US2093568A - Method of and apparatus for mining and recovering minerals - Google Patents

Description

E. H. McFARLAND METHOD oF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING AND RECOVENING MINERALS sept. 2,1, 1937.

Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1957 Sept. 21, 1937.

- E. H. MCFARLAND METHOD OF'AND APPARATUS FOR MINING AND RECOVERING MINERA-LS Filed Feb. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i* of the mineral as it is being shoveled by progresi y, IUNITED STAT Patented sept. 21, 1937 .METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MINING AND RECOVERING MINERALS Edward H. McFarland, Zanesville, ohm` kApplication February 18, 1937, Serial No. 126,507

` Y l claims.

This invention relatesto the mining and rei covering of minerals, and particularly to the `mining and recoveringof minerals Where being mined is undercut.

`At the present time in the mining of minerals the vein lafter the vein of mineral is undercut and shot or snubbed down, the mined material is conveyed by hand labor to a conveyor generally by shoveling the mined material and during the shoveling of the material bands of impurities are picked out sive stages towards the conveyor.

As an alternate mechanical loading or transferring of the mined material to the conveyor is resorted to, and where mechanical loading or transferring is resorted to, all the material shot or snubbed down from the face of the mineral vein is transferred to the conveyor, resulting in a product contaminated with impurities requiring supplemental cleaning operations outside of the working place. An object of theinvention is therefore to improve the art of mining and mechanical `loading to the end thata cleaner mineral product is produced at materially reduced expense orrcost.

The invention, together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken through a mine working place and showing the apparatus used in accordance with the present invention in top plan.

Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view through r the material being mined. i

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken `substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

i als, it will be seen that I indicates the block of mineral beinglmined, 2 the face of the mineral vein, 3 the entry to the place being worked, 4

`the roof, and 5 the bottom strata, respectively,`

above and below the mineral vein. A

Supports for the roof in the mined out area are indicated by the reference numeral 6.

The undercut in the face of the mineral vein is indicated by the reference numeral 8, and this undercut, slot or kerf, is formed through the medum of the usual undercutting machine indicated generally by the reference numeral 1.

In accordance with the present invention, as the undercutting machine progresses in the cutting of the kerf or slot 8, there are placed on the i bottom strata5 in edge-to-edge relation successively positioned friction plates 9 which at one end extend into the kerf 8 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The plates 9 may be `made of metal or other suitable material and are provided on their upper faces with finely divided coal, soapstone, graphite or other material spread over the surfaces thereof to reduce friction, or for the same purpose,

and as illustrated, said plates may be provided 5, and when used the plates 9 are secured in position through the medium of posts or jacks I0 which rest at their bases on the plates 9 and at their upper ends bear against the roof 4 as shown for example in Figures 3 and 4.

Further in accordance with the present inven- Y tion there is provided a conveyor belt II.

Belt I I may consist of a single length of reinforced fabric, wooden or metal slats chained or linked together, and in the present instance is shown as consisting of a plurality of sections suit- I ably connected together as to permit of their ready separation to facilitate transporting of the conveyor.

The conveyor belt II is wound on a roller I5 suitably journaled in a bracket structure I6 provided therefor in the entrance 3 to the area being mined.

The conveyor belt II is trained over an idler roller I9 and at its free end has connected therewith as at 2i) one end of a cable 2|.

Under actual working conditions the cable 2l is given several turns about'a winch or the like 22 carried by the undercutting machine 'I so that from time to time, as the undercutting machine 1 progresses the conveyor belt II is caused to unwind from the roll I5 to be extended over the plates 9 as the plates are being laid behind the traveling undercutting machine 'I. In this connection it will be noted that an edge portion of the conveyor belt II extends into the kerf 8, as

clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

When the kerf cutting operation has been completed, the mineral vein is snubbed down or,` drilled and shot down with explosives, the loosened material I'I falling in a pile on the conveyor belt or apron I I. This pile of material now on the belt contains of course partings or bands of foreign material in addition to the mineral. The loose mineral is raked or spread by a suitable tool uniformly on the belt and the foreign material picked free from the mineral and cast to the mined out area of the mine.

For winding the conveyor belt or apron II on the roller I5 with the material I'I thereon to the end that the material I'I will be conveyed to the' entrance 3 to pass from the conveyor belt II on to a suitable belt conveyor I8 provided in the entrance space 3, as clearly shown in the drawings, there is provided a prime mover, the same in the present instance being an electric motor I4 that is in driving engagement with the roller I5 through the medium of suitable reduction gearing I3, as will be clear from a study of Figure 1.

The material received on the conveyor I8 is carried thereby to a point outside of the mine, or to another conveying medium thus completing the mining and recovering cycle of operation.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the utility and advantages of the invention will be had without a more detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. A method of mining and recovering minerals which consists in cutting a horizontal kerf in the mineral vein, feeding a conveyor belt longitudinally into the kerf as the kerf is being cut, next, shooting or snubbing down the mineral on to the conveyor belt, and nally withdrawing the conveyor belt with the shot or snubbed down mineral thereon.

2. A method of mining and recovering minerals which consists in undercutting a kerf in the mineral vein, laying successive plates on the bottom Strata below the mineral vein successively and in edge-to-edge relation with one end of the plates extending into the kerf, feeding a conveyor belt over the successively laid plates directly behind the undercutting machine, next, shooting or snubloing down the mineral on to the conveyor belt,

and finally withdrawing the conveyor belt with the shot or snubbed down material thereon.

3. For use in mining and recovering minerals where the mineral vein is undercut, the combination of an undercutting machine, a roll of conveyor belting supported at a point approximating the starting point of the undercutting operation, and means connecting the free end of the conveyor belt with the undercutting machine for paying out the belt longitudinally into the kerf as the undercutting machine progresses, with a longitudinal portion of the conveyor belt extending into the kerf.

4. For use in mining and recovering minerals where the mineral vein is undercut, a combination of an undercutting machine, a roll of conveyor belting supported at a point approximating the starting point of the undercutting operation, means connecting the free end of the conveyor belt with the undercutting machine for paying out the belt longitudinally into the kerf as the undercutting machine progresses, with a longitudinal portion of the conveyor belt extending into the kerf, and. mechanism connected with the conveyor belting roll for rewinding the latter for withdrawing the shot or snubbed down mineral pil-ed thereon.

5. For use in mining and recovering minerals where the mineral vein is undercut, a combination of an undercutting machine, a roll of conveyor belting supported at a point approximating the starting point of the undercutting operation, means connecting the free end of the conveyor belt with the undercutting machine for paying out th'e'belt longitudinally into the kerf as the undercutting machine progresses, with a longitudinal portion of the conveyor belt extending into the kerf, mechanism connected with the conveyor belting roll for rewinding the latter for withdrawing the shot or snubbed down mineral piled thereon, and a second conveyor extending at right angles to the conveyor belt roll for receiving the contents of the latter.

EDWARD H. MCFARLAND.

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