US2657915A - Reversible longwall mining machine - Google Patents

Description

E. SIMMONS 2,657,915 REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MACHINE t. 16, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l Y No m. Fn .NM @KQ Q FQ. 5 N TV =/:y m.\ :Irl A VQEWM|P|||| 5 5 NN, l 1 Dwi@ Wmllll u, M l u, llllllllllu 1.` M.,. ,....|M ,e I -I L N Il v NMS: Arm g H w? MN/V, m N@ Nov. 3, 1953 Filed Oo is: l/W

Nov. 3, 1953 Filed Oct. 16, 1948 L. E. SIMMONS REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MACHINE l QZ/M 7 sheets-shed" 2* Nov. 43, 1953 L. E. slMMoNs Y REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MCHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 16, 1948 w. .MAN

Nov. 3, 1953 E, SIMMONS 2,657,915

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MACHINE Filed oct. 16, 194e 7 sheets-sheet 4 32 Ely. 7

NOV. -3, 1953 y[ E. slMMONs 2,657,915

REVERSIBLE LoNGwALL MINING MACHINE Filed oct. 16, 1948 7 sheets-sheet 5 d? Zawzffey.

Nov. 3, 1953 L. E. SIMMONS 2,657,915

REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MACHINE Filed OCL. 16, 1948 7 sheets-sheet e I?? vez? Z027: 08%022 c2. imm'ozu Nov. 3, 1953 L. E. SIMMONS REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MCHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 16, 1948A [lll/ W/"zdor: 5G00 52702220223.

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Patented Nov. 3, 1953 REVERSIBLE LONGWALL MINING MACHINE Leon E. Simmons, Claremont, N. H., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 16, 1948, Serial No. 54,895

11 Claims.

This invention relates to mining machines, and more particularly to a coal mining machine of the flexibly fed, longwall, floor type having embodied therein improved cutting and feeding mechanisms and improved cuttings-removing mechanism.

Coal mining machines for cutting horizontal kerfs in a coal seam in accordance with the longwall method of mining, particularly in mines having very low head room, are usually of the flexibly fed, floor type and slide on their own bottoms directly over the mine floor both during maneuvering and the cutting operation so that the machine height is maintained at a minimum. Such machines have a cutter bar or jib pivotally mounted at the rear end of the machine frame, and such bar or jib is swingable about its pivotal mounting to a substantial angle, close to a right angle, at one side of the machine frame and rigidly locked to the frame so that when the machine is advanced along the coal face a horizontal kerf is cut beneath the coal. The machine is fed over the mine iioor by a feed cable wound on a feed drum usually arranged at the front end of the frame, and during the feeding operation the free end of the feed cable is attached to an another jack placed near the coal face in ad- Vance of the machine in such a manner that, as the cable is wound in by the drum, the machine is advanced forwardly in an endwise direction along the coal lface toward the .anchor jack. The feed cable is attachable to the cutter bar hanger to effect swinging of the cutter bar on its pivotal mounting, and the feed cable is employed to swing the bar into a sumped position beneath the coal. A motor is usually arranged centrally of the machine frame intermediate the cutting and feeding mechanisms for driving the cutter chain and the feed drum. The feeding speeds of such feeding mechanism must be variable through a wide range to enable feeding of the cutter bar into the coal in accordance with varying mining conditions. In mining in accordance with the longwall method in low vein mines, the space at the coal face is relatively restricted since the mine roof is propped close to the face with only sufficient room for the machine to move endwise in the space between the face and the roof props, and accordingly, hand shovelling of the cuttings or so-called gum, created by the cutter bits of the cutter chain during the kerf-cutting operation is an extremely laborious task, and in modern longwall machines a cuttings-removing mechanism or so-called gummer is secured to the rear end of the machine at the trailing side of the cutter bar and is usually driven by the machine motor for removing the cuttings or gum from the vicinity of the cutter chain and for ejecting the cuttings from the machine. Such cuttings-removing mechanisms are usually in the form of attachments, and accordingly appreciably increase the length of the machine, and, due to their location, hinder setting of cutter bits or picks and must be detached from the machine or partially displaced to permit setting of the bits or picks, Also in known types of cuttings-removing mechanisms for use with reversible mining machines the same must be completely detached from the machine during reversal of the cutter bar position to the opposite side of the machine.

The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of coal mining machines in that improved cutting and feeding mechanisms are provided, constructed in an improved manner, whereby cutting efliciency, a wide range of feeding speeds, as well as extreme compactness and flexibility in operation, are attained. In accordance with the present invention, the cuttingsremoving mechanism or gummer is built into the machine intermediate the cutting and feeding mechanisms, and is closely associated with the cutting mechanism at the advancing side of the cutter bar whereby the cuttings or gum are efficiently removed from the vicinity of the incoming run of the cutter chain and ejected laterally from the prop side of the machine remote from the coal face. By building the cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer directly into the machine as a component part thereof, the necessity of bodily removing the mechanism as a unit from the machine or for partially displacing the mechanism is avoided, thereby facilitating the setting of cutter bits or picks, and the cutter bar position may be readily reversed but by the removal of a single small part. The machine is not only simple and compact in design, but is also extremely rugged and reliable in operation, well adapted to meet the demands of service.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved coal mining machine. Another object is to provide an improved mining machine having improved kerf cutting and feeding mechanisms. Yet another object is to provide an improved mining machine of the flexibly fed, iioor type especially designed for use in accordance with the longwall method of mining. A still further object is to provide an improved coal mining machine of the pivoted bar, longwall, iioor type having an improved pivotal mounting structure for the cutter bar and improved driving means for the cutter chain. A further object is to provide an improved coal mining machine having an improved cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer which is arranged on a longwall mining machine intermediate the cutting and feeding mechanisms and in close association with the cutting mechanism whereby not only are the cuttings eilciently removed from the vicinity of the cutter chain, but also setting of cutter bits or picks and the reversal of the position of the cut, ter bar are facilitated. Still another object is to provide an improved cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer which is constructed as a component part of the machine and which may be readily reversed upon reversal of the machine by but a simple transposition of parts. Another object is to provide an improved cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer of the screw con. veyor type having improved mounting and driving means for the conveyor screw. Yet another object is to provide an improved screw conveyor for removing the cuttings from the vicinity of the incoming run of the cutter chain of a coal mining machine and arranged in a novel location within the limits of the machine frame. A further object is to provide an improved mining machine feeding mechanism of the variable speed, ratchet and pawl type and embodying improved speed varying means. A still further object is to provide an improved longwall type coal mining machine which is compact and rugged in design and which embodies novel features of construction resulting in increased overall eiliciency. These and other objects and advantages f the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

The aspect of the invention relating to the improvements in the flexible feeding mechanism of the machine is disclosed in divisional application Serial No. 163,301, filed May 20, 1950, while the aspect of the invention relating to the kerf cutting mechanism is disclosed in divisional application Serial No. 252.846, filed October 2.4, 1951.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings;

Fig. 1 is a lplan view of a longwall coal mining machine constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in central longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 8-3 of Fig. 1, with the cutter bar in longitudinal alignment with the machine frame.

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing the high and low speed feed control levers in different positions, and with parts in section to show the interlock between the control levers.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 3, showing details of the cutting mechanism and the associated cuttings-removing mechanism or gummerf Fig. 'I is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 1-1 of Fig. Z illustratingdetails of the cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer.

Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the driving gear for the cutting and cuttingsremoving mechanisms.

Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section taken on the plane of line 0-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the combined guard and conveyor housing member.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional taken on the plane of line I I-I I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a top view of the guard and housing member shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line I3-I3 of Fig. 6, but on a reduced scale, showing details of the conveyor housing and conveyor screw.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line I4-II of Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planes of line IB-Il of Fig. 14.

Fig. l16 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the planes of line IB-IB of Fig. 15.

Fig. 1'7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planes of line Il--Il of Fig. 14.

Fig. 18 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line l-Il of Fig. 17.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention, as shown in the drawings, the coal mining machine is generally designated I and generally comprises a compact low height machine frame 2 slidable on its bottom 3 for movement over the floor of a mine and carrying at its rear end a kerf cutting mechanism 4, at its front end a nexible feeding mechanism 5, and having a cuttingsremoving mechanism or so-called gummer" l associated with the cutting mechanism; said cutting and feeding mechanisms and said cuttings removing mechanism being driven by a motor 1 arranged longitudinally centrally of the machine frame intermediate the cutting and feeding mechanisms. The cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer" is built into the machine within the limits of the machine frame and is closely associated with the cutting mechanism, and is so arranged at the advancing side of the cutter bar as to receive the cuttings from the vicinity of the incoming run of the cutter chain and to convey the cuttings laterally away from the coal face and to eject positively the cuttings laterally from the machine at the side thereof close to the line of the roof props. While the invention is shown embodied in a longwall floor type coal mining machine, it will be evident that various features thereof may be embodied in coal mining machines of other types.

The machine frame 2, in this instance, comprises a. rear cutter frame section I 0, a front feed frame section I l and a central motor frame section I2, and these frame sections are suitably rigidly united to provide a low compact frame unit structure slidable over the mine door. Pivotally mounted on the cutter frame section I0 is a horizontal plane cutter bar or jib I3 havingl a cutter bit or pick carrying cutter chain I4 guided for circulation about its margin. Carried by the feed frame section II is a large horizontal feed drum I 5 on which a feed cable IB is wound. Arranged near the four corners oi' the feed frame section I I at the sides of the drum are horizontal guide rollers I5, I5", I5", I5, and the feed cable may be extended from the drum about these guide rollers during the various operations of the machine. The cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer 6 is embodied in the cutter frame section I0 rearwardly of the motor frame section Il, at the advancing side of the cutter bar. The motor frame section I2 houses the motory 1, which is herein preferably an electric motor, having its armature shaft I1 horizontally disposed and extending longitudinal of the machine frame at one side of the longitudinal center of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1.

Now referring to the detail structure of the kerf cutting mechanism 4, it will be noted that fixed to the rear end of the motor shaft I1 is a spur motor pinion 2U (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) adapted to mesh with and drive a spur gear 2|. This spur gear is splined at 22 (Fig. 3) to a horizontal longitudinally extending shaft 23 suitably journaled within the cutter frame section. This spur gear has its hub annularly grcoved at 24 with which a shipper yoke 25 (Figs. 8 -and.9) engages, and this yoke is secured to a longitudinal control rod 26 having a handle 21 conveniently located at the front end of the machine (Figs. 1 and 14). Thus the spur gear 2| may be slid at will into and out of mesh with the motor pinion. The shaft 23 has keyed thereto a bevel pinion 23 which meshes with and drives a large horizontal bevel gear 29 (Fig. 3) which has its hub keyed to a vertical tubular shaft 30. The shaft 30 is journaled at its upper end on a roller bearing 3| supported by a detachable top cover plate 32, and is journaled near its longitudinal center on a roller bearing 33 supported by a circular bearing support or bearing annulus 34, coaxial with the shaft 38 and on which'the cutter bar or jib is pivotally mounted, as hereinafter explained. A cap 35, detachably secured to the cover plate, has an integral shaft 36 which extends centrally through the tubular shaft 30 and is threadedly attached at 31 within a threaded boss integral with a detachable bottom plate 38. The shaft 36 rigidly ties the superimposed top and bottom plates of the cutter frame section together. Keyed to the lower portion of the shaft 30 is the hub of a chain sprocket 39 which engages and drives the'endless cutter chain I4. The lower end of the shaft 38 is annularly grooved at 49 and a split ring 4| secured as by screws to the sprocket hub has a flange 42 fitting in this groove to hold the sprocket against displacement axially of the shaft. The upper end of the shaft 36 is grooved to receive a split ring 43 which engages the upper surface of the inner race of the upper roller bearing 3|. The lower end of the hub of the bevel gear 29 and the upper end of the sprocket-hub abut the opposed end surfaces of the inner race of the lower roller bearing 33. A dirt seal 44 carried in a recess in the upper portion of the tubular shaft 38 sealingly engages the inner shaft 36 to prevent access of dirt to the upper roller bearing. The bearing support 34 carries a similar dirt seal 45 which sealingly engages the sprocket hub to prevent access of dirt to the lower roller bearing and to prevent leakage of lubricant from the frame chamber 46 in which the bevel gears are arranged.

In this improved construction, the bearing support or annulus 34 supports bearing sleeves 48 (Fig. 3) on which a hub 49 of a hanger frame 59 is swivelled, and the cutter bar I3 is secured to and supported by this hanger frame to swing horizontally relative to the machine frame. An annular retaining plate is secured as by screws to the bottom of the bearing annulus 34 for retaining the hub of the hanger frame in position on its bearings. The hanger frame has an upstanding boss 52 grooved at 53 to receive an arcuate guiding flange 54 on the cutter frame. A

rotary locking pin 55 is arranged in a b'ore in the boss 52 and is grooved at 56 to receive the guide flange 54 and has a circular body portion which, upon rotation of the pin, is receivable in any one of three spaced notches 51 in the guide flange 54 for rigidly locking the cutter bar in its different positions to the machine frame. The feed cable I6 is attachable to this locking pin for effecting swinging of the cutter bar I3 on its swivel mounting, ask hereinafter explained. From the foregoing, it will be evident that when the gear. 2| is in mesh with the motor pinion 20 and the motor is running, the cutter chain |4 may be rapidly circulated about the margin of the cutter bar I3 through the motor pinion, the spur gear 2|, the shaft 23, the bevel pinionr 28, the bevel gear 29, the vertical shaft 39 and the chain drive sprocket 36, and when the gear 2| is slid out of mesh with the motor pinion the cutter chain may remain idle during running of the machine motor. The pivotal mounting structure for the kerf cutting mechanism is being claimed in my copending divisional application Serial No. 252,846 mentioned above.

The feeding mechanism 5 is being claimed in my copending divisional application Serial N0. 163,391 above referred to and comprises a spur pinion 63 (Fig. 14) keyed to the front end of the motor shaft |1 and meshing with and driving a spur gear 6| secured to a horizontal, longitudinally extending shaft 62 suitably journaled inthe feed frame section Secured to and driven by the shaft 62 is a worm 63 (Figs. 16 and 17) meshing with and driving a worm wheel 64 (Fig. 15), the latter in turn having its hub 65 secured to a vertical shaft 66, herein journaled on an upper ball bearing 61 supported by a bearing boss 61 integral with a top cover plate 68 and on a lower ball bearing 69 supported within a bearing boss 69 integral with a horizontal web 10 of the feed frame section. The gear hub 65 has an eccentric portion or crank 1I, to be later referred to. Formed on the upper portion of the gear hub 65 is a spur gear 12 meshing with and driving a spur gear 13 having its hub journaled on a bearing 14 supported by a vertical shaft portion 15 of a swinging gear support 16. The support 16 comprises upper and lower support sections 11 and 18 secured together as by a screw 19 yarranged within the shaft portion 15, and these support sections have hubs swivelly mounted on the bearing bosses 61' and 69' (Fig. 15) to swing in horizontal planes. The gear 12 is adapted to mesh with and drive a spur gear 8| (Fig. 17) having its tubular hub journaled in upper and lower ball bearings 82 and 83 respectively supported by the cover plate 68 and the horizontal web 10. The gear hub is keyed to a vertical shaft 84 which has secured thereto and drives a spur gear 85 meshing with a large internal gear 86 onv the cable winding drum I5 of the feeding mechanism. The feed drum has a hub 81 journaled on vertically spacedr ball bearings 88 supported by a vertical shaft 89 provided with a top flange 96 secured as by screws to the frame-web 18. A detachable bottom plate 9| is secured to the feed frame section and has an upstanding boss 92 secured as by a screw to the shaft 89. The drum is arranged horizontally between the horizontal web 10 and the bottom plate 9|, as shown in Fig. l5. It will be seen from the foregoing description that when the gear 13 is swung into mesh with the gear 8| the feed drum may be driven in cable winding direction at a relatively high speed suitable for machine-maneuvering through the motor pinion 80, spur gear 6|, shaft 82, worm gearing 88, 84, shaft 58, spur gears 12 and 18, spur gear 8|, shaft 84 and spur gear 85 meshing with the drum-gear 84. The swingable support 18 may be swung on its pivotal mounting by an eccentric portion or crank 88 (Figs. 14, 15 and 16) received in a vertical slot 84 (Fig. l5) in the lower support section 18, and this crank is integral with an operating shaft 85 which is horizontally and longitudinally disposed and suitably journaled within bearing sleeves 86 supported within the feed frame section. Secured to this shaft is the hub 81 of an operating lever 88 likewise conveniently located at the front end of the machine. Thus the swingable support 18 may be swung to move the high speed gear 13 into and out of mesh with the gear 8|. The operating lever 88 has a conventional detent lock for holding the same in its different positions of adjustment.

Now referring to the variable low speed drive for effecting rotation of the feed drum |5 in cable winding direction through a wide range of low feeding speeds suitable for cutting, it will be noted that pivotally connected to the crank 1| is one end of a connecting rod or link (Figs. l5 and 16) which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to an oscillatory pawl carrier |0| of a step by step ratchet and pawl device. This pawl carrier comprises upper and lower plates |82 and |08 provided with hubs |04 pivotally mounted on bearing sleeves |05 supported by the hub |08 of a toothed ratchet wheel |01 (Fig. 16). '111e hub of this ratchet wheel is keyed at |08 to the hub of the gear 8| (Fig. 17). The carrierplates |02, |08 are secured together by studs |08, ||0, and the stud |08 supports bearing sleeves for the connecting rod |00. The other stud 0 supports bearing sleeves for a pivoted driver pawl I which is yieldingly urged toward engagement with the ratchet teeth by a coiled tension spring ||2. A second pawl ||8 (Fig. 16) suitably pivoted at ||4 on the feed frame is yieldingly held in engagement with the ratchet teeth by a coiled tension spring ||5. The pawl ||8 is reversely positioned with respect to the pawl and serves to hold the ratchet wheel against reverse rotation during movement of the driver pawl into its different tooth engaging positions. A shield member ||8 (Fig. 18) is rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve ||1 (Fig. 1'1) supported by the hub of the ratchet wheel, and this shield is rotatable about an axis alined with the axis of rotation of the ratchet Wheel, and is adapted variably to shroud the ratchet teeth to vary the engagement of the driver pawl with the ratchet teeth to obtain variable speed drive, as later explained. This shrouding-shield ||6 is formed with a bevel gear segment |8 with which a bevel gear ||8 formed on a horizontal longitudinally extending shaft |20 (Fig. 17), meshes. The shaft |20 is journaled within the feed frame section and has keyed thereto the hub |2| of an operating lever |22 likewise conveniently located at the front end of the machine. The lever |22 has a conventional detent lock for holding the same in its different positions. Thus the shield may be turned by the lever to vary the action of the driver pawl on the ratchet wheel to provide a wide range of intermittent variable speeds. The shield ||6 has circumferentially spaced, smooth arcuate surfaces |23 and |24 (Fig. 18) so that when the lever |22 is in its position to release the ratchet-drive these surfaces respec- 8 tively serve to hold the pawls and ||8 out of contact with the ratchet teeth, with the pawl: riding back and forth along the surfaces |28 and |24 as the pawl carrier oscillates.

An interlock is provided between the high and low speed control levers 98 and |22 so that when the high speed drive is effective the low speed drive is maintained in its inoperative position. and vice versa. This interlock comprises a sliding locking bar or locking plunger |25 guided at |25 on the feed frame section and having tapered portions |21 at its opposite ends selectively receivable in appropriately located detent-notches |28 and |28 in the lever hubs. This shiftable locking bar is of such a length that it must be received in one notch before it can be released from the other notch. In Fig. 4, the fast speed lever 88 is locked against movement by the locking bar |25 while the low speed lever |22 is free to be turned. In Fig. 5, the locking bar |25 is in its opposite position with the low speed lever |22 located in off position and with the high speed lever 88 free to be turned. Thus the concurrent connection of the high and low speed drives with the feed drum is prohibited.

The cuttings-removing mechanism or socalled gummer 8 will now be described in detail. As shown in Fig. 3, the shaft 28 of the cutter chain drive has a worm |85 formed thereon which meshes with a worm wheel |88 (see also Figs. 6 and 7) having its hub keyed -to alined horizontal shafts |81. These shafts extend across the cutter frame section I0 rearwardly of the motor and are journaled on laterally spaced ball bearings |88, |88 arranged at opposite ends of the worm wheel hub, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and supported within a bearing bracket |88 integral with the cutter frame section. Arranged within this bearing bracket at the outer sides of the bearings are dirt seals |48 which sealingly engage the shafts |81 to prevent access of dirt to the ball bearings. The cutter frame section has side recesses or chambers |4| and |42, and the tubular shafts |81 extend in opposite directions from the bearings |88 substantially to the inner walls |48 of these recesses. as shown. Arranged in the recess |4| at the outer side of the machine remote from the side from which the cutter ybar projects, i. e. the side of the machine remote from the coal face and nearer to the prop line, is a conveyor screw or spiral conveyor |44 secured to one end of a shaft |45 which is telescopically arranged in and spllned at |45 to the tubular shafts |81. The hub of the conveyor screw |44 is secured to the shaft |45 by a bolt |48 which is adapted to shear upon overload and prevent damage to the parts.

. The shaft |45 supports a bearing sleeve |41 on which the conveyor hub is journaled so that the conveyor may freely revolve relative to the shaft upon shearing of the bolt. A screw and washer |48, |48 attached to the opposite end of the shaft |45 serve to secure the shafts |81 and |45 axially together, and the screw |48 is readily accessible through the opposite empty recess |42 so that the conveyor screw may be readily detached from the shaft |81, and reversed end for end and reattached to the opposite end of the shaft |81 with the conveyor screw at that time received in the opposite recess |42, thereby to enable the gumrner to operate in the reverse direction with the cutter bar swung to the opposite side of the machine frame, as later explained more in detail. Attached to the cutter frame section I8 at the face side of the machine is a combined guard and conveyor housing member 50 which has a narrow forward longitudinal vertical deiiector wall portion and a relatively wide partially-ci-rcular housing portion |52. The Wall of each recess |4|, |42 is partially circular at |53 and the wall |54 of the housing portion |52 cooperates with the recess Wall Ito provide a substantially circular enclosure for the spiral vanes of the conveyor screw. The combined guard and housing member |50 is transposable, and, like the conveyor screw, may be placed at either side of the cutter frame section, depending upon the direction in which the machine is operating to cut, and has a bottom positioning pin |55 which is receivable in either one of a pair of longitudinal notches or slots |56 in the bottom plate 38 of the cutter frame section. The guard and housing member |50 also has an upper guide rib |51 which is receivable in either one of a pair of longitudinal guide slots '|58 cut in the bottom of the arcuate guide flange 54 at the opposite sides of the cutter frame section, and stop pins |59 secured to the cutter frame section (Fig. 13) near the inner ends of the guide slots serve to limit inward movement of the guide rib |51 in either slot, properly to position the partially circular housing portion |52 with respect to the cooperating recess wall. An eye-bolt |60 is pivotally connected at |B| to the guide and housing member |50 and is selectively receivable in notches |62 formed in the opposite sides of the arcuate guide flange 54 and a wing nut |63 threaded on the bolt, when tightened, clamps the guard and housing member firmly in position. Thus the conveyor screw |44 and the guard and housing member |50 may be detached and transposed into positions at either side of the cutter frame section. The conveyor screw 44, when the gear 2| is slid into mesh with the motor pinion 20, may be driven from the machine motor and operates in unison with the cutter chain, and the conveyor screw may be disconnected from its drive whenever the gear 2| is slid out of mesh with the motor pinion. The conveyor screw is so arranged at the advancing side `of the cutter bar or jib, as shown in Fig. 6, that the incoming run of the cutter chain moves the cuttings back from the kerf inwardly through the chamber |42 beneath the bearing bracket |39 (Fig. '7) for the conveyor drive shaft, toward the 'conveyor screw, and the conveyor screw receives the 4cuttings and forces them outwardly through the chamber 4| at the outer side of the machine. The vertical deflector portion |5| of the guard member serves to direct any cuttings which might be carried past the conveyor screw lby the cutter chain (as the latter moves around the drive sprocket 39) in a rearward direction into the machine path at the trailing side of the cutter bar, and also serves to prevent the pile of cuttings which have been discharged laterally from the conveyor screw from crowding back toward the path of the cutter chain. Due to the location of the screw conveyor |44 at the advancing side of the cutter bar, as shown in Fig. 6, the rear end of the cutter frame section is lmaintained yopen so that free access to the cutter bits or picks for setting purposes is at all times provided. Simp1y by removing the guard and housing member 50 from the machine frame the cutter bar may be swung horizontally to either side of the machine frame, and the guard and housing member may be quickly and readily released from the machine frame simply by loosening the wing nut |63 and throwing out the eye-bolt |60 from its cooperating notch |62 and sliding the same in a rearward direction from the cutter frame section. In like manner, the guard and housing member may be quickly reattached to the cutter frame section at the opposite side of the machine frame.

The general mode of operation of the improved coal mining machine is as follows. The machine may be fed over the mine floor during maneuvering by the feed cable |6 which is extended from the feed drum and attached at its free end to an anchor jack and wound in at a high speed by the feed drum 5 through the high speed gearing, and during such maneuvering the cutter bar |3 is usually locked by the pin 55 in longitudinal alinement with the machine frame as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the mining machine is properly positioned with respect to the coal face, the fast speed drive for the feed drum is disconnected and the feed cable is detached from the anchor jack and extended rearwardly from the drum around the guide roller |5a, along the face side of the machine and attached at its free end to the locking pin 55 on the bar hanger frame. The handle 2l is then positioned to place the gear 2| in mesh with the motor pinion 20'to connect the cutter chain |4 to the machine motor. The locking pin 55 is then turned into its unlocked position, and as the feed drum |5 is rotated at a slow speed to wind in the feed cable the cutter bar is swung horizontally about its pivot into its sumped position within the coal, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The locking pin is then turned into its locking position to lock the cutter bar rigidly to the machine frame, and the feed cable is detached from the locking pin and is extended forwardly from the machine around the guide roller |5b to an anchor jack located at the coal face in advance of the machine. The lever |22 is then positioned to connect the intermittent slow speed drive, with the ratchet set to obtain the desired feeding speed, and the feed drum is rotated to Wind in the feed cable to advance the machine in an endwise direction forwardly along the coal face thereby to cut a horizontal' kerf beneath the coal. By varying the position of the shroudingshield ||6 the engagement of the driver pawl with the ratchet teeth may be varied thereby to vary the intermittent low speed drive of the feed drum between the maximum and minimum limits, as desired. As the mining machine is advanced at a low cutting speed along the coal face, the cuttings created by the cutter bits or picks of the cutter chain and carried back from the kerf by the incoming run of the cutter chain, are received by the conveyor screw |44 and ejected laterally from the outer side of the machine toward the line of the roof props. When it is desired to cut in the opposite direction, the conveyor screw |44 and the combined guard and housing member |50 maybe detached from the machine, the feed cable is wound in the opposite direction on the feed drum, the cutter bits are reversed on the cutter chain and the machine motor is reversed, and then the feed cable is attached to the locking pin on the bar hanger frame to swing the cutter bar into a substantially right angle position at the opposite side of the machine frame, and the bar is thereafter locked in position by the pin. The conveyor screw and the combined guard and housing member are then reattached to the opposite side of the cutter L directions by a simple repositioning of parts. The

kerf cutting mechanism is simple and rugged in design, enabling eflicient cutting of coal. By the building of the cuttings-removing mechanism or so-called gummer directly in the machine at the advancing side of the cutter bar the cuttings are effectually removed from the vicinity of the incoming run of the cutter chain as rapidly as they are carried back from the kerf and are positively ejected from the side of the machine out of the machine path. The novel location of the cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer within the limits of the machine frame maintains the overall dimensions of the machine at a minimum. The cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer may operate in a reverse direction during reverse cutting by a simple transposition of parts, and the removal of but a single part enables swinging of the cutter bar into its reversed positions at either side of the machine frame. Moreover, due to the novel location of the cuttings-removing mechanism or gummer free access to the cutter bits or picks for setting purposes is at all times provided. Other advantages of the invention will -be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modied and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A reversible cuttings-removing mechanism adapted for use with a reversible coal cutting machine of the longwall type comprising a frame movable endwise along a longwall face and on the rearward portion of which a cutter bar is pivotally mounted for horizontal swinging movement into positions at either side of said frame depending upon the direction of operation of the machine, and about which bar an endless cutter chain is guided for orbital circulation, said frame having a chamber for receiving the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the incoming run of the cutter chain and having coaxial bores one at each side of said frame between the advancing end of the latter and the bar pivot with said bores extending transversely of said frame at the leading side of said cutter chain in either bar position and communicating with said chamber, said cutter bar being swingable horizontally about its pivot into its reversed positions with respect to said frame at the opposite sides of the latter as aforesaid and the incoming run of the cutter chain in either reversed position of said bar moving through the then-vacant bore at the inner face side of the frame, a transposable conveyor screw disposable in said bore at the outer side of said frame remote from the coal face for receiving the cuttings within said frame-chamber and for moving the cuttings laterally in said outer bore and for positively ejecting the cuttings from sald bore at the outer side of said frame, and driving mechanism on said trame for rotating said conveyor screw in either of its transposed p0- sitions in said bores.

2. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said driving mechanism for said conveyor screw comprises transverse shafting journaled within said frame, said screw having a drive shaft secured thereto, and a releasable connection is provided between said transverse shafting and said screw shaft whereby said screw may be driven by said shafting in either of its transposed positions.

3. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transverse shatting is hollow and said screw is axially receivable in said hollow shafting, and said releasable connection comprises splineways on said screw-shaft coactng with splines within said hollow shalting whereby said screw shaft may be removed axially from its splined connection with said shafting without disturbing the relation oi' said shating with respect to its journal within said frame.

4. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set .forth in claim 2 wherein said releasable connection is located with the then-vacant bore at the face side of the machine and serves to secure said screw shaft and said hollow shafting against relative axial displacement, and said releasable connections being accessible from the exterior of the machine through said inner bore.

5. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse bores have partially circular walls, and a transposable guard is attachable to said frame at the outer side thereof during either direction of operation of the machine for directing the cuttings toward the conveyor screw in either of the reversed positions of the latter, and having a curved housing portion cooperating with the bore-walls to provide a complete circular bore in which the conveyor screw is receivable with the bore-walls completely surrounding the screw and having an open inner end for receiving the cuttings conveyed inwardly into said chamber by the incoming run of the cutter chain.

6. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said guard extends longitudinally along the open outer side of said frame outwardly of the cutter chain further to E provide the cuttings discharged laterally from the outer side of said frame by said conveyor screw from crowding back toward the cutter chain in either transposed position of said guard.

7. A cuttings-removing mechanism adapted for use with a coal cutting machine and comprising a frame having a chamber in which the inner portion of the cutter chain is arranged whereby the cuttings are brought back from the kerf by the incoming run of the cutter chain into said chamber, said frame having a transverse bore at one side thereof, said bore having a partially circular wall, a removable guard and housing member attached to said frame at said side and having a curved housing portion cooperating with the bore-walls to provide a substantially circular-wall bore, and a conveyor screw journaled on said frame and arranged in said bore with the circular walls of the latter surrounding said screw whereby the latter may receive cuttings in said chamber and move 13 them outwardly through said bore to discharge laterally from the outer side of said frame.

8. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set forth in claim 7 wherein said guard extends longitudinally along said side of said frame outwardly of the cutter chain for preventing the cuttings discharged laterally from said frame by said conveyor screw from crowding back toward the cutter chain in said chamber.

9. In combination, a frame movable endwise along a longwall face, a cutter bar mounted on the rearward end portion of and projecting laterally from said frame, said bar having an endless cutter chain guided for circulation about its margin, said frame having a chamber in which the inner portion of said cutter chain is arranged whereby the incoming run of said chain brings the cuttings back from the kerf into said chamber, motor operated driving connections for said cutter chain including a horizontal shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, said frame having a transverse bore located in a transverse zone between the front advancing end of said frame and the forward side of said chamber at the leading side of said cutter chain and communicating with said chamber, a conveyor screw arranged in said bore and journaled on said frame for moving the cuttings in said chamber outwardly through said bore and for ejecting the cuttings laterally from the outer side of said frame, and a driving connection between said longitudinally extending horizontal shaft and said conveyor screw.

10. A cuttings-removing mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein said driving connection between said longitudinal shaft and said conveyor screw includes a worm on said shaft, a worm wheel meshing with and driven by said worm, and transverse shafting journaled within said frame in coaxial relation with said bore and driven by said worm wheel, and a connection is provided between said transverse shafting and said conveyor screw whereby said shafting effects screw rotation.

11. A reversible cuttings-removing mechanism adapted for use with a reversible coal cutting machine of the longwall type comprising a frame movable endwise along a longwall face and on which a cutter bar is mounted with said bar projecting laterally from the rearward end portion of said frame and carrying a reversible endless cutter chain, said frame having a chamber within which the inner portion of the cutter chain is arranged whereby the cuttings brought back from the kerf by the incoming run of the cutter chain are discharged into said chamber irrespective of the direction of operation of the machine, said frame having transverse bores one at each side of said frame with said bores located between the advancing end of said frame and the forward side of said chamber, said bores communicating with the forward side of said chamber, and a transposable conveyor screw positionable selectively within said bores at the opposite sides of said frame depending upon the direction of operation of the machine and in either transposed operating position located at the advancing side of said cutter bar in adjacency to the incoming run of the cutter chain, said conveyor screw in either transposed operating position moving the cuttings from said chamber through its bore to discharge at the outer side of said frame.

LEON E. SIMMONS.

References Cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,626,132 Davis Apr. 26, 1927 1,815,873 Holmes July 21, 1931 2,005,523 Moore June 18, 1935 2,187,301 Cline Jan. 16, 1940 2,211,781 Joy et al Aug. 20, 1950 2,268,260 Mavor Dec. 30, 1941 2,320,307 Saville May 25, 1943 2,329,837 Jeffrey Sept. 21, 1943 2,394,005 Osgood Feb. 5, 1946 2,429,323 Lindgren Oct. 21, 1947 2,448,056 Simmons Aug. 31, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 417,357 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1934

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