vice-versa as hereinbefore described.

Although I have shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, 1t Wlll be understood that the construction thereof and arrangement of the various parts may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, excepting as it may be limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a machine frame, a plurality of track wheels mounted on axles projecting outwardly from said machine frame, a pair of continuous tread devices adapted to afford supporting engagement for said mining machine on the outer side of said track wheels and removed from said machine frame, each of said Wheels having a rotatable disc member eccentric of the periphery thereof and each of said discs having an eccentric bearing support on said axle whereby said Wheel and bearing may be rotated relative to the axle and each other into one position wherein the axle bearing is substantially concentric with the wheel and into another position wherein said axle bearing is eccentric of the wheel and the wheel is raised out of supporting engagement with the ground.

2. In a mining machine, a machine frame, a plurality of track wheels mounted on axles projecting outwardly from said machine frame, a pair of continuous tread devices adapted to afford supporting engagement for said mining machine on the outer side of said track wheels and removed from said machine frame, each of said wheels having a rotatable disc member eccentric of the periphery thereof and each of said discs having an eccentric bearing support on said axle whereby said wheel and hearing may be rotated relative to the axle and each other into one position wherein the axle bearing is substantially concentric with the wheel and into another posi tion wherein said axle bearing is eccentric of the wheel and the wheel is raised out of supporting engagement with the ground, and means for detachably securing said wheel and disc together in either of two positions above mentioned.

3. In a mining machine, a machine frame, a plurality of track wheels mounted on axles projecting outwardly from said machine frame, a pair of continuous tread devices adapted to afford supporting engagement for said mining machine on the outer side of said track wheels and removed from said machine frame, each of said wheels having a rotatable disc member eccentric of the periphery thereof and each of said discs having an eccentric bearing support on said axle whereby said wheel and hearing may be rotated relative to the axle and each other into one position wherein the axle bearing is substantially concentric with the wheel and into another position wherein said axle bearing is eccentric of the wheel and the wheel is raised out of supporting engagement with the ground, and means for operatively connecting said wheel with said tread devices.

4. In a mining machine, a machine frame, a plurality of track wheels mounted on axles projecting outwardly from said machine frame, a pair of continuous tread .devices adapted to afford supporting engagement for said mining machine on the outer side of said track wheels and removed from said machine frame, each of said wheels having a rotatable disc member eccentric of the periphery thereof and each of said discs having an eccentric bearing support on said axle whereby said Wheel and bearing may be rotated relative to the axle and each other into one position wherein the axle bearing is substantially concentric with the wheel and into another position wherein said axle bearing is eccentric of the wheel and the wheel is raised out of supporting engagement with the ground, means for detachably securing said wheel and disc together in either of the two positions above mentioned, and means on the frame for holdlng said wheel and disc in the raised position.

Si ned at Chicago, in the county of Cook and gtate of Illinois, this 12th day of Septemher, A. D. 1927.

FREDERICK W. VODOZ.

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