US1726963A - Mining and loading machine - Google Patents

Description

E. S. M KINLAY Sept. 3, 1929.

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE 1.925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29

Sept. 3, 1929. s, MCKINLAY 1,726,963 MINING AND LOADING MACHINE I Filed Sept. z. 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1929. a MCKINLAY MINING AND LOADING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29. 1925 ism/mun;

Sept. 3, 1929. s MCKINLAY 1,726,963

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Sept. 29. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 au 5 Q5 ME Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. 'MCKINLAY, Oil! DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO MCKINLAY MINING AND LOADING MACHINE COMPANY, OF DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

MINING AND LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed September 29, 1925. Serial No. 59,406.

The invention relates to coal mining and loading machines, machines for mining rock, and the like, and bears particular relation to machines designed for digging or excavating coal from the mine and transferring it immediately and automatically to a point removed from the digging operation, where it is loaded upon cars or other suitable conveyors for transportation out of the mine or from the vicinity of the digging operation.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a coal mining machine designed to be automaticallyand continuously operated by means of a motor or other power source for the purpose of digging and breaking down the coal or material, and which is moved automatically forward into the mine at a speed determined by the rate at which the coal is excavated, and in which provision is made for automatically removing and transferring to the rear end or to either side of the machine, all of the material which has been excavated and broken down.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coal mining machine so constructed as to effectually break the mined coal into such sizes as are desired, thereby insuring against clogging or stoppage of the excavating elements of the machine, as well as further insuring against retarding the progress of the machine into the vein of coal being mined, which might otherwise render it necessary to suspend operations and remove the large portions of the displaced coal. by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coal mining machine so designed and constructed as to enable coal to be simultaneously mined and removed from above and below an intervening vein or stratum of slate or other impurity, provision being made for simultaneously and separately conducting the coal and slag to their respective discharge points, either to the rear or to the side of the machine or both.

A further object of the inventionjs to provide a coal mining machine having a plurality of rotary cutter-arms of relatively short length spaced horizontally and vertically from one another, and of any desired number in order to mine and excavate a tunnel of any desired or required size, according to the conditions encountered and the size of the coal vein being mined.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a machine which may be turned upon its side or turned'completely over in inverted position when desired, according to existlng conditions as encountered during the mining operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mining machine in which the main cutter arms at either side of the machine are designed to cut or excavate holes of relatively small diameter, and cutting chains having coal cutting and breaking elements are horizontally'and vertically disposed between the cutting arms to mine and break down the coal between said cutting arms and immediately in advance of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coal mining and loading machine which is composed of a plurality of sections, each constituting a separate or combined mining unit, and which sections may be superposed one-above another in solid or detachable form, and bolted together, it being further contemplated that each superposed section may be set back approximately three feet from the front of the immediate lowe'r section if desired so as to form a bench. Separate conveyors running transversely or longitudinally for the mined coal may be provided for each section, if desired, or the coal cut by each section may be discharged upon a single plate which conducts the excavated coal down to the single main conveyor to be removed to the rear or side of the machine. The relatively small diameter of the main cutters, together with the relative wide spacing of the cutting chains, regulates the thickness of each slab, of coal to be mined and renders it practical to cut on both sides of a band of slate or other impurity, and to discharge the mined coal to the rear of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mining machine composed of independent sections bolted one to another which may, if desired, be turned upon its side as a complete unit and used as a vertical cutter or shearer, thereby enabling the slabs of coal to be cut vertically, wedged over to the side, and discharged onto conveyors, instead of horizontally as in usual practice. The plurality of sections employed permit effective regulation of the width of the out which is of great advantage in mines with a poor roof. Further? more, by providing a mining machine composed of a plurality of sections, unusually small veins of coal, as low as 24 inches 1n thickness, may be effectually mined by the present machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which consists of few parts simply and compactly arranged, to provide a coal excavating and loading unit, and which further contemplates under certain operating conditions the use of a plurality of excavating andloading units mounted one above another, thereby enabling veins of coal of varying heights to be mined w1th a single operation and with the greatest economy.

With such objects in View, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the inventlon consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportion and arrangement without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration. In the said drawings L Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of one prefer-ed embodiment of a mining and loading machine contemplatedby the present invention, and illustrating a plurality of separate and independently constituted sections bolted together one above another'to mine the coal in the form of a bench.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section looking toward the bottom cutting chain and partially diagrammatic in character.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation,-partially in vertical section, and largely diagrammatic in character, and showing a1. improved application .of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing means for driving the several cutting and excavating elements of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a detail modification of the same.

Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating hydraulic means for elevating the frame of the machine.

- Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a method of steering the course. of the machine into the tunnel by hydraulic means.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a modification of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation largely diagrammatic' in character and illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the same, also diagrammatic in character.

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the front portion of one of the mining machine sections and showing a slightly modified arrange ment of the bottom cutter chain.

Fig. 16 is a similar View showing a modified arrangement of the vertically adjustable top cutter chain to enable the same to mine the material above the are of the revolving main cutter arms.

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of the same, diagrammatic in character and with certain portionsiof the machine omitted to more clearly illustrate the arrangement.

Referring to the said drawings 1 indicates the floor of the passage or entry being mined, 2 the ceiling or roof and 3 the side walls. Each section of the mining machine comprises bottom frame members or channels 4, corresponding top channels 5, horizontally disposed transverse members 6, and a plurality of vertical supports or braces 7. The frame members described are preferably constituted of steel channel members or I-beams which are suitably perforated at their ends and intermediate portions to be secured together as by bolts or rivets 8 to constitute the rigid main frame of the machine. The bottom frame members 4 are adapted to rest on the floor of the .mine or upon wheels to. be progressed therealong continuously and automatically by means of a hydraulic ram 9 mounted on the machine frame. The rear end of the central plunger or piston 10 of the hydraulic ram terminates in the bifurcated bracing arms 11 which are adapted to be anchored at their rear ends in the side walls of the main entry. Suitable adjusting means, such as turn buckles 12 are interposed on the bracing members or arms 11, and the adjustment of which serves to maintain the machine in a direct line as it advances into the coal being mined.

Each 'machine se'ction carries suitably journaled therein a pair of horizontally and longitudinally disposed main shafts 13, 13 to the front ends of which are secured the revolving arms 14, 14 The latter are provided with the usual removable cutting blades 15 secured at intervals thereon and the shafts 13, 13 or arms 1-1, 14 are provided at their forward ends with drills 16 for the purpose of boring into and anchoring the machine at its forward end, said drills preferably having tapered shanks 17 for the purpose of wedging into and breaking down the coal penetrated by the drills 16.

A horizontally disposed undercutter sprocket chain 18 is provided having the usual removable cutting teeth 19 for undermining and cutting into the coal beneath the rotary arms 14, 14 The cutter chain 18 passes around front sprocket Wheels 20, 20 (Fig. 3) and rear sprocket wheels 21, 21. The sprocket wheels are rotatably journaled on vertical shafts 22 having journal bearings 23 in the frame of the machine. Power is supplied to the undercutter chain 18 by means of the meshing bevel gears 24, 24, the latter being secured to the longitudinal main shaft 13 The main shafts 13, 13" are driven .by means of a motor or motors 25 secured to the frame at the rear end of the machine (Fig. 4).

Sprocket wheels 26, 26* are secured on each section of the machine to the forward portions of the main longitudinal drive shafts 13, 13 adjacent the forward end of the machine frame, (Figs. 1 and 2) and an upper cuttervchain 27 having cutting teeth 28 passes over said sprocket wheels and is disposed in a Vertical plane to cut away the coal between each pair of cutter arms 14, 14. An'idler or sprocket wheel 29 is journaled on a stud shaft 30 having its rear end secured in an extension or bracket 31 mounted on the upper transverse frame member 6 at the front end of the machine. The idler sprocket wheel 29 is vertically adjustable to vary the tension on the cutting chain 27 within the frame by means of bolts 32 extending through slots 33 in the bracket 31. The frame extension 31 further serves as a bearing for a wedge-shaped transverse guide member 34 for the cutter chain, and which guide member, by reason of its configuration, enters the coal behind the chain 27 and breaks it down to be subsequently conveyed to the rear of the machine.

The main conveyor belt 35 passes at its front end over a roller 36 journaled at either end in frame of the machine, passes thereafter over a companion roller 3'7 similarly journaled in the machine, and thereafter the conveyor member is inclined upwardly to the rear to carry away mined coal and deposit it on a second conveyor (not shown), or into any desired conveyance to be transferred from the entry. Cross conveyors can be employed if desired, at the sides of the main conveyor 35, and which cross conveyors may run in opposite directions to carry mined coal from the sides of the entry to be deposited upon the central main conveyor It is preferable, however, to suitably deflect the mined coal by means of plates or shovels 38 carried by the rotating cutting arms 14, 14 to the center of the machine to be deposited on the main longitudinal conveyor 35.

The circular kerfs cut in the coal by the inner cutters 15 are wedged outwardly and broken down by wedge rings or disks 38* mounted in suitable brackets on the rotating cutting arms 14, 14 and which wedge rings or disks are supported on said arms directly in the rear of the cutters 15 and in alignment with the kerfs cut thereby.

Referring to Fig. 1, the top machine section is provided with extension arms 39 slidably mounted within the upright frame .members 7, and which may be extended to increase the height of the cutter chain 27 when desired. This vertical adjustment of the cutter chain 27 on the upper section enables the machine as a unit "to advance through the coal being mined, cutting high or low into the ceiling, depending upon the quality of the material encountered, and the character of the ceiling of the entry.

Referring to Fig. 5, one or more hollow shafts 40 are suitably journaled in the frame of the machine and which carry fixed thereto at their outer ends the rotary cutter arms 14, 14. The latter are provided with a'plurality of substantially horizontally projecting wedge-shaped recessed supporting plates 41, each having journaled in said recess a pair of sprocket wheels carrying a horizontally disposed cutter chain 42. An inner shaft 43 is loosely mounted within the hollow shaft 40 and carries at its forward end the bit or drill 16 having the tapered wedging shank 17. The inner shaft 43 is further provided near its forward end with a beveled pinion or gear 44 which meshes with opposed beveled pinions 45, 46 carried respectively at the upper and lower ends of vertically disposed shafts 47, 48 journaled in the supports 41 and driving the sprocket wheels carrying the cutting chains 42. Power for the tubular outer shaft 40 may be supplied from a motor 49 fixed on the frame of the machine and having a pinion or gear '50 on its armature shaft, which meshes with and drives a gear 51 keyed or fixed to the tubular shaft 40. The latter has fixed thereto to rotate therewith a second motor 52 having a pinion 53 adapted to mesh with and drive a gear 54 keyed on the end of the inner shaft 43.

It will be apparent from the described construction that the outer shaft 40 carrying the cutter arm or arms14, 14 and brackets 42, is rotated at a relatively slow speed by means of the motor 49 and inter posed reduction gearing described. At the same time the cutter chains 42 are being driven at a relatively faster rate by means of the motor 52 and the interposed driving connections described. This results in circular kerfs being cut in the face of the material being mined and said material is broken down by means of the wedge-shaped configuration of the brackets 41 and shank 17 of the drill 16 as the machine is being driven as by hydraulic power into the face of the tunnel. The mined material is or may be directed to the central part of the machine and removed at the side or rear thereof by suitable conveyor mechanism heretofore described as incident to the present invention.

If desired a construction such as is illustrated in Fig. 6 may be employed for driving the excavating elements illustrated in Fig. 5. A single motor 49 is mounted on the frame of the machine having a pinion 50 on one end of its armature shaft, which pinion meshes With and drives a large gear 51* fixed or keyed on the hollow shaft 40*. A second pinion 53 of relatively lar e diameter is fixed on the opposite end of the armature shaft of the motor 49 and which meshes with to drive the smaller gear or pinion 54 keyed or otherwise secured on the end of the inner shaft 43.

In the event that it becomes advisable by reason of increased thickness of the coal vein, to cut circular kerfs of greater diameter, the rotary cutting arms 14, 14 may be removed from the ends of the lon itudinal shafts 13, 13 and cutter arms of greater length may be substituted therefor. In order to maintain the machine at substantially the same level within the tunnel and to compensate for the lowering of the mine floor by reason of the increased length of the substituted cutter arms, means are provided for elevating theframe of the machine as the same advances into the tunnel Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, 55 represents the supporting wheels of the machine frame which are advanced over the floor 51 of the tunnel. The frame A of the machine has rigidly secured thereto at each corner thereof a hydraulic pressure cylinder 56. The piston 57 of each cylinder terminates in a bifurcated or yoke portion 58 in which are rotatably journaled the shafts 59 of the wheels 55. Hydraulic power is supplied from a main pressure tank or reservoir 60 to each of the pressure cylinders 56 by means of the pipes or conduits 61, sepa rately and manually controlled by valves 62. When the floor of the tunnel becomes lowered as indicated at 63 by reason of the substitution of longer rotary cutting arms at the forward end of the machine to accommodate increased thickness in thecoal vein, the frame of the machine is maintained at a constant level by opening the valves 62. The hydraulic fluid under pressure enters the cylinders 56 and tends to force the. istons 57 carrying the Wheels 55, downwar ly. This results in the cylinders 56' and the frame A being elevated the required dis tance and which is' determined by the proper manipulation of the valves 62. It will be apparent that under the circumstances described the forward pressure cylinders 56 will be first actuated and therear cylinders subsequently actuated when the machine has advanced a sufficient distance to bring the rear wheels 55 into contact with the declivity or depression 63 in the fioor 1 of the mine tunnel. It will be further apparent that the machine frame may be adjusted and maintained at any desired, elevation within the tunnel by the proper manipulation of the hydraulic pressure control valves 62 at each corner of the machine frame.

In Fig. 4 is diagrammatically illustrated a practical employment of the mining machine under conditions frequently encountered in mining coal. In this figure the machine composed of a plurality of units bolted together in stepped arrangement as heretofore described, is shown inverted or with the u per section projecting forwardly instead of eing moved rearwardly backward relative to the lower section. 64 and 65 represent independent veins of coal separated by an intervening layer or stratum 66 of slate or other impure material. By employing the mining machine in the manner illustrated in this figure the coal veins (in each side of the intermediate body of slate may be simultaneously mined and conducted to a suitable discharge point, while the slate or impurity is also broken down and separately conducted to a suitable discharge point, usually the gob at the side of the mine entr Coal which is mined by the upper forwardfy projecting rotary cutter arm B is further cut by the upper and lower cutting chains 27 and 18 and is wedged and broken down by the described wedge rings or disks, the tapered shank 17 of the central drill, and by the tapered configuration of the upper and lower cutting chain supports or plates 34, 34 The mined and broken down coal is conducted by the longitudinally extending conveyor C to a suitably mounted deflecting plate 67 and thence to the lower main conveyor 35 which conducts the material to the rear of the machine. The coal from the lower vein 65 is mined in a similar manner by the lower rearwardly disposed rotary cuttion of the upper cutting chain support 34 of the lower section of the machine and conducted by the transverse conveyor belt 68 to the gob at the side of the machine. If desired the described conveyors may be ar ranged to conduct both the coal and the slate longitudinally, or the same may be conducted laterally to opposite sides of the machine, or it is further contemplated that the slate may be conveyed rearwardly and the mined coal transversely. 'Any desired arrangement of the belts may, be made as determined by existing conditions and are consistent with the described use of the machine. The described arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 shows one practical method of separately collgcfiing and disposing of the mined coal and s a e.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the application of the hydraulic machine propelling means to further facilitate steering the course of the machine as required into the head of the material being mined. The piston 10 of the hydraulic pressure cylinder 9 terminates in "an enlarged portion 69 which is apertured to have pivotally mounted thereon the inner ends of the described diverging jack members 11. The lattcr'are preferably composed.

,Of pipe sections having loosely journaled therein the outer members 7 O which are suitably threaded for the reception of the hand screw elements or wheels 12 heretofore described as carried on the ends of the pipe sections 11. The outer ends of the members 70 are provided with anchoring heads 71 adapted to enter the side walls of the tunnel and which are provided with transverse projections 72 to prevent the rotation of said anchoring heads within the walls when the hand wheels 12 are actuated. It will .be seen that the machine is being advanced into the tunnel by means of hydraulic pressure from .the main cylinder 9 being exerted against the hydraulic piston within said cylinder 10, and the anchored legs of the jack resist the outward movement of the piston and cause the hydraulic cylinder and the machine to be moved inwardly against the head of the tunnel to eflect the continued mining operation of the rotar cutting arms at the front of the machine. I hen it is desired to steer or divert the course of the machine to the right or to the left it is only necessary to manually turn one or both of the screw handles or ,members 12 which will result in lengthening or shortening one or both of the jack members 11, 7 O and the hydraulic power will thereby be employed to divert or change the course of the machine according to the man ner in which the jack members are increased .or shortened in length.

' In Fig. 11 an alternate method of anchor ing the machine in the tunnel has been illustrated. The piston 10 of the hydraulic cylinder or reservoir 9 terminates in a cross head 73 which is suitably grooved for the reception of the intermediate portion of an anchoring chain or cable 74. The ends of the chain or cable terminate in eye bolts which are connected to anchoring pins driven or seated in the side walls of the tunnel. Suitable idler pulleys 76 are provided and journaled on brackets on the rear corners of the machine over which pulleys the anchoring chain 74 is designed to pass.

1 The actuation of the main hydraulic reservoir forces the piston rearwardly until all the slack in the chain 74 is taken up. Thereafter the continued tendency of the hydraulic piston to move rearwardly results in the cylinder and machine being forced forwardly into the face of the coal being mined. In Figs. 12 and 13 I have illustrated an alternate form of the machine in which a plurality of rotary cutting arms 14 are provided, thereby rendering it possible to dispense with certain of the coal cut-ting chains. The rotary cutting arms illustrated in this figure are preferably of relatively'small diameter, each having a single set of cutters 15 at their outer ends and the usual central drill or bit 16 having the wedging shank 17. Upper and lower cutting chains 27 and 18 are provided having the described wedge shaped cutter plates 34, 34 for breaking down the coal above and below the machine sections. In the construction described involving the employment of a plurality of cutter arms describing circles of relatively small diameter, the coal is obtained in larger fragments or blocks of substantially -the thickness of the radius of each rotary cutting are. In employing the plurality of cutters as described, and thereby dispensing with certain of the cutter chains, said cutter arms may be arranged in sections in vertical alignment with one another as illustrated in Fig. 13, or the same may be stepped rearwardly or forwardly in bench formation, if desired as heretofore described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. Various arrangements of the respective sections carrying the plurality of cutting arms of relatively small dimensions, may be employed to meet existing conditions in practice, Without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 15 the lower horizontally disposed undercutter sprocket chain 18, having the usual cutting teeth 19 passes around the usual sprocket wheels and is driven by the Vertical shaft 22 and bevelled gears 24 24 the latter being rigidly secured on one of the longitudinally disposed main shafts 13. The undercutter chain 18 is disposed between the forward rotary cutter arms 14 and the forward frame portion A of the machine. A buffer plate is secured to the machine frame in the rear of the lowor cutting chain 18 and serves to carry forward and pile up the mined material above the cutter chain and permit the material to be encountered by the pusher arms, plates or shovels 38 and delivered thereby to the main longitudinal conveyor 35 of the machine.

Referring to Figs. 16 and 17 the upper cutter chain 27 having the usual cutting teeth 28, passes around a main driving sprocket 81 on one of the longitudinally disposed main shafts 13, 13 thence passes over the verti cally' adjustable idler sprocket wheels 29,

the latter being mounted on the vertically exframe A of the machine. Each idler sprocket wheel 29 is provided with arelatively small auxiliary rotary cutter arm 82'having the usual removable cutter blades 83 thereon. Each of the cutter arms 82 is further provided with a drill 84 having a wedge shaped shank 85 corresponding to the drills 16 and wedge shaped shanks 17 on the main cutter arms 14, 14" of each machine sect-ion. The purposeof the auxiliary cutting arms 82 is to provide a clearance in the material between the sprocket wheels 29 for the operation of the cutter chain 27 after the latter has been extended vertically beyond the are described by the main cutter arms 14", as clearly shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

lVhat I claim is 1. A coal mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a rotary cutting head mounted in said frame, a lower cutting chain carried by said frame and disposed in a horizontal plane adjacent said cutting head, an upper cutting chain carried by said frame and disposed in a vertical plane in the rear of said cutting head, means for directing the mined material from said cutting head and said cutting chains toward the central portion of said frame, and means for removing said material to the rear of the machine.

2. A coal mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a rotary cutting head mounted in said frame, a lower cutting chain carried by said frame and disposed'in a horizontal plane adjacent said cutting head, an upper cutting chain carried by said frame and disposed in a vertical plane in the rear of said cutting head, means for adjustably supporting said upper cutting chain for vertical adjustment on said frame to vary the thickness of the cut in the coal being mined, nmms for directing the mined material from said cutting head and said cutting chains toward the central portion of said frame, and means for removing said material to the rear of the machine.-

3. In a coal mining machine, the combination of a plurality of mining and excavating units, each comprising a frame and rotary coal cutting elements mounted thereon for cutting circular kerfs in the coal, each of said rotary coal cutting elements having axially disposed means for anchoring the cutter in the face of the material being mined and wedging means for breaking down the material between said circular kerfs, said units being adapted to be superposed in stepped formation to compensate for differences in height of thecoal vein being mined.

4:. A coal mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a rotary cutter head mounted in said frame, a lower cutting chain carried by said frame, an upper cutting chain carried by said frame, means for directing the mined material from said cutter head and said cutting chains toward the center portion of said frame, and means for removing said material to the rear of the machine.

5. A mining machine comprising a frame,

a plurality of longitudinally disposed cutting heads mounted in said frame, upper and lower cutting chains carried by said frame and disposed in a horizontal plane above and below said cutting heads, means for directing the mined material from said cutting heads, and said chains toward the central portion of said frame, means for removing said inaterial to the rear of the machine, and means for separately conducting waste material laterally of said machine.

6. A coal mining machine, comprising in combination: a plurality of mining and excavating units, each comprising a frame and coal cutting elements mounted thereon said units being adapted to be superposed one upon another to excavate coal within a mine above and below an intermediate Vein of impure material, means for separately breaking down said intermediate vein of impure material, means for conveying the mined coal to the rear of the machine, and means for separately conveying said broken down im ure material to a point of discharge.

A mining machine comprising in combination: a support, a frame mounted on said support, a shaft having a rotary cutter arm mounted in said frame, upper and lower cuttingchains mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutter arm, means for driving said shaft, means for driving said chains, and means for elevating said frame with r'espect to said support.

8. A coal mining machine comprising 1n combination: a wheel support, a frame mounted on said support, a rotary cutter arm journaled in said frame, a plurality of shafts having rotary cutting chains, upper and lower cutting chains mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutter arm, means for driving said shaft, means for driving said chains, and hydraulic means carried by said frame for elevating the latter with respect to said wheel support.

9. A mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a plurality of longitudlnally extending shafts journaled in said frame and having rotary cutting elements thereon, upper and lower cutting chains .mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutting elements, hydraulic means mounted in said frame, anchoring means operatively connected to said hydraulic means, whereby actuation of the latter advances said machine .with respect to said anchoring means, and adjustable means carried by said anchoring means to regulate the direction of travel of said machine.

10. A coal mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a rotary cutting head mounted in said frame, a lower cutting chain carried by said frame, an upper cutting chain carried by said frame, means for driving said cutter head and said chains, means for directing the mined material from said cutter head and said cutting chains toward the central portion of said frame, means for removing said material to the rear of the machine, and wedging means carried by said cutter head for breaking down the coal which has been cut by said cutter head.

11. A coal mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a plurality of rotary cutting heads mounted in said frame, kerfcutting elements carried by said cutting heads, cutting chains carried by said frame and cooperating with said cutting heads, means for driving said cutting heads and said cutting chains, a plurality of wedging disks mounted on said cutting heads and adapted to enter the kerfs cut by the cutting chains on said cutting heads to break down the coal, and means for removing the mined coal from the machine.

12. A mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a rotary cutting head mounted in said frame, upper and lower cutting chains carried by said frame and (:0- operating with said cutting heads, means for driving said cutting head-and said upper and lower cutting chains, upper and lower guide plates mounted on said frame and supporting said cutting chains, said guide plate being adapted to enter the kerfs cut by said chains to wedge and break down the material being mined, and means for removing the mined material from the machine.

13. A guide plate for a cutting chain of a mining machine having a longitudinally extending chain support-ing recess, said plate being tapered in cross-section and of maximum thickness at its rear end, whereby said guide plate is adapted to enter with a wedging action the kerf cut by said chain to break down the material being mined;

14:. A combination: a frame, a hollow shaft journaled in said frame and having a cutting arm centrally mounted on one end thereof,

a second shaft loosely mounted within said hollow shaft, cutting chains carried by said cutting arm for cutting kerfs in the material being mined, .means carried by said inner shaft for driving said cutting chains, and means for independentlydriving said shafts, whereby said kerfs are cut by said chains while said cutting arm is being rotated in a, plane at right angles to the independent pathof movement of said cutting chain s.

15. A mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a hollow shaft journaled in said frame and having a cutting arm centrally mounted on one end thereof, a second shaft loosely mounted within said hollow shaft, a plurality of cutting elements carried by said cutting arm adapted mining machine comprising in to bear against the face of the material being mined, means carried by said inner shaft for driving said cutting arm, means carried by said hollow shaft for driving said inner shaft, and means for driving said hollow shaft whereby said material is mined by said cutting elements While said cutting arm is being rotated in a plane at right angles to the independent path of movement of said cutting elements.

16. A mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, mining and excavat- -ing elements mounted on said frame, means combination: a frame, mining and excavating elements mounted on said frame, means for driving sa1d excavating elements,

.means for conveying the mined material to a point of discharge, a main fluid reservoir mounted on said frame, a plurality of fillld pressure cylinders mounted on sa1d frame and communicating with said fluid reservoir, and means for controlling the fluid pressure from said reservoir to said pressure cylinders, whereby said frame 1s elevated and lowered relative to the floor level.

19.A mining machine comprising in comblnation: a support, a frame mounted on said support, a shaft having a rotary cutter arm mounted in said frame, a cutting chain mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutter arm, means for driving said shaft, means for driving said chain, and means for elevating said frame ments thereon, cutting chains mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutting elements, hydraulic means mounted in said frame, anchoring means operatively connected to said hydraulic means,-whereby actuation of the latter advances said machine with respect to said anchoring means, and adjustable means carried by said anchoring means to regulate the direction 'of travel of said machine.

22. A mining machine comprising in combination: a frame and plurality of shafts having rotary cutter arms mounted in said frame, cutting chains mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutter arms, means for vertlcally ad ust1ng one of said cutting chains, and auxiliary arms carried by said chain adjusting means, means for driving said shafts, and means for driving'said chains. 7

23. A mining machine comprising in combination: a frame, a shaft having a rotary cutter arm mounted in said arm, a cutting chain mounted in said frame and cooperating with said cutter arm, means for vertically adjusting said chain relative to said cutter arm, an auxiliary cutter arm carried by said chain adjusting means, means for driving said shaft, and means for driving said chain.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDWARD S. MoKINLAY.

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