US1877286A - Loading device - Google Patents

Description

N ..1 T. T T

Sept. 13, 1932. s. WFARNHAM LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 swg, ,13, `'1932.

S. W. FARNHAM LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 13, 1932. s. w. FARNHAM .l LOADING DEvcE Filed Dec. 19, 192B 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Sept. 13, 1932. s. w. FARNHAM LOADING DEVICE Filed Deo. 19, 1928' 6 Sheets-Syneet 4 Sept. 13, '1932. s. w. FARNHAM LADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1928 eets-She'et 5 sept. 13, 1932.

`S. W. FARN HAM LOADING DEVICE Filed Dec. 19, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Sept. 13, 19732 UNITED STATI-:s

VPfirelSui ori-*ICE 1 SIDNEY W. FARNHAM, or oHIeAGo, I Liiinors, As'sIGNoR lTo GOODMAN., MANUFACTU- Ine COMPANY, or' cnreeedrnnmors, A, CQRIORA'-12I0N or I Ltmors Ynonnina DEVICE' Application filed December '19, 1928. Serial No. 326,927.

This invention relates to improvements in loading devices and has for itsoloject to provide a new and improved loading device of the class described for use in thin` seams f Y coal and in narrow passageways.

The inventiony has ,amonglother objects to provide a loading device to gather and handle loose material and transport said loose' material into a mine car or `'other suitablerecep- .m tacle and to 'provide a new and n ovel means for feeding said loading device into the ma.- terial to be loaded and simultaneously holdingsaid loading device from lateral movelment.` Y i ,5 Y Referring nowV to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the deviceV ,embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the devicek shown 1n Figure 1 2'0 with parts broken awayand in- Section tor more clearly show the details of `my invention; 1 Y Figure is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is an: enlarged fragmentaryjsectional view taken on line 44of Figure 2,;

Figure 5is an enlarged sectional viewrtak- 3-5 tion; -V

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Figure 7;

Figure-9 is a diagrammatic view `of the vfluid pressure system; and

thedevice shown in Figure lwithparts broken -awaysh'owing said loading evicein various ,stages of the lloa-ding operation.-` V

Like numerals referto like parts through- `-out thev several figures.

Figures 10, 1l and 12 are side elevations of'A Referring` now to the drawings, 1 designates a lmain framer which is Vcarried ona pair of continuousl tread mechanisms2 of the usual construction which are adapted for the propulsion of the loading device.;V

Mounted rearwardly of idler S'pIjOCkQS 3, Ai5,

for theleontinuoustread mechanisms 2,7 2 on the forward portionof the main; ,frameV 1 and on each side thereof are verticallydis-V posedA cylindersf4, 4, containing pistons 5 5 arranged so that said, pistons maybe raised `by fluid pressure to engage a fixed part sneh as a mine roof.

Mounted forwardly V,of driving sprdckets tically disposedcylinders 9, y9, slidable lon- ,Y

gitudinally of the main frame 1' in guides V8, 8. Each cylinder 9 contains `an yupper piston 1.0 arranged so thatsaid piston may be raised by fluid pressure to engage a liXed part` such as a mine roof and a-lower piston 1l "arrangedy so that said piston may Vloe lowered by fluid ,pressure to engage a fixed fparipsuch as a mine floor.

when fluid pressure is released from said pis- `tonand a A,partition ,-13 isprovidedfin the eylindei19 so that fluidl pressure to the pisy Ano toperate thepistonllA and ton4 10 will vice versa.

ingits rearwardend-attached to the/Cylinder 9 so that fluid pressure o n one end or theV other of the piston 16 may cause longitudi- V Alhorizontally disposed :cylinder I15a-,buts 'I the rearward portion of each cylinder 4 and Vhas al piston 16 thereinV having a piston rod e '17 projecting rearwardly. therefrom yhavnal movement of the cylinder 9 in the guides -8 in the main frame 1; Therefore, whenthe pistons, 10, 10, and 11, 11, engage the mine l roof and vmine bottom, y respectively,V `fluid zpressure on the lhead end .of the `pistons l16, f

' A compression springj12 isiprov'ided toldisy `engage the piston. 11' from-the mineA floor rearwardv portion. of the main frame 1 at 27. Clutch jaws 28 are provided on the outer,

16, may cause forward movement of the main frame 1 to feed said main frame and loadingmechanism into the loose material it 'is desired to gather. Further details of "the construction of said cylinders and pistons and the means for allowing fluid pressure to enter said cylinders willl hereinafter more fully be described as this specification proceeds. j

Anv electric motor 2O is mounted on the the right hand-side thereof and provides a means for driving a fluid pump 2l and the continuoustread mechanisms 2, 2. A motor pinion23 onkthe end'of an armature shaft 24of the electric "motor 2O drives a spur gear 25 freely mounted on a sleeve 26 which in turn is freely mounted onatransverse'shaft side of the gear 25 and are engageablewith vclutch jaws 29`on a clutch'collar SOsplined tothe shaft 27 for driving saidshaft. Simi- -larly clutch aws 33 are provided on the opj-positefside of the sp'urrgear-25 for driving Vthe sleeve 26 through clutch collar clutch jaws 34 and a They clutch Vcollars 30 and 35 are moved v 'along the shaft-27 and sleeve 26 by means of lasuitable system of levers (not shown) in a 73() manner well known to the art. The shifting mechanism for the clutch collars SOandY 35 lis-interlocked so the clutch jaws 29v and 34 cannot both engage the clutc'hvjaws 28 and '33 Yon the spur gea-r25 at the Sametime. Y

ff-The'sleeve26 has-a gear 37 integral therewith which is theqsun gear'of one unit of ra double vreduction planetarygear mecha- 'nismv 38. rlrhe double reduction lplanetary rgear mechanism 38 is `pro-vided -torotate the shaft 27' at a slow speed to drive the continuous tread devices 2, 2, at the same speed as the speed of advance of the main frame 1 through-the piston -16and piston rod 17. yThe planetary gear mechanism 38 includes a planetaryv gear lmechanism-39 and a planeta-ry gear mechanism 40 driven by' said first `mentioned planetary gear mechanism; Said 'planetary gear mechanisms are of an ordinary construction so will not-'hereinbe de- :scribedin detail. The gear 37 `meshes with Y planetary pinionsf41 journaled in a V cage 42 and meshing with an internal gear 43 keyed Av friction Vrmanner (not shown). 'Planetary pinions 46 fa`re7integral with the planetary pinions 41 VVand drive'an internal gear y47 ,adj acent Y' the Y 4.internal gear `rcasing 44.

43 andv Arotatable withinr`. the The internal gear 47 (is'key'edon a sleeve'48 .to drivesaid sleeves: A gear 49lis integral with the oppositeend of said sleeve. i Said gear forms the sun gear for the planetary gear mechanisln 40. The planetary .gear

`mechanism 40 is substantially the same as the planetary gear mechanism 89 and is frictionally controlledv by means of a friction y* band '50 as is the planetary gear mechanism 39 so need not be described in detail. The sun gear 49V is provided with clutch jaws 55 engageable with clutch jaws 56 on ay clutch sleeve 57 feathered Von the shaft 27 for driving said shaft. An internal gear 58 corresponding to the internal gear 47 in the planetary gear mechanism 39 has clutch j aws, 60 thereon engageable by the clutch jaws 56 4on the c'lutchsleeve 57. The clutch sleeve 57 is movedalong the shaft 27 to engage the clutch jaws 56 with either the clutchjalws 55 or the yclutchi jaws 60 by means of a suitable system of levers inthe usual manner (not shown). It may now beseen thatthe shaft `27 maybe driven at three different speeds,

oney of which is the relatively high'lspeedof the gear 25, another Vof which is the speed reduction obtained through the planetary gear mechanism 39 and the third of which is the reduction through the planetary gear mechanisms 39 and 40. f

l The speed reduction in thev planetary gear mechanism 38 is so arranged that the speed of rotation of the sun gear 49 is twenty times slower than the speed of rotation' of the spur Y `gear 25 andthe speed of rotation ofthe internal gear 58 is four Vhundred times slower than the speed Yof rotation ofA thespur gear Said speed reduction is frictionally con- 'trolled 'and may be varied by changing'the gear ratio-or allowing either of the 'friction bands 45 or 50 to slip butv the ratio hereiny mentioned is used so as to drive the continnous tread devices 2, 2, to propel thema-in s i frame 1 at the feeding speed of said main frame through the pistons 16, 16, or to drive said main frame at ahigher speedfwhen travelling about amine. j f Aspur pinion 61fis keyed on theY shaftV 27 and drives a gear62 which Vin turn drives'a 'gear 63 on one end yof a shaft 64. A' bevel pinionis keyed tothe opposite Vend of the gear 66 ona shaft `67. "A'hevel gear-68 on the shaft 67 isrotatedby said shaft andl in 'turn meshes with and drives bevel gears 69 and 70 freely mounted .on a transverse drive shaft 71.A vSuitable v.clutch means generally' indicated at 72 are provided'to connecteither the bevel gear 69 'or 70iwith the drive shaft;

71 tokdrive said shaft ',froingeither Vofjsaid bevel gears j to reverse the directionlv of roshown as a jaw` clutch includinga 'collar 73 `shaft 64and meshes with and( drives a-bevel- Y .125V tation ofsai'dshafuf Said clutch means may i' l be of any well known type but hereinl sponding jaws on either the bevel gear 69 or the bevel gear 70 and is operated by a suitable system of levers in the usual manner (not shown). Y

The sprockets 6, 6, for the continuous Utread devices 2, 2,are keyed on sleeves 74, 74, freely mounted on the transverse shaft 71 and driven thereby throughy suitable friction clutch means herein shown as friction cone clutches 7 5, 75, of an ordinary type. i The friction cone clutches 75, are operable through a suitable system of levers of the` usual type (not shown) so that either continuous tread device 2 may be driven from the shaft 71, or so that both of said contin- .nous tread devices may be simultaneouslyy driven from said shaft thus providing a Vmeans for steering the main frame 1 when driven by the continuous treads 2, 2, said main frame being turned in one directionv or Athe other when4 power is released from one continuous tread 2 and applied to the other Vof said continuous treads and driven in a straight line when power is applied to both continuous tread devices 2, 2, simultaneously. It may now be seen that I have provided a means for driving the continuous tread de# vices 2, 2,V at two relatively fast travelling speeds and at a slow working or feeding speed which is substantially the same as the feeding speed of the pistons 16, 16, so that the main frame 1 and loading device may be fed into Vthe loose material by'both the pistons 16, 16, and continuous tread devices 2, 2, simultaneously. This providesV a more powerful meansv for feeding theloading device into the loose material than couldotherwise be obtained, and also'provides a means for holding lsaid loading device from lateral movement while it is being fed into said loose material, the pistons 10, 10, and 11, 11, holding saidy loading `device while feeding, andthe pistons, 5, holding said loading device while stationary andthe pistons 16, l16, are vmoving the cylinders9, 9, into a'position whereby said pistons may move the main frame forward into the loose material for the length of their stroke.`

A jigging chute is providedto gather the loose coal andf'move said coal along said chute where vit is discharged into a suitable conveyor 81 Vof an ordinary construction. The jigging Ychute 8O operates on a-wellv known principle whereby a quick recipro- 'cable motion consisting of a relatively fast forward motion and a slow-er Vreturn motion of saidchute picks up the loose material and forces it along said chute where it is discharged into the conveyor 81. The jigging chute 80 has a plurality of corrugations 82 thereon to prevent any of the loose material 'from sliding back on saidchute. (See Figures7and8.) yThe A jiggingu chute 80 is Vmounted *on a fframe'm'ember 83'which is slidable longitudiconnect the lower chute member 86 with the upperV chutemember 85,` at `88, 88, and have 7 slots 89, 89, therein-'adapted `to receivepivotal pins 90, 90, projecting `ffrom each side of the lower chute member 86. The forward por# tion ofthe arms 87, 87, may bev connectedto the lower 4chute member 864 by means of'rei movable pins 91, 9,1Qso that said lower. chute I member-'may be moved about. the pivotal aXis 88 of the armsv87 on the upper chute member to allow for irregularitiesin the mine bottom. y f l "1. vWheri the pins 91, 9.1, areremoved from the arms87, A87, the lower chute member 86 may be movedrearwardly along the upper chute member v85-until the pins 90, 90, abut the rearward portionv of the lslots 89, 89, in

the arms 87, 87. The arms .87, 87, may then I. Vbe moved about their pivotal axes in a rear` ward direction to move the lower chute member 86 upwardlyion the upper chute member 85 and provide clearance between the lower portion of the lower chute member 86 and the. mine bottom so the loading device maybemoved about the'mi'ne bottom from loading place to loading place, and clear obstructions on the mine'bottom. Y

Referring now to the means for j igging the chute 80, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a motor 93rotates a crank 94 throughla'bevel Vmotor pinion95, bevel gear .96 Vand Aspur gears97 Y,

and 98.` :A connecting rod 99 connects the,

crank 94 with one corner of a bell crank100V e pivoted to thev main frame 1 at 101. The

other corner of the bell crank 100 is connected to a cross head 102 by means of a connectingA `rod"103. f'llhe cross head 102 has connection with one end of a lever 104 fulcrumed 'at `105 Y bymeans of a rodV 106. A connecting rod 107 is pivoted: tothe opposite end of the flever 104 and connects `the lever .withthe frame' Y member 83,150 reciprocate said frame member and the jigging chute 80 through a pivotal pin'. y

108which passes through a forked end of.` the connecting rod 107 and a tongue 109 fixed( to the frame member 83. l f 1t may here be 'observed that rotationalV 99 and bell/crank 100 and thatthe angular .variation of speed at the end of each stroke of'thebell crank 100 is such as to cause fa Vmovement of the crank '94 is transferredtor A translational movement bythe connecting rod :V120 i i Y Vfastv forward movement and a slower return movement to force the loose-material up the jigging chute80.

The'conveyr 81110215 b'of .any `tine but herein rshown'as a flight conveyor of an ordi .f

114, on each sidethere'of passing aroun'dfdri'vilo 35 move the .cylinder 9nin`its guides 8 inthe 'main frame 1 or to move the main frame 1 Ving sprockets 115, 115, and driven sprockets 116, 116, and having a plurality of iiights .117 therebetween ridingover a 'pan 118. The driving sprockets 115, 115, are keyed` to a shaft 1.19 andare driven by the motor 20 through a suitable gear train which includes a drivensprocket 120,V drive chain 121, vdriv- Aing'sprocket 122 andrclutch mechanism 123 on a shaft 124. Theshaft 124 is rotated by a bevel gear 125 through the clutch mechanism 123, which bevel :gear is rotatedby a bevel f pinion 126 on a shaft` 127. rllhe shaft 127 isrotated by mitre gears 128, which gears are driven bythe motor through a motor pinion 129 rearwardly of the motor pinion `23 ,which drives a'spur gear 130.

lteferringnow to the vh draulics "stem for 2D controlling the various movements of the hydraulically. operate'dfrp'arts, the pump 21 shown consist of feeding cylinder valves 135',

serves to edect pressure in the `vsystem and is driven by the motor 20 throughthe motor v pinion 129, Vspur gearv 130, mitre gears 128,V

' shaft127 and spur gears133 and134.

" .f The connections from the pump 21 to the various iiuid actuated parts of theV systemV are effected through valve means,which as front jack valves 136 and rear jack valves 137 Said valvesare mounted on the left hand rearward'end of the-main fra-me 1 and are vmanually controlled in the usual; manner which needl not herein bede/scribed in detail.

VAThe feeding cylinder valves 135 are employed tojapply `pressure to either the head end or rear'end of they feedingfcylinders 15, 15, to

forwardly when the pistons 10, 10, and 11, 11, :engage vthe mine roof and mine bottom,

respectively. yThe front jack valves 136 areV Vvemployed to engage the pistons 5, 5, with 'the mine roof to hold the main frame 1 stationary while loading, while the rear jack valves 137 Iare provided to engage the pistons`10,`10 and 11, 11, with themine roof and mine bottom,yrespectively,'to' hold the main frame 1 vfrom lateral movement while said main frame isbeing fed into the'looseV material .by means Vof the feeding pistons 16,16.V Figure 9shows a diagrammaticiview ofv theconnections from the Yvalves 135, 136 `and 137 tothe pump 21 and the above mentioned jack. and feeding cylinders.

A highpressure pipe 139 leads from thev outlet of the pump 21 to the jackl valves 136VV and 137VV andthe feeding'cylinder valves 135 i while fareturn pipe V4140 leads from said valves to 'a tank 141.-adjacentfthe `forward end of the motor 20, the pump. 21 drawing fiuidfromthetank 141., through a; pipe 142;.

" A' throttlev'alve 143 is provided in the system and isrherein :shown 'as' incorporated Y with the feedingV cylinder valves 135 to regu- .Y 'Y late the pressure'into the feedingand jack cylinders and to.` .provide v"outletY so ,that

fluid may .flow in continuous ycircuit through thel pump 21 and tank 141 when the Y when the 146 to allow thel fluid to return tothe tank 141 throughthe low pressure Yline 140. A pipe .147 leads from, the feeding cylinder cylinders .15, 15, to apply pressure .to the head end of the pistons 16, 16, to feed the u main vframe Y1 forwardly by means of said pistons when the pistons. 10, 10' and 11, 11, are engaging Vthe mine roof jand mine bot- `valves vtothe head end ofthe, feeding tom, respectively.l Pressure is applied to the pipe 147 and cylinder 15A througha Lvalve y 143 and 'is released through a vale 149 to allow the fluid to returnthrough Vthe low pressure line to thegtank 141.

Fluid pressure is applied tothe Vpistons 10, 10, by means of a pipe k15() which extendsv forwardly Vfrom the rearward jack cylinderV vvalves 137. The pipe 150 has' its front end SeeV Figure 2. Anv closed .by a cap, V151. other pipe152 surrounds the aforementioned forwardly extending portion of thepipe 150 and is provided with bearing. and packing structures .153fwhich,engage-the pipe 150 forV sliding movementjto permite-movement of the pipe 152 alongt'he pipe 150. A pipe 154 leads from thefpipe '152 and' provides a v connection to the portion of the cylinders 9,9, which have the pistons 10, 19;, slidable therein to provideafmeansfor allowing fluid pressure to enter said cylinders to raise the pistons 10,10, soV theymayengagea mine Y pipe 1504is provided with an no' i between the bearing and packing structures I p roof.V A The aperture 155 whichis so disposed that it lies 153 in all relative positions of the cylinders V9, 9 with respect tothe main frame` 1 and thus provides a sliding oint tof'permit movenient of : thecylinders 9, 9, inthe Amain frame 1.V j? 1 Fluidk pressureis applied to the pistonsll,

- 11, in a manner similar to-that. which it is applied tothe pistons 10,10., n n Y g l A pipe extends forwardly froma por- 137 and has its front endclosed by a'cap 161; Y Another pipe'162l surrounds the v. pipev '160, l

andhas suitable bearingand packing means 163 at its forwardfand` rearward ends thereof. A pipe 164 leadsfrom the pipe 162'to the.` v

lower portion ofthe cylinders 9, 9, to allow An Vaperture 165l is providedinvthe pipej160 fluid Vpressure' to enter said cylinders to fen-` gage the pistons'll, 11,7.withV the minefioor.v

iso?

1.20V tion158 of the rearward jack cylindervalves to provide a sliding jointpermitting moveder valve mechanisml? are connected together so as to simultaneouslyapply fluid pressure to the jack pistons 10, 10, and 11, 11, so that said pistons may simultaneously engage the mine roof and mine bottom.

Fluid pressure is applied to the forward jack cylinders 4, 4, through the front jack cylinder valves 136, andV a pipe170 which extends forwardly from said ack cylinder valves to said jack cylinders. The front jack cylinder valves 136 are of the usual construction and allow pressure to enter the ack cylinders 4, 4, to engage the pistons 5, 5, with a mine roof in the usual manner, allowing said fluid to return to the low pressure line 140 and tank 141 when pressure is released from the pistons 5, 5. p l

It may now be seen that I have provided a loading device including a material gathering unit, a conveying unit, a feeding and holding unit and a travelling unit which is capable of travelling about a mine at a plurality of high speeds or of feeding itself into the loose material it is desired to load at a slow speed, that the travelling unit may be used to aid the feeding unit in feeding the loadv ing device into the loose material andv in manipulating said loading device so loose material may he gathered from corners in the mine, and that said units are so arranged as to provide a loading machine of a minimum height so that said machine may travel and load in low seams of coal. Also since the material gathering unit gathers the loose material and forces it rearwardly into a conveying unit and requires no lateral movement to gather said loose material it may be seen that the loading device described in my invention may be advantageously used to load coal in narrow entries or in rooms where the roof props are'closely spaced.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the different stages of a loadingoperation in a mine entry. The loading device is movedv on its continuous tread devices 2, 2, until the forward end of the material gathering or jigging chute' 80 is adjacent the mined coal it is desired to load.

The forward pistons 5, 5, are engaged with the mine roof and the motor 93 is started which jigs the chute 8O so said chute may dig into the loose coal and force said coal rearwardly along said chute. 1

At the same time pressure is applied on the rearward end of the pistons 16, 16, to innvethe' rearward ack cylinders 9, 9', forwardly in the guides 8, 8, in the main frame v 1. The pistons 10, 10, and 11, 11, are then engaged with the mine roof and mine bottom, respectively, and fluid pressure is released from the pistons 5, 5, to disengage said pistons from the mine roof. Fluid pressure is then applied to the head end of the feeding pistons 16, 16, to move the main frame 1 andi jigging chute intofthe loose materialso that the: loading operation may belcontinnous, theigging chute 8O being in operationV during the feedingo'perations and the feed-- ing operation continued until'the loose coal isV gathered by means of the-.jigging chute 80..l

Theloading device may be turned to one side or the other of the mine entry or room by means of the continuous `tread devices 2,\2,

which treaddevices may also be used to aid in the feeding of said loading device when neces-l` sary or. in-cases where the mine bottom is soft or wherethe coal is tightly packed.

While I. have herein shown and described one form of my invention, I do not wish tobe limited to the precise details of construction orvarrangement of partsherein shown anddescribed except as specifically limited in the appended claims. Y .t l i I claim asmy invention:

1. In a loading device, the combination with amain frame, continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame and moving said main frame about amine, a stationary holding jack on said main frame engageable with amine roof, a movable `holding jack on said main frame engageable with-both a mine roof and mine'bottom, hydraulically actuated means operatedV independently ofl said movable holding jack for moving-said movable.

holding jack. longitudinaly of said main frame, said means moving said main frame into the material to beloaded when said'movable holding jack is ,engaging both a mine roof and mine bottom, and mechanically opierated means for movingsaid Amain frame through said continuous tread. devices inde. pendently' of said hydraulically a actuated means at the speed of advance of said main frame moved by said hydraulicallyactuated;

means so said loading Adevice may be moved into the material to be loadedv at a slow feeding speed either bymeans of said hydraulic actuated means or said continuous tread d'evices. l l

2. Ina loading device, the combination with a main frame, continuous tread-devices for supporting said main frame and moving said main frame about a mine, a plurality of stationary holding jacksengageable with a mine roof, a plurality ofnmovable holding jacks-on Vsaid main frame engageable with both a mine roof and mine bottom, means for moving said movable holding jacks longitndinally of said main frame, said means serving to move said main, frame into the material to be loaded when said movable holding jacks are engaging both a mine roof main frame when said movable holding jacks engage both a mine roof and mine bottom and y at the same speed of advance as the speed of advance of said main frame when moved by said aforementioned moving-means so said loading device may be moved into the mate- Y' rial to be loaded at a slow feeding speed either byineans of said continuous tread devices or said means for moving said main frame when Y said movable holding jacks engage both a mine roof and mine bottom or by acom-bination of both of said aforementioned means.

3. In a loading device, the combination with a main frame, continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame and moving said main frame about a mine, a plurality of stationary holding jacks engageable with a mine roof, a plurality of movable holding jacks on saidmain frame engageable with both a mine roof anda mine bottom, hy-

draulically actuated means for moving said f' movable holding jacks longitudinally of said main frame, said means feeding said main frame into the material to be lo-aded when said movable 'holding jacks are engaging both amine roof and mine bottom, and mechanically operated means for moving said main frame independently ofsaid hydraulic actuated means at the speed of advance of said main frame when moved by said hydraulic actuated meanssofsaid loading device may be fed into the material to be loaded at a slowffeed-ing speed either by means of said hydraulic actuated means or said continuous tread devices or by a combination of said hydraulic actuated means f 4. In a loading device,^the combination with a. main frame, continuous tread devices for supportingV said main frame and moving said main frame about a mine, an inclined jiggllg chute'on the forward portion of said main frame having its forward portion engageable with a mine bottom, a conveyingelement rearwardly of said jigging chute, a plurality vof stationary holding jacks on saidv main frame, a'plurality of movable holding jacks on said main frame, and means for moving'said movable jacks longitudinally of said main frame. f

5. YIn a loading device, the combination with a main frame, continuous tread "devices :for supporting said main frame andmoving said main frame about a mine, an'inclinedjigging able on the forward portion of said main and said continuous tread devices.

frame, a conveying unit rearwardly of said:

gathering unit, a propelling unit comprising a plurality of frictionally controlled continuous tread devices for supporting said main, `l Y through said hydraulically actuated feeding t means. Y

7. In a loading device, the combination 0f a main frame, a motor, a gathering unit comf prising an inclined chute reciprocably vmovable on the forward portion of said main frame, a conveying unit rearwardly of said gathering unit, a propelling unit comprising a plurality of frictionally controlled laterally spaced continuous treaddevices kfor supporting said main frame, a holding unit comprisingl a plurality of stationary holding jacks on the-forward portion of said'main frame engageable with a mine roof, a *plurality* of movable holding jacks rearwardly of said stationary holding jacks engageable with va mine roof and mine bottomand a feedingV unit comprising a hydraulic actuatedmeans for moving said main frame when said movable holding jacks'areheld from movement between a mine roofand mine bottom, Vand a plurality of planetary reduction gear mechanisms connectible with said continuous tread devices and driven by said motor for' driving said continuous vtread devices at a plurality of speeds including a slow speed which is the same as the speedof advance of said main frame through said hydraulically actuated feeding means whereby vsaid main frame may be fed into the material to be loadedby said hydraulically actuated feeding means and said continuous tread devices simultaneously.

8. In a loading device, the combination with a main frame, continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame and moving said main frame about amine, an inclined jigging chute reciprocablymovable on vsaid main frame, a conveying lelement rearwardly of said jigging chute, a stationary holding ioo jack engageable with a mine roof for holding said main frame from movement, another hydraulic holding jack movable insaid main frame andengageable with a mine roof and mine floor for holding said main frame Afrom lateral movementwhile said main frame and loading device is fed into the material to be loaded, and hydraulieactuated means operated independently of said movable holding jack for moving said movable holding jack longitudinally of said main frame, said meansv providing a means for feeding` said main frame into the material to be loaded when said movable holding ack is engaging a mine roof and mineV floor, and said stationary holding jack is disengaged from said mine roof.

9. In a loading device, theV combination with a main frame, continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame and moving n .said main frame about a mine, an inclined jigging chute reciprocably movable on said mainframe, a conveying element rearwardly of said jigging chute, a plurality of stationary holding jacks engageable with a mine roof for holding said main frame from movement, a plurality of holding jacks movable in said main frame engageable with amine roof and mine iioor for holding said main frame from lateral movement while said main frame and loading device is being fed into the material to be loaded, and means operated independently of said movable holding jacks for moving said movable holding jacks l frame, a conveying unit rearwardly of saidv gathering unit, a propelling unit comprising a plurality of frictionally controlled laterally spaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame, a holding unit comprising a plurality o-f stationary holding jacks on the forward portion of said main frame engageable with amine roof, a plurality of holding jacks movable in said main frame and engageable with a mine roof and mine bottom and av feeding unit comprising a hydraulic actuated piston connected with each of said movable holding jacks, but operated independently therefrom, for moving said main frame when said movable holding jacks are engaged with a mine roof and a mine bottom and said stationary holding jacks are disengaged from a mine roof.

ll. In a loading device, the combination of a main frame, a motor, a gathering unit com- Y prising an inclined chute. reciprocably movjacks on the forward portion of said main frame engageable with a mine roof, a'plurality of holding jacksl movable in said main frame and engageable with a mine roof and mine bottom and a feeding unit comprising a hydraulic actuated piston conneotedwith each of said movable holding jacks, but operated independently therefrom, for moving said main frame when said movable holding jacks are engaged with a mine roof and a mine bottom and said stationary holding jacksV are disengaged from a mine roof, and

a plurality of planetary reduction gear mechanisms operatively connected together for driving said continuous tread devices `from said motor at a plurality of speeds in-` cluding a slow speed equal to the speed of advance of said mainframe through said hydraulically actuated feeding means whereby said main frame may be fed into the material to be loaded by said hydraulically actuated feeding means or said continuous tread devices simultaneously or independently.

`1.2.,In a loading device, the combination with a main frame, gathering means supported on said frameV comprising an inclined conveyor, a holding jack engageable -with the mine roof for holding said main frame from movement, another holding .jack mounted in said main frame for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, .said holding j ack having oppositely disposed bottom and roof engaging means thereon adapted to be simultaneously moved in opposite directions tobe engagedl with or disengaged from the mine floor and mine roof, and means for moving said last mentioned holding jack lon-v gitudinally of said main frame, said means providing Aa means for feeding said main frame into the material to be loaded when said .second mentioned holding'jack is engagingV ously moved in opposite directions to be engaged with or disengaged from the mine floor and mine roof, and means for moving said last mentioned holding j ack longitudinally of said main frame, said means providing a means forfeeding 'said main frame into the material toV be loaded when said last mentioned holding jack is engaging the mine roof and mine floor and said first mentioned holding jack is disengaged from said mine roof. a

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14. In a loading device, the combination with a main frame, an inclined chute extending forwardly of said main frame and reciprocably movable with respect thereto, a stationary'holding Jack engageable with a mine roof for holding said main frame from movement, another holding ack movable in said main frame, said holding ack having oppositelyl disposedbottom and roof engaging,

Lsaid movable holding jack is engaging a mine roof and mine floor and said stationary holding jack is disengaged from said mine roof.l

l15. In a loading device, theV combination with a main frame, gathering means sup'- norted on ysaid main frame comprising an inclined conveyor, a plurality of holding j aclrs disposed adjacent the forward end of said main frame. engageable'with the mine roof for holding said main frame from movement, a plurality of holding jacks disposed adj acent the rearward end of said main frame for longitudinalvr movement with respect theretoY adapted to be interposed between the mine ilooiy and mine roof, and means for moving said last mentioned holding jacks longitudinally ofsaid main frame, said means providing a means for feeding said main frame into the material to be loaded when said movable holding jacks are engaging the mine roof andmin-e iioor and said lfirst mentioned holding jacks are disengaged from the mine roof.

16. In a. loading device, thecombination with a main frame, gathering means supported on said main frame comprising an linelinedY iigging conveyor extending forwardly of said main frame, a. plurality of holding jacks disposed adjacent the forward end of said main frame engageable with themine roof for holding said main frame from movement, a plurality of holding i aclrs mounted on said main frame adiacent the rearward end thereof for longitudinal movement with re- 17. In a loading device, they combination with a main frame, continuoustread devices for supporting said main frame and moving said main frame about a mine, an inclined jigging chute on the forward portion of'said main frame having its forward portion en-v gageable with a mine bottom, a conveying element rearwardly of said gigging chute, a stationary holding jack on said main frame, a' movable holdingjaclr on said main frame, and i a means for moving said movable ack longitudinally of said main frame.

18'. In a loading device, the combination with a main frame, continuous tread devices for supporting said mainframe and moving said main frame about amine, an inclined kmain frame. y A

19. In a loading device, the'combination Y with'a main frame of a gathering unit comprising an inclined jigging chute reciprocably movable on the forward portion of said main frame, a conveying unit rearwardly of said gathering unit, a propelling unit comprising a plurality of frictionally controlled continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame, a holding unit comprising a stationary y holding jack on the forward portion ofsaid` Vmain frame, a movable holding jack rearwardly of said stationary holding jack, and a feeding unit comprising a hydraulically actuated means for moving said main frame when said movable holding ack' is held from movement between a mine roof and mine bottom, and a suitable geared reduction providing a means whereby said continuous tread devices may propel said main frame at the same rate of speed as the feeding speed of said main frame through said hydraulically actuated feeding means.

20. In a loading device, the combination of a main frame,'a motor, a gathering unit comprising an inclined chute reciproeably movableV on the forward portion of lsaid, main frame, a conveying unit rearwardly ofy said gathering unit, a propelling unit comprising a plurality of frictionally controlled laterally spaced continuous tread devices for supporting said main frame', a holding unit comprisno j ing a stationary holding jack on the forward portion of said main frame engageable with a mine roof, a movable holding jack rearwardly of said stationary holding jack en- ,I

gageable with a mine roof and mine bottom and a feeding unit comprising a hydraulic actuated means for moving said vmain yframe when said movable .v holding jack is held from movement between a mine roof and mine bottom, and a plurality of planetary reduction gear mechanisms connectible with said continuous tread devices and driven by said motor for driving said continuous tread devices at a plurality of speeds including a slow speed which is the same as the speed of n advance of said main frame throughsaid hydraulically actuated feeding means whereby said main frame may be ed into the material to be loaded by said hydraulicallyactuated feeding means and said continuous tread devices simultaneously. i

Signed in the city' of Chicago, county of- Cook and State of Illinois, this 10th day of December, A. D. 1928. f SIDNEY W. FARNHAM.

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