US1762072A - Loading machine - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1930. N. A. NEWDICK LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5,' 1929 Y 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 N.l A. NEWDIIJK LOADING MACHINE A June 3, 1930.

.Filed Feb. 5, 1929 'sheets-sheet 3 Jun'e 3, 1930. N.A A. NEwDlcK 1,762,072

A LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. `5, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Julie 3, 1930. v I v N` A, NEwDlCK 1,762,072

` vLOADING MACHINE 4 Filed Feb.' 5, 1929- 9 sheets-sheet 5 .Ml J7 v /02 LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1929 9 sheets-sheet 6 -June 3, 1930. N. A. NEwDlcK ,1,762,072

LOADING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1929 l 9 sheets-sheet www June 3,1930. I N. A. ,NEwDlcK I 1,762,072 I LOADING MACHINE Patented June 3, 1930 vUNI'1f-Ian sr Aras'. PAT-ENT l NORTON A. N-Ewnicx, or cotUMBUsgoHio i i LQADING MACHINE, Y

Appnc'auon mea February@ 1929. seriai No. 337,718.

This invention relates to an improved loading machine, designed particularly "for .the operation of effecting mechanically the transference of coal from the .working facesof underground mines into cars suitable for the removal of the coal from the amines.

Asis'well known, coalin its nativevheds is found in strata 'of varying thickness, the

sti-'ata ranging in most commercial 'mines from four to ten feet in thickness, audit isa primary object of thepresent` invention to provide a loading machine which, fromv7 a manufacturingstandpoint, mayV loev standardized throughoutpractically its entire construction, but wherein features-of Adesign are present which,lhyl slight structural substitutions and adjustments, adapt the machine-to coal seams of any thickness and to the varying equipment used in connection therewith.Y

'This application is filed in lieu of my "abandoned case Serial vBld-688,343, liled January -l7Vith these and other objects in view? that will appear as the description-proceeds, the invention further vconsists in yt'henovel features of construction,'combinations of elementsand arrangements of parts,-hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this speciication, and in whichsimilar reference ^charact'ers denote like and corresponding parts` throughout the several views thereof:

Figure l is a side elevation of the loa-ding rmachine comprising the present invention,

' Figure 2 is atop plan-view thereof,

FigureB is a vertical sectional view taken of Figure 3,

view taken'on the plane indicated loy/tlielinev j 7-7l of Figure 3, f l f `Figure 8 4isa similar view` on the line 8..-8

' Figure .9 is a detailed view of theself pro-i155.

- pelling mechanism carried bythe machine,

Figure 9a isa detail lview thereof, Y 7 Figure l0 is a vertical transverse sectional` view onA the line l0--10 of Figure 3, I 'v "Figure 11 isa horizontal. sectional view taken through the clutch and-'gearreduction transmission `of the machine, V l Figure 12 is'fa planviewofthe automatic reverse mechanism,

yFigure "13 is a horizontal sectional lv view 651- taken through said reverse mechanism, 5

Figure 14 is a plan view of the, pony truck Vused in supporting the forward end of v th gathering conveyor for travel, 1i

y Figuref l5 isa sectfonal view taken'` on the '70y line'rl-l ofFigure-l4; f g In the accompanying rdrawings the loading machine ,is illustratedV as vconsisting' of a' trucky or! other traveling hase,which in this instance is adapted for travel overthestandard track-way l of'a mine.v YThe'truclr has Vmounted on the forward end thereof a gatli'- ering conveyor arrangedto sweep horizon--A tallyfacr'oss the floor surfaceof a mineand to gather, in its path of travel, all loose materials lying on the minefloor in the range of sweeping'movement of the gathering conveyor. By means of thegathering conveyor the coal is removed from the mine floor and is elevated to a point above the truck, at 85 which point 'it is discharged from the gathering conveyor and is deposited within va wide j yopen-mouthed hopper of the delivery con-fV veyor ofthe machine, which 'delivery conveyor Vis mounted 4on the truck to have a 90 i pivotalswingingmovement independent of that-of the gathering conveyor, whereby the two conveyors may he relatively adjustedto swing about their independent mountings for the purpose of. adapting the machine to the 95. curved or tortuous' passageways of a mine, and Yto thereby provide'a machine whichis adaptable-to the so-called room and pillar f system of coal mining, now employed in 'the 'y large fmagority :of bituminous coal mines. 100

,The loading or delivery conveyor includes an elevated horizontally extending discharge extremity which is Varranged to project over an open topped mine or pit car, disposed beneath the rear end of the machine. In Operation the machine is brought forward to the working face, and the gathering conveyor is' moved into engagement with the coral to be gathered. The coal is then passed through the gathering conveyor and deposited within the delivery conveyor, from which unit it is finally discharged from the machine and deposited within the mine car. As these latter cars are filled, the same are drawn away from the loading machine and empty cars substituted in lieu thereof.A

Referring now to the specific construction of the different units of the machine, the truck is formed to comprise a rectangular frame, consisting of parallel, longitudinally extending .sideV members 2united by means of a transversely extending frontend ineinber 3and a transversely extending rear end member t. The side members 2 are provided with journal boxes 5, in which are received. front and rear axles 6 and 7 respectively, provided at their ends with wheels 8, arranged for travel over the track-way 1. It is understood that the wheels may be spaced to adapt the same to vtrack-ways of varying gauge. Y f

Formed with the member 3 and disposed substantially centrally thereof is a vertically extending stud 9, around which is arranged 4anti-friction bearings 10. Arranged to rest upon the bearings 10 and to revolve about the verti-cal axis of the stud 9 is a bed plate 11. VThis plate is shown particularly in Figures 3 and 6, and comprises a fiat horizontally extending table Vhaving the main portion thereof arranged in a horizontal plane iml mediately above the truck and supported in yconnection with `the truck for oscillatory movement. The forward end of the bed plate is pivotally connected with the stud 9 and rests for turning movement upon the bearings 10, and the rear end thereof is supported for motion in an arc crosswise of said truck in a manner permitting the bed plate to be oscillated freely with but a minimum resistan-ce due chieiiy to friction. Thus, therear end member 4 of the truck is formed with a horizontal shelf 12. and upon which is mounted a plurality of brackets 13, supporting veo element 16, which is disposed to mesh with the teeth of an arcuate rack 17 mounted upon the end member 4 beneath the plane of the bed plate. The rack 17 includes arcuate shaped upper and lower bars 18, which are united by means of pins 19 around which loosely rotate rollers 20, and the teeth of the gear 16 are adapted Vto be positioned in the pockets formed between the rollers 20. This construction of the rack precludes the presence of closed pockets and prevents the accumulation in the rack of line coal dust, which, if present, would seriously interfere and obstruct the rotation of the gear 16 and thereby obstruct the swinging movement of the bed plate.

To revolve the gear 16, the upper end of the shaft is journaled in a case 21 and has connected therewith a worm gear 22, with which meshes a worm 23, provided upon a transversely extending shaft 24. This latter shaft isjournaled in bearings mounted on the bed plate, and has its outer end equipped with a mitre gear 26, disposed in mesh with a similar Ygear 27 carried on the lower end cfa vertically journaled shaft 28. A hand wheel 29 is provided upon the upper end of the shaft 28 and is located to one` side of the machine so as to be within convenient reach of the machine runner, who by manipulating the wheel may readily control the positions of the bed plate. Norm gearing is used to impart motion to the gear 16 for the purpose of facilitating its operation and providing an automatic vlock to prevent uncontrolled rotation of thegear 16 and thereby maintain the bed plate and the mechanism mounted thereon in desired or fixed positions of adjustment.

At its forward end the bed plate is depressed or dropped, as indicated at 30,y so as to rest upon the bearing 10, and this construction is employed to provide a pivotal support for the rear end of the gathering conveyor `which will be of minimum height. In my aforesaid application the bed plate occupies the same horizontal plane throughout and consequently the mechanism mounted thereon must, of necessity, be considerably higher than that disclosed herein. In thel'present design by lowering the bed plate at its forward end the support of the gathering conveyor is correspondingly lower and this construct-ion materially contributes in providing a machine of but minimum height.

To support the rear end of the gathering conveyor the depressed end 30 of the bed plate is provided, as shown in Figures 6 and 7,l

with a pair of rigid brackets 31 which carry inwardly and horizontally extending tubular stud extensions 32, constituting trunnions. Journaled inthe extensions 32 is a .driven shaft 33, carrying a drive pinion 34. Journaled for oscillatory or rotary movement in a vertical plane upon the extensions 32 is a vertical shaft 45.

irreaom' j Y s yoke vshaped support B5-,terminating at its` upper end in a vertical sleeve 86, upon-which the upper end of the gathering conveyor is pivoted. Thus, the yoke serves asa compound pivotal support for thegathering conveyor, in that the yoke turns abeut the horizontal axis of the shaft-33, permittingjthe gathering conveyor to Swingin.avert-ical; plane, and further,y said yoke, by reason ofi` its sleeve 36, provides a support for the ygath-l ering conveyor,'permi tting the latter tojlturn in a horizontal plane-aboutthe vertical axis of the sleeve, hence the gathering 'conveyor is permitted to Swing vertically as `well as horizontally and by this construction to read''l ily follow and adapt'itself to irregularities,

roughness and unevenness in the v'floor sur-V faceof a mine and to possess vertical'flexibility for other'purposes ltobe hereinafter :de-

- scribed.

T he gathering conveyor includes an elongated inclined frame, preferably formed from structural `sheet metal, and provides an inclined intermediate portion 87, a substan. tially horizontally extending rear extremity 88, elevated and supported upon the yoke 85, and a substantially flat Y forwardly located nose extension 89 which, whenthe'machine is in operation, rests upon-the floor surface of a mine and horizontally sweeps thereover into engagement with the materials to be loaded. The rear extremity l88 isreinforced and strengthened by means of a flange casting 40, riveted or otherwise securedfto the bottom ofV the frame and is provided with a depending tubular extension 41, .arranged to: receive" and revolve about the sleeveV 36 provided uponthe upper end of the yoke 85, the lower end of the extension 4l resting uponawasher'42;

The upper end of the sleevev 36 projects vthrough an opening 43 inthe bottom of the', gathering conveyorfrarne and is provided?` with a bearing sleeve 44, in which rotates a Thelower end of this shaft is provided with a fixed gear 46, arranged to engage with the pinion 84, andthe upper end of the shaft 45 is keyed or otherwise secured to the drive sprocket 47 of the gathering con-y veyor. It will be noted that the shafts 88 and 45 are merely employed to transmit power to the sprocket 47, and are notsubjectedfto weights or loads other than that necessary to drive the sprocket and associated parts. Thus, the yoke'85, while revolving about the axis ofthe shaft 88, is supported upon the rigid extensions 82 of 'the brackets 81,

Therefore,"the weiglitjof the gatheringY conveyor and lits supporting vyoke is not transmitted to the shaft but upon the bed plate.y

Similarly, the shaft 45 rotates freely within the vertical sleeve of the supporting yoke, and t since the weight of the gatheringconveyor is received by the yoke, the' shaft 45 Ydoes not support the rear end Vof the gathering conveyor. f'

Extending centrallyl of and 'substantially. I

longitudinally through the frame of the gathering conveyor are chain `guides 48 throughV `which pass the endlesschain! or belt 49 of the gathering conveyor, the going' and return runs of ysuch chain being located in substantially coinciding horizontal planes.4 ThisV chain is trai-ned around the sprocket 47 at thejrear end of the 'gathering conveyorv and around anfadjustable vsprocket 50 provided upon the nose-end 39 of the gathering conveyor. This chainv is of staunch anddurable construction to withstand.- the tremendous loads incident to thel removing of coalffrom v the mineface.' Essentially, the chain is com? VThel blocksl project horizontally beyond the' guidesV 48 and are equippedwith.flight arms Y 54, which vtravel in horizontal planes. The

nose extremity-39 of the gathering conveyorv isA of relatively reduced diameter andv in- -cludes a substantially semi-circular periphery 55,"beyo`nd whichv the outervends of theU flights project,ias-is clearly shown in Figurev 5.' p The periphery isiinclined as atv56so.that

duringtlie horizontal travel of the machine 'the edge oflthe' gathering conveyor on the V,floor will oifer but aiminimum of resistance in traveling under 'the coal during the transverse movement of the machine,.and also byv `reason of 'the inclined edge and the weight of theA machine, willshear orcrush coal part-icle's lying in its path, and .by the weight ofy the coal thereonwilliinaintain the nose 4ex-` tremity vof the .machine on the fio-or of the mine, preventing any tendency rthereof to climb or ride the coal.' `AAs power is imparted f to the belt 49 and the conveyor is'swung transverselyfab'out the'vertical pivotal supe Yport at itsy rear end, theflights traversing the nose end ofthe machine'are brought into engagement with the coal lying on :the floor of the mine, causing the coal to be conveyed through either `of the troughs 57 provided in` the frame of the gathering conveyor between the central guides '48 andthe-outerlongitudinally extending side boards 58. The belt 49 is, of c'ourse,reversibl`e, at the wil'l'f of 4theA machine operator, and therefore coal-may ,he

carried through either of the troughs 5'? in accordance withthe direction in which the gathering conveyor is swung horizontally. To impart horizontal swingingmovement to the conveyor a motor 59 is mounted thereon between the spaced chain guides' 48, as shown inFigures4 and55. This motor has its 13ey if armature shaft equipped with a pinion arranged to mesh with a gear 61 provided upon a'worm shaft 62, which is mounted in a gear case 63 on the conveyor. A worm 64 rotates with the shaft .62 and meshes with a worm gear 65. The shaft 66 of the gear 65 is journaled in the case 63 and has one of its ends equipped with a. fixed sprocket 67, aroundV which passes an endless chain 68, which leads to a second sprocket 69 mounted on a second wormv gear shaft 70. This latter shaft is mounted in a case 71 and has provided thereon a .worm 72, which meshes with a gear 73,

both of which being'mounted in the case 71.

will be moved laterally in the direction of the chain. As shown in Figure 2, the outer ends of the chain 7 8 are secured to jacks or other lateral anchors 79, which are stationarily mounted in any suitable manner at each side of the gathering conveyor, and to which the ends of the chain 7 8 are fastened. It will be appreciated that by the rotation of the sheave 77 and the fact that the chain 78 is immovable, lateral horizontal swinging movement will be imparted to the conveyor. Hawse guides 8() are carried by the frame of the Yconveyor to guide the chain properly around the sheave 77 and prevent entanglement thereof in the various parts of the machine adjacent thereto. By this construction the mere operation of the controller for the motor 59 is sutlicient to impartY horizontal travel to the gathering conveyor. more, the machine will be locked in anyV position of horizontal adjustment by reason of `the worm gearing employed in reducing the speed ofthe motor 59.

' The chains 49 and 78are of heavy durable .construction so as to be adapted to the severe service to which they are placed and it will be noted that the link sections 53 used in the chain 49 permit the chain to flex in two directions, horizontal as well as vertical, thus adapting the beltto the conliguration of the gathering conveyor frame. While the chain 49 is of very substantial construction, nevertheless by reason of wear anduse the same is i which ismovable horizontally and longitudinally and between the forward ends of the chain guides 48. One way of accomplishing V this adjustment is to Vmount upon the conveyor a screw 82, upon which is threaded a nut 83, which is rotatably received in a wall "of the conveyor.

Furtheror partition 84 provided in the bracket 81. By rotating the nut it will be apparent that the bracket 81 may be moved longitudinally Supporting or auxiliary binding devices 85 are also used in connection with the bracketSl to maintain its fixed positions of adjustment. Covering the adjustable sprocket is a guard plate 86 which may also be used in the capacity of a platform, permitting an operatorto stand thereon and by wielding a pick or 'the like to loosen such materials that have not been properly shot down upon the floor of the mine during the operation of shooting or loosening the materials preliminary to the loading thereof.

lt will be understood that in coal mining particularly, coal is first prepared for the loading machine by a crew of men who shoot or blast the coal down in a loosened, gatherable mass upon the floor of the mine, after which operation the machine is placed into gathering relation to this shot down coal. Sometimes, it happens after this shooting that the coal is not entirely freed from its native bed, and for this reason it is necessary at intervals to pick that portion of the coal .down which is partially shattered or held in clinging engagement with the solid coal. The machine is so constructed as to handle coal of any size, from slack to large lumps, but particularly the machine is adapted to mine lump coal, which is of greater commercial value than the finer slack grades. rlhe lump coal can be obtained by proper preliminary shooting of the coal. This involves the use of ust sutcient powder or other explosive to Vloosen the coal and free it from the solid, but

frequently this operation is not properly carried out, leaving asa result large lumps of coal more or less in the solid, which the machine is obliged to attack and remove. For

lthis reascn vthe machine has been substanthe forward end of the gathering conveyor is.

removed from the floor of the mine and is mounted upon a pony truck 87, so that the gathering conveyor will possess but a minimum of tangential projection when rounding sharp curves of a mine and will be readily i adapted to narrow rooms and entries. To permit this to be performed quickly with but a minimum of time, considering the weight of the machine, I provide the underside of the gathering conveyor frame with inclined `zo a Y pin 98 is dropped ory lowered until the'lower which wheels are grooved as shown at 91,3 for the reception of chains, 92. These chains are, as. shown in. Figure 1;, attached to the conveyor frame and are lemployed to hold the pony truck suspended beneath-said frame during the period of operation when the machine is loading coal.' However, whenr Y pizvoted sweep movement through an arc adapted for transport-ation the' ponytruck is lowered on the track-way 1, as shown in Figure 4, and its wheelsl are blocked to pre# vent sliding or skiddingthereon.. Then, arranged upon the axles is a bedframe93 which carries bearings 94 forv the reception of a horizontal shaft 95, and rotatable about 2o this shaft is apair of-rollersf96, and-disposed between said rollersis a ysocket 97'. After vthe wheels of the pony truckl have been blocked theloading machine is moved rearwardly along the track-way until the guides SSengage with the rollers 96, and by reason of the inclination ofthe guides; and theV fact thatthe pony truckis blocked against'rearward movement, further rearward movement on the part ofthe loading'machine results in the elevation of the, gatheringconveyor, lifting its Vforwardy nosev vextremity from the oor of the mine and fnallypositioning the same well above andclear of the rails constituting the track-wayk 1. Continued rearward move- Vment of the machine is Veffected until a king pin 98 carried by the gathering conveyor in a vertical bracket 99, has its Vlower endengaged byi a lip 100 projecting upwardly-from the bed frame 93 adjacent the socketA 97. -When this registration lis reached the king extremityv thereof is received within the socket 97, thereby establishing a-swivel connection between the gathering conveyor and theY pony truck. vvThe rollers 96 facilitate travel of the gathering conveyor over the pony truck, and further,'after. the king vpin has been lowered the said rollers permit free turning` movement of the gathering conveyor relative to the pony truck. When the machine` has been transported l,to a new working locaj tion, the, forward orn'ose'eXtremityof thev gathering conveyor is moved to a position inV advance 4of Ythe forwardA terminals of the track-way, whereupon the king'pin is ele-' vated,A freeing the gathering Vconveyorfroin connection with the ponyt'ruck.vv Then by slightly moving the machine forwardly the inclinedportionsof the guides 88 press upon the-rollers 96, causing rearward vmovement of the pony truck and consequentr Ylowering movement of the nose extremity. of thegathf ering conveyor, whichis finally deposited upon the groundand is ready for operation.`

A bumper 1.0.1 is formed with the bed frame conveyor rapidly descendsand Aforces the ponyl truck sharply backward the movement of the pony truck" will be. curtailed by the engagement of'the'bumper 101 with the forward part vof themain-` truck. Y,

A; large, lpartV of machine` mining or load ing is performed on curves, and for this reason it is impractical to discharge coal Adirectly fromy anfelongatedA gathering conveyor directly int-o a pit `car for 'the' reason that .if vthe gathering conveyor is. to have a whose chord measures substantially 20 feet, the rear or the discharge end of the machine v`of the pony truck sothatvwh/en the gathering v n will be swung so as to uncover the open end ofthe mine car. Therefore, practical tests have convinced me that ay second oi'. delivery conveyor is essential tojprovide the necessary flexibility, and*l position `for transferring coal from a working. face toa mine caro'n a curve. VTo this endfI employadelivery conveyor designated A'generally by the letterB,` Vwhich Y Y' if" consists-of a structural steel frame having the" forward. end Vtliereofxforme'd to. provide a widevand deep hopper` 102, which is arranged immediately beneath the rear or discharge end ofthegatliering conveyor and in .registration with the open iiight space formed between the discharge ends of the gathering conveyor troughs'57. The hopper. is provided, as, shownrin Figure Q, with the Haring co l side. walls-'103,Vwliich have, 'their forward ends. recessed' orcut away asA at 104 to receive the rear swinging end of the gathering con- Vveyor, and to. permitsaid conveyor to swing Kthrough a relativelywide'arc; without engaging or interfering with the walls ofthe hopg per. The recessed portions v104, however, are

.adaptedto befllled by ymeans ofremovable platesy 105, which mayV be slidably adjusted toopen or obstruct the recesses. .When-moved :to an active -position covering saidy recesses -v a theplates 105 serve as Abarriers toprevent Y Y Vcoal thrown tangentially from ythe rapidly 1 10 revolving flight arms'54 ofthe gathering Y conveyor from being thrown to the ground andy to direct such coaldown toward theup# wardly inclined bottom 106 fof the hopper, vThe eXtreme* foi'wardfend-r of the hopper is provided with athr'oat 107- which the supporting yoke'35v is received ,and permitted to vihratez, The hopper terminates upwardly andrearwardly-in ayhorizonta'lly extending dischargeY extension 1084 of elongated. fornil and arranged to;vprojectrearwardly beyond thef truck of the machine so asto overhang a miner carl09, asv shQWDzin Figurel. rlocon- F` vey coal through the 'deliverv'convcyor a pair of longitudinally extending transversely Aspaced endlessVr chains 110i's employed, which chaiiisare connected by meansoftransversely extending Vlghtsrlll S0 arrnseflftliatfthe f Vgoing sections of thel chains will causetlle flights lll to, .travel over the bottom '106, 0fv

the `delivery conveyor, moving the coal rearwardly in a draft directionV through the inachine. One of the features of the present invention consists in dropping the lower forward end of the hopper through an opening 112 in the bed plate 11, whereby the lower portion of said hopper is brought within the confines of the side frames of the truck. In fact, the hopper is dropped so that its lowest portion is within about 3 inches of the tops of thel rails forming the track-way 1. This construction is in contrast with that disclosed in the application above referred to wherein the hopper is mounted above the bed plate rather lthan partially beneath it. Manifestly, the

construction disclosed in this application permits of a material reduction inthe height of the machine, enabling the same to operate in the low seams of coal above mentioned.

. To supporttlie forward lower end of the hopper the bed plate is provided with a pair y ofdependingbrackets 113, which receive a YfixedV foot shaft 114 extending transversely through the lower end of the hopper, and loosely mounted for rotation upon the shaft 114 is a pair of sprockets 115 around which the chains 110 are trained. The power shaft of the loading conveyor is locatedat its rear en'd and is designated by the numeral 116, and

power is imparted to the same by transmis- Y yhousing 1 21mounted upon the bed plate on the opposite side of the delivery conveyor .frame as regards the motor 117. As shown in Figure 11 the shaft 120 has keyed thereon as at 122a hub 123, which constitutes the driv ing member of a combined slip and cut-out clutch 124. Loosely arranged for rotation about the Adriving member 123 is a driven member 124, and -disposedbetween the driving and driven members is a multiplicity of friction discs'125, alternate sets of which are keyed to the driving member and to the driven member, the arrangement Ybeing such that when the said discs have their flat sides brought into frictional relationship with one lanother power [will be imparted from the driving member to the driven member, but upon the overloadingof the driven member, the discs will slip relatively to prevent injury fto' the driving lunits-'of the machine associated with the clutch.

To conveniently control theoperation of ipse ,ova

the clutch the driven member has keyed thereto a frictional pressure plate 126 and a head 127. The head carries a plurality of pivoted bell crank levers 128 to the shorter arms of which is connected a plurality of rollers 129, so arranged as to press upon the plate 126 and to thereby impart pressure to the discs 125 when said levers 12S are oscillated ina predetermined direction. The longer arm of the bell crank levers are provided with heads 130 whichv are positioned within a clutch sleeve 131, loosely mounted upon one end of the shaft 120. A throw yoke 132 is provided within the housing and is manually operated to slide the sleeve 131 on its supporting shaft.

Obviously, by the manipulation of the yoke ,132 the bell crank levers 128 may be rocked about their pivots so as to apply or remove pressure from the disc assembly 125, thereby governing at will the impartation of powei' from the driving to the driven members of the clutch.

Rotatable with the driven member V124 of the clutch is a sleeveexteiision 133, with which is formed a pinion 134, arranged to engage with an enlarged gear 135 fixed to rotate with a jack shaft 136 journaled in the housing 121. This latter shaft is provided with a fixed pinion 137 arranged to mesh with a gear 138, provided upon the upper end of the longitudinally extending inclined shaft 139. The lower end of this shaft is journaled within a bearing 140, Figure 6, carried in connection with the forward end of the bed plateand is equipped with a pinion 141 meshing witha similar pinion 142 on the outer end of the shaft 33. It will be apparent that by this construction the power of the motor 117 may be readily imparted to the gathering conveyor, and by reversing the direction of rotation of the armature shaft of said motor, the direction of travel of the gathering con- `veyor belt may be governed at will. Further, by the reduction gearing set forth the speed of the motor may be appropriately stepped down to conform to the required operating speed of the gathering conveyor. It will be understood that the pinions 141 and 142 are to be suitably encased and operated in an oil bath so as to be protected from dust and grit. Similarly the saine construction is to be provided in connection with the pinion 34 and the gear 46. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, one of the side frame members a of the truck is provided with a pocket 143 for the reception of the pinion 141, which pocket provides adequate space in permitting of the horizontal swinging movement of the bed plate. It will be understood that by operating the yoke 132, the ruimer of the machine has instant control of the operation of the gathering conveyor, and furthermore, if said gatheringconveyor is overloaded, the clutch 124 -is of such construction and may be set so that the same will slip, preventing injury .ist

il-gzeaovie Y parallel order and upon the former of which the quill 147 is supported for rotation. `Also carried rby the quill 147 and fixed to rotate therewith is a secondsprocket 151 and agear 152. Trained over the sprocket 151 is an endless chain 153 which'leads'to a second sprocket 154 loosely rotatable upon the shaft 150. The gear 152 is arrangedr to mesh Vwitha second gear 155 loosely rotatable uponthe shaft 150. As shown particularly in Figure 12, the sprocket 154 and the gear 155 are provided with complemental clutch aw faces 156, and p between these faces there is disposed an automatically shiftable sprocket 157, whose hubl is formedon opposite sides'withclutch faces 158, arranged for engagement kwith the clutch faces of the gea-r and sprocket 155 and 154 respectively. 157 is a chain 159, which leads to the drive sprocket 16() provided upon the `power shaft 11.6 at the rear end of the delivery conveyor.

s YBy the automatic reverse Vgearmechanism described a means is provided whereby the delivery conveyor is driven inbut one direction and the gathering conveyor in two directions from a common source of power. The

motor`117 is ofthe reversible type, and consequentlywith the operation ofthe reverse drumof its controller thev direction of turnn ing movement .of the armature shaft of said motor Amay be controlled at the will ofthe operator and consequentlythe direction of travel of the gathering conveyor chain is correspondingly regulated.r V-fI-Ioweveigfthe def'livery conveyor is of a non-reversible character, and by the gearingdescribed I am enabled to drive thedelivery conveyor in but one direction from the motor 117 Y regardless of the direction of rotationof the armature shaft of said motor, whenever said' motor running'. Furthermore, this is acconnglished without manual adJustments as it is avcardi- 'nal principlein the design ofl -thermachine to control its various units by means of electric controllers for the motors, an'dito elimiy nate the hand settingof clutches or other mechanical features of control which arelikely to be 'abused by the mechanically inexpeii' 'cnced operatives of an ordinary mine crew. Y It will be understoodthat inthe presentinstance the 4loading conveyor chain is` kept running in al draft direction-by the auto-4 matic shiftable sprocket 157,-"whose clutch faces 158 are reversely disposed and adapted Passing around the VsprocketV tothe complemental faces ofthe sprocket and i Ygear 154 and 155.. Thus, as rshown in'Figure 12,.if the sprocket 157 is being driven by the gear 155 and vthe Vdirectionl of rotation of the motor 117 is reversed, the direction of rotation of the. gear. 155 will then befrever'sed.

Due, therefore, tothe 'inclined jaw surface, the sprocket 157 is shifted outA ofY engage ment with the gear'155 and inoved'over a suf. ficient dista-nce so that itsopposite clutch lface .will be engaged'with the complemental jaw face provided upon thev sprocket 154, which will then be rotated in the desired direction. A spring 161'isused to provide relief for the vteeth of theV clutchv faces in the event that the -tips of theteeth` first come in Contact withV one another during the shifting of the sprocket 157. 1 I

To support the rear overhanging end of the delivery conveyor there is provideda pair of tubular standards 162, as shownv more par- Y ticularly in `FigurelO. vThese standards are `of telescopic construction and are extensionable or contracta'bleso as to effect the raising and lowering of the delivery yend of theloading conveyor. Thisis effected by formingl each of the standards to comprise' a lower' cup shaped section 163 consisting ofv two sections threaded together, which is pivoted as at 164 to the bedplate. Arising Withinthis krsection and formed rigidlyitherewith isa screw Arranged to be received within the section 163 is'an adjustable section 166, which has its lower end'provided with al nut Venlargement 167arranged toreceive the'screw 165. 'The upper end of-the section 166' at one means of which the sections "166of`both` stan'- dards may be operated. The section equipped with the yhand wheel 168 is also-formed with .a sprocket 169, around whichk passes a chain- 17 0,-leadingtothe complemental sprocket 169 Jformed von the other section 166.v Thus, by rorside is provided with a hand` wheel 168'," by

tating the `single Ahand wheel 168 uniform l movement may be imparted to both sections permitting of their revolution' about the screws'165 and theconsequent expansion or contractionv of ,the standards162-` Theupper ends of each of the sections 166 are provided with sockets for `the reception of looselyreceivable pins '171, which are collared as at 17 24 to restupon anti-friction bearings' 173,

the-'extreme upper ends of the pins 171being pivotally connected as' at 17'4'with theframe of the delivery conveyor. Thus, theweight of the delivery conveyor at. its rearf end 'rests upon the bearings 173, permitting the sec tions 166 to be revolved manually andr uniformly toleffect adjustment inthe height of the delivery end of the loading conveyor.

The standards may be connected bycross j Ybraces V175, uwhich. impart rigidity thereto.

Further, by pivotallyV connecting the-"upperr and lower .endsY of thestandards 'with' the .frame ofV the delivery, conveyor and the bed plate respectively the standards are adapted to the pivotal adjustment of the loading con- I l and the hed plate without in any way affecting the driving of the sprocket 146. In conjunction with the rollers 14, the side members 2 of the truck are provided with outwardly extending ears `177, which carry rollers 178 arranged beyond the confines of the` truck proper. The rollers 178 act in conjunction with the rollers 14 for the purpose of supporting for motion the free end of the bed plate when the latter is swung to an extreme angular posit-ion, which positionl may be, at least, 15 degrees beyond the longitudinal center line of the truck.

In order that the loading machine may be self propelled so as to travel over the trackway 1 or to force itself into the coal to be gathered, there is provided a propelling 'mechanism which, as shown in Figure 9 particularly, consists of a reversible electric motor 180. This motor is mounted on a shelf 181 arranged at the extreme front end of the truck and rigidly connected with the side members 2 and the front end member 3. The armature shaft 182 of the motor is equipped with a pinion 183, which meshes with a gear 184 rigidly rotatable with a quill 185 on a stud shaft 186. The shaft 186'is journaled inconnection with a casing 187 employed to house the speed reducing gearing of the self propelling mechanism. Rotatable with the quill 185 isf a pinion 188, which mesheswith -an idler pinion 189, the latter' in turn meshing with a gear 190 faston a worm shaft 191. On this shaft is formed a worm V192, arranged between thrust bearings 198, in whichtlie shaft 191 rotates. The worm 192 Ais employed to drive a worm gear 194,arranged in a vertical plane below the worm 192. Driven by the worm gear 194 is a shaft 195, which extends laterally of the shelf 181, and is rotatable in an elongated bearing 196, carried in connection with a worm gear housing 197. Slidably keyed upon the outer end of the shaft 195 is a clutch member 198, which maybe manually operated so as to be'thrown into and-out of driving relation with a sprocket 199, loosely `rotatable about the shaft 195. rTrained around the sprocket 199 is a chain 200, which leads to a sprocket 201 mounted on the front axle 6. A second sprocket 202is'mounted on the other side of the axle 6 in line with a similar sprocket 203 on the rear axle 7 a chain 204 connecting the said latter sprockets so that when the motor 180 is energized power will be imparted to both axles, and since the weight on the truck has been equally distributed, all four wheels are equally effective as `drivers in effecting the self propulsion of the machine. By providing worm gearing in the speed reduction connected with the motor 180, an automatic lock is provided for maintaining the machine braked or locked on a trackway, even when the latter is on a decided grade. This feature is particularly useful when the track-way is pitched or on an angle with respect to the horizontal. Y

In the operation of the machine the trackway 1 is laid through a mine room up to substantially the working face, which face is then drilled and shot so that the solid coal will be'disrupted from its native bed and blasted down upon the floor of the mine in a shattered, semi-loose gatherable mass. The percentage of lump coal in this mass is governed by the methods of blasting or drilling the coal, and the quantity of explosives used in theV blasting process. However, the machine has been so designed as to withstand the strains and stresses of poor shooting so as to handle eitherlarge lumps of coal or the finely shattered slack coal. Following the shooting operation the machine is transported over the track-way 1 up to the working face. The gathering conveyor is then removed from the pony truck 87, to permit the front end of the gathering conveyor to drop upon the mine floor, and the pony truck is supported by chains beneath the inclined portion of the gathering conveyor frame, as shown in Figure 1, so as to be out of the way and avoid interference with the manipulation of the gathering conveyor. Jacks or lateral anchors 79 of a quickly removable nature are then set up independently and to each side of the gathering conveyor, and to which the ends of the chain 78 are connected. Either after or before the setting of the jacks, the loading machine as a whole is advanced by the propelling mechanism forwardly on the track until the nose end of the machine is forced into and buried beneath the mass of coal to be gathered. The motor 117 is then operated and the clutch 124 thrown in so that power will be imparted to the belts and both the gathering and delivery conveyors. This causes the flight arms 54 to revolve about the nose sprocket 50, coming into contact with the coal so as to remove the latter from the floor and selectively convey the same through either of the troughs 57, finally discharging the coal from the upper ends of the troughs and depositing the same within the hopper 102. In the bottom of the hopper the coal is engaged with the flights 111 and carried rearwardly of the delivery conveyor and inally discharged into the mine car 109 placed beneath the discharge extension 108 of the delivery conveyor. VThis process continues untilthe car 109 is filled and then the machine is shut down momentarily permitting the car 109 to be replaced by an empty one. As a part of the gathering operation of the machine the sheave 77 is rotated through the transmission described by the motor 59, and

this Causes theigatheringeonveyor i tor sweep swinging movement of substantially. 80-de-, Ygrecs These movementsgprodue a inaclnn 1 ofi suthcient sflexibility .tol i meet-the? i requirements f. the room Iandnillarsystm-offnniir ing coal, whichis the-,systeniniostcomnuoiily .used .andy wherein Goal.niustfbewloadedff on f Ucurved ,-traclrfways gofshort radii to vbesuc- GeSSful- =-While extreme ileXbltyzS a 4pr- -fvidednevertheleSSj .there :existent all times a 7regi.staring f relatnnship @between the discharge end ofthe gathering conveyor and; the i.

' receiving; Lhopper@v off the: delivery conveyor.

Thiais mainly :duefte the registration of the -5 Y' vverticalv pivots ffor; the gathering yJar-id deliv- .ery- Conveyors; neterencefbeng' hadifto; Figure.;

3, wherein.,ritI will be noted that 'the Stud 9,'

conveyor, is, in :registration with the sleeve 36, Vconstitutingthe vertical pivot.L for the, gathering conveyor.

' andals'o to the shape of the hopper. sides that Y means for pivotally `connecting the forward Swingngndgi Sai-di the transfer of thelatter material from the'` primary to the secondary conveyors. Whatis claimed is: l.v In aloading machine,'a Wheeled zontally-v swinging l V-Qclined,con-Vey@ ha ing theloweriendftherelfofcennected o saidnzbedibeneathgthe hory -zontali pla-nent the lattenwtlie nrrenendnf; f-

It is `due to this fact ,Lillinaloadingirnachine,atruck, ayhorio i bed son-@said truck,

Said Conveyor. beingdisposed 'allieve sadbed;

and i a' driving .frnoton for conveyor kin@ wenisad heilt@ cnesde lovv sadconverona flWe'en gsa-idfmotor-iandtsaid conveyor ,.onfethe :otherSideofisadlbedi y i,

c, 5.1111- a? leadinglinachne; truck., ahori- ,LZentallydiSpQsed--lied pivotallyjbearing-at itsV i `-fgforwardyend-uponfsaid-truckand atfi-ts rear gendv ,supported for. l,movement in" an arcjcros's-f 1truck,.,fsupports between the swinging end -of `wise sofi said truelgxY anuinclined'iconveyor T8Q finountedtofswng withsaid bed and having y the Y forwardl lower endv thereof Vpvotally con- Y nected tof and suspended from ',thefunder'v side .of the bed, whereby the lowerfen'd of said Cnn-@,335

./veyor flies r in: ,the horizontal, plane; of, said Vf-Said bed; andan elevatedPrtionof-saidgcone veyon a inotorfor sai'dnco'nv'eyor,inounted 101.1: ysaid 'bedl to one side of'ythe conveyon-yand.; power f transmission devices 'between said v y,nietorandysaid conveyor;v

af bedfplate pvotally bearing at: .its ,forward 'aid f truck-, anz inclined ,.eonveyor having the i ingyprovidedA inv i said; :bed .fplatesbearinfgs dey .flp'endingffrorni s aid'sbe'd Aplateadjagcentthez l y ',.lowelfend-offsaidiconveyorpmeans fornpvot- Y tlllek, yallyinauntingthe;lowerfend lof saidconveyor a bed pivotally bearing r atV its forward-end inC OmletiomWithswd ,-bgapingsyamd supi upon said truck and at itsrear end supported Qrtingmeansgbetweenhgf1@ for motion in an are cross-wse of said truck7 an inclined conveyor, means for pivotally suspending the forward lower end of said con- VBYOF. beneath Seid. bed. wllefebythe 10W eed @paient lengitudnallyspandiwheeleaaxles, f' r of said conveyor is within the plane of said; ,hgimntalbdplate pivotal-ly'lberingwitg forward'. endigujpon: -the .fnanef iofsaid 'itruckg .f y t aci-pointbetweenisaidiaxlesitherear endf 0f i eiilfaipenfsaid truck and having its 'rearf ende? suppnrtedfen motion infanjarcicrossfwsefof the conveyors may be adjusted relative to eachvotherwithout spilling coal'in effectingc,

evatedendfaloadn'g:machine,a-wheeleditrucky lowerend thereofpositoned withwall Openn' n flor] i 7; In-aloading/machine, ai truekfincl-uding A 2. In a loading machine, a wheeled truck,i-.Saiibeplatebgingguppgrted'from -iinotionV I truck, an inclinedc'onveyor having the for-.p` ward lower end thereof arranged'to projecta,

csitionfhetween sadfaxles; and an vopeigiting Y eQnmyor having g ported for motion in an arc cross-wise ofsaidfhalforwfdi lLoading .39nd, hamdfpmtjly; 'suppcrtedfbyffandibensathsaiidbed plateft a y through an opening provided in said bed andgemctor17;fonrsasidfgpconveyormonntedgcnggthe biedeplate.

vlower end ofsaid conveyor ton and .beneath 8, In a loadingm l said bed. repair-lof wheeledsaxlesy.aighnrzontallyn dis- 3- 111 e leading machine, e Wheeled tlllekdposedbedfla pivotal connection betweensthe e bed PVetely bearing et its fOIWe-ld 'elldiifrontendvo said(loedfandgfsaidatriicln.situated upon said truck and having its rear end supbetweenfsaidffaxles 4vand intheplfane rofzthe DS1 foreSUPP-'ortnggithereerfendrfof ported for inotionin an are cross-wise of said-mmm mea truck;V an inclined conveyor having the for-ggaijhheg: oretinotionfnanfarmenosslwsegof ward lower end therefore received within an-asaidtnuc-kgian welngated;-1ncl1ne`d.gather1ng opening provided in saidlbed,and means for conveycnfa pilvtal Support for said cofnr i supporting the lower yend of said conveyor;f1veyoncanredbygsaid@bedandiarranged.in from beneath said bed.

' l)registiaticnfwithzgthegfpivgtalscionneticnEhe#V nog* 'tween said` bed and truck, an inclined delivery conveyor arranged on said bed in receiving relation to said gathering conveyor and supporting means for the lower end of said delivery conveyor carried by and arranged beneath the plane of said bed.

' rear end of said conveyor pivotally carried by said bed and disposed in vertical registration with the pivotal connection between said `bed and truck, an inclined delivery conveyor progecting rearwardly from said truck and having the forward receiving end thereof disposed in registration with the discharge end of said gathering conveyor, a pivotal connection between the forward end of said delivery conveyor and said bed, arranged in the horizontal plane of said truck, and an operating motor for said delivery conveyor mounted on said bed.

ranged to extend-in advance of said truck, a

.pivotal support for the upper end of said gathering conveyor mounted in connection with said truck frame, said support being arranged between said axles, a delivery conveyor having the forward end thereof dis- A posed in receiving relation with the discharge end of said gathering conveyor, and means for mounting the forward end of said debed plate and disposed in registration with the pivoted end of the latter, a delivery conveyor having the forward end thereof disposed in receiving relation beneath said gathering conveyor, suspended supporting means connecting said delivery conveyor with said bed at a position between said axles and beneath the top of the truck, a motor on the swinging end of said bed, and power trans mission devices between said motor and conveyors.

13.V In a loading machine, a wheeled truck, a bed pivotally bearing at its forward end on said truck and having its rear end supported `for niotion'in an arc cross-wise of the truck,"

an elongated inclined gathering conveyor having its rear end arranged over said truck,

a pivotal support for said conveyor carriedy byisaid bed and arranged in registration with the pivotal connection between the bed and truclr and supporting means depending from said bed and lying within `the plane of said truck and adapted for the reception of any one of a plurality of interchangeable delivery Y conveyors, whereby the machine is adapted to coal'seams of varying thicknesses.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

NORTON NEWDICK.

livery conveyor within and below the top `)of Y said truck frame and between said axles.

v k1l. In a loading machine, a truck including a pair of longitudinally spaced wheeled axles, anY elongated Ainclined gathering conveyor,

having the upper end thereof arranged above said .truclna 'pivotal support for the rear end f o f said gathering conveyor arising from said disposed in receiving relation with respect to end of said delivery conveyor andsaid truck situated between said axles and ina plane be- 1 neath the top of thetruck.

12.: In ia loading machine, a truck including a pair of wheeled axles, a horizontal bed pivotally bearing at its front end upon said for supporting the bed at its rear end for motion in an arc cross-wise of said truck, anr

elongated inclined gathering conveyor having v its rear end arranged above said truck, a

Apivotally mountedk support forthe rear end of said gathering conveyor carried by said Vtruck betweenv said axles, an inclined delivery Vconveyor extending. rearwardly from said truck and having the forward end thereof truck at a position between said axles, means

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