Abstract: An improved material gathering device is for a mining machine or the like of the type which includes a mobile body supporting a mining head at a forward end thereof for dislodging material from a mine face. A gathering platform is on the mobile body adjacent and below the mining head for receipt of the dislodged material thereon. An endless conveyor extends longitudinally of the mobile body to convey the dislodged material away from the forward end to the rearward end of the mobile body. A pair of oscillating arms are on transversely opposite sides of the gathering platform and are driven by a gear train including a transversely extending shaft to cause the arms to feed the dislodged material onto the endless conveyor. The endless conveyor includes a sprocket and drive shaft at a forward end thereof to cause the endless conveyor to extend into the gathering platform to terminate near a forward edge thereof.

Abstract: An electric powered vehicle or the like includes a first mechanical drive system for a first side of the vehicle and a second mechanical drive system for a second side of the vehicle. A first DC motor and a second DC motor are respectively coupled to the first mechanical drive system and the second mechanical drive system. A source of DC power is on the vehicle. The first DC motor has a first field and a first armature and the second DC motor has a second field and a second armature. The first field, the first armature, the second field, and the second armature are connected in a series circuit with the source of power. A voltage sensing relay across the first armature can detect a high voltage across the first armature to sense a loss of traction of the first mechanical drive system. A switching circuit is employed to disable the first motor from the series circuit in response to the voltage sensing relay.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine includes a mobile body portion with a cutter drum member rotatably mounted on the front of a boom member which extends forwardly of the body portion. The cutter drum member has an intermediate drum section and a pair of canted end drum sections. Driven input shafts extend through openings between the intermediate section and the end drum sections. Each input shaft is drivingly connected to a first stage of a two stage planetary gear assembly which surrounds an end drum drive shaft that extends the length of each end drum section. A second stage of the planetary gear assembly is drivingly connected to and is axially aligned with the first stage to transmit rotation outwardly to the end of the end drum section. A shearable driving coupling is axially positioned on the end drum drive shaft at the end of the end drum section. An external portion of the drive coupling is connected to the second stage and an internal portion is connected to the end drum drive shaft.

Abstract: A re-railing jack for returning derailed track vehicles to the track includes a threaded jack screw pivotally mounted in a ground supported swivel base. A jack housing is longitudinally movable on the jack screw in response to rotation of the jack screw by a ratchet which engages the jack screw. The jack housing includes a first portion threadedly engaged to the jack screw and a second integral portion positioned in the coupler pocket which normally receives the automatic coupler of the track vehicle. The housing second portion is retained in the coupler pocket by the same pin which holds the coupler in place. The pin extends through transverse slots of the jack housing permitting the housing to pivot within the coupler pocket about the point of connection of the housing to the vehicle. The jack is thus safely connected to the vehicle in an efficient manner which facilitates lifting and combined downward lateral movement of the vehicle back on to the track.

Abstract: An operator's compartment for a mobile machine, such as a machine used in underground mining operations, is pivotally connected to the machine frame for positioning at a preselected elevation above the ground or in contact with the ground to follow the contour of the ground in a "free floating" condition. The first overhead canopy is supported above the operator's compartment at a fixed elevation. Positioned beneath the first overhead canopy is an operator's seat securely positioned on the platform to provide an operator's station from which the machine is operated. Positioned in underlying relation with the first overhead canopy is a second overhead canopy that extends forwardly from the operator's station. The first and second canopies provide for complete overhead protection of an operator.

Abstract: A venturi section positioned in the flow path of pressurized air through a rock dust hopper includes an opening connected to a conduit extending to the axis of the venturi section. Concentric conduits within the venturi section direct the stream of pressurized air directly into intersecting relation with the conduit. The flow of pressurized air immediately below the conduit creates a reduced pressure to induce a continuous flow of rock dust through the venturi section opening and into mixture with the air stream which carries the entrained rock dust from the venturi section for discharge from a nozzle outlet.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine is propelled on a mobile body and includes a boom pivotally secured to the mobile body and extending forwardly therefrom. The boom rotatably supports a material dislodging device having cutting elements extending therefrom for dislodging material from a mine face. A longitudinal conveyor extends rearwardly on the body portion from a front end portion positioned rearwardly of the material dislodging device to a discharging end portion. A dust collector is carried by the boom in overlying relation with the conveyor front end portion. The dust collector includes a housing having a plurality of laterally spaced inlets for receiving pollutant laden air. A duct system connects the inlets to corresponding outlets where the air free of pollutants is discharged. A plurality of water spray manifolds are positioned in the housing at the inlets and direct a high pressure liquid spray to the outlets to induce an accelerated flow of pollutant laden air into the dust collector.

Abstract: A self-propelled mining machine includes a mobile body portion with a boom extending forwardly therefrom. The boom rotatably supports a rotatably driven cutter drum having peripherally extending cutting elements. The boom member includes a trough formed by inclined sidewalls. The inclined sidewalls are positioned in space relation and extend upwardly on opposite sides of the receiving end of a conveyor that extends continuously the length of the machine body portion. The sidewalls slope downwardly toward the lateral edges of the conveyor receiving end and form a material receiving bin or hopper. The receiving end of the conveyor forms the floor of the hopper. The front end of the hopper extends the length of the cutter drum. Suitable drive means rotate the cutter drum to dislodge material from a mine face and direct the dislodged material by rotation of the cutter drum over the cutter drum and rearwardly into the hopper.

Abstract: A self-propelled boring type mining machine includes a mobile frame and a pair of spaced apart drive shafts that extend forwardly from a gear box mounted on the frame. A pair of rotary boring heads are nonrotatably connected to the pair of drive shafts and are operable to cut a pair of bores in a mine face to dislodge the mine material. Cusps formed at the mine roof and floor are dislodged by upper and lower cutter chains that are carried by upper and lower cutter bars movably positioned on the front end of the frame. Cutter bar extensions are movably positioned on both sides of the upper and lower cutter bars by control links pivotally connected to the extensions and the mobile frame. The upper and lower cutter bars are vertically extended and retracted by piston cylinder assemblies. Movement of the cutter bars is transmitted to the cutter bar extensions which are guided on the respective cutter bars along combined horizontal and vertical paths.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a portable gas detector used to detect combustible gases, such as methane, which embodies a Wheatstone bridge circuit including a refractory-coated detector element having thereon a catalyst for promoting oxidation of the combustible gas to be detected constituting one leg of the bridge and a refractory-coated reference element constituting a second leg of the bridge. The improvement consists in the application of a cobalt oxide coating to the reference element, whereby the occurrence of spurious signals by the Wheatstone bridge circuit due to causes other than the presence of a combustible gas is greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated.

Abstract: A rotor arm cutting assembly includes a plurality of cutter arm members extending radially outwardly from a hub portion which is adapted for nonrotatable connection to a drive shaft extending from the front of a mining machine. Each cutter arm member includes a front face for supporting cutter bits operable to dislodge solid material from a mine face upon rotation of the drive shaft. A slot extends longitudinally outwardly from the hub portion to the end of each cutter arm member on the front face. A cutter arm extension is positioned for longitudinal movement in the slot. Complimentary guide members and guide ways associated with the extension portion and the cutter arm member maintain the extension portion movable in a longitudinal direction in the slot. The extension portion is extended and retracted relative to the cutter arm member by operation of a fluid actuated cylinder positioned for convenient servicing within a recess in the back of the cutter arm member.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a portable gas detector used to detect combustible gases, such as methane, which embodies a Wheatstone bridge circuit including a refractory-coated detector element having thereon a catalyst for promoting oxidation of the combustible gas to be detected constituting one leg of the bridge and a refractory-coated reference element constituting a second leg of the bridge. The improvement consists in the application of a cobalt oxide coating to the reference element, whereby the occurrence of spurious signals by the Wheatstone bridge circuit due to causes other than the presence of a combustible gas is greatly reduced, if not completely eliminated.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine includes a body portion mounted on endless tracks and a boom member extending forwardly from the body portion with a cutter drum member rotatably mounted on the front end of the boom member. The cutter drum member has an intermediate drum section and a pair of end drum sections. A pair of driven input shafts are drivingly connected to the pair of end drum sections respectively. Intermediate drive shafts extend from the end drum sections into the ends of the intermediate drum section. The intermediate drum section is formed by a pair of releasably connected housing sections. A connecting plate is positioned within and nonrotatably secured to each housing section. Each connecting plate includes planar faces that engage corresponding planar faces provided on the end of the respective intermediate drive shaft.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly adapted for mounting on a driving mechanism of a mining machine to dislodge solid material in mining operations includes a base member rigidly secured as by welding to the driving mechanism. A cutter member having an elongated shank and a conical head is releasably positioned in a bore through the base member. The conical head extends from the upper end of the shank and supports a hard cutting tip that is operable to dislodge solid material from a mine face upon rotation of the driving mechanism. The shank has a tapered body positioned in a tapered portion of the base member bore. The surface of the tapered body cooperates with the bore tapered portion to form a locking fit of the shank in the base member substantially free of relative movement between the shank and the base member to prevent wear of the base member bore.

Abstract: A mining machine includes a mobile body and an endless conveyor for conveying rearwardly on the body the material dislodged by the mining machine. A gathering platform extends forwardly from the conveyor. Oscillating gathering arms positioned laterally of the receiving end of the conveyor on the gathering platform feed the dislodged material rearwardly on the gathering platform. A plow-like forward edge portion extends transversely across the front of the gathering platform and opposite side portions extend rearwardly from the forward edge portion. Deflector plates are pivotally mounted on the gathering platform adjacent the opposite side portions at the gathering platform forward edge portion to deflect the loose material deposited on the mine floor along the mine wall onto the gathering platform. The deflector plates are biased laterally outwardly from the forward edge portion toward stops mounted on the gathering platform which limit their outward pivotal movement.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine includes a body portion. A longitudinally extending conveyor support frame is positioned on the body portion. A pair of parallel spaced side walls are positioned outboard of the conveyor support frame. A unitary stabilizing member is pivotally connected at an upper end to the lower edge portions of the side walls and extends transversely between the side walls beyond the width of and below the conveyor support frame. A lower end of the stabilizing member is adapted for movement into and out of engagement with the mine floor. A pair of piston cylinder assemblies for actuating the stabilizing member are connected to and positioned outboard and laterally of the side walls. The piston rods of the assemblies are intermediately connected to the lateral edges of the stabilizing member.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine includes a body portion having a longitudinal axis and mounted on endless tracks. A boom member extends forwardly from the body portion with a cutter drum member rotatably mounted on the front of the boom member. The cutter drum member has an intermediate drum section and a pair of canted end drum section. The intermediate drum section is spaced from the end drum sections to provide openings therebetween. The boom member has front end portions extending through the openings to rotatably support the cutter drum member. Input drive shafts extend from drive motors on the body portion forwardly from the boom member at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body portion through the openings. In each end drum section meshing spiral bevel gears connect the input drive shaft through a planetary gear train to the end drum drive shaft. Rotation is transmitted from each end drum drive shaft to a drive shaft for rotating the intermediate drum section.

Abstract: A continuous mining machine has a mobile body portion with a boom member pivotally secured thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. A cylindrical drum member is rotatably mounted on front of the boom member and includes a cylindrical intermediate section and a pair of end sections extending outwardly from the intermediate section. Cutting elements for dislodging material from a mine face extend from the respective drum sections. The cutting elements of the end sections are spaced from the adjacent cutting elements of the intermediate section by a pair of openings separating the intermediate section from the end sections respectively. A pair of nonrotatable housing assemblies extending forwardly from the boom member extend around the pair of openings. Each housing assembly has a tubular portion through which input shafts extend to transmit rotation to each of the end sections and therefrom by shafts extending from the end sections to the intermediate section to rotate the intermediate section.

Abstract: A pair of differential side gears are splined to separate driven shafts that rotate the driven wheels of a vehicle. Rotation of a driven shaft is transmitted through a differential case and spider gears to the side gears. The side gears are rotatably mounted on a thrust assembly. Belleville spring assemblies exert a biasing force upon interleaved clutch plates alternately splined to the case and the side gears. Upon the occurrence of an unequal torque distribution between the driven shafts the gear separating forces exerted by the spider gears upon the side gears become imbalanced. The side gear associated with the driven shaft of the wheel having reduced traction is displaced axially toward the spider gears. This axial movement is transmitted through the thrust assembly to the side gear associated with the driven shaft of the wheel having the greater traction to axially move the side gear and compress the clutch plates to frictionally engage the case and the side gear.

Abstract: A cutter drum member of a continuous mining machine is rotatably mounted on the front end of the machine. The drum member includes an intermediate section and a pair of canted end sections. Cutting elements extend from the surface of the respective drum sections and provide a continuous cutting pattern along the entire length of the drum member. Input drive shafts extend through rear openings between the adjacent ends of the intermediate section and the end sections. Rotation is transmitted from the input drive shafts through meshing bevel gears and planetary gears to rotate the intermediate section. The adjacent ends of the intermediate section and end sections include meshing gear teeth secured to the external surface of the sections so that the canted end sections are driven by the external meshing gear teeth.