US3591235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cutters for mineral-mining machines
Assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
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Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine, particularly a shearer-loader, comprises a rotary cutter equipped with fixed cutter tools distributed around the head. Adjacent to the periphery of the head but spaced from one another are mounted a source and a detector of electromagnetic radiation, the detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of radiation detected by backscatter from the strata adjacent to the cutter and gives a measure as to the thickness of coal remaining after cutting. Means are also provided on the cutter for relating the output signal from the detector to the angular position of the source or detector about the axis of rotation of the cutter so that when the signal is fed from the detector to responsive control means for steering the machine positioned on the machine body, the cutting horizon of the cutter is controlled in relation to a coal/stone interface at a boundary of the seam.
Inventors
- 👤 George T Addison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:40
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C39/00; E21C35/00; E21C35/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine, comprising holders for cutter tools mounted on said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted on the Cutterhead, a backscattered radiation detector also mounted on the cutterhead but spaced from said source, electrical means associated with said detector and adapted to derive an output signal dependent upon the amount of radiation detected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine, comprising holders for cutter tools mounted on said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted on the Cutterhead, a backscattered radiation detector also mounted on the cutterhead but spaced from said source, electrical means associated with said detector and adapted to derive an output signal dependent upon the amount of radiation detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising holders for cutter tools distributed around said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a detector of said radiation also mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from the detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising holders for cutter tools distributed around said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a detector of said radiation also mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from the detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cutterhead as claimed in claim 2, in which the electrical means comprise commutator means for relating the output signal from said detector to the angular position of said source or detector about the axis of rotation of the cutterhead.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cutterhead as claimed in claim 2, in which the electrical means comprise a rate meter circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cutterhead as claimed in claim 2, in which the electrical means comprise a scaling circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising a hub adapted to be mounted on the machine drive shaft, a helical loading vane extending along, and secured to, the hub, a plate secured onto one end of the hub, holders for cutter tools secured around the outer portions of the vane and the plate, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a detector of said radiation also mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from the detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising a hub adapted to be mounted on the machine drive shaft, a helical loading vane extending along, and secured to, the hub, a plate secured onto one end of the hub, holders for cutter tools secured around the outer portions of the vane and the plate, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a detector of said radiation also mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from the detector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cutterhead as claimed in claim 6 in which a cutter toolholder is mounted intermediate said source and said detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cutterhead as claimed in claim 6 in which said source and said detector are embedded in an elastomeric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cutterhead as claimed in claim 6 in which a protective window of tough material having a low atomic weight is placed over said detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
142 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine operating a hub adapted to be mounted on the machine drive shaft, a helical loading vane extending along, and secured to, the hub, a plate secured onto one end of the hub, holders for cutter tools secured around the outer portions of the vane and the plate, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a first detector of said radiation mounted on the vane adjacent to the periphery of the machine side of said head, a second detector of said radiation mounted on thy plate adjacent to the periphery of the face side of said head, each of said detectors being spaced from said source and deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from said detectors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
142 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine operating a hub adapted to be mounted on the machine drive shaft, a helical loading vane extending along, and secured to, the hub, a plate secured onto one end of the hub, holders for cutter tools secured around the outer portions of the vane and the plate, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a first detector of said radiation mounted on the vane adjacent to the periphery of the machine side of said head, a second detector of said radiation mounted on thy plate adjacent to the periphery of the face side of said head, each of said detectors being spaced from said source and deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from said detectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising holders for cutter tools distributed around said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a detector of said radiation also mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output from the detector and for gating said output signal so as to represent two fractions, one fraction being derived when said detector is adjacent to the roof of the seam, and the other fraction being derived when the detector is adjacent to the floor of the seam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising holders for cutter tools distributed around said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, a detector of said radiation also mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said detector deriving an output signal dependent upon the amount of said radiation detected, and electrical means for feeding the output from the detector and for gating said output signal so as to represent two fractions, one fraction being derived when said detector is adjacent to the roof of the seam, and the other fraction being derived when the detector is adjacent to the floor of the seam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising holders for cutter tools distributed around said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, first and second detectors of said radiation also mounteD adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said first detector deriving an output signal when adjacent to the roof of the seam and said second detector deriving an output signal when adjacent to the floor of the seam, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from said detectors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
A rotary cutterhead for a mineral-mining machine comprising holders for cutter tools distributed around said head, a source of electromagnetic radiation mounted adjacent to the periphery of said head, first and second detectors of said radiation also mounteD adjacent to the periphery of said head but spaced from said source, said first detector deriving an output signal when adjacent to the roof of the seam and said second detector deriving an output signal when adjacent to the floor of the seam, and electrical means for feeding the output signal from said detectors.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a mineral-mining machine, a rotary cutterhead, a vane on the head, a plurality of pick holders spaced along the vane, a source of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic radiation detector, the said source and the said detector being spaced along the vane and separated by at least one of said pick holders, electrical means associated with the said detector, steering means for the machine adapted to control the position of the machine, the electrical means being connected to the steering means whereby steering of the machine is achieved by an electrical signal, dependent in value on the amount of radiation from the said source, backscattered onto the said detector, being generated by the said electrical means and fed to the steering means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a mineral-mining machine, a rotary cutterhead, a vane on the head, a plurality of pick holders spaced along the vane, a source of electromagnetic radiation, an electromagnetic radiation detector, the said source and the said detector being spaced along the vane and separated by at least one of said pick holders, electrical means associated with the said detector, steering means for the machine adapted to control the position of the machine, the electrical means being connected to the steering means whereby steering of the machine is achieved by an electrical signal, dependent in value on the amount of radiation from the said source, backscattered onto the said detector, being generated by the said electrical means and fed to the steering means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a mining machine according to claim 13, a further associated detector, said source and detectors being connected with said steering means through said electrical means, and commutator means connected with aid electrical means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |