Patent GB-489047-A (GB)
Title: Method of mining and apparatus therefor
IPC: E21C27/12
Filed: 1937-02-16
Abstract: 489,047. Mining; drilling-machines. CADWALLADER, E. M. Feb. 16, 1937, No. 4621. [Class 68 (i)] [Also in Group XXII] Inclined seams of coal &c. are mined by forming a fissure in the face parallel to and adjacent the floor, forming a vertical cut or spaced bore-holes in the face adjacent the lateral rib or ribs, forming a cut in the face spaced from, parallel to, and of substantially the same depth as the fissure, and applying to the walls of the cut expansive forces and, if desired, vibratory forces, to break away the coal &c. in large pieces. The fissure &c. may be formed by a machine comprising a housing 2 supporting drills 3 with bits 135 adapted to form overlapping cuts ; the drills are connected by intermeshing pinions 7, Fig. 5, one of which is driven through gears 8, 10, 12, Fig. 3, from a hollow shaft 14 extending through a sleeve 32 connected to housing 2 and slidable in a tube 36 connected to a motor casing 17. The shaft 14 is driven from the motor shaft 26, Figs. 13 and 14, through gears 25, 24, 22, 21, 19, 18 and a tube 16 slidably keyed to the shaft 14. The housing 2 is advanced or withdrawn by a rotating screw 30, Fig. 3, engaging a nut fixed to the sleeve 32, the screw being driven from gear 69, Fig. 13, through clutch 76 and forward gears 66, 65 or clutch 81 and reverse gears 74, 72, and variable speed gearing comprising nests of gears 44 .. 48, 38 .. 42, Fig. 21, and a pinion 49 guided by a track 53 and adjusted by a handle 62, Fig. 14 ; through a screw 91, Fig. 13, driven by chain 94, a member 90 is traversed to disconnect the acting clutch 76 or 81 at the end of an advance or withdrawal. Between the drills 3 are square tubes 95, Figs. 5 and 6, with slots through which pivoted jaws 108, 109, are forced when threaded rods 99 are rotated to force blocks 103 between the jaws ; the coal &c. is thereby broken down. Toggle links 112 connect blocks 103 to the jaws. The rods 99 are driven through sprockets 117 and chain 118, Fig. 5, through clutch 123, 125, Fig. 3, controlled by rod 126 ; a non-rotating nut 129 moves along a threaded part of rod 126 and automatically disconnects the clutch after a given time. The tube 36 is supported in a sleeve 136 Fig. 3, and, through hand wheel 141 and worm gearing 138, 139, may be rotated therein to adjust the drills into vertical alignment. The sleeve 136 is pivoted on a pin 148, Fig. 26, carried by a collar 147 on a telescopic mast 146 locked by pins 156 and is adjustably held by a screw 152, Fig. 1; the collar 147 is adjustable vertically through hand wheel 190 bevel gears 187, 188, and a rotatable screw 177 engaging a nut 179 carried by a collar 180. The upper and lower ends of the mast 146 are carried by trollies 170, 158, Figs. 1, 2 and 26, movable on lateral tracks 171, 161, supported on a carriage 166 which may be advanced along tracks 192 by screw jacks 201, and may be locked by a dog 207 engaging a rack 206. In another form, Fig. 32, the rods 99 actuating the breaking-down jaws are rotated by worms 226 and worm wheels from a shaft 218 driven from the shaft 14 through friction clutch 212, spur gears 213, 214, and worm gearing 216, 217 ; the shaft 218 also carries cams 219 acting through spring-pressed levers 223 to hammer the rods 99.