U.S. patent number 3,858,940 [Application Number 05/365,061] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-07 for method of advancing a continuous mining machine and apparatus therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Wilcox Manufacturing Co. Inc.. Invention is credited to Joseph V. Lagowski.
United States Patent |
3,858,940 |
Lagowski |
January 7, 1975 |
METHOD OF ADVANCING A CONTINUOUS MINING MACHINE AND APPARATUS
THEREFOR
Abstract
A continuous miner having improvements therein for enabling the
same to be advanced in a coal seam having a shortwall face
extending concavely arcuate from one side wall defining one end
thereof to another side wall defining the other end thereof about
an axis spaced outwardly thereof in a cycle which includes
positioning the continuous miner adjacent one end of the arcuate
face of the coal seam, effecting a pivotal movement of the
continuous miner across the face to a position adjacent the other
end thereof about an axis spaced from the axis of the face both in
a direction toward the face and in a direction toward said other
end thereof to progressively remove a section of coal from the seam
which extends inwardly of the face a distance which increases
progressively in the direction of movement across the face and to
progressively define an advanced face which extends concavely
arcuate about said spaced axis of pivotal movement and then
effecting a pivotal movement of the continuous miner across the
advanced face from said other end to a position adjacent said one
end about an axis spaced from the axis of said advanced face both
in a direction toward the advanced face and in a direction toward
said one end thereof to progressively remove a section of coal from
the seam which extends inwardly of the advanced face a distance
which increases progressively in the direction of movement across
the advanced face and to progressively define a further advanced
face which extends concavely arcuate about the spaced axis of the
last mentioned pivotal movement.
Inventors: |
Lagowski; Joseph V. (Madscott,
WV) |
Assignee: |
Wilcox Manufacturing Co. Inc.
(Raleigh, WV)
|
Family
ID: |
23437316 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/365,061 |
Filed: |
May 30, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/18; 299/57;
299/11; 405/299 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21C
29/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21C
29/00 (20060101); E21C 29/08 (20060101); E21c
029/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;299/10,18,31,64-68,57
;61/45C,45D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purser; Ernest R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cushman, Darby & Cushman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A continuous mining machine for removing coal from a coal seam
having a shortwall face extending concavely arcuate from a side
wall defining one end thereof to another side wall defining the
other end thereof about an axis spaced outwardly thereof, said
machine comprising:
a. an elongated frame,
b. power driven cutting and conveying means carried by said frame
in forwardly disposed relation thereto and operable during relative
movement of said frame with respect to said face to cut a room
section in the coal seam inwardly of the face thereof while
continuously conveying the cut coal outwardly of the face,
c. conveyor means operatively associated with said frame for
continuously moving the coal rearwardly away from the mine face
which is cut and conveyed outwardly of the mine face during the
formation of said room section by said cutting and conveying
means,
d. first means for effecting a pivotal movement of said frame and
said cutting and conveying means from a position adjacent one end
of said face across the face to a position adjacent the other end
thereof about an axis adjacent the rear portion of the frame spaced
from the axis of the face both in a direction toward the face and
in a direction toward said other end thereof to progressively
remove a section of coal from the seam which extends inwardly of
the face a distance which increases progressively in the direction
of movement across the face and to progressively define an advanced
face which extends concavely arcuate about said spaced axis of
pivotal movement, and
e. second means for effecting a pivotal movement of said frame and
said cutting and conveying means across the advanced face from said
other end to a position adjacent said one end about an axis
adjacent the rear portion of the frame spaced from the axis of said
advanced face both in a direction toward the advanced face and in a
direction toward said one end thereof to progressively remove a
section of coal from the seam which extends inwardly of the
advanced face a distance which increases progressively in the
direction of movement across the advanced face and to progressively
define a further advanced face which extends concavely arcuate
about the spaced axis of the last mentioned pivotal movement,
said first pivotal movement effecting means including a first
vertically extensible and retractable pivot unit carried by the
rear end portion of said frame at the side thereof adjacent the
other end of said face for extensible engagement between the mine
roof and floor and retractable disengagement between the mine roof
and floor, said second pivotal movement effecting means including a
second vertically extensible and retractable pivot unit carried by
the rear end portion of said frame at the side thereof adjacent the
one end of said face for extensible engagement between the mine
roof and floor and retractable disengagement between the mine roof
and floor.
2. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 1 wherein each
of said pivot units includes a hydraulic ram.
3. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 2 wherein each
of said pivot units includes an annular floor engaging member, a
vertically extending sleeve fixed to said frame receiving said
floor engaging member for limited vertical movement and limited
pivotal movement with respect thereto, and a roof engaging member,
said hydraulic ram including a piston rod connected at its lower
end to said floor engaging member and a cylinder mounted for
non-rotating vertical movement with respect to said floor engaging
member and connected at its upper end to said roof engaging
member.
4. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said
first pivotal movement effecting means further includes a first
power driven drum on the side of the frame adjacent said first
pivot unit, and a first length of cable wound around said first
drum and having an end portion extending therefrom adapted to be
anchored adjacent the one end of said face and said second pivotal
movement effecting means further includes a second power driven
drum on the side of the frame adjacent said second pivot unit, and
a second length of cable wound around said second drum and having
an end portion extending therefrom adapted to be anchored adjacent
the other end of said face.
5. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said
first pivotal movement effecting means further includes a first
anchoring unit extensible for engagement between the mine roof and
floor and retractable for disengagement between the mine roof and
floor and means connecting the end portion of said first cable with
said first anchoring unit and wherein said second pivotal movement
effecting means further includes a second anchoring unit extensible
for engagement between the mine roof and floor and retractable for
disengagement between the mine roof and floor and means connecting
said second cable with said second anchoring unit.
6. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 5 wherein each
of said anchoring units is mounted on a mobile power driven
vehicle.
7. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 6 wherein said
cutting and conveying means comprises a pair of oppositely pitched
auger cutters, each including a pair of longitudinally spaced
helical blades having cutting means disposed adjacent the forward
end thereof and cutting teeth extending outwardly of the
longitudinal periphery of said blades in longitudinally spaced
relation, and means mounting said auger cutters for rotational
movement in opposite directions about transversely spaced generally
horizontally extending axes and for independent vertical
movement.
8. Method of advancing a continuous miner of the type including a
pair of horizontally spaced vertically movable oppositely pitched
and oppositely rotatable auger cutters in a coal seam having a
shortwall face extending concavely arcuate from one side wall
defining one end thereof to another side wall defining the other
end thereof about an axis spaced outwardly thereof which comprises
the steps of
positioning the continuous miner adjacent one and of the arcuate
face of the coal seam with the auger cutters adjacent said one end
in a lowered position and the other auger cutter in a raised
position,
effecting a pivotal movement of the continuous miner with said
auger cutters maintained substantially in said positions across the
face to a position adjacent the other end thereof about an axis
spaced from the axis of the face both in a direction toward the
face and in a direction toward said other end thereof, while
continuously rotating said auger cutters in opposite directions to
establish cutting actions of the raised and lowered auger cutters
directed respectively downwardly and upwardly and conveying actions
directed respectively outwardly and in a direction opposed to said
direction of pivotal movement and outwardly and in the direction of
pivotal movement to thereby (1) progressively remove a section of
coal from the seam which extends inwardly of the face a distance
which increases progressively in the direction of movement across
the face except for a bottom ledge adjacent said other side wall
which is left by virtue of the leading relationship of the raised
auger and the trailing relationship of the lowered auger cutter and
(2) progressively define an advanced face which extends concavely
arcuate about said spaced axis of pivotal movement except for the
portion of the face defined by said bottom ledge,
effecting vertical movements of said auger cutters such that the
raised auger cutter is in a lowered position and the lowered auger
cutter is in a raised position,
effecting a pivotal movement of the continuous miner with the auger
cutters maintained substantially in their positions of vertical
movement, as aforesaid, across the advanced face from said other
end to a position adjacent said one end about an axis spaced by the
axis of said advanced face both in a direction toward the advanced
face and in a direction toward said one end thereof while
continuously rotating said auger cutters in opposite directions to
establish cutting actions by the raised and lowered auger cutters
directed respectively downwardly and upwardly and conveying actions
directed respectively outwardly and in a direction opposed to the
direction of the last mentioned pivotal movement and outwardly and
in a direction of the last mentioned pivotal movement to thereby
(1) progressively remove said bottom ledge by the cutting and
conveying action of said lowered auger cutter, (2) progressively
remove a section of coal from the seam which extends inwardly of
the advanced face a distance which increases progressively in the
direction of movement across the advanced face except for a bottom
ledge adjacent said one side wall which is left by virtue of the
leading relationship of the raised auger and the trailing
relationship of the lowered auger cutter and (3) progressively
define a further advanced face which extends concavely arcuate
about the spaced axis of the last mentioned pivotal movement except
for the face portion defined by said bottom ledge.
9. A continuous mining machine for removing coal from a coal seam
having a shortwall face extending concavely arcuate from a side
wall defining one end thereof to another side wall defining the
other end thereof about an axis spaced outwardly thereof, said
machine comprising:
a. an elongated frame,
b. a pair of oppositely pitched auger cutters, each including a
pair of longitudinally spaced helical blades having cutting means
disposed adjacent the forward end thereof and cutting teeth
extending outwardly of the longitudinal periphery of said blades in
longitudinally spaced relation,
c. means mounting said auger cutters on said frame in forwardly
disposed relation thereto for rotational movement in opposite
directions about transversely spaced generally horizontally
extending axes and for independent vertical movement,
d. means carried by said frame for rotating said auger cutters in
said opposite directions,
e. means carried by said frame for effecting vertical movement of
each of said auger cutters between raised and lowered
positions,
f. first means for effecting a pivotal movement of said frame with
said auger cutters maintained substantially in said positions
across the face to a position adjacent the other end thereof about
an axis spaced from the axis of the face both in a direction toward
the face and in a direction toward said other end thereof with said
auger cutters rotating in opposite directions to establish cutting
actions of the raised and lowered auger cutters directed
respectively downwardly and upwardly and conveying actions directed
respectively outwardly and in a direction opposed to said direction
of pivotal movement and outwardly and in the direction of pivotal
movement to thereby (1) progressively remove a section of coal from
the seam which extends inwardly of the face a distance which
increases progressively in the direction of movement across the
face except for a bottom ledge adjacent said other side wall which
is left by virtue of the leading relationship of the raised auger
and the trailing relationship of the lowered auger cutter and (2)
progressively define an advanced face which extends concavely
arcuate about said spaced axis of pivotal movement except for the
portion of the face defined by said bottom ledge,
g. second means for effecting a pivotal movement of the continuous
miner with said auger cutters maintained substantially in reversed
raised and lowered positions across the advanced face from said
other end to a position adjacent said one end about an axis spaced
by the axis of said advanced face both in a direction toward the
advanced face and in a direction toward said one end thereof with
said auger cutters rotating in opposite directions to establish
cutting actions by the raised and lowered auger cutters directed
respectively downwardly and upwardly and conveying actions directed
respectively outwardly and in a direction opposed to the direction
of the last mentioned pivotal movement and outwardly and in the
direction of the last mentioned pivotal movement to thereby (1)
progressively remove said bottom ledge by the cutting and conveying
action of said lowered auger cutter, (2) progressively remove a
section of coal from the seam which extends inwardly of the
advanced face a distance which increases progressively in the
direction of movement across the advanced face except for a bottom
ledge adjacent said one side wall which is left by virtue of the
leading relationship of the raised auger and the trailing
relationship of the lowered auger cutter and (3) progressively
define a further advanced face which extends concavely arcuate
about the spaced axis of the last mentioned pivotal movement except
for the face portion defined by said bottom ledge, and
h. conveyor means operatively associated with said frame for
continuously moving the coal rearwardly away from the mine face
which is removed from the mine face during the formation of said
room sections by said auger cutters.
10. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said
first pivotal movement effecting means includes a first mobile
power driven vehicle having a first anchoring unit extensible for
engagement between the mine roof and floor and retractable for
disengagement between the mine roof and floor and wherein said
second pivotal movement effective means includes a second mobile
power driven vehicle having a second anchoring unit extensible for
engagement between the mine roof and floor and retractable for
disengagement between the mine roof and floor.
11. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 9 wherein said
first pivotal movement effecting means further includes a first
power driven drum on the side of the frame adjacent said first
pivot unit, and a first length of cable wound around said first
drum and having an end portion extending therefrom adapted to be
anchored adjacent the one end of said face and said second pivotal
movement effecting means further includes a second power driven
drum on the side of the frame adjacent said second pivot unit, and
a second length of cable wound around said second drum and having
an end portion extending therefrom adapted to be anchored adjacent
the other end of said face.
12. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said
first pivotal movement effecting means further includes a first
anchoring unit extensible for engagement between the mine roof and
floor and retractable for disengagement between the mine roof and
floor means connecting the end portion of said first cable with
said first anchoring unit and wherein said second pivotal movement
effecting means further includes a second anchoring unit extensible
for engagement between the mine roof and floor and retractable for
disengagement between the mine roof and floor and means connecting
said second cable with said second anchoring unit.
13. A continuous mining machine as defined in claim 12 wherein each
of said anchoring units is mounted on a mobile power driven
vehicle.
Description
This invention relates to coal mining and more particularly to
improvements in the method and apparatus for advancing continuous
mining machines in a coal seam.
While the principles of the present invention have applicability to
continuous mining machines embodying other types of cutters, the
invention has been particularly developed for applicability with
continuous mining machines of the dual auger type. Machines of this
type are commercially manufactured and sold under the trademark
Wilcox MARK 20 by the Wilcox Manufacturing Co. of Beckley, West
Virginia. A similar machine, designated the 100L, is manufactured
by Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus, Ohio. The basic
construction and mode of operation of these machines is disclosed
in Wilcox U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,098. (See also related U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,282,403; 3,305,268; and 3,306,667.)
Machines of the dual auger type, as the name implies, employ two
augers as the means for removing the coal from the seam. The augers
are oppositely pitched with respect to each other and are mounted
on the frame of the machine in forwardly disposed relation with
their axes extending generally horizontally forwardly in
horizontally spaced parallel relation. The augers are mounted for
power driven rotation in opposite directions and for independent
vertical movement, as by a pivotal action about an axis parallel to
the axis of rotation. Each auger includes a pair of helical blades
having a series of cutting teeth at the forward end thereof and a
series of teeth extending outwardly of the periphery thereof in
longitudinally spaced relation therealong.
The means provided for advancing the auger cutters into the coal
seam is similar to that provided in the old undercutting machines,
namely, a power driven winch or drum on each side of the frame and
a length of cable wound up on each drum. Continuous mining during
advancement is accomplished by providing a conveyor on the frame
which serves to move the coal removed from the seam by the auger
cutters to the rear end of the frame where it can then be conveyed
out of the mine by an appropriate conveyor system mounted
therein.
Dual auger continuous mining machines of the construction noted
above have been advanced into the coal seam by sequentially
performing two separate operations, the first of which is referred
to as a sumping operation in which the auger cutters are moved
generally longitudinally into the seam at one side of the face. The
second operation is to move the cutters transversely across the
face after sumping has been accomplished. As previously indicated,
these movements are accomplished with the use of the cable and drum
assemblies on opposite sides of the frame by anchoring the free
ends of the cables at appropriate positions within the mine by
conventional jacks or the like extendible into engagement between
the mine roof and floor and retractable out of such engagement.
Thus each sumping movement as well as each lateral movement
required a new cable jack setting. Normal advancement required that
the crew include two jack setters operating quite close to the face
and, quite often, close to the cutters themselves.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method
of advancing a continuous miner of the type described into the coal
seam which eliminates the aforesaid sumping operation and so
simplifies the overall operation as to eliminate the need for the
two jack setters heretofore employed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of
the type described with the capability of advancing in accordance
with this improved procedure by a simple modification of the
existing structure thereof thereby making it possible to achieve
the aforesaid operational advantages without substantial increases
in manufacturing costs in terms of new equipment and to modify
existing machines without substantial retrofit costs.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention these
objectives are obtained by the simple provision of a pair of jack
assemblies on opposite sides of the rear end portion of the
continuous miner frame which are extendible into engagement between
the mine roof and floor and retractable out of engagement
therewith. The provision of such jack assemblies provides the
operator with the capability of restricting the movement of the
frame to a pivotal movement within the mine about an axis
substantially coincident with an extended one of the jack
assemblies and to thereby effect such pivotal movement with the use
of a single cable and drum assembly. By mounting the jack
assemblies on opposite sides of the frame, this pivotal movement
can be alternately performed about automatically properly spaced
axes which provide for advancement in the following manner in a
coal seam having a shortwall face extending concavely arcuate from
one side wall defining one end thereof to another side wall
defining the other end thereof about an axis spaced outwardly
thereof. A complete cycle of operation beginning in such a seam
with the continuous miner positioned adjacent one end of the
arcuate face can be performed in essentially two steps. The first
step is to effect a pivotal movement of the continuous miner across
the face to a position adjacent the other end thereof about an axis
spaced from the axis of the face both in a direction toward the
face and in a direction toward the other end thereof to
progressively remove a section of coal from the seam which extends
inwardly of the face a distance which increases progressively in
the direction of movement across the face and to progressively
define an advanced face which extends concavely arcuate about the
spaced axis of pivotal movement. The second step is to effect a
pivotal movement of the continuous miner across the advanced face
from the other end to a position adjacent the one end about an axis
spaced from the axis of said advanced face both in a direction
toward the advanced face and in a direction toward the one end
thereof to progressively remove a section of coal from the seam
which extends inwardly of the advanced face a distance which
increases progressively in the direction of movement across the
advanced face and to progressively define a further advanced face
which extends concavely arcuate about the spaced axis of the last
mentioned pivotal movement.
By this procedure, not only is it possible to obtain a substantial
saving in the time required to complete an operating cycle, but the
cycle can be completed in a simple fashion without the necessity of
the two jack setters. With the present procedure, no one works
forward of the pull ropes or cables and the entire crew is able to
stay further from the face and the cutting augers. Furthermore, the
cutting cycle provides for a more rapid movement with a more
thorough clean-up and more uniform conveyor loading throughout the
cycle resulting in greater tonage. The semi-circular coal face
offers better roof support and ventilation. The restricted pivotal
movement of the continuous mining machine presents a much more
favorable situation within the mine, since only the front of the
machine has substantial movement. This permits permanent roof
supports to be set closer to the face and the use of fewer
temporary supports during operation.
The procedure can be further simplified from a manual labor
standpoint by mounting the anchor jacks for the ends of the cables
on mobile power driven vehicular frames. With this arrangement not
only is the normal operating cycle facilitated, but a greater
degree of mobility of the machine is provided when it becomes
necessary to move the machine within the mine from one operating
face to a remote operating face or the like.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more
apparent during the course of the following detailed description
and appended claims. The invention may best be understood with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative
embodiment is shown.
In the drawings:
FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C are a series of top plan views showing a mining
machine embodying the principles of the present invention
progressively advancing within a coal mine by the procedures
according to the present invention;
FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E are views similar to those of FIG. 1
illustrating the prior art procedures for advancing a known dual
auger continuous mining machine within a coal mine;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the frame of the mining
machine illustrating the modifications thereto in accordance with
the improvements of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in
FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the
line 5-5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a power driven mobile vehicular frame
and anchor jack assembly embodying the principles of the present
invention; and
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG.
6.
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is
shown therein a continuous mining machine, generally indicated at
10, of the dual auger type to which the improvements of the present
invention have been applied. It will be understood that the
principles of the present invention have applicability to other
types of continuous mining machines, nevertheless particularly
advantageous results are achieved in conjunction with known dual
auger type continuous machines, which include the Wilcox MARK 20
and the Jeffrey 100L, as aforesaid.
The construction and mode of operation of the known Wilcox
continuous mining machine is illustrated in FIG. 2, the machine
being generally designated by the reference character 10'. Since
the present invention involves modification of the known machine
10', it is appropriate to first describe the basic components of
the known machine 10' which are retained within the machine 10 of
the present invention. For present purposes corresponding
components of the machine 10 of the present invention will be
indicated by numerals corresponding to primed numerals of the known
machine 10'.
The machine 10' includes a main frame 12' providing a lower surface
of generally planar configuration which engages the mine floor so
as to support the machine thereon. Disposed forwardly of the frame
12' is a coal cutting and conveying mechanism in the form of two
auger cutters 14'. The auger cutters 14' are oppositely pitched
with respect to each other and are mounted on the frame 12' in
forwardly disposed relation with their axes of rotation extending
generally horizontally forwardly in horizontally spaced parallel
relation. The auger cutters 14' are mounted for power driven
rotation about their axes in opposite directions and for
independent vertical movement, as by a pivotal action about an axis
parallel to the respective axis of rotation. Each auger cutter 14'
includes a pair of helical blades having a series of cutting teeth
at the forward end thereof and a series of cutting teeth extending
outwardly of the periphery thereof in longitudinally spaced
relation therealong. It will be understood that the machine 10
includes a suitable source of power such as an electric motor which
serves to effect the rotational movement of the augers and that the
machine is provided with hydraulic rams or the like for effecting
the independent vertical movement of each auger cutter.
The machine 10' is also provided with means for advancing the auger
cutters into a coal seam so that the coal engaged by the auger
cutters is loosened from the vein and conveyed outwardly of the
face. The advancing means, as shown, includes a power driven winch
or drum 16' on each side of the frame 12' and a cable 18' wound
around each drum 16' so that a free end portion extending from the
associated drum and selectively around appropriate forwardly and
rearwardly mounted pulleys can be suitably anchored at its
extremity, as by anchor jacks 20'. Each anchor jack 20' is of
conventional construction operable to be extendible into engagement
between the mine roof and floor and retractable out of such
engagement.
The mining machine 10' also includes suitable conveyor means 22' on
the main frame 12' for moving the coal removed from the vein by the
auger cutters 14' to a position rearwardly of the frame. The coal
issuing from the rear end of the conveyor means 22' is preferably
handled in a continuous fashion. As shown in FIG. 2, a bridge
conveyor assembly, generally indicated at 24', is articulately
connected at its forward end to the rearward end of the conveyor
means 22' and has its rearward end connected to a second conveyor
assembly 26' which, in the case of the Wilcox equipment, is
referred to as a "Universal Advance Conveyor". This conveyor is, in
turn, mounted on an extendible floor conveyor assembly, generally
indicated at 28' (e.g. the Wilcox Low-Lo Belt Conveyor). The
construction and mode of operation of the overall equipment is
disclosed in the aforesaid Wilcox U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,026,098;
3,282,403; 3,305,268 and 3,306,667, all of which are hereby
incorporated by reference into the present specification.
For purposes of the present application it is important to note the
mode of operation of the known machine in order to fully understand
and appreciate the improvements thereover which are accomplished by
practicing the principles of the present invention. As previously
indicated, a typical entry operation of the known machine 10' is
progressively illustrated in FIG. 2. The face of the coal vein, as
shown, is of the shortwall type approximately 26 feet across. Roof
support is required at approximate four foot centers and, in the
entry embodiment shown, roof support is accomplished by the use of
posts and roof bolts with installation of the latter being
facilitated by the use of a power driven mobile roof bolting
mechanism or assembly 30', which, as shown, is of the type
manufactured and sold by the Wilcox Manufacturing Co. under the
trade name "Wilcox Compact Roof Bolter". In the drawings, a roof
bolt support is indicated by a square symbol, a post support is
indicated by a circle within a rectangle, and appropriate temporary
support is indicated by a dot within a circle.
For the sake of convenience, the operating cycle may be considered
to commence with the machine 10' at a position adjacent one end of
the face as, for example, the left-hand end as shown in FIG. 1A.
With the machine in this position, the anchor jacks 20' are set in
the position shown with the cables 18' extending around the rear
pulleys. The sumping operation is accomplished by actuating the
drums 16' to wind up the cables thereon, which has the effect of
moving the machine longitudinally forwardly so that the auger
cutters 14' move into the vein with a sumping action. It should be
noted that during this operation, the auger cutters are each
engaging coal throughout the full diameter dimension thereof so
that there is a relatively high amount of coal being moved
outwardly of the face during the sumping operation.
After the sumping operation has been completed, the roof bolting
mechanism 30' is utilized to install the first roof bolt, as can be
clearly seen from FIG. 2B. The next operation is to set the anchor
jacks 20' in the position substantially as shown in FIG. 2C, which
will enable actuation of the drums in opposite directions to effect
lateral movement of the machine across the face. The initial
lateral movement is performed in conjunction with an appropriate
raising and lowering of the augers for the purpose of cutting out
the full height of the seam at the position of sumping. This
operation is necessary since, during the sumping operation, only
two substantially cylindrical cores are removed from the vein. This
"squaring off of the corner" can be accomplished in any desired
fashion and normally will entail lateral movement of the entire
machine both to the right and then to the left for purposes of
insuring the best clean-up action. At the end of this operation,
the second roof bolt is installed as indicated by the position of
the roof-bolting assembly 30' in FIG. 2C.
In order to complete the lateral movement of the machine across the
face, the left hand anchor jack 20' must again be re-set in the
position as shown in FIG. 2D. Prior to the completion of this
operation, the third roof bolt is installed, as indicated by the
position of the roof bolting assembly 30' in FIG. 2D. Finally,
after moving the assembly 30' back out of the way, the lateral
movement of the machine to the right is completed and here again,
it will be noted that the auger cutters must be moved vertically to
insure that this corner of the vein is squared off.
At the completion of the movement of the machine laterally across
the face to the right, the same procedure is then undertaken in the
reverse direction to the left across the face to complete a full
cycle. It should be noted that in the normal operation of the cycle
as described above, the setting of the roof jacks is accomplished
by a worker on each side of the machine. In almost every instance,
the position at which the anchor jacks must be set within the mine
is close to the face, thus subjecting these workers to the hazards
of concentrated coal dust and unsupported roof conditions.
Moreover, since the coal which is moved outwardly of the face by
the auger cutters during the sumping operation is conveyed
outwardly by full peripheral confinement, whereas the coal moved
outwardly of the face during the movement of the machine across the
face is conveyed outwardly without such confinement, the outwardly
conveyed load which must be handled by the conveying means 22 of
the machine can vary to a considerable extent during the overall
operation depending upon the rate of movement across the face.
Moreover, as this movement increases an increasing amount of coal
is left on the floor inwardly of the face to be picked up by the
clean-up scrolls or the next pass. However, the clean-up scrolls
cannot get all of the coal left because of their shorter
longitudinal reach. This uneven and incomplete flow of coal to the
conveyor means 22 makes it desirable to utilize the anchor jack
operators to assist in clean-up by the use of manual shovels.
The apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1 embodies all of the components
of the machine 10' as described above. The modifications which are
required in accordance with the principles of the present invention
are essentially additional components which can be added to the
basic machine. These added components are best shown in FIGS.
3-5.
In FIG. 3, the rear end portion of the frame 12 of the machine 10
is shown. The rear end portion includes a bottom plate 32 which is
shown in unshaded lines in FIG. 3. This known frame construction 32
is modified in accordance with the principles of the present
invention by the provision of an extension bottom plate 34, the
forward edge of which is shaped to conform with the rear edge of
the plate 32 and rigidly attached thereto as by welding or the
like. In order to reduce weight without sacrificing strength where
needed, the extension plate 34 is provided with a pair of circular
openings 36 in the central portion thereof. Fixed to the rear end
of the plate 34 on opposite sides thereof is a pair of vertically
extending rigid sleeves 38. As shown, each of the sleeves 38 is
suitably welded along its lower edge with the conformingly-shaped
rear edge of the plate 34 and extends upwardly therefrom. The
mounting of each sleeve 38 is suitably reinforced as by an inverted
U-shaped strengthening plate construction 40 welded at its rearward
end with the associated sleeve and at its forward end with the
upper surface of the plate 32. Each reinforcing plate construction
is likewise welded to the upper surface of the extension plate
34.
Each sleeve 38 serves to pivotally support a pivot unit, generally
indicated at 42 which is extensible into engagement between the
mine roof and floor and retractable from such engagement. As best
shown in FIG. 5, each pivot unit 42 includes a hydraulic ram,
generally indicated at 44, which includes the usual cylinder 46,
piston 48 and piston rod 50. In the embodiment shown, the cylinder
46 includes a longitudinally extending lug 52 on the exterior
periphery thereof within which the inlet and outlet hydraulic
passages to the opposite ends of the cylinder pressure chamber are
provided. As shown in FIG. 5, the hydraulic ram 44 is positioned so
that the piston rod 50 extends downwardly through the cylinder. The
lower end of the piston rod 50 is connected with a floor-engaging
member 54 which is loosely disposed within an associated sleeve 38.
As shown, each floor-engaging member 54 is of a generally
cup-shaped configuration, having a circular bottom wall 56 and a
cylindrical peripheral wall which is longitudinally slotted, as
indicated at 58, to slidably receive the cylinder lug 52. Rigidly
secured to the upper surface of the bottom wall 56 is a sleeve or
collar 60 of a size to receive the lower end of the piston rod 50.
The piston rod is connected with the sleeve as by a pin 62 which
extends through registering openings formed transversely through
the sleeve and the rod. The cylindrical wall of the floor-engaging
member 54 is suitably apertured to permit installation of the
pin.
Each pivot unit 42 also includes a roof-engaging member 64 which,
as shown, includes a slotted socket portion 66 on its lower end for
engagement over the upper end of the cylinder 46 and an upper
portion defining an upwardly facing roof-engaging conical surface
68.
It will be understood that a source of hydraulic fluid under
pressure carried by the machine frame is communicated with each
hydraulic ram 44 so as to be controlled by the operator. This
entails extending a pair of hydraulic lines 70 and 72 to each
hydraulic ram. In order to prevent an unlimited relative rotational
movement of each pivot unit 42 with respect to the associated
mounting sleeve 38 thereof, which might result in the entanglement
or fouling of the hydraulic lines 70 and 72, suitable rotational
stop means is provided. In the embodiment shown, it will be noted
that the engagement of the cylinder lug 52 within the slots of the
members 54 and 64 serves to prevent relative rotational movement
between the hydraulic ram 44 and the members 54 and 64 while
permitting relative vertical movement therebetween. Since the
members 54 and 64 are effectively rotationally keyed to the
hydraulic ram 44, provision of suitable stop means on either of the
members 54 or 64 with respect to the associated sleeve 38 or frame
part 34 will serve to effectively limit the rotational movement of
each pivot unit 42. In the embodiment shown, the stop means for
each pivot unit 42 comprises a post 74 rigidly secured to the
exterior periphery of each sleeve 38 and extending upwardly
therefrom. Formed on the upper exterior periphery of each floor
engaging member 54 is an arcuate stop element 76, having radial
ends 78 adapted to engage the associated post 74.
It will be understood that the pivot units 42 thus provided on
opposite sides of the rear end portion of the frame of the machine
10 cooperatively function with the drums and cables 16 and 18 on
each side of the frame as the advancing means for the machine. This
advancing means enables the machine to be operated in accordance
with the method of the present invention in a manner which
eliminates the sumping action heretofore required and permits a
complete cycle of operation with a simple two-step procedure. The
first step is to effect a pivotal movement of the continuous miner
across the face to a position adjacent the other end thereof about
an axis spaced from the axis of the face both in a direction toward
the face and in a direction toward the other end thereof to
progressively remove a section of coal from the seam which extends
inwardly of the face a distance which increases progressively in
the direction of movement across the face and to progressively
define an advanced face which extends concavely arcuate about the
spaced axis of pivotal movement. The second step is to effect a
pivotal movement of the continuous miner across the advanced face
from the other end to a position adjacent the one end about an axis
spaced from the axis of said advanced face both in a direction
toward the advanced face and in a direction toward the one end
thereof to progressively remove a section of coal from the seam
which extends inwardly of the advanced face a distance which
increases progressively in the direction of movement across the
advanced face and to progressively define a further advanced face
which extends concavely arcuate about the spaced axis of the last
mentioned pivotal movement.
A specific example of the cycle of operation embodied in the
above-identified method utilizing the machine 10 of the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. It will be understood that the
components which comprise the advancing means as previously
indicated are utilized with anchor jacks of the type described with
respect to the known machine 10'. However, the apparatus and
procedure illustrated in FIG. 1 includes the provision of a pair of
power driven mobile jack assemblies, generally indicated at 80,
which are utilized in lieu of the known anchor jacks described in
connection with the structure and operation of the known machine
10'. Consequently, before proceeding with the description of the
operation as illustrated in FIG. 1 it is first appropriate to
obtain an understanding of the construction and operation of the
assemblies 80, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in
FIGS. 6 and 7.
In general, it can be stated that each power driven mobile jack
assembly 80 is constructed in a manner similar to the Wilcox
Compact Roof Bolter previously described and indicated in FIG. 2 by
the numeral 30'. Thus, as shown, each assembly 80 includes a main
frame, generally indicated at 82, which has mounted on opposite
sides of the central portion thereof a pair of gear case assemblies
84, each of which is drivingly connected with a pair of
longitudinally aligned front and rear wheels 86 and 88. Each gear
case assembly 84 is adapted to be driven by a hydraulic motor,
generally indicated at 90, and each hydraulic motor is, in turn,
driven by a hydraulic pump, generally indicated at 92 (see FIG. 6).
The hydraulic pump 92 is, in turn, driven by an electrical motor 94
in accordance with conventional practice.
Mounted on the frame 82 toward the rear end thereof are suitable
control valve actuators 96 which can be manually moved by the
operator for the purpose of controlling the forward and rearward
movement of the frame through desired movement of the wheels 86 and
88 by the gearcase assemblies 84 and hydraulic motors 90. The
arrangement as shown is a four wheel drive assembly in which
turning of the vehicle frame is accomplished by actuation of the
controls 96 in generally conventional fashion.
The vehicle frame 82 includes a pair of transversely spaced
forwardly extending anchor jack mounting plates 98. The mounting
plates 98 serve to operatively receive and support an anchor jack
assembly, generally indicated at 100, which is constructed in a
manner similar to the pivot units 42 previously described. Thus,
each assembly 100 includes a hydraulic ram 102, a floor-engaging
member 104 and a roof-engaging member 106. The arrangement differs
from that previously described in that the unit is mounted on the
plates 98 by a collar 108 which engages over the central portion of
the cylinder of the hydraulic ram 102 and has a pair of trunions
110 extending radially outwardly therefrom at diametrically opposed
positions for engagement within upwardly extending openings 112
formed in the upper surface of the mounting plates 98. In addition,
a collar 114 is swivelly mounted on the lower exterior periphery of
the floor engaging member 104. The swivel collar 114 is provided
with a hook 116 for receiving the end of the cable 18 associated
therewith.
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the cycle of operation
will be conveniently begun with the machine 10 positioned adjacent
one end of a previously formed face, indicated at F1 in FIG. 1A. It
will be noted that the face F1 is generally arcuate in
configuration about an axis indicated at A1 which is coincident
with the axis of the left-hand pivot unit 42 with the machine in
the position as shown in FIG. 1A. It will be understood that the
position as shown in FIG. 1A is the position the machine assumes at
the end of a preceding cycle. The free ends of the respective
cables 18 are connected with the respective swivel hooks 116 of the
respective assemblies 80. The left-hand auger cutter 14 is normally
disposed in a raised position at the end of this cycle and the
right-hand auger cutter 14 is disposed in a lowered position
adjacent the floor. Thus, there is a ledge of coal which extends
from the inner periphery of the right-hand auger cutter to the side
wall of the entry being formed below the periphery of the left-hand
auger cutter.
Operation is commenced by disengaging the drive to the right-hand
drum 16 and moving the assembly 80 adjacent the right-hand side
wall to the position as shown in FIG. 1A and then actuating the
anchor jack assembly 100 thereof to extend the same into engagement
between the mine roof and floor. Next, the operator of the machine
actuates the appropriate controls to disengage the left-hand drum
16 and to engage the right-hand drum 16. Either after this
operation has been completed, or before, the operator of the
machine actuates the appropriate controls to extend the right-hand
pivot unit 42 and retract the left-hand pivot unit 42.
It will be noted that the extension of the right-hand pivot unit 42
now restricts the movement of the entire machine about a pivotal
axis A2 coincident with the axis of the right-hand pivot unit,
which is spaced from the axis A1 of the face F1 both in a direction
laterally toward the right-hand side wall of the entry being formed
and in a direction toward the face F1. Prior to the actuation of
the right-hand drum 16 to commence the pivotal movement of the
machine, the right-hand auger cutter 14 which was previously in a
lowered position is raised so as to engage the roof of the mine
seam and the left-hand auger is lowered to a position adjacent the
floor. Actuation of the right-hand drum 16 to wind up the cable
will now effect a pivotal movement of the entire machine about the
axis A2 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, or toward the
right, during which movement the left-hand cable 18 is allowed to
pay out from the disengaged left-hand drum 16. It will be noted
that during the initial portion of this movement the left-hand
auger cutter 14 will cut the ledge of coal adjacent the left-hand
side wall and the loose coal beyond the ledge which was previously
left during the latter cycle of operation. As the machine is moved
arcuately across the face F1, the cutters move inwardly of the face
a distance which progressively increases as the arcuate movement
progresses. When the machine has reached the opposite side wall, as
shown in FIG. 1B, a section of coal has been removed from the seam
outwardly of the face F1 which is substantially arcuately
wedge-shaped in configuration and a new face F2 is defined which is
generally arcuate about the axis A2. Here again, a ledge of coal is
left below the right-hand auger cutter extending from the
right-hand side wall to the right-hand periphery of the left-hand
auger cutter.
When the machine 10 reaches the position as shown in FIG. 1B, the
first step of the cycle is completed and the jack assembly 100 of
the left-hand assembly 80 is retracted so that the latter can be
moved into the position shown in FIG. 1C, at which position, the
jack assembly 100 thereof is again extended into engagement between
the mine roof and floor. The operator of the machine then actuates
the hydraulic controls to retract the right-hand pivot unit 42 and
to extend the left-hand pivot unit 42 into engagement between the
mine roof and floor. This movement establishes an axis A3 of
pivotal movement of the machine during the second step which is
spaced laterally and toward the face F2 from the axis A2. As
before, the vertical position of the auger cutters 14 is reversed,
that is, the left-hand auger is moved from a lowered position to a
raised position and the right-hand auger cutter is moved from a
raised position to a lowered position. The left-hand drum 16 is
then engaged and actuated to commence movement of the machine in a
counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1B, or the left,
during which movement the right-hand cable 18 is allowed to pay out
from the disengaged right-hand drum 16. Here again, during the
initial movement, the lowered right-hand auger 14 removes the coal
in the ledge which has been previously left and as the machine 10
proceeds across the face a section of coal is removed from the seam
which extends inwardly of the face F2 a distance which
progressively increases as the arcuate movement to the left
proceeds. As soon as the machine reaches the left-hand end wall,
the cycle of operation is completed and here again, it will be
noted that movement of the machine across the face to the left has
removed a section of coal which is of generally arcuate
wedge-shaped configuration and defines a new arcuate face, F3,
which is arcuate about the axis A3.
There are many significant advantages which are achieved by
advancing the machine 10 in accordance with the principles of the
present method utilizing the modified structure of the present
apparatus as previously described in comparison with the known
method of advancing the known machine 10'. At the outset, it will
be recognized that the procedure and apparatus for advancing in
accordance with the present invention has the effect of creating an
arcuate face in the coal seam. It is known that such a face
configuration provides a more favorable roof support than is the
case with relatively straight faces. Moreover, as can be clearly
seen from the illustrations contained in FIG. 1, no personnel are
required to work in close proximity to the face or the cutting
mechanism of the machine, as is the case with the known procedure.
This enables operation without the necessity of providing roof
support near the face and, of course, provides the further
advantage of eliminating the need to subject workers to the
inherent dangers which exist close to the face, such as
concentrated coal dust and falling rock from the roof. Moreover,
the arcuate configuration of the face is advantageous from the
standpoint of air circulation in comparison with straight
faces.
All of these advantages make it possible to advance the machine 10
without the need of providing two separate anchor jack workers,
such as was previously required in the operation of the machine
10'. The roof bolting operation can be carried on at a position
outwardly of the face toward the rear end of the machine and this
worker can also operate the assemblies 80. Moreover, the operation
of the machine is greatly simplified since the elimination of the
sumping operation eliminates the necessity of the operator to
square off the corners which was previously required. This
operation is automatically accomplished during the present
operating cycle in a manner described above. Moreover, this
arrangement makes the flow of coal to the conveyor 22 of the
machine much more uniform than was the case during the operating
cycle of the known machine 10'. Finally, it will be noted that the
rear end of the machine frame 12 does not have the same degree of
movement as is the case with the machine 10'. In this regard,
however, it will be noted that the machine 10 is still fully
capable of being operated in the same fashion as the known machine
10'. In summary, it can be stated that by utilizing the principles
of the present invention a much more rapid recovery of coal can be
obtained with less labor than heretofore required with a much more
uniform flow of coal during the operation and with less clean-up
required. Indeed, by utilizing the principles of the present
invention the clean-up problem is sufficiently alleviated as to
eliminate the need for any manual clean-up in the face area.
It will be understood that the position of the pivot units 42 on
the machine frame 12 serve to automatically establish both the axis
of pivotal movement across the face and the next axis of movement
upon the completion of the first movement. The cable and drum
arrangement for effecting the pivotal movement is preferred but
other means may be utilized. Moreover, with the use of the cable
and drum assemblies it is possible to effect a plurality of
operating cycles without advancing the anchor settings, as
indicated above.
It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been
fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however,
that the foregoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and
described for the purpose of illustrating the functional and
structural principles of this invention and is subject to change
without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention
includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope
of the following claims.
* * * * *