Improvements in and relating to Mining Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Mining Machines.
We, ADAM KEIL and ANTON RUDOLPH WESTERDAHL, citizens of the United
States of America, residing respectively at No. 34 Fourth Avenue, M'Keesport,
in the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and No. 1717 Sydney
Street, Pittsburg, in the County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, one of
the United States of America, Gentlemen, 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 :-
Our invention relates to mining machines, the special object of the invention
being to obtain a machine for the direct cutting into the face of the coal by
cutter chains, by means of which the base of the kerf may be formed close to the
surface of the ground; that is, on the same plane as the floor of the mine, so that
after the coal is removed there is no necessity of chipping or removing the floor
surface before making the next cut. Other objects of the invention are to apply
the electric power to drive the cutter chain without any intermediate gearing, and
to provide a simple form of cog gearing for the feeding and retracting of the
machine.
The special points of the invention will be hereinafter more particularly set
forth and claimed.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will
describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which―
Figure 1 is a plan view, the motor being removed;
Figure 2 is a side view partly broken away, showing the motor;
Figure 3 is a front view, the forward end of the cutter frame being removed;
Figure 4 is a rear view of the frame, and
Figure 5 is a cross-section on the line 5-5, Figure 2.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.
The machine differs from the ordinary construction of mining machines, in
which the cutter frame has a movement directly into the coal and out from the
same, in that the stationary frame is raised entirely above the mine floor and the
cutter chain, and part of the sliding frame travel down at such level that the lower
edge of the cutters of the chain are on the same plane as the floor level on which
the machine is placed. In so constructing the machine, the main frame, A, is
formed of the side angle beams, a, which are connected at the ends by the cross
beams, b, b, while below said cross beams at each end of the machine are the
supporting shoes or feet. At the rear end of the machine the cross beam, b', is
preferably an angle beam, the horizontal flange 12, of which extends out rearwardly
in order to brace that part of the machine, while the end portions of such
horizontal flange are removed, so that the vertical straps, 63, so formed may be
bent parallel with the main beams, a, and secured thereto by riveting. In order to
form the depending feet at the rear end of the machine, we employ the plate or
bar, d, which is riveted to the horizontal flange, 3, of the rear beam, ¹, in the
center thereof, and then extends down at the ends to form the foot portions, d'
and then upwardly along the sides of the main frame, and forwardly outside the
straps, 63, of the said beams, b', being bent into horizontal position and riveted with
said straps, &, to the main or side beams, a.
At the forward end of the machine the same construction is employed, except
that the depending frame, E, on which the frame is supported is placed centrally
in the front of the frame, so as not to interfere with the movement of the cutter
chain, such frame, E, or its shoe, e, being always within the cutter chain which travels
in a course which always encloses such shoe. As the main frame is supported above

page_text: the floor, the upper part of the cross frame, E, is secured to the main frame, the cross
frame, E, having the arms, e', which rise at each end at an upward curve to and rest
upon the upper surfaces of the horizontal flanges, a', of the said side beams, a, said
arms having at the ends thereof the vertical bars, e, fitting against the vertical portions
of said side beams, the cross frames being secured to the said beams by riveting
through said arms, e', to the horizontal flanges, a', and through the vertical bars, e
to the body of the side beams, a. In order to form the frame sufficiently rigid at
the forward end, we rivet to the outside of said side plates, a, the cross beam, b
before referred to, said cross beam being formed of a bar or heavy plate bent at
the ends as at 6, parallel with the vertical plates of the side beams, a, and riveted
thereto. As above stated, the frame, E, depends from the main frame,, and in
order to form the guides for the two longitudinally extending plates or bars, f, of
the movable frame, F, it has the shoe, e, above referred to, which is connected to
the main body of the frame, E, by the blocks. e, the edges of which form the inner
edges of the guideways for said plate, f. At the outer end of said shoe, e', are
lugs, et, which act as the outer guides for said bars, f, while the shoe supports the
bars and the main body of the frame, E, extends out over the bars to hold them
down in place. For feeding and retracting, we prefer to employ a screw bar, G,
which is mounted in the end beams, 61, of the machine, and for this purpose the
bearings, g, are secured to the end plates just at one side of the center line of the
machine, it being desirable to get the feet as close as possible to the center
thereof. This screw shaft, G, has one or more longitudinal grooves, g³, formed in
it, and is rotated by the gearing hereafter referred to, to feed it back and forth
through the nut, y, on the sliding frame, F.
The sliding frame, F, is formed of the carriage, f, the bars, f, extending
forward therefrom, and the sprocket or front cross frame, f2, around which the
chain passes in forming the cut, said cross frame having sprocket wheels, f³, at
each end thereof so as to direct the cutter chain in its course across the front face.
The carriage, 1, is supported on flange wheels or rollers, i, which travel on the
horizontal plates or flanges, a', of the side beams of the stationary frame, "the
flanges,, of said wheels, i, fitting along the inner edges of the said beams, a, and
the carriage being held in proper line thereby. The longitudinally extending
plates, f, are secured to the carriage, f1, but the ends of said plates preferably
enter along seats formed for them in the carriage, so that the rear ends of the
plate, f, are directly supported by the carriage which runs upon the track formed
by the side beams of the main frame. In the center of said carriage is the boss, h¹,
in which is mounted the sprocket wheel shaft, h, carrying at the lower end
thereof the sprocket, H, which depends. below the frame close to the floor, and
imparts the necessary motion to the cutter chain, K, which chain travels around
the sprockets, k, in the front cross frame, f, and around the guide wheels, k³,
depending from said carriage.
The machine may be operated either by a slow running motor, which connects
directly by an angular pin and socket joint with the shaft, h, in which case the
motor J, is supported on the carriage directly above said armature shaft, k, the
motor shown being circular in form, and being supported by the brackets j,
extending up from the carriage. In such case, in order to provide for the feeding
forward and retracting of the machine, we mount in suitable bearings on the
carriage the horizontal shaft, 1, having at its rear end the beveled pinion, ', which
meshes with the beveled pinion, 12, on the vertical sprocket shaft, h, the trains of
gears for feeding and retracting being driven by this horizontal shaft, l. In case a
fast running motor is employed, the motor may engage by suitable gearing with the
shaft, 7, and may either be arranged with its armature shaft in a horizontal position,
in which it will be geared by straight cog gearing with said shaft, 1, or with a
vertical armature shaft, in which case the motor may be supported in a suitable
manner and connect by the same straight gear with the sprocket shaft, or by bevel
gearing with said horizontal shaft, 1.
To provide for the feeding and retracting of the machine, we employ two trains

page_text: of straight gears, employing this form of gearing in preference to worm or like
gearing on account of the strength obtained, as these machines are expected to
stand very heavy strains, especially cutting the coal in the vicinity of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania, in the United States of America. For this purpose we mount on
the shaft, the pinion, m, which is connected to said shaft by the clutch, a, and this
pinion, m, meshes with the pinion, m', which fits around and slides upon the screw
bar, G, and is connected thereto by feathers fitting in the grooves, g, of the screw
bar. This gives the necessary rapid motion for retracting the machine. For
feeding the machine forward a much slower and more powerful motion is required,
and for this purpose we employ the following gearing:
Pr
Mounted on the horizontal shaft, 1, is the pinion, which is caused to engage
with said shaft by the clutch, n, above referred to, this pinion meshing with the
gear wheel, p', which is secured upon the shaft, », mounted in bearings,, on the
carriage, said shaft carrying at its forward end the pinion, s, which meshes with
the gear wheel, s', fitting around and sliding upon the screw bar, it also having
feathers fitting within the grooves, g, of the screw bar. The said pinion, m¹, and
pinion, s', which slide upon the screw bar, have suitable collars fitting within
suitable bearings on the carriage to support them properly around the screw bar.
It will be noticed that the screw bar fits as closely as possible to the boss, h¹, in
which the shaft, h, is mounted, the screw bar being thus brought very close to
the center line of the machine so that as direct a longitudinal motion as possible is
obtained. In order to secure the machine in place, suitable jacks are employed,
brackets having annular passages being secured to the stationary frame at the ends
thereof, as at t, t', through which the jacks pass so that they may take into the
floor of the mine, and may be screwed up against the roof.
As so constructed, the machine is operated in the following way :-
The machine is placed in position with the front cross frame, 12, parallel with the
face of the coal, so that as the sliding frame is advanced it will cut into the same,
and is secured into place by the jacks. above referred to. Connection is made by
suitable flexible conductors between the motor and the wires carrying the electric
current through the mine, and the motor is started; and through the connections
with the vertical shaft, h, whichever arrangement is employed, the vertical sprocket
shaft, h, is driven at the proper speed, and by means of its sprocket, H, it imparts
the necessary motion to the cutter chain, K, which carries cutters, k¹, at suitable
intervals for cutting the kerf, as the cutter frame is fed forward. This chain
travels from the sprocket, H, over one guide wheel, &, and then around the sprocket
wheels, k, at the forward end of the front cross frame,, travelling across the face
of said cross frame, and back along the other side of the machine to the other
guide wheel, 3, and then back to the sprocket wheel, H. As the vertical shaft, h,
turns, the horizontal shaft, /, turns with it, either driving it or being driven by it,
but as the clutch, n, is not in engagement either with the pinion, m, or pinion, p, no
motion is imparted to move the sliding frame longitudinally. The operator then
throws the clutch into engagement with the pinion, p, and through the said pinion
turns the gear wheel, p', and pinion, s, and the gear wheel, s', which engages with
the screw bar by the sliding connection above referred to, and in this way he turns
the screw bar so as to cause it to screw through the nut, g, upon the carriage, so
feeding the machine forward at the desired speed. During this operation the
pinions, m, and m³, will be turned by the screw bar, but as the pinion, m, is simply
mounted upon the shaft, 1, it will turn independent thereof.
As the cutter chain is supported so that its lower cutters are even with the floor
on which the machine is supported as the sliding frame advances, the cutter chain
will cut the kerf with its lower surface on the same horizontal plane as the floor of
the mine; and as the chain is thus suspended entirely below the body of the main
frame, it will travel forward under the said main frame, the machine being
supported on the feet, d, at the rear, and on the shoe, e, at the forward end thereof,
free course being thus provided for the forward movement of the chain under
the main frame. It will be noticed that the front shoe, e, rests upon the floor in the

page_text: space enclosed by the chain, and occupies such position throughout the entire
course of the chain while cutting the kerf. This is an important point in the
construction of the machine, as it enables the shoe to support the raised frame, and
gives the cut on the same horizontal plane as the floor, and at the same time permits
of the cutting of as wide a kerf as desired according to the strength of the machine,
and permits the chain to carry out the cuttings with the cut drawing them in
contact with the operative parts of the machine. The cutting operation is continued
until the cut is completed, the sliding frame travelling forward and the longi-
tudinally extending horizontal plates, f, supporting the front cross frame, f, at the
- proper level until the carriage travels to the forward end of the main frame, and
the cut is completed. The operator then withdraws the clutch from the pinion, p,
and throws it into engagement with the pinion, m, so causing the rotation of the
pinion, m, with the horizontal shaft I, and said pinion will, through the pinion, m³,
engaging with the screw bar, cause the screw bar to screw in the opposite direction
through the nut, /, on the carriage, and so retract the sliding frame, carrying it
back to its original position at the rear end of the frame. During the operation
of retracting the machine, the screw bar will turn the train of gears, p, p, s, s¹, but
as the pinion, p, is simply mounted upon the shaft, 7, it simply turns thereon
independent of and in the opposite direction to the movement of said shaft.
By thus supporting the main frame of the machine on the feet at the rear end
thereof and on the toe in the central part of the forward end of the machine, we
are enabled to make the cut on the same level as the floor of the mine, leaving the
cuitter chain free to travel under the main frame, the toe at the forward end of the
main frame being within the cutter chain, and in no way interfering with the forward
advance of the same. The machine can be made very strong, and durable, which
is necessary, especially for cutting the harder grades of coal to which this machine
is particularly adapted. At the same time a very simple form of gearing for
feeding and retracting the machine is obtained, and one on which plain cog gearing
may be employed, which can be made very strong, and in case of fracture can be
quickly and easily replaced. The screw bar may also be located close to the center
line of the machine, so that a direct longitudinal motion free from strain is obtained
in moving the sliding frame backward and forward. Where the motor is arranged
to connect directly with the vertical sprocket shaft, as shown in Figure 2, the
gearing of the machine may be much simplified, and the direct application of the
power generated obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame supported above the
floor at the rear and forward ends, the forward end being supported on a central
shoe, having guideways therein, and a sliding frame having a carriage supported on
the main frame and provided with a sprocket wheel depending below the main
frame, the sliding frame having forwardly extending bars moving in the guides of
said shoe, and supporting a cross frame below the main frame, and a cutter chain
driven by the sprocket and passing around the cross frame, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
2. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame, a sliding frame moving
therein, and having a vertical sprocket shaft mounted therein and a motor mounted
on the sliding frame, and having a vertical armature shaft in line with said vertical
sprocket shaft and engaging directly therewith, substantially as and for the
purposcs set forth.
3. In a mining machine, the combination of a main frame having its side portions
formed of angle beams forming tracks, and having guide-ways at its forward end,
and a sliding frame having a carriage provided with flanged wheels travelling on
the horizontal flanges of said angle beams, and having their flanges travelling along
the inner faces thereof, and provided with bars supported at their rear ends by the

page_text: carriage and extending forward from the carriage and moving in the guide-ways at
the forward end of the stationary frame and supporting the cutting mechanism at.
the forward end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a mining machine, the combination of the main frame, having its side
portions formed of angle beams, and the depending cross frame, E, having arms.
resting upon and secured to the horizontal flanges of the angle beams, and vertical
bars secured to the vertical portions of said cross beams, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
5. In a mining machine, the combination of the main frame, having its side.
portions formed of angle beams, and the depending cross frame, E, having arms.
resting upon and secured to the horizontal flanges of the angle beams, and vertical
bars secured to the vertical portion of said cross beams, and the shoe, e, depending
from said cross frame, E, and having guide-ways formed therein for the longi-
tudinally extending bars of the sliding frame, substantially as and for the purposes.
set forth.
6. In a mining machine, the combination with the main frame having a screw
bar therein, of a sliding frame having a nut engaging with the screw bar, a vertical
shaft mounted in said sliding frame, the horizontal shaft, l, connected by beveled
gearing with the vertical shaft, the horizontal shaft, r, at one side of said shaft, l,.
and the pinions and gear wheels p, p, s, s', substantially as and for the purposes.
set forth.
7. In a mining machine, the combination of an electric motor having a vertical
armature shaft, a shaft mounted in a suitable bearing directly below said armature-
shaft, said shafts having angular pin and socket connections at their adjoining ends,
and connections from said lower shaft to the cutting mechanism of the machine,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a mining machine, the combination of a bed frame having a screw bar
mounted thereon, a sliding frame carrying a nut engaged with the screw bar, a
vertical sprocket shaft mounted in said frame and having a beveled gear, a shaft
carrying a bevel pinion meshing with the beveled gear on the sprocket wheel shaft
and carrying a pinion meshing with a pinion encircling the screw bar and adapted
to be engaged therewith to turn the same, substantially as and for the purposes.
set forth.
Dated this 16th day of March 1909
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents..