US2600640A - Mining machine - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1952 E. D. M. GULLICK MINING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed March 26, 1949 ,mm om June 17, 1952 E. D. M. GULLlcK MINING MACHINE Filed March 26, 1949 Y4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Attorneys June 17, 195.2 E. D. M. GULLlcK MINING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheei 3 Filed March 26, 1949 Inventor Attorneys June 17, 1952 E. b..M. GuLLlcK MINING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 26, -1949 Attorneys Patented June 17, 1952 MINING MACHINE Ernest D. M. Gullick, Glasgow, Scotland, assignor to Mavor & Coulson, Limited, Glasgow, Scotland Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,696 In Great Britain July 26, 1947 11 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for mining coal or other minerals and belonging to a previously proposed type of the following construction namely: a machine comprising two relatively movable floor-engaging components which are propelled step-by-step alongside the face oi" a coal or other mineral seam to be mined; a roof-engaging jack on at least one of the respective components for anchoring it down to the mine floor while the other is being propelled; a hydraulic unit constituted as a cylinder-andram assembly inter-connecting said components in order to propel the machine; and a large chisel-like cutter head provided on the other of said components and adapted to strip oi the coal or other mineral in the advance of the machine by shearing or splitting the mineral along a plane behind and approximately parallel to the face of the seam. Where, as is usually desirable, the machine is doublc-ended--that is to say, is designed to work in each of its two directions of travel-there are two cutter heads, one on each of the two components and so each of them has a roof-engaging jack.

An object of the present invention is to simplify the hydraulic system through which the hydraulic liquid is led by obviating the need for, or minimising the use of, flexible external piping.

The present invention comprises a mining machine of the type stated in which the hydraulic propulsion unit inter-connecting the relatively movable iioor-engaging components is singleacting, being extensible by the hydraulic power, and in which said components are also interconnected by apparatus for contracting said unit.

The invention also comprises a mining machine of the type stated in which the hydraulic propulsion unit interconnecting the relatively movable floor-engaging components and hydraulic units for operating the roof-engaging jacks are al1 single-acting, being extensible by the hydraulic power, and in which said components are interconnected by apparatus for contracting said propulsion unit and at least one of said jack units.

The apparatus may comprise a cable led round an assembly of pulleys, some of which are mounted on the two components and others of which are mounted on one or both of the jacks.

The apparatus may include an auxiliary hydraulic unit on one of the two components, which auxiliary unit acts to compensate for the motion of each of said components in relation to the other. Such a4 unit may also be used to contract the jacks of both components simultaneously in order to free the entire machine for bodily transportation.

Double-ended coal-mining machines embodying the invention will now be described as examples with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine forming one of the examples, the machine being shown in its fully contracted state. Fig. 2 is also a plan of the machine but showing it fully extended and with the cutter heads omitted. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation corresponding to Fig. 2, the section being on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3A is a view corresponding to Fig. 3 but showing the machine from the opposite side, the View being intended to illustrate more fully the reeving employed to control the jacks.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 6A are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 3A, respectively, of the machine forming the other of the examples.

Each of the machines shown comprises the following, namely: two relatively movable main components 1 and -8 with floor-engaging skids 9 and I0 respectively; a hydraulic propulsion unit consisting of a cylinder Il incorporated in the component 1 and a ram I2 extending from the component 8; a roof-engaging jack formed as a hydraulic unit consisting of a cylinder I3, ram I4 and a common head I5, this jack being incorporated in the component 8; a similar jack formed also as a hydraulic unit comprising corresponding parts I6, I1 and I8 incorporated in the component 1; a hydraulic system for operating the propulsion unit and the jack units, said system including a manually operable distribution valve I9 which controls the system, a vessel 20 for the hydraulic liquid, a motor-driven pump 2| for supplying the liquid by Way of a pipe 22 to the valve I9 for distribution, and piping 23 lfor distributing the hydraulic liquid to the individual hydraulic units under the control of the valve I9. The return pipe is indicated by 24.

Each of the machines also includes an auxiliary hydraulic unit incorporated in the component 1, this unit comprising a xed cylinder 25, a movable ram 26 and a pipe 21 connecting the cylinder to the valve I9.

All the hydraulic units are single-acting.

In the example, the component 1 forms in effect the main body of the machine on which the parts of the hydraulic system, excepting the jack I3-I5, are mounted. The other component 8 is simply the jack I3-I 5, and this is called hereinafter the first jack. The jack IG-IB incorporated in the component or main body 'I is called hereinafter the second jack.

In order to avoid a flexible external pipe between the main body and the cylinder I3 of the rst jack, a central telescopic conduit 28 is led through the cylinder II and ram I2 of the propulsion unit, pipes 29 leading from the conduit 28 to the piping 23 and to the cylinder I3.

Each of the machines also includes, at each end, a large chisel-like cutter head comprising a main wedge-form cutter 30 (Figs. 1 and 4) whose edge works in a vertical plane to cut a coal face A in the coal seam, and a floor-cutter presenting horizontal edges 3|. Each head may also have a horizontal-edged roof cutter (not shown).

In the example shown by Figs. 1 to 3A, the apparatus for contracting the several hydraulic units comprises the following parts: a pair of pulleys 32 on the head I5 of the rst jack; a pair of pulleys 33 on the head I8 of the second jack; guide pulleys 34 on the component Il and a guide pulley 35 on the main body l; loopforming pulleys 36 and 3l on the ram 26 of the auxiliary unit and on the main body 'I, respectively; a cable in the form of a wire rope 38 led round all these pulleys and secured at its ends, at 39 and 40, to the jack cylinders I3 and I6. In view of the action of the pulley 35 on the rope 38, the auxiliary hydraulic unit may be termed a rope-looping unit.

The operation of the machine for cutting from right to left is as follows, it being assumed that the jack I3-I5 is extended to engage and hold itself rigidly between the floor B and the roof C, the second jack I6-I 8 is contracted and thus released, the propulsion unit I I, I2 is contracted (as in Fig. l) and the rope- looping unit 25, 26 is extended to elongate the loop 4I formed in the rope 38 by the pulleys 35, 3l.

The control valve I9 is set so that the propulsion unit is supplied and therefore extended, thus pushing forward the leading component, namely the main body 1 (and effecting a coal-cutting stroke by the cutter head at the left hand end of the machine). This valve setting also opens the cylinder 25 to exhaust, so that as the propulsion unit extends the rope-looping unit is forced by the rope-and-pulley apparatus 32-38 to contract, the loop 4| now becoming fully reduced in length.

Next, the control valve I9 is set so that the second jack I6-I3 is supplied, the rst jack I3-I5 is opened to exhaust and the hydraulic liquid is locked in the cylinder 25 of the ropelooping unit. Thus, the second jack's ram II, I8 is forced up to engage the roof C and the rst jacks ram I4, I is lowered by the rope-andpulley apparatus. The completion of this stage is represented by Figs. 2 and 3.

Next, the control valve is setto supply the rope- looping unit 25, 26 and open the propulsion unit II, I2 to exhaust. Thus, the loop 39 is elongated, the rope-and-pulley apparatus being operated to pull forward the rear component 8 to a new place for anchorage there, the propulsion unit being forced into its contracted condition again. l

Lastly, the control Valve is set so that the first jack |3--I5 is supplied, the second jack I6-I8 is opened to exhaust and the hydraulic liquid is locked in the cylinder 25 of the rope-looping unit. Thus, the rst jacks ram is forced up to engage the roof again, and the rope-and-pulley apparatus lowers the second jacks ram.

The foregoing cycle of operations is repeated time and again until the machine reaches the end of its travel.

In order to operate the machine in the return direction, that is towards the right with the component 8 leading, the control valve I9 is moved into settings provided for the purpose, the cycle of operations corresponding to that already described, except that preparatory to extension of the propulsion unit I I, I2, it is the jack head I8 that is raised and the jack head I5 that is lowered, and preparatory to extension of the ropelooping unit to contract the propulsion unit it is the jack head I5 that is raised and the jack head I8 that is lowered.

Should it be necessary to have the rams of both jacks lowered simultaneously, the control valve I9 is set so as to lock the hydraulic liquid in the cylinder II of the propulsion unit, open both jack cylinders I3 and I6 to exhaust and supply the auxiliary cylinder 25. Thus, the ropeand-pulley apparatus is operated to adopt a position in which both jack rams are pulled down fully.

The control valve I9 can also be set to open to exhaust the hydraulic liquid in the cylinder I I of the propulsion unit, supply both jack cylinders I3 and I6 and open the auxiliary cylinder 25 to exhaust. Thus, the rope-and-pulley apparatus permits both jacks to extend simultaneously,

In the example shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the cableand-pulley apparatus differs from that in the first-described example. Moreover, the hydraulic means applied to the jack I6-I8 of the mainbody component I is modied and is operated differently.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 6A, the wire rope 38 is not extended from the loop 4I to the jack Iii- I8 or to pulleys thereon or associated therewith. Instead, the rope is anchored to` the main body 'I at one end of the loop 4I formed by the pulley 36 on the ram 26 of the rope-looping unit, the anchorage being indicated by 42. Thus, the jack I6--I8 is entirely free from the iniiuence of the cable-and-pulley apparatus and so the head I8 of the jack cannot be pulled down by said apparatus.

In this example, means provided for lowering the head I8 of the second jack comprise a pair of auxiliary hydraulic jacks 43 (referred to herein as pull down jacks) whose heads are pivotally attached at 44 to the head I8 and whose cylinder tops 45 are connected by piping 45 to the control valve I9 for the supply therefrom of hydraulic pressure liquid at selected intervals in the operation of the machine. The bottoms of these auxiliary jack cylinders are open continuously (through piping not shown) to the exhaust side of the hydraulic system.

In this example, the conduits 23, 28 and 29 connecting the control valve I9 and the bottom ends of the jack cylinders I3 and I6 of both components 1 and 8 of the machine serverunder the control of said valveto give either of thev following two effects, namely:A (l) maintaining the bottom ends of the jackv cylinders I3 and I6 in closed inter-connection, so that if either of the two jack heads I5 and I8 is pulled down the liquid from its cylinder is caused to pass to the cylinder of the other jack, and so this other jack is forced to rise; (2) cutting off one jack cylinder from the hydraulic system so as to lock the jack hydlfaillclly against further lowering, and 'opening th'e other jacli: cylinder to the full pressure of the hydraulic cylinder in order that the raised jack will anchor itself more securely in position between the iioor B and roof C.

Assume that the machine has to operate towards the left; that is, the cutter head 30, 3| on the leading component 'I will perform the cutting action. Assume also that the machine is contracted, as shown in Fig. 4, and that both jack heads I5 and I8 occupy intermediate positions in which they are both clear of the roof C. Moreover, the rope- looping unit 25, 26 is extended, so that the loop 4I is elongated.

In operation, the control valve I9 is set so as to cause the first jack I3I5 to extend and anchor itself. Then the control valve I9 is set so that the propulsion unit II, I2 extends and pushes the component 1 with its fully lowered jack lli-I8 forwards, thus effecting the coalcutting stroke. This action causes the rope-andpulley apparatus to contract the rope-loopin-g unit 25, 2S, the loop 4 becoming reduced in length.

Thereafter, the valve I9 is set so that the ropelooping unit 25, 26 starts to extend and the first jack Iii-I5 is lowered by the rope 38 acting through the pulleys 32, 34, 36, and hydraulic liquid expelled from the cylinder I3 of the first vjack passes through the appropriate conduits under control of the valve I9 to the cylinder I6 of the second jack and causes the same to rise. After initial engagement of the second-jack head I8 with the roof, full raising pressure is applied thereto by changing over the valve I9 so as to connect the hydraulic pressure system to the second jack. Completion of this stage in the cycle of operations is represented by Figs. 5 and 6. Thereafter, continued operation of the rope-looping unit 25, 26 pulls the right-hand (or trailing) component 8 with the now lowered first jack towards the anchored leading component 1. The valve I9 is then set so that the second jack IIi--I 8 is lowered by the pull-down jacks 43 and delivers its liquid to the rst jack I3-I5 to raise the same, full hydraulic pressure then being applied to it as before.

For travelling in the opposite direction, that is towards the right with the component 8 leading, the settings of the valve I9 are such that preparatory to extension of the propulsion unit II, I2 it is the jack head I8 that is raised and the jack head I5 pulled down, and preparatory to extension of the rope-looping unit 25, 2B to contract the unit I I, I2 it is the jack head I5 that is raised and the jack head I8 that is pulled down by the jacks 43.

In the example according to Figs. l to 3A the jacks of both components I and 8 are pulled down by the rope-and-pulley apparatus, whereas in the example according to Figs. 4 to 6A the jack of the main-body component 'I is pulled down by auxiliary hydraulic means. The latter arrangement does not involve the use of flexible piping. If desired, hydraulic means could be applied also to the jack of the component 8 for pulling that jack down.

I claim:

1. A mining machine comprising two relatively movable components at least one of which has a cutter head for stripping off mineral along a plane behind the face of a seam, a single-acting hydraulic propulsion unit interconnecting said components, hydraulic units constituted asjacks on the respective components for anchoring them alternatively, cable-and-pulley apparatus interconnecting said components, a cable-looping hydraulic unit arranged on one of said components and applied to a pulley included in said apparatus so as to form a loop in the cable, means for the supply of hydraulic pressure liquid, hydraulic control means and piping connecting said supply means and said control means to said various units, each jack being extensible by the hydraulic pressure liquid to anchor its component and contractible to release its component, and the propulsion unit being extensible by said liquid to push the leading component forward and perform a cutting stroke, and the cable-looping unit being extensible by said liquid to operate said apparatus to pull the rear component forward.

2. A mining machine as claimed by claim 1 in which the cable-and-pulley apparatus comprises a cable interconnecting both components and pulleys on both jacks, so that extension of the cable-looping hydraulic unit can be utilised to lower either or both of the jacks.

3. A mining machine as claimed by claim l in which the cable-and-pulley apparatus comprises a cable interconnecting both components and pulleys on one of the jacks, the other jack having separate means for lowering it, the arrangement being such that extension of the cablelooping hydraulic unit can be utilised to lower said one of the jacks having pulleys on it.

4. In a double-ended mining machine comprising two relatively movable components each of which has a cutter head for wedging off mineral from the face of a mineral seam and each of which has a jack that is extensible to anchor it to a mine floor, a single-acting hydraulic cylinder-and-ram propulsion unit interconnecting said components, said unit being extensible by hydraulic power to advance the temporarily leading component to perform a mineral-wedging stroke Whilst the temporarily rear component is anchored, cable-and-pulley apparatus also interconnecting said components, and a hydraulic unit applicable to said apparatus for operating it to contract said propulsion unit and thus draw forward said rear component whilst its jack is contracted.

5. In a double-ended mining machine comprising two relatively movable components each of which has a cutter head for wedging oi mineral from the face of a mineral seam and each of which has a jack that is extensible to anchor it to a mine floor, a single-acting cylinder-and-ram propulsive power unit interconnecting said components, said power unit being extensible to advance the temporarily leading component to perform a mineral-wedging stroke whilst the temporarily rear component is anchored, hydraulic units incorporated in the respective jacks for at least extending them, cable-and-pulley apparatus also interconnecting said components and connected to at least `one of the jacks and another hydraulic unit on one of said components applicable to said apparatus for operating it to contract said propulsion unit in order to draw forward the temporarily rear component whilst its jack is contracted, and one of said hydraulic units being connected to said cable-and-pulley apparatus for contracting that jack to which said apparatus is connected.

6. In a mining machine comprising two relatively movable components, the first of which has a cutter head for wedging off mineral from the face of a mineral seam and the second of which has a jack that is extensible to anchor said second component to a mine oor, a. single-acting hydraulic cylinder-and-ram propulsion unit interconnecting said components, said unit being extensible by hydraulic power to advance the first of said components to perform a mineral-wedging stroke whilst said second component is anchored, cable-and-pulley apparatus also interconnecting said components, and a hydraulic unit applicable to said apparatus for operating it to contract said propulsion unit and thus draw forward said second component whilst its jack is contracted.

7. In a mining machine comprising two relatively movable components, namely a leading component and a rear component, the first of which has a cutterhead for wedging off mineral from the face of a mineral seam and the second of which has a jack that is extensible to anchor the rear component to a mine floor, a singleacting hydraulic cylinder-and-ram propulsion unit interconnecting said components, said unit being extensible by hydraulic power to advance the leading component to perform a mineralwedging stroke whilst the rear component is anchored, a single-acting hydraulic cylinder-andram unit incorporated invsaid jack, this latter unit being operable by hydraulic power to extend the jack, cable-and-pulley apparatus also interconnecting said components and connected to said jack, and a hydraulic unit on one of said components applicable to said apparatus for operating it to contract said jack and thus free the rear component and thereafter to contract said propulsion unit and thus draw forward the now freed rear component.

8. A double-ended mining machine comprising two relatively movable components, each of which has a cutter head for wedging ofi' mineral from the face of a mineral seam and each of which has a jack that is extensible to anchor -its said component to a mine floor, a .single-acting hydraulic cylinder-and-ram propulsion unit interconnecting said components, :said `unit being extensible by hydraulic power to `advance the temporarily leading one of said componen-ts to perform a mineral-wedging stroke whilst the temporarily rear component is anchored, single-acting hydraulic units incorporated in the respective jacks for extending them, cable-and-pulley apparatus interconnecting said components and applied to both of said jacks so that when one of said jacks is extended by its hydraulic unit this action is transmitted through said apparatus to contract the other of said jacks, and a hydraulic unit on one of said components applicable to said apparatus for operating it to contractsaid propulsion unit and thus draw forward the temporarily rear component whilst its jack is contracted.

9. A double-ended mining machine according to claim 8 in which the last-mentioned hydraulic unit applicable to the cable-and-pulley apparatus comprises a hydraulic cylinder element.a'sing1e acting ram element in said cylinder element, one of said elements being stationary in the component provided with it and the other of said elements being movable, a pulley journalled on said movable element and a loop formed in the cable of said apparatus by said pulley, the arrangement being such that the loop is elongated when the unit is hydraulically extended and the unit is contracted when the cable is tensioned by extension of the propulsion unit.

10. A double-ended mining machine comprising two relatively movable components, each of which has a cutter head for wedging off mineral from the face of a mineral seam and each of which has a jack that is extensible to anchor its said component to a mine floor, a single-acting hydraulic cylinder-and-ram propulsion unit interconnecting said components, said unit being extensible by hydraulic power to advance the temporary leading one of said components to perform a mineral-wedging stroke whilst the temporarily rear component is anchored, means applied to the jack of one of the components for extending and contracting this jack, a singleacting hydraulic unit incorporated in the jack of the other of the components for extending this latter jack, cable-and-pulley apparatus interconnecting said components and applied to said latter jack, and a hydraulic unit on said one of the components applicable to said apparatus for operating it to contract said latter jack and for operating said apparatus to contract said propulsion unit and thus draw forward the temporarily rear component whilst its jack is contracted.

11. A double-ended mining machine according to claim 10 in which the last-mentioned hydraulic unit applicable to the cable-and-pulley apparatus vcomprises a hydraulic cylinder element, a single-acting ram element in said cylinder element, one of said element-s being stationary in the component provided with it and the other of said elements being movable, a pulley journalled on said movable element and a loop formed in the cable of said apparatus by said pulley, the arrangement being such that the loop is elongated when the unit is hydraulically extended and the unit is contracted when the cable is lcensioned by extension of the propulsion unit.

ERNEST D. vM. GULIJCK.

REFERENCES ,CITED The following references are of record 1n the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,704,866 Morgan Mar. 12 1929 1,704,918 Morgan Mar. l2, 1929

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