Improvements in Mining Machines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE DI MOLTTOAI
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH ANDREW JEFFREY, of the City of
Columbus, in the County of Franklin, State of Ohio, in the United States of
America.]
Improvements in Mining Machines.
I, OLIVER IMRAY, of No. 28 Southampton Buildings in the County of London
Chartered Patent Agent, 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:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mining machine with my improvements, parts being
broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a view of the cutter bar and
its adjuncts on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the machine.
Fig. 5 is a cross section on line x-x, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the plate or
platform which supports the machines, the shafting, and the gearing together with
the bottom standards of the engine supports.
Fig. 7 is an end view of the parts in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same
plate with the carriage moving devices shown in place. Fig. 9 shows the carriage
feed shaft and its bearing stand. Fig. 10 shows similarly the carriage-recede or
pull-back shaft and its bearing stand. Figs. 11 to 22, inclusive, show details of
the machine.
AA are side bars of the bed with grooves a. BB are connecting devices with
B is the rear
bottom cross bars and seats b' for bed bars A, bolted thereto.
connecting device having also a top cross bar B2, the front parts B being open at
the top.
D is the top bar of the bed having bolts passing through at d into the side
bars A at a. C. C are downwardly turned rack bars secured to top bars D
by bolts.
In this bed is mounted the sliding carriage made of side bars E, E, rear cross
bar E2, front cross bar E3 and zig-zag brace bars E. Bars E are of peculiar
shape having a continuous flange e, fitted to grooves a in bed bars A, but
relatively thicker at the front parts for strength, but reduced at the rear ends at e¹.
² are slots in the reduced parts to permit adjustment of the chains. The side bars
have ribs at e³ and slots e.
Fis the cutter bar. It is formed with journals f¹ a central portion having two
large integral teeth f' and two smaller teeth f³ with a long taper from the teeth
to one journal and a short taper f* from the teeth toward the other. The parts
outside the journals are substantially cylindrical.
fare cutter apertures in two series at right angle to each other in the main
part of the bar. Through the large chain teeth two apertures fare formed.
Cutters of four styles are used as at 18, 19, 10, and fi accomplishing several
purposes. Each has a square shank to fit in the apertures f, and a cutter part
at an angle to the shank. Each is tightly held by a set screw f" bearing against
the under side of the cutter.
The cutter bar F is mounted in shoes G, each having arms g, and a perforated
plate Geccentric, longitudinally to arms g. Arms 9 enclose the front ends of
carriage bars E, and are bolted, to them.
In aperture g¹ in each plate G¹ are two half bushings, g³, they fitting snugly in
the recessed journals f¹ of the cutter bar, and also fitting within the aperture g¹ in
shoes G.
The bushing g³, 9³ has one or more keys 9 to prevent it from rotating in the
shoe G.

page_text: Thus the cutter bar has an integral support around it. To connect or disconnect
the shoe and the bar, it is only necessary to detach the shoe G by removing the
bolts at g', and, then, after taking out the cutter on the cylindrical part of the
cutter bar, slip the shoe or the bar F one way or the other.
This cutter bar is much superior to any heretofore used. Its character will
be fully understood by examining the drawings. The cylindrical parts outside of
the bearings allow it to be readily attached or renioved as above described,
and the tapered parts inside the bearings insure great strength where the greatest
strain is experienced, and moreover the depth of the kerf is reduced, so as to
Bave coal.
By placing ring plate G¹ eccentric to carriage bars E one of the broad cutters f
can be placed directly on its center line to cut a path for it, and this cutter has its
edge so placed as to remove the material from in front of the inner part of the
supporting ring G and bushing, and another cutter f similarly clears a path for
the outer part of the ring.
H is the cutter-bar-driving chain consisting of the strongest possible links made
alternately broader and narrower as shown at hand ', the broader ones fitting
large teeth on the cutter bar, and the narrow links fitting the small teeth f³.
A chain of sufficient power must be quite wide, and the coal must be cut in front
of it. So I employ the cutters, extending laterally into the vertical planes of
the wide link and cutting a path for them. And in the apertures are placed
two cutters which pass through the links and cut the material directly in
front of the chain, one cutter in each large tooth being sufficient. They are held
by wedges f, as I find these better than set screws such as those at f which if
strong enough, occupy too much space.
The greater number of cutters are similar to each other as at 8. Those at the
ends of the bar extend laterally beyond it, to entirely free the ends from contact
with the side walls.
Some of the cuttings are drawn out by the chain H, but for this, special
chains I, and 12, 12 are also used.
I is the cleaner-chain-shaft. It has three chain wheels i, i, i and is mounted on
supports 13, each support comprises a box ² and a plate with a slot i*, and with
ribs, which can engage with ribs on the carriage bar E. Shaft I extends out
through the slots in the carriage bars E and can be adjusted by loosening the
bolts in slots, releasing ribs from ribs e³, and moving it to the desired line,
and then again tightening bolts 2.
Chain brings power to wheel i, and shaft I, and the shaft moves chains I'
through wheels . The chains 12 are outside of the bed, and extend back to
supporting wheels 14 in hangers 15 and adjustably secured to cross rods 1.
At the rear ends of the carriage bars E, E, there is a plate frame, or platform J
having a central opening J', rearward extending arms j, j, and recesses at j¹, j'
and, for shaft bearings.
This frame or platform J carries the motor, and all the shafting and gearing.
It fits snugly in the reduced parts of the carriage bars E at el. Clamping bolts
pass through it at ³, and slots e². It is necessary to adjust this platform and its
shaft relatively to the cutter bar, which is done by exerting positive pressure by
screws e against the frame J and pushing it backward to the desired place and then
tightening the bolts in the slots e².
K represents the chain driving shaft k being the chain teeth. It also drives the
cleaner chain I' through wheel K', and shaft L through wheel L'.
This shaft K is mounted at j in platform J, its ends fitting in bushing K³
and K seated in the square cavities 1. Cap pieces are bolted down around the
bushings.
To this shaft is keyed the wheel K. It is driven by the intermediate shaft P
mounted in bracket p, and carrying the main wheel P', and the wheel P³.
When power is transmitted to shaft K it will turn the cutters in the direction of
the arrow.

page_text: To advance this carriage while the cutter-bar is revolving, the following devices
are used.
On platform J there is another shaft L which transmits the power for first
advancing the carriage slowly and then pulling it back rapidly. It is mounted
at 2, having bushings K K at its ends fitting the cavities with square caps to
enclose them. It has cut upon it a worm land is secured to a bevel wheel 12.
Carriage advancing shaft M is mounted in tubular brackets M' (bolted at m² to
platform J) and is rotated slowly by worm and worm wheel m. At its rear end
it carries worm m¹.
"
The carriage receding shaft O is mounted in the inclined tubular bracket O'
bolted to platform J at o². This shaft is rotated rapidly by wheel 12 through
bevel o, and its inner end carries worm o¹.
The slow motion from shaft M and the rapid motion from shaft O are alternately
taken to the reversible carriage moving shaft M.
This is mounted in the aforesaid arms ; of platform J. It carries pinions N'
which engage with the aforesaid racks C above them. Shaft N also has two
loosely mounted worm wheels n and n' engaging with the aforesaid worm m³ and o¹.
The two trains of devices last described are continuously moving but with very
different speeds and the two loose wheels n and n are rotated oppositely and
continuously and with said different speeds entirely irrespective of their supporting
shaft N, slow wheel n being the carriage advancing wheel and the rapid wheel n¹
effecting the pulling back.
N' is a clutch splined to shaft N between loose wheel n and n'. When engaged
with wheel n it receives slow rotation therefrom and imparts it to pinions N2, which
press against racks C, and slowly advance the cutters, the carriage advancing
1of an inch to each rotation of the cutter bar.
But when clutch N is moved away from wheel n (which continues to revolve
slowly) and into engagement with n, rapid rotation in the opposite direction is
instantly imparted to shaft N and the carriage is speedily brought back on
the bed.
The chain shaft K is never reversed, therefore the cutter bar continues revolving
in one direction both when entering the coal and when coming back, this
permitting the cutters and cleaning chains to clear themselves and to continue
bringing out the cuttings. The reversal of the carriage is entirely independent of
the motor.
The clutch N¹ adheres with great power to wheel n when the cutters are
working, owing to the back pressure from the cutters on the pinions N2, which is
also experienced at the wheel and clutch. An unusually powerful leverage is
therefore required to disengage clutch N¹.
Qis a lever keyed to vertical shaft Q1 Q2 is a pinion on this shaft engaging
with a rack plate Q3 carrying an arm Q fitting in the groove n² of clutch N.
Qis a plate bolted to the under side of carriage platform, and this plate holds
and guides the rack plate Q2. Lever Q is made in two parts q q', hinged at q² so
that the end part q can drop and thus avoid its projecting to the rear.
By lever and pinion Q2 great power can be exerted on clutch N¹ to disengage
it from wheel n.
As the carriage comes back very rapidly it is necessary to have a positive
automatic throw-off for clutch N¹ to prevent the carriage from striking at the rear.
R is a lever loosely pivoted on shaft Q and provided with a lug fitting in
groove n of clutch N, and having a cam-like part r. R' is an inclined abutment
secured to the aforesaid rear cross bar B', it being adjustable at 2. The operator
by lever moves clutch N¹ into engagement with slow wheel n, and as aforesaid,
the carriage moves slowly in for about 6 or 7 feet, and then without reversing the
cutters, he, by said lever, moves the clutch to wheel n', which with the much higher
speed from bevel wheels 12, o, brings the carriage back rapidly to lever R strikes
the cam abutment R', whereupon the clutch is, by lug r, moved automatically out
from wheel n' and the carriage is instantly stopped.

page_text: Owing to the short radius of the cutter bar, great power is required to rotate it.
It has generally been rotated by combining rectilinear links with a four sided
wheel on the cutter bar, or shaping the bar so as to be square in section at the base
of the teeth. These angular devices I have found to be very wasteful of power,
owing to the fact that the leverage increases and decreases several hundred times
each minute, and the cutters have shocks or jars imparted to them.
I have overcome this by using cutting chains of the sort shown. I formed the
links and h¹ of bars whose under edges are arcs of circles, four of them making
a complete circle. As a result, the links though moving with great speed, come
smoothly into engagement with the teeth and on the cutter bar, and seat
themselves regularly on the cylindrical surface at the bases of the teeth so that
power is continuously applied without variations in energy, and the cutters can be
held firmly to their work.
I can preserve nice adjustment of the chains H, 11 and 12 in relation to each
other, and to their driving shafts, as the platform J and the shafts thereon, can be
moved backward, and forward, and also shaft I can be moved independently in the
way above set forth.
B³, B3 are light angle-iron shoes with curved ends, secured to the bottom corners
of cross supports B and B'. These shoes permit the machine to be readily moved
over the ground even when wet and soft.
At T there is a cross brace bar, extended through the bed bars A and projecting
somewhat beyond them. tt are curved arms projecting rearward, and having their
central parts rigidly connected to bar T, and the bottom angle plate 2 firmly
bolted to the cross bar b of connecting part B¹. Bar T at its ends has heads t¹, t¹.
The curved arms t and the bar T provide means whereby the operators can apply
their crowbars (as it is required every few minutes) for moving the machine along
on the shoes B³ and do the moving without danger of breaking any of the fragile
parts of the machine.
From 15 to 20 horse power is necessary to rotate the cutters and advance them
under pressure. A high speed power mechanism is necessary in order to avoid
the weight incident to one of slow speed. I employ two high speed reciprocating
engines, S, S, with piston rods directed toward the cutter bar and connected to
crank shaft S¹. The intermediate shaft P, above referred to is connected to the
crank shaft by wheel S2 and wheel P¹; and is also connected to the chain shaft K,
as aforesaid, through wheel P2 and the wheel*K*.
Owing to the rapid and violent blows caused by the reciprocation of the pistons
there is constant liability of damage to the machine and particularly when it
meets the high resistance experienced in cutting the harder materials. I prevent
this breakage or dislocating of the parts by a novel arrangement of the power
shafting, and by providing an exceedingly strong support for the engines and
the shaft. U, U are strong uprights or brackets, of the peculiar shape and
character shown in Figs. 6 and 7. They have bottom plates u bolted to the
carriage platform J, top plates u¹ and vertical, outwardly turned legs, whereby
they are adapted to give a wide base of support for the engines, though use is
made of a relatively narrow carriage. The engine brackets p which support
the cylinders, the crank shaft and the intermediate shaft are bolted to the top
plates u. Generally the cylinder supports have been made integral from top to
bottom, but when so made they are liable to fracture, particularly when the machine
is at work upon hard material, owing to the great strain upon the shafting, and the
aforesaid blows from the pistons. By employing the separately constructed
uprights U and bolting the engine brackets p thereto at u¹ I provide an abutment
or support for the engines, which can withstand the severe strain experienced in
cutting hard materials.
Again, it will be seen that I not only apply to the cutter bar power from a
shaft K situated in the horizontal planes of the cut or kerf, but also apply the
carriage moving power from a shaft L also in the planes of the cut, to another N,
in said planes. This is the most economical arrangement, as all of the working

page_text: parts are situated low down, and directly in the lines of action and reaction.
When the power for moving the carriage is taken from the shaft P, as has been
heretofore attempted, the tendency to strain and break the shafts and engine.
supports is much greater than in a machine having the shafting arranged as is
herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the aforesaid
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a mining machine of the sort described having a front thrust cutter bar
mounted in two bearings on a carriage sliding in the bed frame, a carriage moving
mechanism constructed and operated as herein described.
2. In a mining machine of the sort described, the combination with the front
thrust cutter bar mounted on a carriage in two bearings and sliding forward
and back in a bed frame, of the two shafts K and L under the engines, one
for driving the cutter bar chain, and the other for moving the carriage, said
shaft L having a worm wheel and a bevel wheel for imparting different speeds to.
the carriage moving devices, through a reversible clutch as described.
3. In a mining machine of the sort described, a carriage moving mechanism
having a rotary reversible shaft on the carriage, and the means herein set forth for
rotating it alternately in opposite directions with a slow speed and a high speed, as.
set forth.
4. In a mining machine of the character described, the combination with the
cutter bar, the carriage, and the bed of the transversely arranged shaft on the
carriage with a pinion engaging the bed, and two loose continuously moving wheels.
on said shaft, and two sets of continuously moving devices for driving said wheels
oppositely with different speeds, as set forth.
5. The combination with the reversible carriage moving mechanism, and the
clutch, of an automatically and movable lever adapted to engage with the bed to.
move said clutch to an inactive position, as set forth.
6. The combination with the carriage moving mechanism and the reversing
clutch of the hand lever for moving the clutch at will, and the power multiplying
devices interposed between the lever and the clutch, as set forth.
7. The combination with the carriage moving mechanism and the reversible
clutch of the automatic throw-off lever for the clutch and the adjustable abutment
on the bed, as set forth.
8. The means for supporting and carrying the engine or motor and the shafting
and gearing consisting of the carriage bars E, E, each integral throughout, and
recessed at e, and having slots e³ for adjusting the platform J, and the cross bars E
with set screws e, as set forth.
9. The supporting means for the engine or motor and the power shafting
consisting of platform J with rear armsj for the carriage moving shaft, and with
the tubular bracket bearings M'O' for the worm shafts, and with boxes or holders.
for the two transverse shafts K L for driving the chain and the carriage moving
mechanism, as set forth.
10. In a mining machine of the character described, the carriage herein set forth.
and constructed as described with two main side bars E, E braced with straight
cross bars and inclined bars, the adjustable platform for the engines and gearing at
the rear, and the cutter bar at the front, substantially as set forth.
11. In a mining machine of the sort described, a chain driven cutter bar mounted
in two bearings and tapered toward the ends from a transverse line intermediate of
the bearings, as set forth.
12. In combination with the rotary chain-driven cutter bar and the sliding
carriage bars, of the shoe pieces detachably secured to the carriage bars and having
circular bearings fitted with detachable bushings, as set forth.
13. In a portable mining machine having a front thrust cutter bar, and a carriage
and a bed behind the bar, the herein described means for supporting and moving

page_text: the bed, comprising the hooks, bars or projections, at T t, and the sliding shoes or
supports B³.
14. In a mining machine having a front thrust cutter bar and a carriage behind
it, the .herein described bed frame having the main grooved side bars A, the bent
cross bars B with separated ends, and a rear cross connection as at B', having a top
bar B2 which extends from side to side.
15. In a mining machine having a front thrust cutter bar with a cutter carriage
behind it, of a bed frame having the main grooved side bars A, the bent cross
bars B holding the side bars above the ground line, and the sliding shoes extending
longitudinally from the rear to, or nearly to, the front end of the frame.
16. The chain-driven cutter bar mounted in two bearings and having two
apertures for cutters extending through the bar and through the chain teeth.
17. The combination with the cutter bar having chain teeth provided with
cutters fastened to the bar, of the cutters f remote from the driving chain, and the
cutters 10 in the lines of the chain.
18. A cleaner chain shaft I in combination with means substantially as described
for adjusting it.
19. The combination with the cutter bar, the slotted supporting bars E and the
cleaner chain shaft situated in the slots.
20. In a mining machine having a rotary chain-driven cutter bar, a driving
chain, the links of which are curvilinear on their bar-engaging edges, the bar being
correspondingly curvilinear in cross section.
21. In a mining machine having a front thrust cutter bar, with a carriage and
bed directly behind it, the herein described engine mounting having the outwardly
and upwardly extending uprights U secured to the plate J, and the engine
brackets p bolted to said uprights, as described.
Dated this 10th der of October 1802
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.