US1711280A - Long-wall mining and loading machine - Google Patents

Description

prill 30, 1929. vE. c.n MORGAN LONG' WAI;L MINING AND LOADING' MACHINE' 5 sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 22, 1922 E. C. MORGAN LONG WALL MINING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1929. E. c. MORGAN 1,711,280 I LONG WALL MINING AND LOADING MACHINE l Filed sept. 22, 1922' 5 sheets-sheet 3 lig.

5 Sheets--Slxeefl 4' E. C. MORGAN LONG WALL MINING AND LOADING NAGHINE Il? lllml W Filed Sept. `22. 1922 A April 3o, 1929.

April 30, 1929. E. c.fMcRGAN LONG WALL MINING ,AND LOADING MACHINE Filed sept. 22. 1922 s sheets-sheet 5 Patented Apr. 30, k1929.

PATENT OFFICE- EDILIJB C. MORGAN, F NEW YORK,- N. Y.; OLIVE EUGENIE MORGAN EXEGUTRIX OF SAID'EDMUND C. MORGAN, DECEASED.

LONG-WALL MINING ANDy LOADING MACHINE.

Application fil-ed September 22, 1922. Serial No. 589,817.

dy invention relates to mining and load ing machines and one of its objects 1s the provision ot improved and efficient apparatus ot this type.

A further obj provision ot a mining machine' having an upright series of spaced-apartdislodgmg tools compri sing cutting mechanism and means for taking care ofthe cuttings.

Another object of the invent-ion is the provision of an upright series of spacedapart drills combined with dislodging mechanism and means tor vdirecting the cuttings from the drills to positions of non-interference with the feeding ot the drills.

Another object of the invention is the prof vision of an upright series of spaced-apart drills combined with an elongated conveyer having a. stationary trame along which such drills may be ted to prepare the mine vein for dislodgement from the unmined mass, mechanism being also provided tor vdirecting the cuttings; as well as the dislodged blocks ot' material onto such conveyer.

A. :further object ot' the invention is the provision of an upright series of spacedapart drills combined with wedging dislodging mechanism traveling along a frame anchored and adapted to abut against amine wall during the operation of snch dislodging mechamsm.

Other objects ot the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel tea-tures and comn binations being set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan View of the improved sys-v tem ot mining embodying an anchored sectionaly convcyer together with a mining machine and the mechanism for adjusting the positions thereof;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View of a mining machine and the loading mechanism along `which the mining` machine is fed;

Fig. 3 is a right-h and elevation 'of the structure shown in Fig. 1; y

Fig, 4 is a plan view showing details of the mining` machine and the cooperative parts o t the anchored section of the conveyer;

Fi fr. 5 is a sectional elevation ot Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fifi. (i is an elevational view oia the mining machine shown in F' 4; showing particularly the dislodoing mechanism;

ect of the inventionis the Fig. 7 is a rear side View of the joint be-V tween the sections ofthe conveyer shown in Fig. 1;.but broken away and enlarged;

Fig. 8 is a. sectional View of Fig. 7 on the line 8-8 looking in the direction of' the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation on the line 9--9 ot Fig. 4;

F ig. 10 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of Fig. l on the line 10-10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a portion ot Fig. 5 on the line 11-11look ing in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the drilling and dislodging mechanism provided wit-h means for taking care of the cuttings from the drilling mechanism;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of Fig. 13 taken on the line 14--14 looking in 'the direction ot ythe arrows;

Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation ot Fig. 13 on the line 15-15 looking` in the direction out the arrows; and i Fig. 16 is a sectional View of Fig. 13 on the line 16-1'6 looking in the direction of the ar'- rows. Y

The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 482,164, tiledv July 2, 1921; Ifor an improven'ient in Long-wall mining and loading machines, the latter disclosing and claiming coal mining mechanism and combined coal mining and loading mechanism com-v prising spaced-apart piercing tools in an upright series :tor dislodging coal from a mine wall for delivery to the elongated con-v veyer; whereas in the present application such piercing' mechanism is modiiied by substitiltingtherefor drills to provide openings for the wedges to act in and mechanism .is added to take care ot the cuttings produced by the drills. Y

Inasmuch as the conveyer frame constitutes the supporting trame for the mining machine, I will first describe the conveyer mechanism.

Referring' to Figs. 1, l and 9 it will be seen that the conveyer frame 13 is adapted to rest in stationary position on the floor of a mine chamber. At the rear end portions of the conveyer frame 13 are located hydraulic roei" j aclrs, as shown at 1&1-, 15 in Fig. 1. is shown in Fig. 9, each root jack comprises a cylinder 16 having a shoe. 17 at its lower end. This cylinder may be free to slide up and down in a cylindrical extension 18 of the conveyor :trame 13. The cylinder 16 is provided with a supply pipe 19 and the usual valve mechanism tor controlling the supply et liquid pressure medium to the cylinder to lforce the plunger 2O upwardly and the cylinder 1G downwardly. By having the cylinder 16 movable relatively to the conveyer frame, the latter will more readily adapt itself to the irregularities ot the floor level when the root jacks are in. anchored positions-` rlhe elongated conveyor comprises a plurality oi. sections, as shown at 13, 2l, 22, 25 and 211 in Fig. 1, each section being anchored at its end portions, as illustrated in Fig. 9. Furthermore, in order to permit the elongated conveyor trame to be anchored between j'he licor and roof which may extend somewhat irregularly in elevation, the conveyor trame is not only made sectional, but also pivotally connected, as lshown in lligs. 1, l and 8. ln Fig. 1 pivotal connections are shown at 25, 27 and 28. rlhe details oi these pivotal cen-- nections will be understood by referring to Figs. 7 and 8. Extending troni the cylindrical guide 18 is an arm 29 which is biiurcated, as shown at the upper right-hand portion ot Fig. 4.-, to receive the arm ol the next acent conveyer section. Fig. 7 shows the pivot 25 ot' Figs. 1 and el, and Fig. 8 shows the cylinder 31 at the lett-hand portion ot Yldig.

The adjacent iframes 13 and 21 are pivotally connected together by a bolt 32 which passes through interlooping tubular extensions 29 and 30 'from the arms 29 and 30, respectively, in the nature oi the well-known door hinge. rl`he bolt 32 has a head at one end and a nut 34 at the other end 'lor securely fastening the bearing hub 35 in the position shown in Fig. 8. This bearing hub is enlarged to strengthen the pivotal connection between the rear section trames, while the pivotal mechanism between the sides oit the conveyor is olf smaller diameter so as to provide sulicient space for jhe travel ot the movable element of the conveyor mechanism,

The conveyer preferably comprises spacedapart endless chains with cross-tlights arranged between them at intervals to slide along the stationary bed or way, as shown 36 in Figs. 4 and 5. rllhe conveyer may be driven by a motor, as shown at 3?' in Figs. 1 and 2. The rear end of the conveyor may be located at 38,'as shown in 5, rearwardly of the starting position of the mining machine shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 9, the mining machine trame 39 rests on and slides along guideways 40 and 41 which are located longitudinally oi: the conveyer at the sides ot the slideway 3G along which the cross-flights 12 travel. The upper horizontal surface, as well as the Jorward vertical ii'ace oll the conveyer guide iframe 411 is engaged by the mining machine trame which is made angular in shape Jfor this purpose, shown in llig. 9.

il portion of the bottom ot the mining machine irame is adapted to slide over the mine iloor, but in or ver to decrease the friction of t eding travel or the mining machined prefer to provide a track to be engaged by a roller lnivotally connected to the mining machine frame, as shown in Fig.' 9 in lull lines, and in Eig. l in dotted lines. 15in additional guide roller is shown at 98 in position to engage the 'nside oi' a conveyer trame.

Each ol' the conve yer iframe sections is provided with a rack and when the sections are pivotally connected together, as shown in Fig. 1, these racks are located in alineinent with e1.. `ther. 'the raclr on the traine 13 is illustrated at l5 in Figs. fl and 5. rlhese racks are for the p poseer being engaged by a power operated gear on the mining machine to eiiie t feeding oi the mining machine rectilinearly along the conveyor framework while the latter is held stationary by the series ot root aclrs.

The coal dislodging mechanism comprises an upright series et combined drill and splitting tools shown at L17, i8 and 19 in llig. ln this view l have shown the drills 50, 51 and 52 extending beyond wedging frames which are adapted to enter the holes produced by the drills, as illustrated more clearly in Fie'. 13.

rEhe uppermost coal dislodgin g device l? is mounted on an arm 53 which is pivoted at 5d on a standard 55 secured to the mining machine iiranie lhe rear arm 5G is pivoted at to a plunger rod 58 of a hydraulic motor which may be operated in a weil-known manner to adjust the elevation oi the coal disodging device l? and loch the saine at adjusted elevation.

ils shown in 4 and 6, the traine 39 at its liorward end portion is provided vit-h a downwardly and forwardly extending dislodging device 59 and a scoop GO so that the door will be properly trimmed or leveled and the dislodged material deflected onto the conveyers which are arranged end to end with the single set ot conveyorlightsinoving alongthe entire length oi: the sectional conveyor trame.

The mechanism iter rotating the gear 4- 6 so as to eliect rectilinear feeding movement oit the si iced-apart dislodging tools and the movement ot the dislodged material onto the convey r bed 36 is shown in Figs. l and 5. i motor G1 is mounted on the rear end et the mining machine traine 39 and coupled at 62 to speed reducing gearing shown diagraminatically at 63. A beveled pinion 64 entends from the right-hand end of the speed reducing gearing easing and meshes with a horizontal bevel gear 65 which is mounted loosely on the .vertical shaft 66, the latter being in turn journaled in bearingsf67 and 68 conmachine. At the lower end vof the shaft 66 is a pinion 69 which meshes with a large gear 70 on a vertical shaft 71 which is journaled in bearings connected rigidly to the mining machine frame. Secured to l the vertical shaft'71 is a pinion 72 which meshes With the gear 46, as shown in Fig. 4. 1

By means of a'handle 73 for operating a lever 7 4, the clutch 75 may be operated on the pivot mounted on the bracket 76 `secured to the 'front side of the speed reducing gearing casing, as shown in Fig. 4. When the clutch is thrown in and the motor is operating, power may be transmitted.through the gearing 64, 65, 69 and 70 to the pinion 72 to drive the gear 46 and thereby cause the whole mining machine to travel along the sectional conveyer. When this operation takes p-lace the resista-nce due to `the dislodging operation is counteracted by the serics'of roof jacks and also by reason of the fact that the left-hand end of the conveyer frame 18 may abut against the mine wall, as indicated at 77 in Fig. 1.

In order to retractthe mining machine along the conveyer 'to the initial position shown in Fig. 4, I provide rope-winding mechanism comprising a rope 77 with its free end adapted to be anchored at 78 to the rear end kof the conveyer section 13. The other endof the rope 77 v is connected to and wound on a rope-winding drum 78l mounted on a vertical shaft journaled in the crosspiece 79 rigidly connected to the mining machine frame. otcd to one side of the gear casing 63 a cone clutch 81 may be operated to connect or disconnect the winding drum 78 to the bevel gear through the gears 82 and 83, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10.

`e: a mining operation has been effected by moving the mining machine along the dotted line 84 of Fig. 1, the roof jacks arc all released and then the motors 85 and 86 are operated to operate the rope-winding mechanisms 87 and 88 to exert pulls on the ropes and 90 to move the entire mining' and loading appara-tus forwardly to a new' During this operation the frames location. A 91 and 92 may be anchored betweenV the licor an d the roof by means of the roof jacks shown rammatically at 93 and 94 in Fig. 1.

this adjustment the mining apparais ma de to a new location, the supplemental to receive the dislodged material conveyer 36 for delivery into a mine ci.; 96 on a track 97 in the entry shown at .t hand portion of Fig. 1.

. own in 6, the lowermost dislodging device 48 occupies such a position as to travel along the desired door level, while the By means of` a lever 80 pivf may likewise be moved to proper uppermost dislodging device 47 is'adjustable in elevation in accordance with the height of the roof'of the mine chamber. There is also an additional dislodging device 49 inter1nediate the floor and the roof. It should be noted that the frames of the vdislodging devices 48 and 49 are rigidly connected to the frame 39 and may be integral therewith, and during the operation of the mining machine the uppermost dislodging device 47 is locked by the hydraulic mechanism in rigid connec tion with the frame 39. Therefore when the mining machine frame isfed rectilinearly v along the conveyor frame each of the wedg ing devices 47, 48 and 49 travels into the holes produced Vin advance thereof by the drilling mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 13. It should vbe understood that each of the arms 47 ,'48 and 49 of Fig. 6 is provided with the drilling mechanism shown in Fig. 13. The drilling mechanism on each arm .is operated individually or independently of the drilling mechanism on the other arms, but they are operated simultaneously during the feedl of the mining machine frame 39 along the working face of the coal vein.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14 it will be seen that there is located within the U-shaped auX- iliary frame 89 an electric motor 101 which is connected by the pinion 102' `and gear 103 to the shaft 104 of the `drill 105 which extends through the wedge frame 49.

The cutting tools at the eXtreme outer end of the,cuttingmechanism are adapted todrill a hole approximately the same diameter as the cylindrical extension 106 of theshaft 104. Additional cutting tools 107 are provided so as to enlarge the drillhole to the width of the forward end of the wedge frame 49'. The cutting tools 107 are pivotally mounted at 108 to the frame 109, as shown in Figs. 13 and 16. rlhe rear ends of the cutting tools 107 are provided with adjacent flat .cam surfaces adapted to be engaged by the forward end of the rod 110 which yextends through the axis ofthe shaft 1104 to the rear end thereof to be engaged by the cap'screw 11'1. Vhen the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 13, the rod 110 is forced forwardly to engage the cam surfaces at the rear ends of the cutting tools 107 to `force the latter outwardly to the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 13. `When the cap screw 111 is loosened and withdrawn, the cutting tools 107 are free to be brought into folded relation so as to 'permit the vcutting mechanism to be withvthe drilling mechanism are free to enter the cylindrical opening 112 and be conveyed into the chamber 116 by means of the spiral conveyer 115 and thence to the passageway 11'? for delivery to the conveyor 36. As the mining machine travels along the mine vein the drills operate to produce holes or openings for the wedge iiramesto enter to facilitate the split 5 ci the coal blocks, such as that illustrated at 118 in 18, from the mine wall and direct such dislodged material into position to be moved onto the conveyer 36 by the scoop and del'lector 59, 60 shown in Fig. ai. At the same time, the spiral conveyor llconveys the cuttings from the drills through the pas ger. 11i' to the scoop and deiiector 59, for delivery onto the conveyer 3G. lt will thus be seen that notwithstanding the use ot the drilling mechanism the cuttings will not block the feed of the mining machine, but the latter may be fed along the mine continuously and uninterruptcdly. illitliout providing means for transferring the cuttings 'from the drilling mechanism the tendency would be ior the euttings to become packed where the cutting tools are operating and therefore exert such resistance as to prevent the cutting tools 'from being operated, thus rendering the cutting mechanism impractical.

lt should also be noted that by providing the expansihle cutting tools 10( 'for cutting suiiicient clearance to permit the wedging mechanism to operate as indicated in liig. 13, the cuttings are readily fed to the spiral conveyor. Furthermore, by having the cuting mechanism arranged so that it can be iiolded by releasing the cap screw 111, and by releasing the collar 113 the cutting mechanism may be withdrawn through the opening 112 without retract-ing the entire mining machine trom the mino wall. Therefore the cutting bits may be quickly renewed whenever desired, without changing the position of the mining machine, except to a slight eX- tent, such as may be necessary to facilitate removal of the dull bits and the replacement th erect by newly sharpened bits.

lt will be seen by referring to Figs. 4, 6 and 13 that the cuttings produced by each drill are conveyed rearwardly through the wedging mechanism, and 'furthermore thecuttizgs are delivered to the scoop 60 at a position rearwardly oiE the points of application of the wedging mechanism to the cut coal. ln other words, by making the wedge mechanism tubular the cuttings produced in advance ci the wedge are taken care of inside of the space occupied by the we'dging mechanism and such cuttings are delivered to the scoop 6() for transfer to the conveyor at a position where they cannot interfere with the operation ot the wedging mechanism. Ample clearance is therefore always provided for operation of the wedging mechanism and the cuttings are continuously conveyed rearwardly so as to not interfere with the continuous forward feed of the drilling mechanism.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement et parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as 'defined by the claims hereto appended, and wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. ln mining machine, the combination with a supporting trame, oi means for anchoring said ih'aine between the door and root oi: the mine chamber to serve as a fixed rigid abutment, means including drilling mechanism to penetrate coal in its native bed and dislodge such coal along the .tace of the mine fall between the 'door and rootot the mine chamber, means for removing the cuttings during the operation of said drilling mechanism, and means for operating said lpenetrating and dislodging means.

2. ln a mining machine, the combination with a supporting trame adapted to abut against an upright mine wall in amine chamber, .ot a `Jlurality oi" nenetrating devices each comprising a drill, means for operating the drills, mechanism flier exerting a continuous thrust on said penetrating devices for moving them along sai-d lira-me while the latter serves as an abutment, and automatic means for re*- moving the cuttings produced by said drills.

3. lua mining machine, the combination with a supporting i'ramecomprising a wall abutment, of dislodging means comprising drilling mechanism adapted to penetrate the solid oi"l the mine wall and tear away the face ot the mini` rein, and moans lor exerting a continuous forward thrust on said dislodging moans awayJ 'from such wall abutment.

11. ln a mining and loading machine, the combination with a supporting trame, ot dis- Alodging mechanism comprising a drill in advance oi' a wedge for penetrating the solid ot a coal vein and by wcdging action the face therefrom, means for operating said dislodging mechanism to penetrate and tear the coal irom the mine wall, means lor directing the cuttings away from said drill to tacilitate feed thereof, andvconveyor mechanism in position tor receiving and conveying away the coal dislodged.

5. ln a mining and loading machine, the combination with supporting trame, of dislodging means comprising drillingl mechanism adapted to penetrate coal in its native bed and tear it from the unmined mass, means for operating said dislodging means, a conveyor in position for receiving the material dislodged, and mechanism for directing the cuttings ot" said drilling mechanism onto said conveyor.

llO

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of means for anchoring said frame between the o'or and roof of the mine chamber to serve asaixed rigid abutment, means including drilling mechanism to penetrate coal in its native bed and dislodge such coal along the face of the mine wall between the floor and roof of the mine chamber, means for automatically transferring the cuttings fromf the drilling mec-hanism, and means for operating said penetrating and dislodging means.

7. In Vavmining machine, the combination with a supporting frame adapted to ab-ut against an upright mine wall in the mine chamber, of a plurality of penetrating devices each comprising a drill, means for operating the drills, mechanism for exerting thrusts on said penetrating devices for moving them along said frame while the latter serves as an abutment, and conveying mechanismfor removing the cuttings produced by said drill. y

8. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting fra-me comprising a wall abutment, of dislodging mechanism comprising drilling mechanism adapted to penetrate the solid of the mine wall and tearaway the face of the mine vein, and means for exerting a forward thrust on said dislodging means in a direction away from such-wall abutment.

9. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of dislodging mechnism comprising a drill in advance of a wedge for penetrating the solid of a coal vein and by wedging action tearing the facetherefrom, means for operating said dislodgingmechanism to penetrate and tear the coal from the mine wall, and means for directing the cuttings away from said drill through said wedge to facilitate the feed of said drill.

l0. In a mining and loading machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of dislodging mechanism comprisingy a drill in advance of a tubular wedge for penetrating the solid of a coal vein and by wedging action tov tear the coal therefrom, means for operating said dislodging mechanism to penetrate and tear the coal from the mine wall, means for conveying the cuttings through said tubular wedge to a- `position rearwardly ofthe operating portion of said wedge, vand conveyor mechanism in position for receiving and conveying away t-he coal dislodged andvalso'the cuttings produced.

l1. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a vwedge. mounted thereon with a passageway extending therethrough from the forward end of oneside of the rear portion thereof, a drill extending through said wedge Vin position to produce,

a hole in the mine wall for entry by its forward end of said wedge, means yfor drivingv said dril-l, means for feeding said drill andy moving said wedge into thehole produced by said drill, and means associated with said drill for conveying the cuttings thereof through said passageway to facilitate feed of said drill and movement of said wedge.

l2. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a wedge rigid therewith for bodily travel therewith, said wedge having a passageway for cuttings, a drill mounted on said wedge in position to bore a hole in advance thereof for entry by the forward end of said wedge, means for driving the drill, means for movin the supporting frame along the mine wal to feed said drill and to operate said wedge to dislodge coal from the mine wall, and means for conveying the drill cuttings through said aassageway during such feeding movement of said drill.

13. In amining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a wedge rigidly connected thereto, a drill extending to a position in advance of said wedge to produce' a hole in the mine wall for entry of the forward end of said wedge, means for driving said drill, means for moving said frame along the mine wall and feed said drill and tofoperate said wedge to effect dislodgmentof coal from the mine wall, and a conveyor within said wedge for transferring cuttings from said drill rearwardly of the active portion of said wedge.

14. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a wedge rigidly `conneci'ied thereto: to-inove bodily therewith and having a passageway extending .from the forward end along an inner curvedfwall to one side of said wedge back of the active por-..

tion thereof, drilling mechanism mounted on said wedge to drill a hole in advance 'of said wedge, and means for conveying v cuttings from said drilling mechanism through said passageway. n

l5. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of acoal-breaking exteifisiony on said frame in position to enter a drill hole in a mine vein, said extension' having a cylindrical bore extending Ytherethrough, a drill ,shaft extending axially through said bore, expansible cutting mechanismvniounted at the outer end portion of said drill shaft in position to cut a hole of larger diameter than said bore and of sufficient size for entrance of said coal-breaking extension, and mechanism. for permitting holding of said cutting mechanism for withdrawal rearwardly through said bore.

16. In a mining machine, the combination inc a .aratus mounted ,on said Wedffe and con; cut anr opening for said wedge to enter, means for supporting said expansiblecutting mech-` anism withdrawal from said wedge in a direction opposite to its feeding direction,y

prising expansible cutting mechanism toy and means for operating said drilling apparatus` 17. In a mining machine, thc combination with a supporting frame, of a prying device on said frame in position to enter a drill hole in a mine vein, drilling mechanism having a driving shaft extending through an opening in said prying ldevice, expansible cutting mechanism connected to said shaft beyond the forward end of said opening in position to enlarge the diameter of the opening produced by said first-named drilling mechanism during the operation of the latter, and adjustments for perniiitting removal. of said drilling mechanism and said cutting mechanism through said opening in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.

18. In a mining machine, the combination with a coal-breaker adapted to enter a drill hole in a mine vein and dislodge the coal therefrom, of drilling mechanism having a driving shaft extending axially through a cylindrical opening in said coal-breaker, a spiral conveyor in said shaft to fit said cylindrical opening and serving to convey rearwardly the cuttings from the drilling mechanism, and means for supporting said drilling mechanism and conveyor in operative position and for removal of both as a unit rearwardly from said frame axially of said driving shaft.

19. In a mining machine, the combination with a wedge having a passageway therein extending rearwardly from its smaller forward end, drilling mechanism at such forward end for producing an opening in the mine vein for said wedge to enter, means for operating the wedge to split material from the mine vein and at the same time feed said drilling mechanism, a conveyer for transferring the cuttings from the said forward end of said wedge through said passageway rearwardly, and means for driving said drilling mechanism.

20. In a mining machine, the combination with a wedge frame having a forward end of reduced dimensions, of drilling mechanism mounted on said wedge frame in position to drill a hole in the mine wall for entry of the forward end of said wedge frame, means connected to said drilling mechanism for conveying cuttings produced thereby through said wedge frame, means for driving said drilling mechanism, and means for effecting feeding movement of said drilling mechanism by moving said frame to carry the drilling mechanism bodily therewith and thereby secure operation of said wedge simultaneously with the feed of said drilling mechanism.

21. In a mining machine, the combination with a wedge having a cuttings conveyer passageway extending therethrough, of drilling` apparatus comprising a shaft extending through said passageway to extensible cutting mechanism at the outer end portion ol said wedge, a spiral conveyer' on said shaft to rotate therewith, and means for supporting said extensible cutting mechanism for withdrawal through said passageway 'together with said spiral conveyer, and means for operating said drilling apparatus.

22. In a mining machine, the combination with a portable frame, of a coal splitting wedge mounted thereon to move bodily therewith in position to enter a drill hole in a mine wall and split coal from the unmined mass, a drill comprising a rotary shaft supported in said wedge, pivoted auxiliary cutting mechanism adapted .to occupy an expanded position to drill an enlarged hole for said wedge to enter as aforesaid, a rod extending through said rotary shaft in position to engage said auxiliary cutting mechanism, and means for engaging said rod to lock the same against said auxiliary cutting mechanism to hold the latter in expanded relation.

23. In a mining machine, the combination with a wedge adapted to enter a drill hole in a mine vein, of means for moving said wedge to split material from a mine vein, a drill shaft, a cutting bit pivoted to said drill shaft to swing on an axis transverse of the axis of said drill shaft, a rod extending through said drill shaft for positioning said cutting bit, and means for locking said rod in a predetermined position for holding said cutting bit in expanded position to cut a hole of suilicient diameter for said Vwedge to enter as the same is moved along the mine vein.

24. In a mining machine, the combination with a supporting frame, of a drill mounted thereon and comprising a drill shaft, a pair of axially cutting bits pivoted on a common axis to the outer end portion of said shaft transversely of the axis thereof and each having cam surfaces at their rear ends, an auxiliary rod extending through said d riliv shaft in position to engage said cam suriaces at points in alinement with said transverse axis of the pivot of the cutting bits, and means for forcing said rod against said cam surfaces to hold said auxiliary bits in extended position to cut a hole of larger diameter than the hole cut by said drill and during continued operation of the latter.

25. In amining and loading machine, the combination with a supporting frame, cf dislodging means vcomprising a rectilinear-ly movable wedging device with the forward end adapted to enter a drill hole in a mine vein, drilling mechanism for penetrating the solid of a coal vein in advance of said wedging device to produce a drill. hole for the latter to enter, means for moving the wedging device rectilinearly along the mine wall during the operation of said drilling mechanism, and means for automatically removing the cuttings directly from the drilling mechanism during the operation of the latter.

26. The method of mining coal from the lili) solid of the mine vein `which consists in causing the application of drilling and wedging actions at distributed points across the mine vein to tear 'the coal from the unmined mass over an area extending across sucli mine vein and dnring the drilling removing the cuttings without interfering with the wedging actions.

27. rihe method of mining coal from the solid of a mine vein which consists in eXerting a continuous forward moving drilling force, applying afwedging force by a translating movement corresponding to the feeding movement of the drill, while such wedging force continuously engages the coal to effect the tearing away of the coal face, and simultaneously with such drilling and wedging forces removing the cuttings without interfering with such continuous forward movement.

28. The method of mining coal from the solid of the mine vein which consists in producing holes at spaced-apart points across the mine vein, applying'wedging forces in sucli holes to produce cleavages spaced bacl from the coal face to dislodge the coal over an extended area and in large lumps, and

, at the saine time removing the Cuttings from the holes back away from the uninined mass without interfering with application of the wedging forces.

` 29. The method of mining coal from the solid of the mine vein which consists in applying simultaneously a plurality of vwedging forces along spaced-apart paths of travel across a mine vein, drilling holes to accommodate such wedging forces, and removing the cuttings freely from the drilled holes through the spaces used for the wedging forces.

30. The' method of mining coal from the solid of the mine vein which consists in drilling holes along a mine vein along spacedapart paths distributed across the mine vein, following the drilling of the holes with wedging forces in suoli holes to effect ripping or tearing of the coal adjacent the holes and between tlie same over an area extending across the mine vein, and while drilling the said holes removing the cuttings produced through the spaces of wedging actions so as not to interfere with such wedging actions and so as to facilitate the said drilling.

31. ln a mining machine, the'conibination with supporting frame, of spaced-apart wedging tools each mounted on said frame in stationary position relative thereto but to move bodily therewith for operation on an upright mine wall,spaoedapart drills one for cach ofsaid wedging tools in position to drill holes in advance thereof for entry by said wedging tools, power-operated mechanism for moving said frame bodily along the mine vein to operate said wedging tools along parallel paths and to feed said drills to exert a dislodging effect on the material of the mine Vein extending lover an area between thefloor andthe roof of tlierinine chamber, and means connected to each drill for removing the cuttings produced thereby through the ^spaces occupied by' said wedging tools.

32. In a mining machine, the combination with a wedge frame, of means for confining said frame to rectilinear movements, drilling mechanism mounted thereon in position to drill a hole for sai-d wedge frame to enter, a conveyer mounted on said wedgeframe for transferring cuttings from said drilling vmechanism through a passageway in said wedge frame, means for driving said drilling mechanism, and means for movingsaid wedge frame rectilinearly to operate the same and at the same time effect feeding movement yof said drilling mechanism. j

83. The method of mining coal from the solid of mine vein which consists in applying a continuously forward moving force to a wedging tool parallel to a coal face while held continuously in engagement with the coal to effect the tearing away of the coal face, drilling a hole in advance of the wedging tool for the latter to enter, and while said wedging tool is being advanced along lines parallel to the coal face removing the cuttings through the wedging space without interfering with the continuous forward movement of the wedging tool.

34. In a miningmachine, the combination with an elongated frame, of a supplemental frame connected tov said elongated frame to travel along the latter, a rack gear on said elongated frame, drilling and wedging mechanism on said snpplen'iental frame, and power-operated mechanism on said supplemental frame and connected to said rack to.

operate the drilling and wedging mechanism.

35,. In a mining machine, the combination with an elongated main frame, of a conveyei thereon, a supplemental frame adapted to travel along said main frame, a plurality ofr spaced-apart drilling and wedging device mounted on said supplen'iental frame in posi-- tion rfor operation on an upright mine wall adjacent said main frame, power transmission mechanism on said supplemental frame for driving the drilling devices, and additional power transmission mechanism to feed l lll) the drilling devices and operate the wedging ment of said main 'frame relatively to said roof jacks, a traveling eonveyei' on said main frame? a supplemental frame movable along said main frame, dislodgng apparatus mounted en said supplen'lental frame to move bodily therewith and comprising dlilling and Weflging devices, lneiins for driving the di'illing devices7 and means comprising a rack gear on said marin i'zune 'for operaiing said Wedging devices and feeding said drilling devices along said main i'alne.

lin testimony Wlieiee' .naine *zo this speciliealzien September, A. D. 1922.

l have signed my n ilus will clay

Images