Mining-machine cutting structure

Claim 2

A mining machine cutting-structure comprising: a support member; an elongated mining head member mounted at a forward end of said support member for powered rotation about a longitudinal axis of said head member; said head member having cutting means consisting of a single, centrally located, cutter-supporting chain and cutter-supporting rotary elements extending outwardly from the sides of said chain and beyond the sides of said support member, respectively; and the cutters on said rotary elements and on said chain being movable in orbits closely adjacent to each other along said axis the fulL length of said head member to cut clearance for said head member during movement of said head member into a bedded deposit of material to be mined.

Claim 3

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chain is supported for movement through an elongated orbital path and driven gear means are operatively supported by said support member within said orbital path to drive said head member for said powered operation.

Claim 4

A mining machine cutter structure as set forth in claim 1 additionally comprising, a head shaft extending along said longitudinal axis and drivingly connected to said chain and said rotary elements; driven gear means operatively supported by said support member to drive said head shaft; and said gear means comprising two gear trains applying equal rotational forces to said head shaft at locations equally spaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said support member.

Claim 5

A mining machine cutter structure as set forth in claim 2 additionally comprising: a head shaft extending along said longitudinal axis and drivingly connected to said chain and said rotary elements; said head shaft being driven by said gear means; and said gear means comprising two gear trains applying equal rotational forces to said head shaft at locating equally spaced and opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said support member.

Claim 6

A mining machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said chain is centrally driven and centrally supported by a single drive sprocket carried and driven by said head shaft intermediate said cutter-supporting rotary elements, and adjacent end portions of said rotary elements supportingly engage edge portions of said chain.

Claim 7

A mining machine cutter structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said gear trains have at least three speed-reduction steps.

Claim 8

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said chain is centrally driven and centrally supported by a single drive sprocket intermediate between said cutter-supporting rotary elements, and adjacent end portions of said rotary elements supportingly engage edge portions of said chain.

Claim 9

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutter supporting rotary elements are driven by a hollow head shaft extending along said longitudinal axis and additionally comprise: axially movable cutter-supporting extensions slidably mounted on axial end portions of said hollow head shaft said head shaft being coaxial with respect to said longitudinal axis of said head member; and a pair of axially spaced extensible hydraulic cylinders carried with each end portion of said head shaft and connected to the respective extensions for moving said extensions.

Claim 10

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said cylinders communicates with a controlled source of pressure fluid through a pilot-operated check valve.

Claim 11

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein a liquid-conducting tube coaxially mounted within said head shaft and radially spaced inwardly from the interior surface of said head shaft forms an internal and an external liquid-conducting passageway, said internal passageway communicates with the head ends of said cylinders and said external passageway communicates with the rod ends of said cylinders and said source of pressure fluid selectively communicates with one of said passageways and the other of said passageways simultaneously communicates with a nonpressurized liquid-containing reservoir.

Claim 12

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the width of said chain is greater than one half the axial length of one of said cutter supporting elements.

Claim 13

A mining machine cutting-structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cutter-carrying-supporting elements comprise a pair of generally cylindrical rotary drums each having a conveyor scroll mounted thereon, and each conveyor scroll having a discharge opening at the axiAlly innermost end thereof to permit at least a portion of mined material to be discharged substantially directly onto a respective side portion of said cutter chain.

Claim 14

A mining machine comprising: a mobile frame member a gathering head mechanism extending forwardly from one portion of said frame member; an elongated orbitally movable flight conveyor having upper and lower runs supported by said frame member and said head mechanism with a forward portion of said conveyor being cooperable with said head mechanism to permit the upper run of said conveyor to move rearwardly thereof; an elongated boom pivotally connected to said frame and extending forwardly thereof to permit movement of said boom through a vertical arc; a mining head rotatably carried at the forward end of said boom and extending transversely thereof; said mining head having a central endless cutter supporting and conveying means movable through an elongated orbit with respect to said boom, said cutter supporting and conveying means having upper and lower runs with respect to said boom with the lower run thereof moving rearwardly thereof; and said cutter supporting and conveying means having a plurality of adjacent members each of a width at least substantially equal to the width of said flight conveyor and with at least the rearward portion of the orbit thereof overlying the forward portion of the orbit of said conveyor.

Claim 15

A mining machine comprising: a mobile frame member a gathering head mechanism extending forwardly from one portion of said frame member; an elongated orbitally movable flight conveyor having upper and lower runs supported by said frame member and said head mechanism with a forward portion of said conveyor being cooperable with said head mechanism to permit the upper run of said conveyor to move rearwardly thereof; an elongated boom pivotally connected to said frame and extending forwardly thereof to permit movement of said boom through a vertical arc; a mining head rotatably carried at the forward end of said boom and extending transversely thereof; said mining head having a central endless cutter supporting and conveying means movable through an elongated orbit with respect to said boom, said cutter supporting and conveying means having upper and lower runs with respect to said boom with the lower run thereof moving rearwardly thereof; and said cutter supporting and conveying means having a plurality of adjacent members each of a width at least substantially equal to the width of said flight conveyor and with at least the rearward portion of the orbit thereof overlying the forward portion of the orbit of said conveyor.

Claim 16

A mining machine as specified in claim 13 wherein said cutter supporting and conveying means has said lower run overlying said gathering head at least one half the length of said gathering head measured longitudinally of the machine.

Claim 17

A mining machine as specified in claim 13 wherein the central axis of orbits of said flight conveyor and said cutter supporting and conveying means lie in a common vertical plane.

Claim 18

A mining machine as specified in claim 13 wherein the central axis of orbits of said flight conveyor and said cutter supporting and conveying means comprises a single chain and said adjacent members are respective ones of links of said chain.

Claim 19

A mining machine as specified in claim 13 wherein the rate of orbital movement of said flight conveyor is less than the rate of orbital movement of said cutter supporting and conveying means.