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Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
  • E21C27/00—Machines which completely free the mineral from the seam
  • E21C27/20—Mineral freed by means not involving slitting
  • E21C27/32—Mineral freed by means not involving slitting by adjustable or non-adjustable planing means with or without loading arrangements
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
  • E21C27/00—Machines which completely free the mineral from the seam
  • E21C27/20—Mineral freed by means not involving slitting
  • E21C27/32—Mineral freed by means not involving slitting by adjustable or non-adjustable planing means with or without loading arrangements
  • E21C27/34—Machine propelled along the working face by cable or chain

Definitions

• This invention relates in general to mineral winning equipment, and more particularly to a mineral planer apparatus suitable for the Winning of coal in long wall min ing operations, and featuring a variable configuration plow superstructure which accommodates the mounting of additional cutting tools for mineral extraction along paths of different elevation on the mine face.
• the mineral planer apparatus provides a primary base means which can be expediently a conventional coal plow or sled that is adapted for movement back and forth along the mine face and is disposed for supporting the cutter means for movement therewith in extractive engagement with the mine face.
• the primary base means and its cutter means operate to remove mineral from the mine face along the path thereon extending up from the mine floor line to an elevation dependent upon the particular cutter means geometry.
• One or more supplementary base members disposed in stacked elevated relation to the primary base means and to one another are provided to support additional cutter means for extracting mineral along mine face paths corresponding to the elevation of such cutters relative to the primary base means as established by the supplementary base members.
• the mineral planer apparatus of the invention provides in effect a plow with an extended superstructure which can carry various arrangements of cutters for reaching various levels of the mine face.
• the invention contemplates a flexible cutter arrangement wherein cutters can be removed and added as required, with the noncutter bearing supplementary base members acting as spacers in order that cutting along shale and rock strata can be avoided by a straddling cutter arrangement.
• supplementary base members can be easily added and removed to permit the mining of seams of different heights.
• supplementary base members preferably all of them are similarly constructed, or at least have similar interconnection portions so as to permit them to be connected together in any selected order of superposition.
• the interconnection of the supplementary base members to one another and to the primary base means can be accomplished in numerous different ways, but in keeping with the object of the invention to provide a quick-action type of connection between such elements, the interconnection portions of adjacent base members are arranged for locking engagement with common, but releasable, pin members to secure such base members to one another for movement with the primary base means.
• the lowermost supplementary base member can be secured to the primary base means in the same manner.
• the supplementary base members which make up the superstructure of the mineral planer apparatus can be connected together by screws and/ or dovetail guides.
• coal plows having superstructures which provide a greater elevated cutter capability and are capable of covering practically the entire thickness of even relatively high mine seams, as well as plows of the type which merely undercut a coal bank until it drops down by itself.
• prior art superstructured plows and undercutting plows were generally individually incapable of performing both types of plowing operations. For example, in the case of mine seams divided into two coal banks by a layer of shale which cannot be plowed, it was necessary to plow the lower bank and then undercut the upper bank.
• the purpose of the present invention is to develop a mineral planer in such a manner that by means of suitable superstructures it is not only capable of mining large seam thicknesses, but also with the use of the same primary base body, it is capable of use in relatively shallow mine seams.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a mineral planer apparatus which can readily and simply be adapted to the prevailing mine seam conditions.
• the mineral planer apparatus of the invention permits a method of operation whereby the superstructure part of a particular planer, or the superstructure parts of all planers operating in a given mining area can be stored at the delivery ends or at any convenient locations within the cross heading mine passages by hanging or otherwies. In this way, these superstructures can, if necessary, be exchanged for the superstructures in use at the time, simply by fastening them to the primary base plow by rapid attachment devices.
• the mineral planer apparatus of the invention affords a large number of possible superstructure and cutter arrangements to accommodate the mining of difierent seam sections.
• threadless pin members are preferably used.
• each supplementary base member of the superstructure has hinge parts and the hinge flaps to be connected to these hinge parts consist of individual segments, each segment in its turn having a hinge part associated with it.
• cutter bit flaps can be assembled as desired, i.e. long and short segments can be combined with each other and screwed together to form common bit flaps.
• Such flaps can be made up out of one or more such segments or else each superstructure base member can be provided with a two-segment flap.
• the plow superstructure can be divided at any desired place by a few simple manipulations and the upper portion can be lifted off by means of a cable or the like and'stored within the mine passage.
• the individual supplementary base members are developed with interconnection portions or parts overlapping in a form-locked manner and are connected to each other merely by secured pins.
• These pins are preferably so arranged that they are accessible from the dead rock or Waste side of the planer and can be pulled out or pushed in from there.
• these pins are protected against accidental disengagement or falling out by safety flaps or other securing devices.
• Each of the supplementary base members is provided with means, such as for example lug members, to accommodate the pivotal connection of at least one cutter flap thereto for supporting such cutter flap in extractive engagement with the mine face.
• each supplementary base member is constructed to accommodate at least one and better two pairs of oppositely disposed cutter flaps pivotally connected thereto.
• cutter flaps in each pair can be connected together for positioning in unison relative to such base member to adjust their depth of extractive engagement with the mine face.
• pairs of oppositely disposed cutter flaps With pairs of oppositely disposed cutter flaps, a more suitable bi-directional cutting action can be achieved since one cutter can be positioned to lead into the mine face while the other trails.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a mineral planer apparatus as aforesaid wherein the superstructure can be assembled from one or more interchangeable parts mounted for support and movement with a primary base means.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a mineral planer apparatus as aforesaid which is operable for mining seams of various thickness and Stratification simply by appropriate superstructure and cutter configuration changes and without the need for any primary base means substitution.
• a further object of the invention is to provide a mineral planer apparatus as aforesaid in which the connected apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention showing a portion of the superstructure thereof in a disconnected and raised position as when such superstructure portion is being removed from or added to an existing planer configuration.
• FIG. 2 is a back elevation view of the mineral planer apparatus of FIG. 1 as seen from its waste side and with the uppermost base member and its associated jib cutter device removed. 7
• FIG. 3 is a plan view of a typical base member used in the superstructure of the mineral planer apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a typical cutter arrangement connected thereto.
• FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing the details of a typical pin connector arrangement which can be used for connecting two adjacent base members together or for connecting the lowermost base member to the primary base means.
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a portion of the mineral planer apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a typical arrangement of cutter bit flaps connected thereto.
• the mineral planer apparatus A has a movable primary base means 3 which is adapted to be driven back and forth along a long wall mine face F (shown in phantom outline) in guided relation to a long wall conveyor 1 which extends longitudinally'in front of the mine face F.
• a keel member 2 attached to the base means 3 and extending underneath the conveyor 1 in slidable engagement therewith serves to effect the guided movement of the primary base means 3, which can expediently be a conventional coal plow of the type used for mining the lower portion of coal seams down to the mine floor G.
• the primary base means or plow 3 is arranged for supporting a base cutter means 4 which can be composed of cutter bits 21 either fixedly mounted to the plow 3 or mounted to flap members pivotally connected thereto, in any case, the cutter means 4 is disposed for movement along with the plow 3 in extractive engagement with the mine face F to remove mineral therefrom along a path corresponding to the movement path of the plow 3.
• a base cutter means 4 which can be composed of cutter bits 21 either fixedly mounted to the plow 3 or mounted to flap members pivotally connected thereto, in any case, the cutter means 4 is disposed for movement along with the plow 3 in extractive engagement with the mine face F to remove mineral therefrom along a path corresponding to the movement path of the plow 3.
• the plow 3 also carries a superstructure S which is composed of one or more supplementary base members 6a-e.
• the base member 5 which is connected directly to the plow 3, either fixedly or releasably, can be similar in construction to the base members 6a-e so as to be interchangeable therewith, or can be constructed differently, but with compatible 'interconnection surfaces so as to permit the base members 6a-e to be connected to said base member 5 for movement therewith in unison with the plow 3.
• the base member 5 can be conveniently con sidered either as the lowermost member or the superstructure S or as part of the primary base means 3, in which case the base member 6a would be the lowermost.
• the mineral planer apparatus A features a plow type primary base means 3 and a superstructure S having one or more stacked superposed supplementary base members 5, 6ae, or 6a-e connected one to the other for movement with the base means 3, with the lowermost base member 5 0r 6a being operatively connected directly to the base means 3 and the remainder of the base members 6a-e being each" operatively connected to a respectively adjacent underlying base member.
• Each of the base members 5, 6ae are disposed for supporting a cutter means in extractive engagement with the mine face F to remove mineral therefrom along a path corresponding to the elevation of such base member 5, 661-2, with respect to the primary base means 3.
• Such cutter means carried by the base members 5, 6ae can be any one or a combination of cutting tool types
• Hinge lugs 11 are provided on the base members 5, 6a-e, to accommodate the pivotal connection thereto of the cutter flaps 13 and 13a.
• four hinge lugs 11 are provided on each base member 5, a-e, so that up to a total of four cutter flaps 13 or 13:: can be carried thereby.
• FIGS. 3 and 5 Where one pair of oppositely disposed cutter flaps 13 and one pair of oppositely disposed cutter flaps 13:: are provided on any given base member, such as the base members 6b, 6c and 6a. in FIG.
• cutter flaps 13 and 13a in each pair thereof can be connected together by means of screws 14 or other suitable fastening means (not shown) to form a flap column such as indicated by 12, 12a, 12b in connection with the base members 6d, 60 and 6b respectively in FIG. 5. While of course, cutter flaps 13, 13a carried by different base members 5, fizz-e can be connected together to form flap columns similar to the flap columns 12, 12a, 12b, preferably only cutter flaps 13, 13a carried by the same base member 5, 6a-e are connected into flap column arrangements.
• the depth of extractive engagement of said cutter flaps 13, 13:: can be selectively varied.
• tWo cutter flaps 13, 13a are connected together to form a flap column 12, 12a, 12b, such cutter flaps 13 and 13a will be positioned together in unison, and the depth of extractive engagement of each will depend upon its length for a given angular position of the flap column 12, 12a, 12b.
• a chain 22 or equivalent such as a rod (not shown) can be connected to either cutter flap 13, 13a in each flap column 12, 12a, 121) so that both sets of flap columns 12, 12a, 12b will be positioned in unison, one into the mine face F and the other away from it, so as to provide a bi-directional cutting capability similar to that by a pivotally mounted double-ended cutter (not shown).
• Any suitable means can be provided for positioning the cutter flap 13, 13a into a selected depth of extractive engagement With the mine face F.
• the individual cutter flaps 13, 13a can of course be made of different lengths so that the profile to be cut into the mine face F can be changed as desired. Furthermore, it is possible to hollow out certain portions of the seam, for instance, included packs of dead rock, simply by arranging the elevation spacing of the cutter flaps 13, 13a carried by different superstructure S base members 5, 6a-e.
• the jib cutter 7 or so-called desk attachment is connected to the uppermost base member 6e for cutting an oblique surface in the upper portion of the mine seam and may be advantageously used in the case of fixed seams to prevent the upper bank from breaking up past the conveyor into the old workings.
• planer A superstructure S and cutting tool configurations shown and de scribed herein are merely illustrative examples of the several possible embodiments of the invention, and that the base members 5, 6ae composing the superstructure S can be rearranged, added or subtracted to provide a superstructure S that will accommodate the cutting tools needed for a given set of mining conditions, or to adapt the planer A for operation in mine seams of various height.
• One advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the primary base plow 3 need not be disturbed when it is necessary to change the superstructure S configuration or when changing any of the cutting tools carried thereby.
• the superstructure S base members 6a-e and the jib cutter 7 can be lifted off from the base member 5 and hung, for example by means of any suitable lifting device at the delivery end of the mine shaft.
• the connection between the base members 6a and 5 has been opened 'by pulling out two .pins 8, which are passed through arms 9 of the base member 6a and extend through the base member 5.
• Any safety member 10, for instance a tension rod, a wedge, etc. can be provided as shown in FIG. 4 to prevent accidental removal of the pins 8, so that it is first necessary to release such safety member 10 before separating any portion of the superstructure S.
• the primary base plow 3 can be operated in the same manner as the conventional coal plow, for example the plow 3 can be used to cut into the lower bank of the mine seam while the upper bank cutting 1s performed after the superstructure S base members 6a-e and their cutters have been reassembled to the base plow 3.
• each pair of adjacent base members 6a-e there are provided identical connecting means, such as for example the pins 8 and arms 9 so that the planer A superstructure S can be subdivided at any desired pair of base members 6ae.
• a mineral planer apparatus adapted to move along a mine face, comprising a base member and a multiplicity of superposed, exchangeable base members; cutter means supported by said base members; and horizontally positioned bolt means adapted to secure adjacent pairs of base members wherein said base members abut each other in tongue and groove interlock, and wherein said bolt means is insertable and removable through said tongue and groove toward and away from said mine face.
• each of .said base members is provided with hinge lugs and hinge together by bolt means.
• each of said flaps consists of two elements.
• a mineral planer apparatus which comprises a primary base means adapted for movement back and forth along a mine face and disposed for supporting a first cutter means for movement therewith in extractive engagement with the mine face to remove mineral therefrom along a first corresponding path, a plurality of supplementary base members disposed in stacked superposed relation to one another and to said primary base means, the lowermost of said supplementary base mem- 20 two pairs of oppositely disposed cutter flaps thereto for supporting such cutter flap in extractive engagement with the mine face to remove mineral therefrom along a path corresponding to the elevation of said supplementary base member with respect to the primary base means and including a set of two pairs of oppositely disposed cutter flaps pivotally connected to one of said supplementary base members for support thereby in extractive engagement with the mine face.
• the mineral planer apparatus according to claim 5 including fastening means operatively connecting corresponding cutter fiaps in each pair thereof to each other for positioning in unison relative to their corresponding supplementary base member to adjust their depth of eX- tractive engagement with the mine face.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)
• Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
• Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
• Debarking, Splitting, And Disintegration Of Timber (AREA)
• Shovels (AREA)

Description

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=7126748

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (4)

Citations (4)

• 1964
  • 1964-10-07 DE DE1964G0041718 patent/DE1265091C2/en not_active Expired
• 1965
  • 1965-09-13 GB GB38997/65A patent/GB1114865A/en not_active Expired
  • 1965-10-04 US US492492A patent/US3361480A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1965-10-06 BE BE670547D patent/BE670547A/xx unknown
• 1966
  • 1966-05-02 ES ES0326239A patent/ES326239A1/en not_active Expired

Patent Citations (4)

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