Patent GB-598222-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in loading machines
IPC: B65G41/00
Filed: 1945-03-16
Abstract: - 598,222. Endless-chain conveyers. BRITISH JEFFREY-DIAMOND, Ltd. March 16, 1945, No. 8985/46. Convention date, April 10, 1944. Divided out of 598,187. [Class 78(i)] [Also in Group XXXII] A loading-machine, particularly for use in a coal mine, comprises a frame carrying gathering and conveying apparatus and along which material is conveyed to the discharge. end of the machine, the discharge end of the frame being anchored so as to permit pivotal movement of the frame in a horizontal plane about such anchorage, a pair of steering wheels for supporting and steering the machine and a pair of poweroperated traction wheels for propelling the machine, said traction wheels being mounted so that they may be pivoted about a vertical axis to a tandem position and employed for effecting said pivotal movement of the frame in a horizontal plane. The Figures show the invention as applied to a machine as described in Specification 598,187, wherein coal is delivered to a conveyer 63, the machine comprising a main frame 40 forming a trough 46 for an endless-chain conveyer 56, and a telescoping frame 48 having a trough 54 adapted to slide over the trough 46 and connected to the frame 52 of a gathering head 53. The rear end of the frame 40 is supported on the conveyer 63 by a ball 222, Figs. 2, 7, engaging in a socket 223 mounted at the top of a shoot 226 secured to the conveyer 63 by bolts 227, the ball being held in the socket by a locking pin 225. The traction wheels 131 each have a part 130, Fig. 3, mounted on a stub axle 132 which is attached to a plate 138 welded to a cylindrical housing 139. Each of these housings has a close sliding fit over a cylinder 141 rigidly attached to a plate 142 which is welded to a bracket 143 bolted to side plates 41, 42 of the frame 40. The wheels are adjusted vertically by hydraulic piston motors 144, Fig. 3, each of which comprises a cylinder 145 closed at its upper end by a head 146 which is secured to the cylinders 141, 145 by screws 147 and provided with an inlet 149 for pressure fluid for operating a piston 150. This piston rests on a disc 152 supported on the upper ball race of a thrust bearing 153 carried on a post 154 attached to a plate 155 forming the bottom of the housing 139. Abutting the disc 152 are a heavy coil spring 156 and a weaker spring 157 engaging the top of the piston 150. For the normal working position the motors 144 are contracted from the position shown in Fig. 3 whereby the cylinders 139 with the pistons 150 will slide upwardly thereby compressing the spring 156 and lowering the gathering head until it reaches the mine floor. The wheels 131 are normally locked in the full line position shown in-Fig. 1 by a lug 172, Figs. 4, 5, on a rod 173 which abuts a projection 179 on the top disc of a pair of discs 169 connected by pins 167, 168. These discs are welded to a hub 17d which is held by a pin 171 between plates 165, 166 welded to the side plates 41, 42 of the frame 40, and the pins 167, 168 connected by levers 163, 164 to arms 159, 160 integral with the cylinders 139. The rod 173 is rotatably mounted in blocks 174 and biassed by a spring 176 to the locking position shown in Fig. 5. The rod 173 may be rotated by a handle 177 so as to move the lug 172 downwards through a notch 180 in the top disc 169 and release the discs to permit the wheels to be swung about the axes of the cylinders 139 to the dotted line position in Fig. 1, when driven by hydraulic motors 134 in the direction to drive the machine forwards. If the handle is released as soon as the swing- ing movement commences, the lug 172 rides on the periphery of the top disc 169 and under the influence of the spring 176 drops into a notch 181 in the disc at the end of the swinging movement to lock the wheels. To return the wheels to their normal position, the locking means is released and the wheels again driven. The power shafts of the motors 134 carry sprockets which are connected by chain gearing with sprockets 133 on the wheel hubs and the motors are operated and controlled by apparatus described in Specifications 598,187 and 598,223, [Group XXIX]. The steering wheels 183, 184 are operated by a hydraulic motor and may be raised or lowered by hydraulic motors 183A which' are connected to levers 183B pivotally mounted on the frame 40 at 183C.