Improvements in Mining Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mining Machines.
I, EDWARD PATTERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland,
County of Alamdea, State of California, retired U.S. Soldier, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to machines, such as are particularly adapted for mining
and cutting coal with special reference to cutting slits in a vertical and horizontal
position to facilitate the separation of the coal by blasting, and wedging the objects
of the invention being to produce a machine which will cut the walls of the heading
smoothly, whereby not only is the shape of the mine preserved, but a positive
advantage is secured owing to the fact that the air will travel through the mine
with greater freedom, or what is known as the drag upon the volume of ventilating
air will be greatly reduced. Further, than this, the invention has for its object to
provide a machine which will reduce labor of the miner and improve the quality of
the coal by enabling larger lumps to be separated.
The invention consists first in a machine having a cutter frame for guiding an
endless series of cutters, which is wider at the front or advanced end than at the
rear end, whereby a straight relatively wide cut may be made, while allowing of
sufficient clearance and at the same time the cut may be extended in either direction.
to the plane of the outside wall or floor, without moving the cutter frame radially..
Secondly, the invention consists in a machine in which the cutter frame and the..
cutter driving mechanism are mounted to move forward in straight lines in..a
secondary frame, which latter is mounted to move at right angles to the advance
movement of the cutter frame, whereby the coal may be cut in right lines as
contradistinguished from a radial action of the cutter frame.
The invention further consists in certain novel details. of construction and
combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described and pointed.
out particularly in the appended claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my present improvement.
and adapted particularly for cutting vertical slits in the plane of the side wall of
the drift or heading.
Figure 2 is a top plau view of the same.
Figure 3 is a cross section taken in a vertical plane in line with the main
transverse drive shaft.
Figure 4 is an elevation looking at the inner side of the cutter frame and
showing the pinion and rack for advancing the same.
Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the main frame:
extended to form a base for adapting the machine for cutting horizontal slots; or
undercutting.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the machine designed more particularly for.
undercutting, or cutting in a horizontal plane.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the same showing, the bed or track in. position.
to fold.
Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

page_text: The machine illustrated in the accompanying drawings, consists primarily of a
main or outer framing A, which may or may not be mounted on wheels, as desired,
and preferably with its upper sections or parts hinged at a to allow them to be
turned down for running the machine through low places in the mine or permitting
the same to be operated in such places. When turned up to the position shown
in Figure 1, the upper ends of the same are held by longitudinal framing A', which
may be dove-tailed into the ends of the frame A and by bolts a', if so desired.
Working within this frame and transversely of its length there is a supplemental
frame B. As shown, this frame B is vertically adjustable in the main frame A,
being held therein by suitable guides a at the ends and adapted to be raised and
lowered through the operation of a rack c carried by a somewhat centrally arranged
column C with which rack and pinion D journaled in the supplemental frame B
and adapted to be driven through a worm wheel and worm d bevelled pinions d'
and sprocket wheel d engages.
By the rotation of the sprocket wheel d³ the supplemental frame may be moved
laterally or raised and lowered and in order that the column C may be lowered to
correspond to the height of the main frame A when folded, said column C is
provided with a hinge at c¹, whereby its upper end is adapted to fold down to a
level with the lower portion of the frame.
As illustrated in Figure 2, the supplemental frame B, it will be observed
preferably extends out flush with the side of the main frame A, and it has formed
on its sides dove-tailed guide ways E in which there is mounted a slide f mounted
on or forming a part of the cutter frame F. By this means the cutter frame is
guided in straight lines parallel with the length of the supplemental frame B and
in order to advance the cutter frame I preferably employ a rack F and a pinion f
the pinion being carried by a shaft f extending way through the supplemental
frame B and having on its opposite end a sprocket wheel, by means of which the
pinion may be rotated, as will be presently explained.
The cutter frame, it will be observed in Figure 4 is widest at its advance or
front end and from Figure 3, it will be seen that it is provided with a longitudinal
channel in which runs an endless chain carrying cutters G, set at various angles to
cut away the coal and afford sufficient clearance for the frame, and the chain is
adapted to be driven by the sprocket wheel, H, Figure 4, carried by a shaft h
journaled in the cutter frame and extending through the slot in the supplemental
frame B.
The shaft his adapted to be driven by any suitable form of motor, preferably an
electric motor i, which is longitudinally movable with the cutter frame, for which
purpose the supplemental frame B is provided on the side opposite to that on
which the cutter frame is mounted with guide ways K in which slides a motor,
carrying base L. This notor base L besides being supported by the shaft h is
also supported and held in proper position with relation to the cutter frame by a
second support also passing through the slot 6, and the cutter is preferably
arranged to drive a worm m meshing with a wheel M, on the shaft h, thus the
shaft may be rotated with great power, and inasmuch as the motor travels longi-
tudinally with the cutter frame no complicated or delicate mechanism is necessary
for connecting the cutter chain and motor.
As a convenient means for advancing the cutter frame the shaft is provided
with a sprocket wheel h¹ over which a sprocket chain O is adapted to pass and to
have its opposite end thrown into engagement with the sprocket wheel for
driving the pinion f¹. The sprocket chain O is preferably a long chain and is
held in engagement with the sprocket wheels by spring retainers P, P1, Figure 1,
and the retainer P' is adapted to be thrown out of engagement with the chain
when the cutter frame has advanced to the limit of its movement by a throw-out
projection p moving with the cutter frame and adapted to engage the retainer P
as illustrated in Figure 2. This same chain O may be employed to raise and
lower the supplemental frame B by being disengaged from the sprocket wheel f
and put in engagement with the sprocket wheel d and thus while the cutters are in

page_text: operation the cutter Irame may be either advanced or moved at right angles in a
vertical direction so as to cut directly into the seam or to cut a channel therein of
greater width than the end of the cutter frame itself.
By forming the front end of the cutter frame of greater width than the
rear end, it will be observed that the forward corners as the cutter frame is
advanced or withdrawn will cut on a level with the bottom edge of the frame
or floor level and when the supplemental frame is raised to the top of the
main frame, the cut will be correspondingly extended in a direct line with the
ceiling.
This result follows if the cutter is arranged horizontally for undercutting, that
is to say, without giving the cutter a radial movement until the coal may be
slitted or undercut to the extreme edge or side walls of the drift or heading and
in order to illustrate such horizontal arrangement I have shown a section in
Figure 5 in which the parts are arranged identically as in the other figures, save
that the main frame is extended to support the cutter frame just off the floor, such
extensions being indicated at the points lettered A.
To facilitate the clearing away of the debris or cuttings from the tools, I prefer
to mount on the endless chain a series of scrapers S, preferably of rubber, leather
or other flexible material, which will sweep the cuttings out of the slot and at the
front end of the machine I provide a transverse conveyor T, which takes the
cuttings from the main cutter chains and moves them across the face of the machine
to the opposite side, where they may he shoveled away in the ordinary manner.
This transverse conveyor is driven by means of a telescoping shaft U, which at its
rear ends is provided with a worm wheel V in mesh with a worm von the main
transverse drive shaft h. The bearings for supporting the rear end of the shaft U
are omitted in order to prevent confusion, but as will be readily understood by any
onlinary mechanic, such bearings are to be carried by the motor base in order that
the rear end of the shaft may travel back and forth with the motor and cutter
frame without throwing the worm out of gear and at the same time said shaft will
telescope with its front section and maintain its operative connection with the
transverse conveyor.
In the preferred, arrangement of mechanism or construction of machine for
undercutting or cutting in a horizontal plane as shown in the Figures 6 and 7, the
cutter frame S is arranged horizontally, and besides the cutter, it carries all of the
mechanism necessary for working the same. This mechanism consists of a motor S'
for driving a beveled pinion meshing with a large beveled gear T passing
down into the cutter frame and carrying a sprocket wheel shown in dotted
lines in Figure 7, for driving the endless cutter. The shaft of the beveled
gear Tat its upper end carries a worm T', with which meshes a worm wheel T²
mounted on a shaft T and carrying at its opposite end a worm T, meshing
with a worm wheel T, mounted on a shaft Te and carrying a sprocket wheel T.
This sprocket wheel T is adapted to mesh with or have wound upon it a feed
chain U, carrying at its end a hook or other appliance by means of which it may
be secured to a stake or timber for drawing the cutter frame and mechanism
carried thereby in any desired direction. The cutter frame is preferably mounted
upon a hinged or folding base or track which may be straightened out to give
a long range of movement to the cutter frame in any desired direction or
folded as illustrated in Figure 7 to facilitate the movement of the apparatus
through narrow passage ways or between supports. In operating this form of
the device, the end of the feed chain is secured to the stake or timber and
the movement of the mechanism will cause the advance of the cutter frame to the
desired depth. This depth having been attained, the position of attachment of the
feed chain is altered to the direction in which it is desired to have the cut extend,
say parallel with the face of the working. When the mechanism is then started,
the cutter frame will be moyed transversely to the direction in which it was
previously moved and the cut extended as far as desired, or to the side of the
heading.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, of the longi-
tudinally movable cutter frame having its greatest width at the front end and an
endless cutter passing around said frame; substantially as described.
2. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, of the cutter frame
mounted to move longitudinally in a straight line, and of greater width at the front
end than at the rear end and an endless cutter passing around said frame;
substantially as described.
3. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, the supplemental
frame mounted to move transversely therein, of the cutter frame carried by the
supplemental frame and of greater width at the front than at the rear end and an
endless cutter passing around said cutter frame; substantially as described.
4. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame supplemental
frame mounted therein to move transversely of the cutter frame supported in ways
to move in a line parallel with the length of the supplemental frame and wider at
the front than at the rear and an endless cutter passing around said cutter frame;
substantially as described.
5. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame and supplemental
frame mounted therein to move transversely, of the cutter frame supported entirely
at one side of the supplemental frame and projecting at the side of the main
frame, a guide for holding said cutter frame to move longitudinally of the supple-
mental frame in a direct line and an endless cutter passing around said cutter
frame; substantially as described.
6. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, having vertical
guideways and a supplemental frame mounted on said guideways to move vertically,
of a cutter frame mounted on a supplemental frame and guides interposed between
the cutter frame and supplemental frame for guiding the cutter frame longi-
tudinally of the supplemental frame in a direct line; substantially as described.
7. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame and supplemental
frame guided therein to move transversely, of the cutter frame carried by the
supplemental frame on one side and adapted to project beyond the main frame,
the motor base mounted on the opposite side of said supplemental frame, con-
nections between the motor base and cutter frame, whereby said parts advance in
unison and a motor for driving the cutter mounted on the cutter base; substantially
as described.
8. The combination in a mining machine, of the main frame and supplemental
frame guided therein to move transversely and having longitudinal guides on
opposite sides thereof, of the cutter frame supported by the guides on one side of
said supplemental frame, the motor base supported in the guides on the opposite
side of said supplemental frame, connections between said supplemental base
and cutter frame, whereby they move in unison, a drive shaft for the cutter
extending from side to side of the supplemental frame, a cutter for rotating said
shaft and an endless cutter carried by the cutter frame and driven from said
shaft; substantially as described.
9. In a mining machine, a main frame adapted to support the cutter frame
having its upper portion hinged, whereby it may be folded to pass through low
places; substantially as described.
10. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, and supplemental
frame guided therein to move transversely, of a folding rack and a pinion on the
supplemental frame co-operating with said rack to move the supplemental frame;
substantially as described.
11. In a mining machine, the combination with the longitudinally movable cutter
frame and main frame supporting the same, of a transversely arranged conveyor
located at the front end of the main frame; substantially as described.
12. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame and the vertically

page_text: arranged cutter frame supported at one side thereof, of the transverse conveyor
at the front end of the main frame for transferring the debris from the cutter frame
to the opposite side of the main frame; substantially as described.
13. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, longitudinally
movable cutter frame arranged on one side thereof, and a motor for driving the
cutter movable longitudinally with said cutter frame, of a transversely arranged
conveyor located at the front of the main frame for transferring the debris from
the cutter frame to the opposite side of the main frame and a movable connection
interposed between the conveyor and motor, whereby the same motor may be
employed for driving the cutters and conveyors; substantially as described.
14. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame, the vertically
arranged and longitudinally movable cutter frame mounted on one side thereof
and the motor movable longitudinally with said cutter frame, of the transversely
arranged conveyor for transferring the debris from the cutter frame to the
opposite side of the main frame and a telescoping shaft interposed between the
motor and conveyor; substantially as described.
15. In a mining machine the combination with the main frame and cutter frame
guided therein to move in a horizontal plane of mechanism for operating the cutter
and moving the cutter frame in the desired direction substantially as described and
illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of September 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.