US1704670A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1929. M. P. HOLMES MIN'ING'MACHTNE Original Filed Dec. 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. P. HOLMES MINING MACHINE v 4 sheets sheet Original Filed Dec. 19 1924 March 5, 1929.

Original Filed Dec. 19, 1924 M. P. HOLM ES MINING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I [ill 1 x 772 rnir [no 72702: 17 Z 1%".

March 5, 1929. M. P. HOLMES 1,704,670

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 19, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 5,1929.

-' uni MORRIS '1. HOLMES, or CLAREMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, assrenon To SULLIVAN CHINERY coMrANY, A ooaPoRArroM or MASSACHUSETTS. v

MINING MAoi-rnvn Application filed December 19, 1,924,8eria1 No. 757,032. Renewed April '13, 1928..

. of my invention is to provide a mining machine of improved and very compact construction. especially adapted to' use in mines having narrow or low veins. Still. another object of my invention is to provide an 11nproved mining machine of the Self-propelled, flexibly fed type having improved simple and compact feeding means'therefor where-' by the feeding of the machine is greatly facilitated. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved mining machine of the invertible type adapted to oper ate selectively as an overcutter or an unclecutter. A still furtherobjectof my invention is to provide an improved mining 111a- 1111- proved driving and guiding means for the flexible feeding member. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved flexibly fed mining machine of the convertible chain. or wire rope type having improved and simplified means whereby the parts may be interchanged with facility and improved means for guiding the feedchain or feed rope. Another object of my inven tion is to provide an improved flexibly'fed mining machine having improved feed transmission mechanism whereby either areversible, or unidirectional driving motor may be uti vantages of my. invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear. I

In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown for purposes of illustration four embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a longwall mining machine constructed in accordancewith one illustrative embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the front feeding end of the machine.- v Fig. 8 end of the machine shown'in Fig. 1. v Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinally extending, developed "sectional view through the improved feeding mechanism, the view being taken substantially on line 4%l of Fig. 1.

F 5 is a vertical transverse "sectional view through the planetary reduction gear- :zed. These and other objects and .ad-

is an end elevation of the feeding ing, the View being taken Substantially on l ne 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 6 and 7are-detail sectional views of slightly modified form of the feeding mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, Fig.7 being taken substantially on line 7-7 ofFig. 6.

:Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the feeding end of the machine,the view being a modified form of that illustrated in Fig. 3 adapted to use with a chain feeding member. Fig. 9 is a partial side elevation of Fig. 8 of the machine illustrating my improved chain guiding arrangement. I I

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view'of a further modified form of the feeding end of-the rope and a unidirec-.

illustrating the" chain form of feed utilized with a uni-directional driving motor.

;Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the machine during cutting. I

In the illustrative construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, 13, Hand 15, I have shown my invention incorporated in a mining machine of the same general type'as described in my copending applications, sci-1. No.- 619,839, filed Feb l9, 1923;:SenNo. 705,089, filed April 8,19%; and Ser. No. 719,691 filed June 12,1924, and which is herein of the self-propelled flexibly fed longwall type adapted to slide on its bottom on-the mine bottom and having an invertible elongated machine frame 1 presenting parallel plane surfaces 2 and?) upon which the machine isselectively adapted to slide during operation, that is, when the machine is belng used as an'undercutter or an overcutter. The machine frame 1 carries at one end a horizontal cutter bar 4 about the outer edgesofwhich the usual end-' less cutter bit carrying 1 cutter chain 5 is adaptedvto be circulated, the bar being pivoted on a verticalaxis, as at 6, on the rear end of theframe. I in also adapted to be moved longitudinally relative tothe face of the coal relative to a The mining machine is here flexible feeding-means of any suitable form, v

herein including a flexible feeding member the usual manner.

In my improved construction .it will be observed that the motor casing 9 houses an electric driving motor 13 (see Fig. 1), hereln of the usual reversible type, provided with a horizontally disposed, longitudinally 6X tending armature shaft 13". The winding drum 8 is herein arranged coaxially with the motor armature shaft. The cutter chain 5 is driven through suitable transmission mechanism, not shown, from the rear end of the armature shaft, but as this transmission means does not enter into my present invention further description of the cutting mechanism is deemed'unnecessary, with the exception that the cutter bar 4 is adapted to be swung about its pivot 6 and locked to the machine frame, in'the usual manner, "in a plurality of positions. In my improved feeding mechanism it will be observed that the forward end of'the armature shaft 13 has secured thereto, as by a. key and nut and washer connection 14, a driving pinion .15 which is'adapted" to drive the feed drum 8 through transmission mechanism, to be hereinafter described, selectively at a slow or a fast speed in the same direction in a manner substantially similar to that described in my copending application Ser. No. 619,839 mentioned above. 'In specifically considering the fast speed mechanism it will be noted that the pinion 15 meshes with a spur gear 16 keyed to a horizontal longitudinally disposed shaft- 17 'journa-led in suitable bearings 18 carried byya ring section 19 receivable in a corresponding longitudinally disposed, andcentrally located bore 20 extending the length of the frame section 11. This ring section '19 is adapted to be inserted within orremoved longitudinally from the rear end of the frame section 11 and has herein, preferably,

' a cut away portion 21 in which the gear'16 is disposed and a web or hub portion 22, by

which the bearings 18 and a bearing 23 arecarried, the latter being the bearing within which one end of a longitudinally disposed main feed driving shaft 24, is'journaled. As shown, the shaft 17 and the gear 16 are suitably located relative; to the bearings 18 by suitablebearing washers and the shaft at one end projecting from one bearing and carrying a pinion 25 thereon which, in'turn meshes with a larger internal gear 26, the pinionand bearing being heldtogether in assembled re' and 11, in

lation by a suitable bolt connection 27 The hub 28 of the gear 26 is herein also journaled on a-suitable bearing sleeve 29 on a sleeve clutch member 30 keyed, as at 31, to the rear end of the shaft 24. Moreover, it will be noted that the member 30 carries a series of friction disks 32 surrounding the member 30 anddisposed within the sleeve on the internal gear 26, these disks cooperating with a corresponding series of disks 33-carried by the sleeve on the internal gear. As shown, the sleeve on the internal gear is also provided with a plurality of radiallylocated, longitudinally extending-slots 34 receiving radial lingers 35 on an interlocking member 36 keyed to a pinion 37 which is in turn freely rotatable on the shaft 24. Between these fingers 35 are friction clutch operating fingers '38 carried by a cylindrical plane member 39 disposed coaxially with the hub of the gear 26. These fingers 38 extend longitudinally in contact with one set of the friction disks 32, 33. As 1 shown, the opposite end of theshaft 24 is also journaled in suitable bearings 40 carried in the hub'41 of a ring section 42, similar to suitably secured to 'a horizontal longitudi nally extending shaft 48. This shaft is disposed coaxiallywith the shaft 24 and in front thereof, and is journaled within suitable longitudinally spaced roller bearings 49 and 50, the former being carried by the frame section .90 the section 19, and a pinion 43, similar tothe 12 while the latter is disposed within a'r'ecess 51 formed within a cylindrical member 52 likewise disposed in the bore 20 and held in non-rotatable relation with respect thereto by means of a key 53. The member 52-has formed thereon a large internal gear 54 with which the planetary gears 44 are meshed. The forward end of the shaft '48 has secured thereto,as by'a key and split ring connection 55, a clutch member 56 provided with external clutch teeth which are adapted tobe connected by means of a longitudinally reciprocable internal gear clutch member 57 in driving relation with an external gear clutch member 58 ournaled on the periphery ofthe member 56 and which is keyed, as at 59, to the winding drum 8. It will herein be noted that by manipulating the clutch member 57 the winding drum 8 maybe driven or remain idle with respect to the drive shaft 48 V at the will of the operator, thus facilitating the rewinding of the cableon the drum. Thus it will be noted that when the clutch 57 and the clutch 32, 33am connected, the rotation of the armature shaft13v will be transmitted to the'pinion 15, the gear 16, the pinion 25, internal gear 26, the clutchi32, 33, the clutch F Will still be transmitted to the inse'rlockins menace member30, the shaft 24, the pini0n'43, plane tary gears 44 which react on the stationary internal gear 54, the spider member 47 the shaft48, and to the winding drum 8 to rotate the latter at a predetermined high or fast speed especially adapted to use in hauling the machine about the mine. It will further be evident that by slipping the clutch elements 32, 33 the speed of feed may be lowered at will.

Referring specifically to the slow or cutting feed, it will be noted that when toe clutch operating member 38 is in inoperative. posi-- tion and the clutch 232, Ellis released, power member 35 through the pinion S? which is freely rotatable on the shaft 24. This-pinion in turn meshes with a spurge'ar 60 carried on a shaft 61 similar to the shaft 17 and journaled within bearings 62 within a ring section 63 similar to the ring sections 19 and 42 and likewise carried in the BoreQO and spaced from the ring section 19 by scans of an termediate spacing section 64 by which suitable shipper mechanism, not s own, to the clutch operating member 88 is c :ied. lustrated, the hub of the rin sectiontlS carries D a roller bearing 63 for the shaft n be noted that the shaft 61 carries a pinion 65 meshing with a larger internal gear 66 keyed, as at 67, to the sleeve of a pinion 68 freely ro tatable on the shaft 24. The pinion meshes with a spur gear 69 keyed to the shaft '70, similar to the shaft (Bland disposed coaXially therewith. The shaft 70 ispro'vi ded with a forwardly projecting end to which pinion 71 is suitably secured and which pinion meshes with a larger internal gear 72. The internal gear 72 also houses a friction'clutch substan' tially similar to the friction clutch heretofore described in connection with clutch disks 33 and this clutch includes clutch disks 73 and 74 certain of which are carried by the sleeve formed on the gear72 while others are carried by a clutch member 75 keyed, as at 76', to the driving shaft 24. A- cylindrical sleeve member 77 is disposed between the bearing 40 for the forward end of the shaft 24 and the clutch member 75 and this sleeve has keyed thereto a member 78, similar to the clutch member 86, but which in this case has no interlocking function and is only a disk retaining member. A plane clutch operating member 79, similar to the member 89, surrounds the hub of the member 7 8 and is likewise adapted to be engaged by any suitable shipper operating mechanism, not shown. A ring section 80, similar to the sections 19, 42,

and 63, is disposed between the sections 42 and 63, these sections being non-rotatably secured in the bore 20 by means of suitable keys 81. As aresult of this mechanism above described, although the clutch 32, 33-is disconnected, rotation will constantly be transmitted through the pinion 87,

As lb gear 60, pinion 65,*internal gear 66, pin

ion 68, spur gear 69, pinion 71, internal gear 8 72, clutch 78, 74, clutch member 75, shaft 24, I

the pinion 43, the planetary gears 44, spider 47, the shaft 48, and the clutch members 56 and 58, so that when the clutch 78,74 and the clutch member-5'7 are connected the winding drum 8 will be 'rotatedat slow or cutting speedin the same direction as the fast speed, previously described. Here it will also be evident that by slipping the friction 73, 7 4 this speed may be reduced when desired.

It will herein be notedthat' the cable 7 wound upon the'drum 8 is adapted tobe selectively extended longitudinallyv along the .side of the machine frame 1, as indicated in Fig. l, and connected in any suitable manner to the cutter bar 4, to swing the bar about its pivot, or extended forwardly from themachine frame 1 and attached to a fixed extra neous abutment or roof jack to feed thema chine relative to the working face of the coal. Improved guidin means are provided for guiding the cable when extended in such manner. Disposed on parallel Vertically disposed, longitudinally spacedstuds secured at each side ofthe frame section 12 and equally spaced from each side ofthe winding drum 8 are guiding rolls 82, 83, 84, and which are rotatable in a horizontal plane disposed substantially tangent with the winding surface of the drum 8. v The guide rolls 82 and 84 are so spaced from the guide -rolls'83 and 85 that the cable 7 maybe freely dropped in between the rolls, consequently eliminating any threading of the cable during rearrangement thereof and thus facilitatin the o aerac I r tion of the machine. i

In the operat on of my 1111])10V6Cl111l1ll11g machine described above it will be observed line position 7 the bar is in the dotted line position it i's-unlocked from the machine frame and tl e cable 7 extended from the bottom of the drum 8 laterally'of themachine frame and around the guide roll 83 and then rearwardlylongitudinally along the side of the machine frame uponthe cable at a slow feeding speed produced by a suitable operation of the clutch 73, 74 causes the bar to be swung or sumped into the coal to a point substantially at right angles to the machine; frame anjdis then again suitably locked in' i position. ,After I the bar has been thus adjusted, the chain is disconnected therefrom and l directed around and frearandsuitably attached to the bar. Thus a pull V wardly'of the guide roll 82 to theijack whereupon by similarly operating the clutch 73, 74 the machine will move along the face at a slow or cutting speed. If, on the other hand, it is desired to have the machine cut in respective links and the bar then swung or sumped into the coal. The cable is then disconnected from the cutter bar and extended around the guide roll 84 and longitudinally along the coal face to the-jack A and the machine will move'along the face at a slow or cutting speed. Furthermore it will be evi dent that if it is desired to cut in an oppositely located face the same results may be obtained by arranging the parts reversely as shown in Fig. 15, the cable 7 being selectively guided by the guide rolls 85 and8 l, re

spectively, during the bar swinging and feed ing operations. I i

It will herein be observed that in th form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 to 9 I have shown a mining machine of the same general type as heretofore herein described with the exception thatthe drum 8 is removed and re placed by a feed chain sprocket 86 and the guide rolls 82, 83, 84 and 85 are replaced by suitable chain guide sprockets 87 and a feed chain 88 is then utilized in place of the wire rope 7. Furthermore, the slow feed has inserted thereinbetween the gears 68 and 69 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 ,an intermediate spur gear 89 disposed on a horizontal longitudinally extending shaft 90 parallel with the axis of the shafts 85 and 70 and the'slow speed is thereby rotated in an opposite direction from the fast speed. The feed chain sprocket 86 and the chain guide sprockets 87 are so arranged that threading of the feed chain 88 relative thereto is unnecessary, the

chain being merely thrown over the *feed sprocket and in between and around the guide sprockets,

consequently facilitating the operation of the machine. The operation of this form of my inventionis substantially the same as shown in Figs. 13 to 15 with the exception that the feed sprocket 86 may be rotated ata slow speed in one direction to draw in one portion of the feed chainor may be rotated at a fastspeed in the opposite direc tion to draw in the other portion of the feed chain, the feed chain being similarly guided bythe sprockets 87 in substantiallythe same manner as shown in Fig s. 13 to 15 relative to the feed sprocket 86. If desired a chain stripper may be utilized for strippingthe chain 88 from the feed'sprocket 86' or, if the use of a chain stripper is not desired, the receding slackchain may be manually pulled from the sprocket as the machine is fed along the coal face. It will further be noted that the motor 13 may be reversed when desired.

In the form of my invention shownfin Figs. 10 and 11 a feeding mechanism is utilized substantially similar to that shown in Figs. t and 5 with the exception that a unidirectional driving motor in place of the reversible motor 13 is used, the motor being of the type delar spaced relation with respect to the drum. [at the opposite side ofthe horizontal center line of the machine. The operation of this form of my invention is substantially similar 7 to that of the operation of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 with the exception that when the machine is cutting in opposite directions the drum is not reversed and. the cable 7, is eX- tended to the opposite sides of the machine and is guided by citherset of theupp'er and lower diagonally disposed guide rolls the cable being shownin full and dotted lines in that figure. It will further be observed that the cable may be unwound from the drum and rewound in a reverse manner, the otherdiagonally disposed set of upper and lower guide rolls guiding the cable at this time.

It will herein be observed that the form of my invention shown in Fig.12 is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 8 and 9 with the exception that a unidirectional driving motor is used, heretofore brought out above in connection with. Figs. 10 and 11, and another set of chain guide sprockets 92 are disposed coaxially with the chain sprockets 87 and in-a similar spaced relation with respect tothe feed sprocket at the opposite side of the horizontal center line of the machine. The operation of this form ofmy invention is substanti ally similar to that shown in Figs. 8 and 9 with the exception that the feed chain sprocketrotates in asingle direction during cutting in opposite directions and-the feed chain 88 is extended selectively along, the opposite sides of the machine frame and guided relative the desired set of chain guiding sprockets 89,

" 92 as indicated by full and dotted lines.

to the chain sprocket 86 by I It will further be observed that the minring machine described above may be mounted on a suitable transport truck described in my copending application Ser. No. 728,953, filed July 3, 1924. Nhenthe machine is positioned onsuch a transport truck with thefeed operating member disposed in alinement with and adjacent the truck driving member thereof,

herein the member 93, indicated by; dotted,

8 lines in Fig. 4: which is generally similar to the driving member 31 in the" above mentioned copending application, the clutch element 5? may be thrown over into mesh with the member 93, connecting the latter and the member 56 in driving relation and simultaneously disconnecting the drive for the member 58 secured to the feed operating member. The transport truck may then be driven at a fast or slow speed and at suitable variants thereof under the control of the feed clutches of the mining machine while the feed operating member remains idle. It will also be noted that if desired, when the machine is positioned on the truck in'such manner, the clutch member 53 may be thrown over in mesh with the member 58 and disconnected from the member 93, thus enabling the feed operate ing member to operate while the truck driving member is inoperative.

While Ihave in this application specifically described four embodiments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustrationand'that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. i

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: 1

1. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame andadapted. to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and plural speed transmission means coaxial therewith including planetary gearing, all the gears of said transmission .means' being rotatable on axes parallel. toa line-paral-v lel with the axis of saidfeed operating member. I

2. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axisextending longi tudinally of the machine frame and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmission means drivingsaidmember including plural speed gearing'and planetary reduction gearing both disposed coaxially with said member, allthe gears of said trans mission means being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member. I I

3. In a mining machine, a feed operating. member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means,'and transmission means driving said member including plural speed friction controlled gear.- ing and planetary gearing both disposedcoaxially with said member, all the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on. axes parallel to a line parallel with'theaxis of said feed operating member.

4. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame andadapted to. cooperate with flexible feeding means, and

git'udinally of the machine frameand adapt- 'ed to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and plural speed transmisslon means d sposedv coaxially with said member driving the lat ter including a plurality of speed controlling clutches and planetary reduction gearing, all the gears of said transmission.

means being rotatable on axes parallelto a hne parallel with the axis of said feed operatingmember.

.6. Ina mining machine, a motor, a feed op:

crating member rotatable on a shaft extending longitudinally of the machine frame and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means,'and transmission means betweensaid motor and shaft for driving said member at variable speeds including a plurality of speed controlling clutches arranged coaxiallythere'-.

with and planetary reduction gearing, all, the gears of said transmlss on means. being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member.

7. In a mining machine, cutting mecha} nism, a driving motor therefor, a feed operating member rotatable on a longitudinal axis at the-end of said machine opposite from said cutting mechanism. and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmission 'means'between said membera nd the adjacent end of said motor including-planetary reductiongear-ing arranged coaxially therewith, all the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel. with the axis of said feed operating member.

8. In a mining machine, a motor, cutting mechanism, a feed operating member. rota-table on a longitudinal axis at the end of the machine opposite from said cutting mechanism and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means,and variable speed transmission means between-said motor and said member disposed'coaxially with the latter including a plurality of speed controlling clutches and planetary reduction gearing, all the gears of said transmission means'being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feedoperating member.

9. In a mining machine, a motor having a rotor, a feed operating member rotatable on an axis extending in the same direction as the axis of said rotor and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmission means arranged coaxiall'y Withsaid memher for driving the latter at fast and slow speeds including planetary reduction gearing, all the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with theraxis of said feed operating member; I

10. In a mining machine, a motor, a feed operating member adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmission means arranged coaxially with said member for driving the latter at fast and 'slow speeds including planetary reduction gearing, and a plurality of friction speed controlling V clutches also coaxial with said member, all

thegears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to aline parallel with the axis of said feed operating member. 11. In a mining machine, a motor, a feed operating member disposed on" a horizontal longitudinally extending axis driven thereby and adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmission means between said motorand said member including variable speedmechanism and planetary gearing and a shaft driven by the latter, all. the gears of said transmission means being ro tatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member, and

means disposed coaxially'with said member "for connecting or disconnecting the latter with respect to said 'shaft. t V

12. In a mining machine, a feed operating memberhaving a horizontally disposed axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame and adapted tocooperatewith flexible feeding means,-and transmission means 'dis posed coaxially with saidmember for driving the latter including plural'speed gearing and planetary reduction gearing between said first mentioned gearing and saidmember, all

; V the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes'p'arallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member.

13; Ina mining machine, amotor having a rotor, a feed operating member disposed feeding means, and plural speed transmission means disposed coaxially with said memher and between said motor and said member for driving the latter at variable speeds in cluding planetary reduction gearing, all the gearsof said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to aline parallel with the axis of said feed operatingmember.

15. In a mining machine, a motor, cutting mechanism, a feed operating member disposed'on a horizontal longitudinally extending axis at the end of said machine opposite from said mechanism and adapted to cooperate with flexible feedingmeans, and transmission means between said motor and said member for driving the latter at variable speeds including planetary reduction gearing, all the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member. I f

16. In a mining machine, cutting mechanism, a motor having a rotor, a. feed operating'member disposed parallel with a line parallel with the axis of said rotor at the end of said machine opposite from said mechanism and adapted tofcooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmission means for driving said member from said motor including planetary reduction gearing disposed coaxially with said member, all the gears of said transmission means beingnrotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis ofsaid feed oaerating member.

v 17. n a mining machine, cutting mechanism, a motor having a rotor, a feed operating member disposed on an axis parallel to aline parallel with said rotor at the end of said machine opposite from said mechanism and adaptedto cooperate with flexible feeding means, and transmissionimeans between said motor and said member including planetary reduction gearing, all the gears of said'transmission means being rotatable-on axes parallel to a 'line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member.

18. In a mining machine, a machine frame having a bore, a motor having a rotor, a feed operating member adapted'to cooperate'with flexible feeding means, and transmission means between said motor and said member housed in a bore in the machine frame disposed. parallel'with a line parallel withthe axis of said rotor and including planetary reduction gearing disposed in said here.-

19. In a-mining machine, a machine frame having a bore, a motor having a rotor, a feed operating member adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means, transmission means between said motor and said member housed in a bore in the machine frame disposed parallel with a line parallel with the axis of said.

rotor and including variable speed mechanismand planetary reduction gearing both disposed in said bore.

20. In a mining machine, a motor, a feed operating member adapted to cooperate with,

flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine,

plural speed transmission means between said motor and said member coaxial with the latter, all the. gears of said transmission means being rotatable 011 axes parallel to a line par- I allel with the axis of said feed operating plural speed transmission means between said motor and said member coaxial with the lat ter, all the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of sa d feed operating member and means including a sliding clutch disposed coaxially with said member for con- 7 necting or disconnecting said member with respect to the terminal element of said transmission means. y

22. In a mining machine, a motor, a feed operating member adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, plural speed transmission means between said motor and said member coaxial with the latter, all the gears of said transmission means being rotatable on axes parallel to a line parallel with the axis of said feed operating member, and means including a sliding clutch disposed coaxially with said motor for connecting or disconnectingsaid member withrespect to the terminal element of said transmission means.

23. In a mining machine having a feed operating member rotatable on a horizontal longitudinally extending axis, a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and 00- operating guiding mechanism forsaid flexible element including a plurality of series of guiding members disposed on vertical longitudinally spaced parallel axes, at each side f the axis of said feed operating'member, said series of guiding members each being vertically disposed from one another and said guiding members being arranged into two,

groups respectively at opposite sides of a. plane to which the axis of the feed operatmg member is perpendicular and adapted to selectively guide said flexible element in opposite direct-ions and from opposite sides of the machine.

24. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatabl on ahorizontally disposed longitudinally extending axis, a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for said flexible element including a plurality of guiding members disposed on longitudinally spaced parallel vertical axes on each side of and in horizontal planes above and below the axis of said feed operating member, said guiding members being adapted to selectively guide said flexible element in opposite directions and from opposite sides of the machine and said guiding members being arranged into two groups respectively atop'posite sides of a plane to which the axis of the feed operating member is perpendicular.

25. In a mining machine, a frame having a feed operating member thereon rotatable on a horizontal longitudinally extending axis, a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for said flexible element mcluoling a plurality of series of coaxial guiding members disposed on longitudinally spaced parallel vertical axes on each side of the axis of said feed operating member, said guiding members being .positioned'to permit the flexible feeding element to be led to each of the same in 'a straight line from the feed operating member and being adapted to selectively guide said flexible element in opposite directions and from opposite sides ofthe machine.

26. In a mining machine, a frame having a feed operating member thereon rotatable on a horizontal longitudinally extending axis,

a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for said feeding element including a plurality of series of coaxial guiding members disposed on longitudinally spaced parallel vertical axes on each side of and in horizontal planes above and below the axis of said feed operating member, said guiding members being positioned to permit the flexible feeding element to be led to' eachof'the same infa strai ht line from the feed operating memher and being adapted to selectively guide f said flexible element in opposite directions and from opposite'sides of the machine.

. 27. In a miningv machine, a feed: operating member rotatable on a horizontal axis, a flexible feeding element cooperating there- .with, and a guiding mechanism for said feeding element including uidingmembers disposed on longitudinally spaced parallel vertical axes and above and below the axis of said feed operating member at each side of the machine, said guiding members being positioned to permit the flexible feeding element to be led to each of the same in a straight line from the feed operating member and be-.

'ing adapted to selectively guide said flexible element-in opposite directions and fronropposite sides of the machine.

28. In a mining machine, a frame having a feed opera-ting member thereon rotatable on a horizontal longitudinally extending axis, a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for said flexible element including on eachside of the feed operating n'iomber a series of coaxial guiding members spaced in different horizontal planes and disposedon vertical axes spaced longitudinally. of the machine in-a verticaleplane parallel to the axis of the feed operatin member,said guiding members being adaptedto selectivelyv guide said flexible element in opposite directruck driving element.

30. In a mining apparatus, a mining niachine having a feed operating member adapt ed to cooperate with flexible feeding means and feed transmission means including a driven gear, a truck driving gear, and means including a slidlng clutch gear for selectively connecting said driven gear in driving relation With said feed operating member or said truck driving gear. I

j 31. In a mining. machine, feeding means including flexiblefeeding member, a feed operating member rotatable upon a horizontal axis disposed longitudinallyof the machine frame. and rot table guide members for. said flexible member at one side of said feed operating member, said guide members being rotatable on vertical axes spaced long1- tndinally of the machine in a vertical plane parallel to the axis of the feed operating member and sodlsposed in different horlzontal planes that said flexible member may be .selectively'extended directly from opposite points onsaid'feed operating member to different guide members.

82. In a mining machine,feeding means including a flexible feeding member, a feed operating member associated therewith ro tatable on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the machine frame, and rotatable guiding means for said flexible feeding member rotatable on vertical axes spaced longie tudinally vof' he machine and indifferent horizontal planes whereby said flexible feeding member may be extended to any of said guiding means without intermediate contact with any other and longitudinally 1n said different planes selectively in either direction relative to said machine.

33. In a mining machine having a feed op crating member rotatable on a horizontal axis, and a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for said flexible element including a plurality of series of guide 'members disposed on parallel vertical axes spaced equally from the axis of said feed operating member at each side thereof, said series of guiding members each being vertically di posed from one another and adapted-to selectively guide said flexible element in opposite directions'and from opposite sides of the machine.

34:. In a mining machine, a feed operating member rotatable on a horizontal axis, and a flexible feeding elementcooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for sa d flexible element including a plurality of guiding members disposed on parallel vertical axes spaced equally from the axis of said feed operating member at each side thereof and in horizontal planes above and below the axis of said feed operating member, said guiding members being adapted to selectively guide said flexible element in ophe machine. 7

35. In a mining machine, a frame having a feed operating member thereon rotatable on a horizontal axis, and a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding.mechanism for said flexible element including a plurality of series of coaxial guiding members disposed on parallel verti cal axes spaced equally from the axis of said feed operating member at each side thereof, said guiding members being adapted to selectively guide said flexible element in opposite directions ano from opposite sides of the machine. H

36. In a mining machine, a frame having a feed operating member thereon rotatable on a horizontal axis, and a flexible feeding element cooperating therewith, and cooperating guiding mechanism for said feeding element including a plurality of series of coaxial guiding members disposed on paraL lel vertical axes spaced equally from the axis of said feed operating member at each side thereof and in horizontal planes above and below the axis'of-said feed operating mem her, said guiding members being adapted to selectively guide said flexible element in opposite directions from opposite sides of the machine. 4

37. In a mining machine, a' motor having a horizontal armature shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, and feeding mechanism driven by said motor including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate with flexible feeding means and arranged coaxially with said armature shaft, and plural pre-' determined speed transmission means be tween said shaft and feed operating memher for eiiectmg rotation of the latter at fast and slow speeds in the same direction while.

said shaft rotates continuously in the same direction.

38. In a mining machine, a motor having a horizontal armature shaft extending longitudinally of the machine, and feeding mechanism driven by said motor including a feed operating member adapted to cooperate di rectly with flexible feeding means and rotatable on an axis extending longitudinally of the machine, and plural speed transmission means between said shaft and said feed operating member for effecting rotation of the latter at fast and slow speeds in the same posits directions and from opposite sides ofl 1,704,670 I p f 9 direction while said shaft. rotates continuousaxis extending longitudinally of the machine,

ly in the same direction including a fast and plural speed transmission means between speed gear train and a slow speed gear train said shaft and said feed operating member having a gear of each train coaxial and arfor effecting rotation of the latter at a fast 15 5 ranged .coaxially With said armature shaft. speed and a slow speed in the same direction 39. In a mining machine, a motor having a while said shaft rotates continuously inthe horizontal armature shaft extending longisame direction including fast and slow speed tudinally of the machine, and feeding mechfriction clutches arranged coaxially Withsaid anism driven by said motor including a feed shaft. 2

10 operating member adapted to cooperate with In testimony whereof I affix my signature. flexible ceding means and rotatable on an I MORRIS P HOLMES.

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