Abstract: A material processing plant comprising a frame and a body of a material processing apparatus connected to the frame and a feeder, and first joining means having a first support arm having a first pivot point and a second pivot point at a first distance from each other. The first pivot point is connected to a first end of the feeder and the second pivot point is connected to the frame of the processing plant for moving the first end of the feeder. The processing plant includes second joining means having a second support arm having a third pivot point and a fourth pivot point a second distance from each other. The third pivot point is connected to a second end of the feeder. The fourth pivot point is connected to the body of the processing apparatus. An actuator moves the feeder between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: An excavator (1) includes an excavator main body (7), an apron (2) for the receipt of excavated material and a conveyor (3), the apron being located at or in proximity to the front of the main body, the conveyor extending from the apron to the rear of the main body. In use, the conveyor moves excavated material from the front to the rear of the main body, the excavator further includes an arm (11) having an attachment (5) for excavating material and moving the excavating material towards the apron (2). The excavator has a support associated with the front of the main body, the support being movable from a first position in which the support is in resilient contact with the ground to a second position in which there is substantially no contact between the support and the ground. The support includes one or both of the apron and conveyor.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of this invention safely and efficiently loads and unloads the contents of a load transport container. A manipulator mechanism such as a backhoe having a hemispherical spiked tool at the end of a manipulator arm is mounted on a telescoping conveyor belt system. Right hand and left hand 1/4 turn drive conveyors are used at the front end of the telescoping conveyor belt system to facilitate movement of cargo from the front end of the system to the discharge end. The main conveyor belt has a ribbed design.

Abstract: A flexible feeder conveyor system for removing material from a stockpile and transporting the removed material to a fixed conveyor. The system includes an underconveyor positioned below an excavator and having a loading hopper attached to its forward end to receive material and transport it beneath the excavator a rearward end of the underconveyor. A string of trailing conveyors is towed behind the underconveyor with the last trailing conveyor having its rearward end attached to a stationary terminal support positioned at the fixed conveyor. The underconveyor, the trailing conveyors, and the terminal support are connected together using transition hoppers. Each transition hopper includes an upper hopper mounted to the raised rearward end of the forward conveyor, and a lower hopper mounted to the forward end of the next rearward conveyor. The forward end of the conveyor is rollingly supported by a pair of caster wheels.

Abstract: A plough box containing a chain wheel driving a chain to propel a chain used to move a plough is mounted for displacement alongside a machine frame at one end of a scraper-chain conveyor. To adjust the tension in the chain a motor is operated to drive a self-locking worm gearing which employs a worm wheel meshing with a rack fixed to the machine frame and extending in the direction of the chain.

Abstract: A large round baler is equipped with a pick-up and a feed fork apparatus which work together to gather crop from the ground and deliver it to the inlet of the bale forming chamber of the baler. The feed fork apparatus includes a plurality of teeth which are mounted to an eccentric located beneath a chute of the apparatus and are caused to sweep along an oval path in the direction of desired crop movement, the tines moving through respective slots provided in the chute. Leading edges of the tines are stair-stepped so that they engage the crop and carry it along the chute to the inlet to the bale forming chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for gathering particulate material in mines and similar plants has a mobile platform which collects particulate material and surrounds the trailing end of a material removing conveyor. The sides of the trailing end of the conveyor are flanked by plate-like carriers on each of which are fixed several beams serving to push gathered material toward and onto the conveyor in response to movement of the carriers toward the conveyor. The carriers are movable toward and away from the conveyor by motors which are installed beneath the platform, and the apparatus further employs stationary or reciprocable barriers, one behind each beam, which prevent the beams from pushing material away from the conveyor during return strokes of the carriers. Those ends of the beams and barriers which face in the direction of forward movement of the platform slope forwardly and downwardly to facilitate penetration beneath the accumulations of particulate material on the platform.

Abstract: A transfer station from a longwall chain conveyor to a drift chain conveyor have upper and lower reaches which cross alternately. The upper belt section of the longwall conveyor comprises a scraper over the upper belt section of the drift conveyor. The working face side of the longwall conveyor has a plane guide for a coal plane and a plane chain which at least at the drift-side end of the longwall conveyor is guided via guide wheels to a gob-side drive unit. These two drift-side guide wheels are arranged with a vertical spacing from each other in the lower belt section of the longwall conveyor such that they form between them a passage for the chain belt and for the tappets of the longwall conveyor attached thereto. The drift-side guide wheels are arranged so close to the drift conveyor that in its drift-side and position the coal plane can transfer the won coal directly into the drift conveyor. In all, an especially compact plane chain deflection integrated into the longwall conveyor is realized.

Abstract: In one exemplar embodiment, an apparatus for handling and conveying materials is disclosed having a movable chassis, a longitudinally extendable conveyor assembly mounted on the chassis, the conveyor having a projecting loading end capable of limited longitudinal and arcuate vertical movement to a position immediately adjacent the location of the material being handled. An articulated boom assembly is rotatably mounted on the chassis with the movable free end carrying a pushing and pulling blade for loading the material unto the loading end of the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for retrieving round hay bales includes a frame, an elongated, rigid and generally U-shaped pan supported on said frame and a generally U-shaped bail. A pair of carriages are slidably supported on the pan and the legs of the bail are pivoted to the carriages. An endless driven chain shifts the carriages and the bail longitudinally of the pan. A drive operatively engages the bail to pivot the bail through an angle of approximately 180.degree.. The frame is tiltable so that a forward open end of the pan may be positioned at ground level immediately adjacent a round hay bale. The U-shaped bail may be disposed around the hay bale and the carriages shifted so that the hay bale is pulled onto the elongated pan.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for handling and conveying materials is disclosed having a movable chassis, a longitudinally extendable conveyor assembly mounted on the chassis, the conveyor having a projecting loading end capable of limited longitudinal and arcuate vertical movement to a position immediately adjacent the location of the material being handled. An articulated boom assembly is rotatably mounted on the chassis with the movable free end carrying a pushing and pulling blade for loading the material unto the loading end of the conveyor.

Abstract: A self-contained, moveable material handling apparatus is characterized by a chassis having a material conveyance surface mounted for rotation with respect to the central vertical axis thereof. A deck is also mounted for rotation with respect to the chassis, independently of the material conveyance surface. A loading boom, having a loading device on the end thereof, is mounted to the deck for rotation about the central vertical axis of the chassis. The boom is also pivotable about a horizontal axis and extendable and retractable along its own axis. The loading device and the boom cooperate to load material from the interior of a carrier onto the material conveyance surface. The surface rotates the material until it is deflected from the surface by a deflector conveyor onto a carry-off conveyor. The speed of the material conveyance is less than the speed of the deflector conveyor, which speed is less than the speed of the carry-off conveyor.

Abstract: Safety apparatus for a mining machine having a gathering head for gathering product (e.g., coal) in a mine, a conveyor system which extends rearwardly along the machine from the gathering head for conveying the product rearwardly for discharge at the rear of the machine, and power generating equipment for driving the conveyor system and the gathering head. The conveyor system comprises an elongate conveyor support or structure pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the machine between lowered and raised positions. The machine has a frame having a rear bottom section below the conveyor support and sides extending upwardly from the rear bottom section. Hydraulic lift means is provided between the rear bottom section and the support powered by the power equipment for pivoting the support. Access is provided between the support and the rear bottom section, when the support is raised, for personnel servicing machine components located in this area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an expansion and contraction system of a plurality of arms, and for example to an expansion and contraction system applicable to a rake arm of a dirt remover for discharging dust from the effluent of an aqueduct.

Abstract: Crank-operated rods are mounted on two vertically spaced apart crankshafts, which are driven to rotate in the same sense. Working tools are carried by said rods on the side thereof which faces the body of silage and penetrate said body as they move downwardly. Each crank-operated rod is provided at its lower end with at least one depending conveying tine, which at least during part of the movement of the respective crank-operated rod away from the body of silage moves over a bottom plate, which extends under all juxtaposed crank-operated rods and is trough-shaped on the side that faces away from the working tools.

Abstract: A conveyor is composed of a series of L-shaped sections arranged end-to-end to define a conveying floor surface with a side wall at one side opposite the mineral face so as to allow material to fall onto the floor surface. The side wall has a slot or gap therein through which extends entrainment devices capable of extending across the floor surface or being stowed inwards towards the side wall. Where the conveyor is constructed as a shuttle conveyor the entrainment devices are allowed to pivot automatically between these alternate positions as they are driven back and forth along the floor surface by a reciprocating traction means. The traction means runs outside the side wall and the devices are pivotably mounted to the traction means which preferably also performs a guide function.

Abstract: A loading and conveying machine has crawler treads and a frame extending forwardly thereof. A conveyor extends from the front to the rear of the machine. An apron is pivotally mounted at the front of the frame and receives material from a loading implement and deposits it onto the conveyor. The front end of the conveyor is pivotally mounted to the apron and arcuately moves about the apron pivot axis when the apron is raised or lowered. The axis of apron-conveyor pivotal mount is removed from the center of rotation of the front end of the conveyor and spaced rearwardly and downwardly therefrom. The distance between the rear apron edge and the axis of apron-conveyor pivotal mount is greater than the distance between the said edge and the center of rotation of the front end of the conveyor. The axis of apron-conveyor pivotal mount is disposed in a transverse vertical plane which is positioned between the rear apron edge and the center of rotation of the front end return portion of the conveyor.

Abstract: Loading apparatus having vehicle body, inclined conveyor assembly extending upwardly and rearwardly from front of vehicle body, and hopper adjacent front of vehicle to direct material onto conveyor. Apparatus has extendable excavating assembly including a guide mounting a carrier which carries a hoeing assembly. The guide is mounted on vehicle body, and the carrier means cooperates with the guide for movement parallel to movement of conveyor when viewed from above. The hoeing assembly is carried on carrier means to be generally adjacent the hopper to draw material onto hopper for feeding onto conveyor. Carrier and guide can be carriage mounted on rails, or telescoping ram arrangement to provide extendable mount for hoeing assembly which increases reach thereof without requiring excessively long arms, and also facilitates operation of hoeing assembly for drawing material onto the hopper. Operator is positioned at front of vehicle for good visibility during operation of hoeing assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an automatically controlled scraper for moving particulate material onto a radial or star feeder for distribution thereby. The scraper includes a scraper bucket suspended from a radially extending arm. The bucket is connected to both a digging cable line and a lifting cable line, each of which is in turn connected to a suitable winch. The winches are controlled by clutches and brakes, each of which are optionally activated by interconnected automatic and manual control elements, whereby operation may be selectively changed from automatic to manual at the discretion of the operator.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an automatically controlled scraper for moving particulate material onto a radial or star feeder for distribution thereby. The scraper includes a scraper bucket suspended from a radially extending arm. The bucket is connected to both a digging cable line and a lifting cable line, each of which is in turn connected to a suitable winch. The winches are controlled by clutches and brakes, each of which are optionally activated by interconnected automatic and manual control elements, whereby operation may be selectively changed from automatic to manual at the discretion of the operator.

Abstract: A loading and conveying machine has crawler treads and a frame extending substantially forwardly thereof. A conveyor is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and extends rearwardly from ahead of the frame to the back of the machine. An apron is pivotally mounted at the front of the frame and receives material from a loading implement and deposits it onto the conveyor. The machine has an approach angle providing a space defined by a ground plane and a forwardly and upwardly inclined plane tangential to the arc described by the front of the treads and extending through the lower front frame corner. The apron is angularly adjustable, and furthermore, the apron pivot is vertically shiftable to thereby change the apron attitude so that it can be wholly positioned above the inclined approach plane without obstruction by the conveyor.

Abstract: A loading and conveying machine has crawler treads and a frame extending forwardly thereof. A conveyor extends from the front to the rear of the machine. An apron is pivotally mounted at the front of the frame and receives material from a loading implement and deposits it onto the conveyor. The front end of the conveyor is pivotally mounted to the apron and arcuately moves about the apron pivot axis when the apron is raised or lowered. The joined conveyor and apron may also be adjusted together by vertically moving the apron pivot axis. The midsection of the conveyor is articulated so that the conveyor framework is separated into front and rear segments which are independently movable relative to each other and to the machine frame.