Improvements in Mining Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
Improvements in Mining Machines.
I, GEORGE FRANCIS MYERS, of No. 29 Charlestown Street, in the City of
Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Mining Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mining machines
adapted especially for the mining of coal, but applicable generally to other
minerals as well.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 illustrates a plan view, partly in section, of a mine room or entry, and
indicates the mode of operation of the cutters;
Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent cross-sectional views of the mine room or entry, and
illustrate modifications of the manner of cutting the same;
Figure 5 represents a top plan view of a machine adapted for the practice of the
invention and illustrates said machine in the act of making a cut;
Figure 6 represents a view of said machine and its appurtenances, in side
elevation, and likewise illustrates said machine in operation within the mine entry;
Figures 7 to 11 illustrate various details of construction.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.
The main characteristic feature of my invention consists in the capacity of the
machine to cut into the face of the drift a progressive series of slits, of such a
character that the path of movement or trajectory of the cutters is simultaneously
along the top, bottom and rear side of the segmental portion to be removed.
Consequently, as the cutter traverses the face of the drift, the section which it
detaches therefrom falls wholly within and is enveloped by the cutter itself and
the coal thus severed is adapted to be at once received into a conveyor mounted
upon the same frame which supports the cutter, so as to be progressively removed
as the cutting operation proceeds.
The principle of operation underlying the practice of the invention is graphically
illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein the wavy dotted line 1-2
indicates the normal face of the drift before the cutting operation has begun. In
carrying out my invention, I preferably establish at the point indicated by the
numeral 4, the center of oscillation of a rotary cutter, indicated by the line 4-6.
From the point 4 as a center the rotary cutter is caused to describe the arc 6-5;
it may then be swung back to the position indicated by the line 4-11 and the
center of oscillation thereupon advanced to a point indicated by the numeral 8,
whereupon the rotary cutter is caused to describe the arc 10-9 in the reverse
direction. The center of oscillation being thereupon advanced to a point indicated
by the numeral 12 the rotary cutter arm is caused to describe the arc 14-13, and
then, by advancing the center of oscillation to the point 15, the new face 23 is cut
from said point as a center. The new face of the drift having thus been
established, the further practice of the invention involves with each cut a repetition
or reproduction of said drift face, as is clearly indicated in Figure 1; but, in order
to make the successive slits, without having the cutter in its movement from the
point 15 to the point 18 come in rubbing contact at its outer free end with the wall
or rib in moving from the position indicated by the numeral 21 to that indicated
by the numeral 22, the cutter is swung backward a trifle from the vertical position
017

page_text: so as to occupy the position indicated by the line 15-17, before being moved into
the new position indicated by the line 18-20 and requisite for the next succeeding
cut 24.
In the machine illustrated in the drawings, and which constitutes one embodiment
of my invention, 28 indicates a base or platform, 31 a column, and 54 and 55 a nut
and jack for establishing said column as the center of movement.
Upon said column swings the lower collar 32 and the frame-work carrying the
motor 34, which frame-work rests on the bearing 72, as indicated. An adjustable
upper collar 45 is fastened to the lower collar by the adjusting screws 52 and by
the T-iron 53, which is also adjustable, the small collar 74 supporting said upper
collar and its frame-work. Extending outwardly from said upper and lower
collars and their frame-works are the two frames 25 which are made adjustable
toward and from each other, as specifically shown in Figure 10. On the outer
edges of the frame 25, in suitable grooves or passages established by the guides 81,
travel the two sprocket chains 33, said chains running over small sprocket
wheels 48, 49 and 50, each of which is provided with a drill and cutter by means
of which it cuts its way through the mineral, as shown in detail in Figures 7 and 8.
Instead of travelling over the sprocket wheels 49 and 50 and making an entry of
the shape indicated in Figure 3, the chain may travel over a pulley placed at 51,
and make a square-cornered entry or room, as indicated in Figure 2. Each chain
is provided with edge teeth or cutters 27, the arrangement being such that the teeth
of one chain will cut during the oscillation of the frame to the right, while the
teeth of the other chain will cut during the oscillation of the frame toward the
left. Each chain is provided with a tightener 46 and with a driving sprocket. 37
driven from the primary driving pinion 35 through the intermediacy of the
gear 36. The train of feeding mechanism consists of the driving pinion 35 the
intermediate gears 38, 39 and 40, the worm 41, worm-wheel 42, reversing-gear 43,
pinion 44, and circular rack 30.
The loading mechanism consists in part of the conveyors 56 and 57, one for
each of the cutters, both of said conveyors being mounted upon the frame which
supports the cutters, so as to occupy a fixed relationship thereto during the
operation of the machine. These conveyors 56 and 57 may be operated from
the wheel 86 by means of the chain 59, a shaft 58 communicating motion from the
one conveyor to the other, and said conveyors may be secured to the machine in
any suitable manner, as, for instance, by the brackets 62. Secondary con-
veyors 63, 64 and 65 are placed on rollers which are adapted to travel inde-
pendently upon light tracks 66 fastened to 28, so that any one or all of the said
secondary conveyors may be moved forward or backward, as desired. They may
be driven by the motors 68 or otherwise, and all of the conveyors may be provided
with scrapers or buckets, after the ordinary manner.
In Figure 7, I have shown in detail the lower turn of the frame 25 at the
pulley 48. In order to cut away the material for the said pulleys, during their
advance through the mineral, a boring apparatus, as shown, may be used, con-
sisting essentially of a wheel 76, provided with suitable teeth, as, for instance, the
cutters 77 and the drills 78 on the main shaft 79, as shown in Figure 8, which
latter figure is a back view of that portion of the frame proximate to the pulley 49.
Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the brace 53, which is intended to give stiffness to
the machine, one of said braces being on either side thereof.
That part of the frame that moves into the coal and serves as a backing for the
chain 27 to run over is shown enlarged in Figures 10 and 11. The guards or
guides 81, keep the chain in lateral alignment. In order to allow for the vertical
adjustment of the machine on account of the difference in height of the veins of
the minerals the said frame may be divided into a plurality of parts; the upper
one ending at 82 and the lower one at 83, the empty spaces 84 and 85 being filled
in if desired. Instead of the said frame being bent at an angle at its upper
point, as shown in Figure 10, it may be made curved or straight to cut as in
Figures 2 or 4, respectively.

page_text: The operation of the machine is essentially as follows: In beginning an entry,
or small room, the machine is placed in the middle thereof, and several smaller
sweeps are made to the right and left until the machine has reached a position as
indicated, for instance, by the line 18-20 (Fig. 1), when full sweeps or arcs may
be regularly cut from rib to rib. In Fig. 5, the chain is shown as having advanced
to a half-way position in the circular cut; and the mineral having been cut around
on the top, back and bottom will either fall of its own weight or inay be easily
pried down into the conveyor 57 which loads in into 65 or 64, and from there it
is carried to the wagon 67. As the chain progresses along said arc, the conveyor 57
with the rest of the machine, turns upon the column 31, and the conveyor 65 may
be moved forward on the track 66 in order the more easily to catch the mineral as
it drops off of 57. When the left hand chain has reached the full end of its sweep,
the jack 55 is loosened and the whole machine is jacked over or pushed forward
a certain distance, including the conveyors 63, 64 and 65.
The jack 55 is now fastened against the roof, the machine is reversed, and the
right hand chain cuts another circular cut in the opposite direction, the conveyor 56
now doing the automatic loading.
It will of course be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular
construction of apparatus shown, but contemplate also the employment of such
equivalents for the several elements of the invention as fairly fall within the
scope of my claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that which I
claim is:
1. A mining machine having cutters whose trajectory or path of movement in
the drift is simultaneously along the top, bottom and rear side of the section to be
removed; substantially as described.
2. A mining machine having cutters whose trajectory or path of movement in
the drift is simultaneously along the top, bottom and rear side of the section to
be removed, and transversely across the face of the drift; substantially as
described.
3. A mining machine having cutters whose trajectory or path of movement in
the drift is simultaneously along the top, bottom and rear side of the section to
be removed, said cutters being swung as a whole upon a pivotal support; substan-
tially as described.
4. A mining machine having cutters whose trajectory or path of movement
in the drift is simultaneously along the top, bottom and rear side of the section
to be removed, said cutters being swung as a whole upon a pivotal support and
having an unobstructed sweep through an arc of more than 180 degrees;
substantially as described.
5. A mining machine having cutters whose trajectory or path of movement in
the drift is simultaneously along the top, bottom and rear side of the section to
be removed, said cutters being swung as a whole upon a pivotal support, and
comprising sprocket chains having edge cutting teeth, and supporting sprocket
wheels having projecting cutters; substantially as described.
6. A mining machine, comprising an upright frame, a column upon which said
frame is mounted, a motor for swinging the frame about the column as a center,
vertically-disposed sprocket chains having edge teeth, and sprocket wheels mounted
in the frame and having projecting cutters; substantially as described.
7. In a mining machine, the combination with movable frame, of sprocket
wheels journalled therein, cutter chains mounted upon the sprocket wheels, and
guides extending beyond each edge of the frame at the front and back
thereof so as to support the chains between adjacent sprocket wheels; substantially
as described.
8. In a mining machine, two cutter chains located side by side, and having edge
teeth adapted to cut to the right and left respectively, in combination with a

page_text: supporting frame for said chains, and a motor for moving said frame alternately
in opposite directions; substantially as described.
9. In a mining machine, the combination with a cutter of a conveyor or loader,
and a swinging frame upon which both the cutter and conveyor are mounted, so
as to preserve a constant relationship to each other during the operation of the
machine; substantially as described.
10. In a mining machine, the combination with two cutters arranged side by side
and adapted to cut to the right and left respectively, of two conveyors or loaders
located respectively beneath said cutters, and a swinging frame upon which the said
cutters and conveyors are mounted; substantially as described.
11. In a mining machine, the combination with a cutter, a conveyor or loader,
a swinging frame upon which the cutter and conveyor are mounted, an auxiliary
conveyor and a trackway upon which said auxiliary conveyor can be moved
forwardly or rearwardly to accommodate itself to the varying location of the primary
conveyor; substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of May 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.