US2796999A - Tunneling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1957 J. D. RUSSELL 9 2,796,999

TUNNELING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 26. 1951 mm vhmw. Rm,

VENTOR RUSSELL.

AT RNEY QN o ,.1 I M v N Nm h, r H. N f rw\ P r m mv Nv n I Q @www R S Q Nw, Q o Y m June 25, 1957 J. D. RUSSELL TUNNELING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26'. 1951 l '|NvENToR: JOHN D. Russi-:PL

r ATTORNEY WYE@ .vdi

June 25, 1957 J. D. RUSSELL TUNNELING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26. 1951 QM mh, Q /j ,J/ .vwl Mm. wm. mM. QW. uw QQ w /lrx rfi/.f fk E b. i uw; .l 1.51.1-. a a vw f .m55 w mw. QM. %W.Qm\ M m NN mvENToR: JOHN D. RUSSELL BY m ATTORNEY United States Patent() M TUNNELING APPARATUS John D. Russell, Victory Heights, Pa., assignor to .ley

Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 26, 1951, Serial No. 238,634

24 Claims. (Cl. 214-41) This invention relates to tunneling apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for drilling rounds of blast holes in a tunnel face and for loading the muck into a train of mine cars without the necessity for switching cars or passing machinery.

In tunnel work the Working face of the tunnel is usually drilled by a battery of rock drills with a round of blast holes and the face is blasted, and the loose muck is loaded into mine cars which travel along a trackway laid on the tunnel floor. Usually in such tunnel work a separate drilling machine is brought up to the face to effect blast hole drilling, and then the drilling machine is brought back from the face and a separate loading machine is brought up to effect loading out of the muck. This necessitates passing machinery requiring turnouts, cherry pickers, etc., and greatly increasing the time consumed during the tunneling operation. The entire equipment must be moved back from the face during blasting and this, together with the passing of machinery, frequently requires a certain amount of dismantling of equipment together with additional pieces of equipment. The present invention contemplates improvements over known types of tunneling apparatus in that the undesirable and time consuming features pointed out above are substantially eliminated. The apparatus of the present invention includes a conveyor train designed to negotiate the usual trackway laid on the tunnel iloor and desirably made up of a series of articulated sections suilcient to accommodate the length of a mine car train which has suicient capacity to hold the muck from one round. The conveyor train may embody a wheel-supported or mobile trackway adapted to travel along the usual trackway of the tunnel and the frame of the mobile trackway carries the conveyor mechanism which serves to convey the muck discharged from the loading machine to the cars of the train. The loading machine is desirably supported on the tunnel floor in advance and independently of the tunnel-trackway and is connected by an extensible draft gear with the conveyor train and desirably has mobile mounting means whereby it has a substantial Yrange of movement over the tunnel floor relative to the conveyor train. The loading machine may carry a battery of rock drills whereby a round of blast holes may be quickly drilled in the tunnel face and these drills may be readily retracted and adjusted into collapsed position when not in use. By embodying the drilling machine, the loading machine and the conveyor train in a single unitary structure all necessity for switching of cars and passing of machinery together with the necessity for certain special equipment are eliminated.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor train having loading and drilling equipment associated therewith whereby relatively great exibility is attained and the need of passing machinery and switching of mine cars is eliminated. Another object is to provide an improved wheel supported trackway adapted to travel along the usual mine car trackway laid on the tunnel floor and embodying a ICC series of articulated sections of sufficient cumulative length to receive a train of mine cars and having improved supporting means for the conveyor mechanism whereby the latter may move with the mobile trackway as a unit. A further object is to provide an improved mobile trackway adapted to receive and support a train of mine cars and having conveyor mechanism supported thereon longitudinally above the train of cars for conveying the loose muck discharged from the loading machine to the several cars of the train whereby a complete round may be loaded out without the necessity of switching the cars. A still further object is to provide an improved mobile loading and drilling unit having improved adjustable supporting means for a battery of drill jibs which support rock drills for drilling blast holes in the tunnel face and whereby the drill jibs may be disposed in retracted, collapsed position when not in use. Another object is to provide an improved loading machine having an improved adjustable mounting for the loading head for laterally swinging and tilting the latter. Still another object is to provide an improved extensible conveyor arrangement between the loading machine and the conveyor mechanism carried by the mobile trackway whereby the muck discharged from the loading machine may be conveyed to the conveyor mechanism in the various positions of the loading machine with respect to the mobile trackway. Other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear in the course of the ensuing description and as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

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

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a tunneling apparatus constructed in accordance with a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, showing the loading machine retracted from the tunnel face.

Fig. 2 is a plan view in the tunneling apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Fig. l, but with the loading machine in its advanced position and with the battery of drill jibs adjusted forwardly in drilling position on the loading machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the tunneling apparatus shown in Fig. l, and with certain parts shown in vertical section.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal vertical section taken through the loading machine, with parts omitted to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the planes of line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational showing the ramp between the tunnel trackway and the mobile trackway.

In this illustrative construction, as shown in the drawings, the improved tunneling apparatus is generally designated 1 and generally comprises a mobile trackway 2, an upper conveying mechanism 3 carried by the mobile trackway, and a loading machine 4 tlexibly connected by draft gear 5 to the front end of the mobile trackway. Carried by the loading machine is a battery of drills 6, and the mobile trackway is adapted to receive and support a train of mine `cars 7. An extensible conveyor 8 is arranged intermediate the conveyor mechanism 3 and the loading machine 4 for conveying the loose muck discharged from the loading machine to the conveyor mech- Patented June 25, 1957 anism in the dilerent positions of the loading machine with respect to the mobile trackway.

While it is evident that the mobile trackway may be supported and propelled `in various manners, 'it is herein, for illustrative purposes, desirably mounted on small flanged wheels adapted to travel along the usual trackway 11 laid on the tunnel floor. The mobiletrackway has a frame 12 which provides parallel tracks 13 of the same gauge as the usual trackway 11, and the mine cars 7 have conventional flanged wheels 14 adapted to travel along either the usual trackway 11 or the trackway 13 of the mobile trackway, and the latter may be provided with a conventional adjustable ramp 15 whereby the mine cars may readily move from the mine trackway to the mobile trackway and vice versa (Fig. 9). This ramp may be either pivotally mounted on the rear track section or may be removable and laid aside when not in use. The mobile trackway is desirably made up of articulated sections 16 which are pivotally coupled together at 17, and the frame of each section carries a pair of vertical standards 18 of generally C shape, as shown in Fig. 5, and the upper conveyor mechanism, which is likewise made up of sections 19 cumulatively extending substantially -coextensive with the trackway sections and having overlapping ends as shown, so that the conveyor mechanism may ex laterally and vertically with the mobile trackway as the latter travels along acurvcd and uneven trackway laid on the tunnel floor. Each section of the conveyor mechanism comprises an elongated frame 20 which may be substantially the combined length of two mine cars, as shown in Fig. 4, and an endless conveyor belt 21 is suitably guided for circulation relative to the frame of each section. Each endless conveyor of each section may be driven by one or more motors 22.

The mine cars 7 also are of a conventional design and each has a frame 23 mounted on the wheels 14 and carrying a hopperlike body or muck-receiving receptacle 24, and the car frames are flexibly coupled together by conventional couplings 2S. Evidently, any suitable type of mine or muck car may be employed to haul the muck from the tunnel face.

While the conveyor mechanism 3 is shown supported by the G-frames or standards 18 arranged only at one -side of the mobile trackway, it is evident that when certain types of mine cars are employed these O-frames may be duplicated on the opposite sides of the trackwayframes. The mine cars disclosed are of the so-called Granby type and due to their construction, compel the elimination of the C-.frames at the side thereof which cooperates with the automatic dumping mechanism in a well-known manner. It is not desired to limit the present invention to any particular type of mine car, however.

The liexible draft gearS likewise may assume various forms and herein, for illustrative purposes, comprises an extensible draw bar 28 having telescopically arranged elements and pivotally connected at its rear end at 29 to a swiveled plate 30, the latter being turnable relative to the trackway frame about a vertical axis. Thus, the telescopic draw bar may swing either in Vertical and horizontal planes with respect to the mobile trackway. 'Ihe draw bar is pivotally connected at its front end at 31 to a coupling member 32 in turn swiveled at 33 on an upright axis on the frame of the loading machine 4. The extensible draw bar has a conventional clamp 34 which may be operated in any suitable manner and which serves rigidly to clamp the draw bar parts against extensible movement when desired.

Now referring to the mobile loading machine 4, it will be noted that the lower machine frame or base frame is designated 37 and supported and propelled `at its forward end lby a crawler unit 38 and is supported at its rearward end by rubber-tired steering wheels 39. The steering wheels 39 are journaled on an axle 40 which is pivoted at 41 on a swiveled support-42 to rock in transverse planes relative to the lowermachine frame 37. The

4 crawler treads of the crawler device are suitably motor driven and may be controlled in a well-known manner to effect propulsion and steering of the loading machine in cooperation with the steering wheels 39. Mounted on the base frame is a rearwardly and upwardly inclined, rigid upper frame 43 which carries at its lower, forward portion a conventional Joy type gathering and loading head 44 having usual gathering arms 45 mounted for out of step oscillatory movement in a well-known manner. These gathering arms when driven serve to gather the loose muck on the tunnel lloor and to move it rearward-ly onto an elevating conveyor 46 of the endless belt type, the latter being driven by one or more motors 47. Swivelly mounted on a vertical pivot shaft 48 carried by the machine frame and desirably secured to the swiveled support 42, is an upstanding U-frame 49 and the rearward end of the conveyor 43 is pivotally connected at 50 to the upper portions Vof the upstanding frame-arms S1 which carry a horizontal pivot shaft 52. Pivotally mounted on the forward end of the machine frame 37 intermediate the treads of the crawler device 38 are parallel, vertically tiltable and Ihorizontally swingable supporting arms 53 which are pivotally connected at their forward ends at 54 to a frame 54a carrying a swiveled plate 55 Yturriable about an upright axis and on which the forward portion of the upper conveyor frame 43 is mounted.

The pivoted arms S3 lie outside of parallel horizontal supports 56 which are formed integral with and project outwardly from the frame of a horizontal turntable 57 mounted, as shown in Fig. 7, at the forward portion of the machine frame intermediate the crawler treads to turnabout a vertical axis. These parallel horizontal supports have longitudinal slots or guideways 58 along which a transverse pivot shaft 59 is suitably guided for backand forth longitudinal movement. The arms 53 have longitudinal slots or guideways 60, inclined relative to the guideways 58 when the arms are tilted downwardly as shown in Fig. 7, through which the pivot shaft 59 projects, and a hydraulic jack 61 is connected to the pivot shaft and to the shaft of the arm pivots for moving the pivot shaft longitudinally along the support guide- Aways 58 to effect swinging of the arms S3 in a vertical direction about their pivots; it being noted that the guideways 60 provide a camming or wedging action in coaction with the pivot shaft to effect tilting of the arms. Apivoted link connection 62 is arranged between the conveyor frame 43 and the pivot shaft 52 and includes a suitable slotted connection to permit limited, longitudinal, guided movement of the conveyor frame 43 relative to its pivotal mounting on the upper portion of the U-frame 49, as the conveyor frame is tilted in a vertical direction Vupon'the swinging of the arms' 53 about their pivots.

Thus, the upper conveyor frame 43, due to its mounting on thearms 53 and the swiveled U-frame 49, may swing horizontally relative to the base frame. Upon tilting movement of the conveyor frame 43 the loading head 44 may be raised and lowered with respect to the tunnel floor. By trapping liquid in the cylinder of the hydraulic jack 61 the loading head may be rigidly held in its different positions of vertical adjustment.

A conventional reversible hydraulic motor 65 is mounted on the forward portion of the frame 37 and drives, through conventional speed reducing gearing, a chain sprocket 66 which engages the intermediate portion of a chainV section 67 which is fastened at its ends at 68 to the opposite sides of the turntable 57. Thus, the turntable may be rotated to swing the arms 53 horizontally relative to the base frame thereby to vary the lateral location of the loading head 44 with respect to the machine base.' By trapping liquid within the motor 65 the turntable may be locked in adjusted position.

The intermediate conveyor 8 has a frame 69 pivotally connected'at its rear end at 70 to a swiveled support 71 turnable about VaV vertical axis on the forward portion of the' .frame Of the front section of the conveying mechanismY 3, tol tilt inv vertical planes and to swinghorizontally relative thereto.v The forward portion of. the-intermediate conveyor frame is supported by curved guides 72 secured to its sides and which are slidingly receivedr in guide members 73 (see Fig. 6), the latter being pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 74 carried by the upstanding arms 7Sy of a U-frame 76 herein desirably nested within the U-frame 49 and swivelly mounted on the vertical pivot shaft 48 to turn about a vertical axis. An endless conveyor belt 77 is guided on the frame 61 and is driven by one or more motors 78 as. the loading machine movesover the tunnel floor the conveyor belt of the intermediate conveyor always underlies the discharge end of the elevating conveyor 46.

The rear steering wheels 39 may have any conventional type of steering gear associated therewith but for illustrative purposes hydraulic, single-acting, steering jack cylinders 80 are pivotally connected between the rear rocking axle 40 and the machine frame 37 for turning the axle horizontally about the swivel axis of the support 42` to elect turning movement of the steering wheels in one direction or the other. The steering jacks have usual universal pivotal connections withthe axle and the frame so that they may rock freely both in horizontal and vertical planes. Evidently, a single double-acting steering jack cylinder may be used in lieu of the pair of jack cylinders to effect turning of the steering wheels in a well-known manner.

Arranged at one side of the upper frame 43 of the loading machine is a suitable operators cab 81 having an operators seat 82 and provided withk a roof 83 for protecting the operator from falling roof rock. Within thisl cab there may be provided usual control means for the various power operated elements of the tunneling apparatus, in a well-known manner.

If desired, the loading machine 4 may have adjustable track engaging wheels so that the machine may be brought` back onto the trackway 11 with the wheels 39 and the crawler device 48 in elevated inoperative position, thus enabling the entire tunneling apparatus to travel along the trackway 11 when desired. Such adjustable track engaging wheels are well known in the art and may be similar to those disclosed in the Frank A. Halleck Patent 2,030,063, owned by applicants assignee, the Joy Manufacturingv Company. Evidently, also if desired, the-loading machine may be loaded onto a separate transport tmckwhich may travel along the trackway 11, as shown in the Paul Nast Patent 1,862,938, also owned byapplicants assignee.

The drills 6 comprise adjustable drill jib mountings S5 which may be similar to that disclosed in the patent to lohnt C. Curtis, No. 2,500,931, also owned -by applicants assignee. These jibs each have a` swiveled' support 86 turnable about an upright axis and on which an elongated jib frame or boom- 87 ispivoted to swing in vertical planes with respect thereto, and to swing in horizontal planes with saidl swiveledsupport relative to the loading machine. Hydraulic jacks 88 serve to swing the jib vertically about its pivotand to hold the vjib in adjusted position. Each` swiveled support 86 is carried by a sliding frame 89 which is guided for movement along a guide 90 carried by the upper conveyor frame 43 of the loading machine as shown in Fig. l. These guides are inclined forwardly and downwardly as shown and suitable clamps 91 arel provided for locking the sliding frame-s 89 in adjusted position. Carried at the outer ends of the pivoted jib frames S7 are adjustable guide frames 92 along which conventional pneumatic hammer drilling tools 93 are guided for movement toward and from the face of the work. In Fig. 1 the drilling tools are shown in retracted, collapsed position, and in Fig. 3 the drilling tools are shown in their advanced, operative position. The drill jibs may -be swung individually about their vertical pivots and suitable locks are provided to hold the jibssin laterally adjusted position as is fully disclosed in the Curtis-patent above referred to.

The general mode of operation of the improved tunnelingy apparatus will be clearly apparent from the description given. The apparatus may be trammed as a unit along the trackway 11 laid on the tunnel floor by means of a conventional mine locomotive, and when the working face is reached the loading machine may be moved in any suitable manner from the trackway lllforwardly onto the tunnel floor, with the machine at that time self-supported on the floor by the wheels 39 and the treads of the crawler device 38. The loading machine may then act as apropulsionmeansfor the tunneling apparatus to effect movement of the mobile trackway back and forth with the machine along the trackway 11. The loading machine may be advanced relative to the mobile trackway by the provision of the extensible draw bar 5, as shown in Fig. 3, with the forward end of the machine near the face, and the drill jibs may be slid forwardly along the inclined guides and clamped in position. The drill jib mountings may be adjusted in lateral and vertical directions to locate the drilling tools 93 in the desired drilling positions with respectto the working face and a series of blast holes may be drilledvin the tunnel face. After the drilling 0peration has been completed the drills Imay be retracted on the loading machine and the latter may be moved back from the face as shown in Fig. l. Blasting charges may then be inserted in the blast holes andV the tunnel face may be blasted down in a well-known manner.

The train of mine cars is moved from the trackway 11 along the ramp 15 onto the tracks 13 of the mobile trackway, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, andafter the blasting operation the loading machine may again be advanced toward the face and the loose rock on the iloor may be loaded by the gathering arms 45 of the loading head 44 onto the belt conveyor 46 by which the muck is conveyed rearwardly and elevated to discharge onto the intermediate conveyor 77v which in turn discharges onto the front conveyor of the conveyor mechanism 3 carried by the mobile trackway. As the loading machine movesback and forth over the tunnel oor the intermediate conveyor 77 always remains in a-position to receive the muck discharged from the elevating conveyor 46. The conveyors 21 of the conveyor mechanism 3 move the muck rearwardly longitudinally along a horizontal path in the space between the tunnel roof and the tops of mine cars, and discharges at its rear en d into the cars; and the train of cars may be shifted in a suitable manner along` the tracks of the mobile trackway while the latter remains stationary onV the trackway 11, so as to effect loading of all of the cars of the train. As'the round is loaded out the train may be moved from' the mobile trackway down. along the ramp back onto the trackway 11 and the completely loaded train may be trammed along the trackway of the tunnel to its place of dumping.

As' a result of this invention an improved tunneling apparatus is provided whereby the working face of a tunnel may be drilled and the complete round of blasted down muck maybe loaded into a train of mine cars without the necessity of shifting cars. By the provision of the mobile trackway which receives the train of mine cars from thevmain trackway and which supports the conveyor mechanism, loading of the cars of the train may be eiected in an extremely ecient manner. The novel. mounting for the loading machine whereby the machine may move over the tunnel floor in advance of the trackway, and by the provision of the wide range of-adjustment for the loading head,` the muck at the face may be quickly and eiciently cleaned up and loaded out. The novelarrangement of the drills on the loading machine enables the drills to be readily advanced into drilling position with respect to the face. and to be quickly retracted into their collapsed position when drilling is completed.- The apparatus is adapted Ytoreadily negotiate the tunnel trackway, is flexible inoperation and is relatively simple and tugged efieaee in design, well adapted for its intended purpose. These and 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. In a tunneling apparatus, an elongated, articulated mobile trackway movable over the single track main trackway laid on the floor of a tunnel and having tracl: rails of a single trackway directly overlying the rails of the main tunnel trackway for receiving an entire train of coupled mine cars from the main trackway laid on the tunnel floor to provide for movement of the train of coupled cars either in unison with or relative to said mobile trackway, said mobile trackway comprising a series of articulated trackway sections coupled together in end to end relation, and an elongated conveyor mechanism carried by said mobile trackway and extending longitudinally above the train of coupled cars on the mobile trackway whereby the muck of a full round may be loaded successively into the coupled cars of the train as the latter moves bodily beneath the discharge end of said conveyor mechanism from the mobile trackway onto the tunnel trackway, said conveyor mechanism comprising a series of conveyor sections along which the muck is progressively moved from section to section and respectively supported by said sections of said mobile trackway.

2. A tunneling aparatus a-s set forth in claim l wherein a mobile loading machine may operate on the tunnel floor -in advance of the main tunnel trackway for gathering muck from the tunnel oor for delivery to said conveyor mechanism, and draw bar means is provided for exibly connecting said loading machine to said mobile trackway whereby said loading machine may serve to tram said mobile trackway and said draw bar means is extensible to provide for movement of said loading machine back and forth over the floor relative to 'said mobile trackway while said loading machine is at all times connected to said mobile trackway.

3. A tunneling lapparatus as set forth in claim l wherein said mobile trackway is mounted on track-engaging wheels and is movable along the main tunnel trackway and the track rails of the mobile trackw'ay are superimposed on, `and have the same gauge as, the track rails of said main tunnel trackway whereby the train of coupled cars may travel back and forth to and from said main tunnel trackway onto and off from the track rails of said mobile trackway.

4. In a tunneling apparatus of the character disclosed, a mobile trackW-ay movable over a single-track maintraekway laid on the floor of a tunnel and having a pair of track rails for receiving a train of cars as the latter travel from the main tra-ckway, said mobile trackway having a series of `standards spaced longitudinally therealong, `and a conveyor mechanism supported by said standards -in superimposed relation on said mobile trackway and extending longitudinally in the space between the tunnel roof land the tops of the cars lof the train for discharging the muck conveyed thereby successively into the coupled cars of the train as the latter moves bodily beneath the discharge end of said conveyor mechanism from the mobile trackwayl onto the tunnel trackway, said mobile trackway comprising a series of Varticulated sections and said conveyor mechanism also comprising a series 'of sections, eachY section of saidmo'bile trackway being provided with a trackway and carrying standards for supporting a section of said conveyor mechanism.

5. A tunneling apparatus -as set forth injclaim` 4 Where- -in said conveyor sections are each provided with a motor driven conveyor Iand the ends of adjacent conveyor sections overlap so that muck may be conveyed progressively along the length of the train lof cars on the mobile trackway.

6. In a tunneling apparatus, a mobile conveyor mechanism for conveying muck gathered from the tunnel floor rearwardly to the cars of a train, a loading machine movable -over the tunnel oor yand having a gathering mechanism and an elevating conveyor, extensible conveying means extending between said elevating conveyor and said conveyor mechanism for conveying muck to the latter in all positions of said loading machine, yand a flexible coupling means between said loading machine and said conveyor mechanism in parallelism with and beneath said extensible conveying means ,whereby Isaid loading lmachine may propel said conveyor mechanism and said coupling means permitting movement of said loading machine relative to said conveyor mechanism during the loading operation, said extensible conveying means comprising an intermediate conveyor pivotally connected to said 4conveyor mechanism and having guided sliding movement relative to said loading machine whereby said elevating conveyor may discharge muck onto said intermediate conveyor in all positions of said loading machine relative to said conveyor mechanism, said intermediate conveyor conveying the muck received thereby to said conveyor mechanism irrespective of its pivoted position relative thereto. v

7. in a tunneling apparatus lof the character disclosed, a loading machine having a base provided with propelling and steering means, an elevating conveyor mounted on said base for tilting movement in vertical planes 4and for lateral swinging movement in horizontal planes, a support swivelled at the rearward portion of lsaid base to turn about a vertical axis, said elevating conveyor supported at its rear end by said swivelled support, and a loading head carried `at the forward portion of said elevating conveyor for gathering much from the tunnel oor and for moving the muck so gathered onto said elevating conveyor, said loading head being tiltable and laterally swingable with said elevating conveyor relative to said base, said base having a turntable mounted at the forward portion thereof, projecting arms pivotally mounted on said turntable and swivelly connected to said elevating conveyor, means for rotating said turntable to swing said loading head laterally, and means for tilting said arms in vertical planes to eect raising and lowering of said loading head with respect to the tunnel oor.

8. In a tunneling 'apparatus of the character disclosed, a loading machine having a base provided with propelling and steering means movable over the floor of a tunnel, an elevating conveyor mounted on said base for tilting movement in vertical planes Iand for lateral swinging movement in horizontal planes, a loading head carried fat the forward portion of lsaid elevating conveyor for gathering muck from the tunnel floor -and for moving the muck so gathered onto said elevating conveyor, said loading head having means providing for tilting and lateral swinging movements thereof with said elevating conveyor relative to said base, a turntable mounted `at the forward portion of said base, projecting arms pivotally mounted on said turntable and swivelly connected to said elevating conveyor, means for rotating said turntable to swing said loading head laterally, means for tilting 'said arms in vertical planes to effect raising and lowering of said loading head with respect to the tunnel `tioor, yan upright support swiveled at the rear end of said base to turn about an upright axis, and a pivotal connection between the rear end of said elevating conveyor and said swiveled support.

9. ln a tunneling apparatus Ias set forthin claim'S wherein a rear conveyor is slidingly-guided on said loading machine for receiving muck dischargedfrom the rear end of said elevating conveyor, and a swiveled support coaxial with and turnable relative to said first mentioned 9 swiveledv support is provided' on: which'Y saidf rear conveyor is slidingly guided.. Y Q

10. A tunneling apparatus 'as set forthV in. claim 9 wherein a mobile conveyor mechanism is arranged'. rearwardly of said loading machine, and -a pivotal. connection is provided between said rear conveyor and the front end ofsaid conveyor mechanism whereby said rear conveyor may discharge muck onto said conveyor mechanism;

ll. In a tunneling apparatus a low height mobile trackway movable over the floor of atunneland comprising a series of articulated sections arranged in end to end relation and having wheels adapted= to engage the rails of a single-track main trackway laid on the tunnel floor, each trackway section carrying apair of rail sections and said rail sections ofthe mobile trackway cooperating to provide a'singl'e trackway, said mobile trackway Iadapted to receive a complete. trainv of coupled mine cars from saidv main trackway, anda conveyor mechanism arranged in superimposed relation on said mobile: trackway for conveying muck to the -coupledcar of the train as the latter moves 'bodily beneath. the discharge end of said conveyor mechanism-from the mobile trackway onto the tunnel trackway, said conveyor mechanismv comprising a series of conveyor sections respectively supported by the sections of said mobile trackway.

12. A tunneling apparatus as seti forth in claim 1l wherein a loading mechanism isprovided `for gathering muck from the tunnel lloor and for moving the muck so gathered upwardlyY and rearwardly to discharge onto said: conveyor mechanism, Iandv a flexible draft gear is provided between said loadingl mechanism and said mobile trackway.

l-3. In combination, in aA tunneling apparatus, an elongated, articulated'mobile'trackway adapted to travelV along atrackway laidv on thev floor of a tunnel and havingv a single-track trackway of the sam'eA gauge as the main tunnel trackway' andV along which a complete train of coupled haulage cars may move from the single-track main-tunnel trackway onto said mobile trackway' and viceversa, a loadingmachine having propellingand steering means and adapted to" traveldirectly over thetunnel floor in advance of theA trackway, an adjustable draw'bar connection between said loadingl machine and said mobile trackway to provide for movement .of the latter in.;either direction with the'loading'machine'and for movement of said loading machine relative to said mobile trackway, and cooperating conveying means on said loading machine and said mobile trackway for conveying the material gathered by said loading machine rearwardly of the latter and longitudinally along said mobile trackway to discharge into the train of coupled haulage cars as the latter moves bodily beneath the discharge end of said conveying means of said mobile trackway from the latter onto the tunnel trackway,. said mobile trackway comprising a series of articulated trackway sections coupled together in end to end relation and said conveying means comprising a series of cooperating conveyor sections for moving the muck progressively from section to section, and said conveyor sections respectively carried by said trackway sections of said mobile trackway.

14. A tunneling 'apparatus as set forth in claim l2 wherein an intermediate conveyor is arranged between said loading mechanism and said conveyor mechanism and is pivotally connected to said conveyor mechanism and has adjustable engagement with said loading mechanism.

l5. In combination, in a tunneling apparatus, a mobile trackway adapted to travel along a trackway laid on the door of a tunnel and having -a single-track trackway whereby a complete train of coupled haulage cars may move from the single-track main tunnel trackway onto said mobile trackway and vice versa, a loading machine having propelling and steering means and adapted to travel directly over the tunnel floor in ladvance of the trackway, an adjustable connection between said loading machine and.r said mobiletrackway whereby the latter may move withthe.` loading.machineand! said loading machine may move relative to said mobile trackway, and cooperating conveying means onsaid loading-machine and said mobile.v trackway for conveying-the material gathered by said loading machine rearwardly of the latter and longitudinally along. said mobile trackway to discharge intothe train of coupled haulage cars as; the latter movesfbodily beneath the discharge. end` of said conveying means of said mobile. trackway Vfrom the latter onto the tunnel trackway, said conveying-means including an extensible conveyor connected vbetweensaid loading machine and said conveyor meanswbereby material -may be conveyed from the loading. machine to: the mobile trackway irrespective of the position of said loadingmachine with respect to said mobile trackway.

1.6. A. tunneling 'apparatus as. set for-thv in claimr 14 wherein said loading mechanism carries aswiveled support which in turn carries guides-and: said intermediate conveyor has its forward portion slidingly engaging said guides.

l7.l In combination, ina. tunneling apparatus, a mobile trackway adapted to travel along. a. trackway laid on the floor of la tunnel and. having. Ia single-track' trackway whereby a complete train of coupledv haulage cars may move from the single-track main tunnelY trackway onto said mobile trackway and vice versa, aloading. machine having. propelling and: steering means yand adapted; to travel directly over the tunnel floor in advance of the trackway,` an adjustable connection between said loading machine and'said mobiletrackway whereby the latter may move with the loading machine-and said loading machine may move relative to `said mobile trackway, and cooperating. conveying. means on said loading machine and said mobile. trackway for conveying the material gathered by said loading machine rearwardly of the latter Iand longitudinall'y alongsaidV mobile trackway to dischargeV into the trainof` coupled haulage cars as thev latter movesbodily beneathY the. discharge end of4 said: conveying means of said mobileA trackway lfrom the. latter ontoy the tunnel trackway, said adjustable' connectionl comprising an extensible. draw bar having telescopically arranged elements, one. pivotally connected. to said loading` machine andthe other pivotally connected. to said mobile trackway, said pivotalY connections providing for swinging, of said extensible draw Ibar in horizontal and verticalplanes.

18. In combination, in a tunneling apparatus, a mobile trackway adapted to travel along a trackway laid on the iloor of a tunnel and having a single-track trackway whereby a complete train of coupled haulage rcars may move from the single-track main tunnel trackway onto said mobile trackway and vice versa, a loading machine having propelling and steering means and adapted to travel directly over the tunnel floor in advance of the trackway, an adjustable connection between said loading machine and said mobile trackway whereby the latter may move with the loading machine and said loading machine may move relative to said mobile trackway, and cooperating conveying means on said loading machine and said mobile trackway for conveying the material gathered by said loading machine rearwardly of the latter and longitudinally along said mobile trackway to discharge into the train of coupled haulage cars as the latter moves bodily beneath the discharge end of said conveying means of said mobile trackway from the latter onto the tunnel trackway, said mobile trackway comprising a series of pivotally connected sections arranged in end to end relation and having relative lateral llexibility, said conveying means of said mobile trackway comprising a series of conveyor sections respectively supported by said sections of said mobile trackway.

19. In an apparatus of the character disclosed, an elongated, articulated mobile trackway' having a trackway of the same gauge as the main tunnel trackway having trackengaging wheels adapted to travel along a single-track 11 main-trackway laid on the oor or ground of a tunnel to provide for movement of an entire train of coupled haulage :cars from the main trackway ontosaid mobile trackway and vice versa, and an elongated, articulated conveyor mechanism carried by said mobile trackwayfor conveying the material received at one end of sai-d conveyor mechanism longitudinally along said mobile trackway to discharge at its opposite end into the coupled haulage cars as the train moves as a unit from the mobile trackway onto the tunnel trackway, said mobile'trackway comprising a series of articulated sections coupled together in end to end relation and said conveyor mechanism comprising a series of cooperating sections along which the muck is moved progressively from section to section, said conveyor sections respectively carried by said sections of said mobile trackway.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said conveyor mechanism extends longitudinally of said mobile trackway in spaced relation to the train of lcoupled haulage cars thereon and has its receiving end disposed at one end of said mobile trackway and its discharge end disposed at the opposite end of said mobile trackway with said discharge end positioned to discharge the material being conveyed into the coupled cars as the entire train bodily travels as aforesaid from said mobile trackway onto the main tunnel trackway.

2l. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said series of articulated sections of said mobile trackway and said series of articulated conveyor sections respectively carried by said sections of said mobile trackway are substantially coextensive and said conveyor sections are each separately mounted as a unit on its respective section of said mobile trackway.

22. A loading machine comprising a frame, rear steering wheels and front crawler tread devices for supporting, propelling and steering said frame, gathering mechanism on the forward portion of said frame and tiltable in vertical planes with respect thereto, said steering wheels and said crawler tread devices mounted to turn relative to said frame about vertical axes, conveying means on said frame for receiving the material gathered by said gathering mechanism and inclined upwardly and rearwardly, an upright support carried at the rear end of said frame and turnable about an axis coincident with the vertical axis of turning movement of said steering wheels for supporting the rearward portion of said conveying means,

and a pivotal connection between said rearward portion of said conveying means and said upright support permitting tilting of said conveying means in vertical planes with said gathering mechanism.

23. In a tunneling apparatus, a mobile trackway movable over the iioor of a tunnel and' having track rails of a single trackway for receiving an entire train of coupled mine cars from a single-track main-trackway laid on the tunnel door whereby the train of cars may move either in unison with or relative to the mobile trackway, and a conveyor mechanism carried by said mobile trackway and extending longitudinally above the train of cars on the mobile trackway whereby the muck of a full round may be loaded successively into the coupled cars of the train as the latter moves bodily beneath the discharge end of said conveyor mechanism from the mobile trackway onto the tunnel trackway, vsaid mobile trackway comprising a series of articulated sections and said conveyor mechanism including separate cooperating conveyor sections one carried by each section of said mobile trackway.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein each section of said mobile trackway has track rails of a length suicient to receive two cars of the train.

' References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,890V Billings Ian. 16, 1917 1,431,857 Willcox Oct. 10, 1922 1,467,700 Wilson Sept. 11, 1923 1,476,882 Forsyth Dee-11, 1923 1,677,430 Collins July 17, 1928 1,871,638 Vodoz Aug. 16, 1932 1,920,500 Garcia et al. Aug. l, 1933 2,116,905 Mercier et a1 May 10, 1938 2,164,753 Parker et al. July 4, 1939 2,360,282 Russell Oct, 10, 1944 2,395,716 Biedess Feb. 26, 1946 2,457,267 Peale et al Dec. 28, 1948 2,497,234 Mylie Feb. 14, 1950 2,660,034 Kemper Nov. 24, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 603,803 Germany Oct. 10, 1934

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