Claims
- 1. A mining machine for cutting an in-bore and an out-bore larger than said in-bore during in-cutting and out-cutting respectively, comprising
- (a) a non-rotatable body member, with stabilizing means for insuring non-rotative movement of said body member in a bore,
- (b) a rotatable pilot cutting head, mounted in front of said body member, and means for rotating said pilot cutting head for cutting a generally circular in cross-section bore, said means for rotating said pilot cutting head including a rotatable shaft extending through said non-rotatable body member to said pilot head,
- (c) a pair of wing-cutters pivotally mounted to said non-rotatable body member behind said pilot head in non-interfering relationship with said pilot head,
- (d) conveying means mounted behind said wing-cutters in operative association with said body member, for conveying coal or the like cut by said pilot head and said wing-cutters away from the cutting site,
- (e) means for pivotally moving said wing-cutters with respect to said non-rotatable body member from a first position, wherein said wing-cutters are in general alignment with said pilot cutting head and body member, during in-cutting to a second position wherein each of said wing-cutters extends outwardly with respect to said pilot cutting head, during out-cutting,
- (f) means maintaining said wing-cutters in said second positions thereof during out-cutting thereby, and
- (g) means for moving coal or the like cut by said wing-cutters during cutting toward the sides of the bore cut thereby, said means including (i) shield means associated with each of said wing cutters mounted for pivotal movement with said wing-cutters with respect to said body member, said shield means including a pair of shields, one associated with each wing-cutter, and disposed between said wing-cutter and said body member and said pilot head, and (ii) means surrounding said shaft for moving coal cut during in-cutting to the bore sides.
- 2. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said means surrounding said shaft for moving coal cut during in-cutting to the bore sides includes a generally conical member coaxial with said shaft for rotation with said pilot head, and mounted to said shaft between said pilot head and said wing-cutters, said generally conical member having a frustum portion disposed closer to said pilot head along said shaft than a base portion.
- 3. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a pair of wheel sets spaced along the length of said conveying means, and a pair of right-angle guide members vertically displaced from the wheel structure of one of said wheel sets.
- 4. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises an auger conveyor and wherein said stabilizing means comprises a pair of sets of vertically spaced wheels, each set disposed on opposite sides of said auger member, one wheel of each set engaging the roof of the bore being cut, while the other wheel of each set engages the floor of the bore being cut.
- 5. A machine as recited in claim 4 further comprising means for adjusting the vertical position of at least the topmost wheel of each set.
- 6. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said wing cutters comprises a toothed cutting drum, and a pair of cutting chains, one chain disposed above and one chain disposed below said drum, and wherein each of said shields extends vertically the length of said drum.
- 7. A machine as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said cutting drums is rotatable about a drum axis, and wherein each drum axis is pivotal about a parallel axis associated with said body member, and wherein said drum axis and said parallel axis and the termination of said shield associated with each drum are substantially coplanar.
- 8. A machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises an auger having a central shaft, and wherein said auger comprises a plurality of auger sections connected together, each of said auger sections including a non-rotatatve stabilizing assembly and a power source conduit.
- 9. A mining machine for cutting an in-bore and an out-bore larger than said in-bore during in-cutting and out-cutting respectively, comprising
- (a) a non-rotatable body member, with stabilizing means for insuring non-rotativw movement of said body member in a bore,
- (b) a rotatable pilot cutting head, mounted in front of said body member, and means for rotating said pilot cutting head for cutting a generally circular in cross-section bore,
- (c) a pair of wing-cutters pivotally mounted to said non-rotatable body member behind said pilot head in non-interfering relationship with said pilot head,
- (d) conveying means mounted behind said wing-cutters in operative association with said body member, for conveying coal or the like cut by said pilot head and said wing-cutters away from the cutting site,
- (e) means for pivotally moving said wing-cutters with respect to said non-rotatable body member from a first position, wherein said wing-cutters are in general alignment with said pilot cutting head and body member, during in-cutting, to a second position wherein each of said wing-cutters extends outwardly with respect to said pilot cutting head, during out-cutting,
- (f) means maintaining said wing-cutters in said second positions thereof during out-cutting thereby,
- (g) cutting means for cutting the roof of the bore formed by said machine, said cutting means including a cutting drum rotatable about a generally horizontal axis and a pair of cutters, one mounted at each end of said drum,
- (h) means for rotating said cutting drum about said generally horizontal axis, said means for rotating including a mounting for a horizontal shaft, which mounting is stationary with respect to said body member, and a pair of chain cutters each disposed between a gear end end of said cutting drum and a gear mounted at an end of said horizontal shaft associated with said stationary mounting, said cutters located exteriorly of said drum gear ends, and
- (i) means for moving said cutters horizontally with respect to said mounting and said body member so that roof cutting can be effected during outcutting to produce a wider roof cut than during in-cutting.
- 10. A machine as recited in claim 9 further comprising means for mounting said cutting drum axis for pivotal movement with respect to said horizontal shaft mounting and said body member to adjust the vertical position of said cutting drum, and power means for pivotally moving said cutting drum axis.
- 11. A machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for moving said cutters horizontally with respect to said mounting and said body member comprise a dual piston-cylinder assembly, the pistons mounting said cutter, and the cylinders disposed within said cutting drum.
- 12. A machine as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for moving said cutters horizontally with respect to said mounting and said body member comprise a dual piston-cylinder assembly, the pistons mounting said cutters, and the cylinders disposed within said cutting drum.
- 13. A mining machine for cutting an in-bore and an out-bore larger than said in-bore during in-cutting and out-cutting respectively, comprising
- (a) a non-rotatable body member, with stabilizing means for insuring non-rotative movement of said body member in a bore,
- (b) a rotatable pilot cutting head, mounted in front of said body member, and means for rotating said pilot cutting head for cutting a generaly circular in cross-section bore, said rotating means including a rotatable shaft,
- (c) a pair of wing-cutters pivotally mounted to said non-rotatable body member behind said pilot head in non-interfering relationship with said pilot head,
- (d) conveying means mounted behind said wing-cutters in operative association with said body member, for conveying coal or the like cut by said pilot head and said wing-cutters away from the cutting site, said conveying means comprising (i) a double helix distributor member mounted on said shaft for rotation of said pilot cutting head for agitating and distributing cut coal or the like, said double helix distributor being disposed posterior of said wing-cutters, (ii) scoop means disposed posterior of said distributor member and having a bottom portion substantially abutting the bore floor and then extending posteriorly therefrom at a positive angle, and having side members that funnel toward said shaft, and (iii) a conveyor belt disposed posterior of said scoop means, said scoop means bottom portion and side members funnelling toward said conveyor belt, and a top, transporting surface of said conveyor belt being disposed adjacent the termination of said scoop means bottom portion and side members, said shaft being vertically spaced from the conveyor top conveying portion in non-interfering relationship therewith,
- (e) means for pivotally moving said wing-cutters with respect to said non-rotatable body member from a first position, wherein said wing-cutters are in general alignment with said pilot cutting head and body member, during in-cutting, to a second position wherein each of said wing-cutters extends outwardly with respect to said pilot cutting head, during out-cutting and
- (f) means maintaining said wing-cutters in said second positions thereof during out-cutting thereby.
- 14. A machine as recited in claim 13 further comprising an auger section on said shaft for rotation of said pilot head, and located posterior of said distributor and having continuously decreasing flight diameter from said double helix disposed above said scoop means bottom portion for conveying cut coal or the like up said bottom portion, said auger section termination before said conveyor belt.
- 15. A machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said conveyor belt includes an anterior portion adjacent said scoop means comprising a plurality of rollers supporting said conveyor belt.
- 16. A machine as recited in claim 15 wherein said conveyor belt includes portions posterior of said anterior portion comprising rollers forming a trough and supporting said conveyor belt conveyor surface.
- 17. A machine as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said rollers comprises a solid metal core portion with a resilient material coating.
- 18. A machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said conveyor belt comprises a plurality of rollers forming a trough and supporting said conveyor belt conveying surface.
- 19. A machine as recited in claim 18 further comprising a plurality of add-on sections for said shaft and said conveyor belt, said add-on sections each comprising vertically extending supports for supporting said trough-forming rollers, stabilizing means for engaging the formed bore, and a housing collar supported by said vertically extending supports for mounting said shaft.
- 20. A machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said scoop belt bottom portion is disposed at an angle of less than about 14.degree. with respect to the bore floor.
- 21. A machine as recited in claim 20 wherein said scoop means bottom portion angle is about 12.degree..
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 649,579, filed Jan. 16, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,602.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
193,407 |
May 1967 |
SU |
274,047 |
Jun 1970 |
SU |
314,891 |
Sep 1971 |
SU |
308,187 |
Jul 1971 |
SU |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
649579 |
Jan 1976 |
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