Abstract: A longwall mining machine and method for its use, the machine traveling over a face conveyor having a first toothed rack extending therealong. A gantry-like frame is movable along the face conveyor and has upstanding supports at its opposite ends which carry an upper track and a second toothed rack. A first mining machine frame is carried on the face conveyor and has drive pinion means engageable with the first toothed rack. A second mining machine frame is carried on the upper track of the gantry-like frame and has drive pinion means engageable with the second toothed rack. The first and second mining machine frames each having a shearer drum mounted thereon for cutting and removing a mineral seam.

Abstract: A thrust device for a coal cutter running on a sectional string of trunking of a chain conveyor comprises a pinion on the coal cutter cooperating with a rack located on the conveyor. The rack is formed of a plurality of linked sections only one of which is firmly attached to the conveyor, the other sections being guided for longitudinal movement relative to the conveyor. The purpose of this arrangement is to avoid straining the rack or producing tooth pitch variations at the junctions of adjacent rack sections when the trunking flexes due to geological disturbances.

Abstract: A rack device including a plurality of rack segments arranged end-to-end for extending along the side wall of a face conveyor while carrying a mining machine having a gear drive engageable with the rack device to propel the machine along the conveyor at the working face of a mine. The rack segments are joined at their abutting ends by pivot shafts to holders slideable along a rail that is supported by conveyor pan sections or side bracket portions of the face conveyor. The space between drive pins at the ends of the consecutively arranged rack segments is greater than the drive pin pitch by an amount corresponding to the distance of travel by these drive pins from an aligned relation of the rack segments into a maximum angular relation between the rack segments. Sliding movement by the holders on the rail is limited by one or more stop abutment members for each holder. A connecting link extends between two stop abutment members when employed at opposite sides of an individual holder.

Abstract: A drum cutter-loader machine includes discrete units joined together by tie bolts extending transversely to the direction of advancing movement along a face conveyor. The units in succession from the stow side to the working side include a gantry casing supporting winch drive motors and straddling the face conveyor, a transmission box, a winch casing and casing carrying actuators coupled to arms carried by pivots at opposite ends of the winch casing. The arms carry cutter drums driven by motors supported by the arms. A toothed rack at the working face side is engaged by drive wheels driven through gearing in the winch casing and transmission box by the winch motors. The gantry casing is supported at the stow side through runners that engage a guide rail. In one embodiment, the machine is supported by rollers at the working face side on the toothed rack. In a further embodiment, the machine is supported by rollers at the working face side on a machine track.

Abstract: A rack device consisting of movable and immovable rack segments extends along a face conveyor for a mining machine having a drive gear engageable with the rack device to propel the machine along the working face of a mine. Rack holders are fixedly connected to conveyor pan sections joined together for pivotal movement to form the face conveyor. The rack segments are coupled to spaced-apart rack holders by pivot shafts. The immovable rack segments extend along a single conveyor pan section while each movable rack segment bridges a joint between conveyor pan sections. Pivot shafts for the movable rack segments are received in elongated slots in the rack holders whereby the movable rack segments move through a gap distance formed by a clearance between the pivot shaft and the slot. This gap distance is greater in magnitude than the clearance between the joined conveyor pan sections.

Abstract: A drum cutter includes a machine body having at the opposed ends, pivot shafts extending parallel to the mine floor at right angles to the direction of travel by the machine body along a coal face. Two support arms each include two laterally-spaced bores at one end thereof to selectively receive a projected portion of a pivot shaft extending toward the mine face. A lever is mounted onto each of the support arms adjacent the bores in the end thereof. A cutter drum projects from the free ends of the support arms at the coal side of the machine body. Hydraulic jacks, supported by the machine body, are coupled to the levers for pivoting the arms to position the cutter drum supported thereby. A motor is supported within a casing attached to the stow side of each support arm. The motor is coupled through gearing to the cutter drum. The projected end of the casing is supported by a bearing member secured to the extension of the machine body and provided with a bore to receive the pivot shaft.

Abstract: A rack device extends along the side wall of a face conveyor for a mining machine and essentially includes a plurality of elongated rack segments supporting spaced-apart drive members along the length of each segment. The rack segments are joined together in an end-to-end relation by a rod member passed through an eyelet opening in extensions projecting from the rack segments. The rod member is arranged at the joint between rack segments such that the rod member lies between, preferably midway between, adjoined sections of the face conveyor. A duct extends between the side wall of the face conveyor and a spill plate which is formed by a plurality of plate members arranged side-by-side to extend along the face conveyor. The duct has upstanding side walls with openings to receive and support the rod member used to join together the rack segments.

Abstract: Described is a mining machine of the type which moves along a track or conveyor provided with a gear rack and wherein a driven gearwheel on the machine engages the rack to move the machine along the track. At least one skid is pivotally connected to the mining machine and bears upon and is guided by the rack, the pivotal connection of the skid to the machine being intermediate the ends of the skid. The gearwheel is fixedly mounted on the mining machine and extends through an opening in the skid to mesh with the gear rack whereby rotation of the gearwheel will cause the machine to traverse the track. The axis of rotation of the gearwheel lies in a vertical plane through which the pivotal axis of the skid extends whereby the skid can articulate along the rack without affecting the engagement of the gearwheel with the rack.

Abstract: A spill-plate housing extends along one side of the course of travel by a mining machine. A flexible cutter cable and water conduit are carried from the mining machine by a carrier arm for extending into the spill-plate housing by projecting through a longitudinal slot formed in a faceplate of the housing. Upper and lower resilient apron strips are secured to the faceplate so that their longitudinal edges abut along the longitudinal center of the slot. Vertical support pipes are secured to the faceplate by upper and lower members to form an internal housing space adapted to accommodate the cable and conduit while coupled to the mining machine. Bias blocking arms are pivotally supported by the faceplate within the housing to prevent unintentional emergence of the cable from the slot in the housing. Pipe-engaging surfaces on clamp plates arranged at opposed sides of the vertical support pipes are used to carry a door for vertical movement to expose the interior of the housing space.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a mining machine of the type having a driven winch which has its drive output sprocket engaging a displaced portion of a chain which normally extends along the entire length of the mine face. The displacement portion of the chain occurs between guide rollers on the mining machine. The chain is secured by a plurality of holding devices such as catches clamps or locking devices which are distributed at closely, spaced-apart locations along the length of the chain. As the mining machine propels itself along the chain, the guide roller or an associated member at the forward end of the mining machine releasably retain the chain in the holding devices until the chain is deflected toward the drive output sprocket of the winch. A guide roller or an associated member at the trailing end of the mining machine engage again the returned portion of the chain with the holding device as the chain is passed from the drive output sprocket.

Abstract: A roller crusher is carried by a coal cutting mining machine which is, in turn, carried by a gantry for movement along the frame of a longwall face conveyor. The roller crusher is attached to the coal cutting machine by a U-shaped frame having hinge pins for pivotal movement thereof about a horizontal axis at the end of the machine which faces toward the oncoming stream of coal on the conveyor. The U-shaped frame supports a drive motor that is, in turn, coupled by a gear drive to the roller crusher. A piston and cylinder assembly is controlled to adjustably position the U-shaped frame and thereby the roller. The mining machine has support arms that are pivotal about horizontal axes and carry coal cutting drums to project into the working face of the mine.