Dust-eliminating coal-mining apparatus

Claim 2

In a coal mining machine, coal mining means adapted to be moved into a vein of coal to effect the mining thereof, a partition at the side of said coal mining means opposite the vein of coal, said partition extendIng from the floor to the roof of the mine to combine with the vein of coal and with the floor and roof to form a compartment, said coal mining means operating completely within said compartment, said partition being formed of upper and lower vertically extensible sections, resilient biasing means for maintaining the upper edge of the upper of said sections and the lower edge of the lower of said sections respectively in sliding engagement with the roof and floor of the mine, and means for constantly eliminating coal dust from said compartment.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said partition includes a center section, said upper and lower sections being vertically extensibly connected to said center section, said means for maintaining said upper and lower sections in engagement respectively with the roof and floor of the mine comprising power means resiliently urging said upper and lower sections away from each other.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mining means comprises a helix having cutting elements fixed to the edge thereof at spaced points throughout its length, means for rotating said helix on a horizontal axis, and means for feeding said helix laterally into the vein of coal simultaneously with movement of said partition toward the vein of coal.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for feeding said helix into the vein of coal is connected to said partition to move the latter simultaneously with said helix.

Claim 6

In a coal mining machine, coal mining means adapted to be moved into a vein of coal to effect the mining thereof, such means comprising a helix having cutting elements fixed to the edge thereof at spaced points throughout its length, means for rotating said helix on a horizontal axis, a partition arranged at the side of said coal mining means opposite the vein of coal, said partition extending from the floor to the roof of the mine to combine with the vein of coal and with the floor and roof to form a compartment, said compartment comprising upper and lower sections and a center section vertically telescopingly connected to said upper and lower sections, bearings carried by said center section and rotatably supporting said helix, said means for feeding said helix into the vein of coal comprising power means connected to said center section for transmitting a transverse force to move said partition laterally while feeding said helix laterally into the vein of coal, and means for constantly eliminating coal dust from said compartment.

Claim 7

In a coal mining machine, coal mining means adapted to be moved into a vein of coal to effect the mining thereof, such means comprising a helix having cutting elements fixed to the edge thereof at spaced points throughout its length, means for rotating said helix on a horizontal axis, a partition arranged at the side of said coal mining means opposite the vein of coal, said partition extending from the floor to the roof of the mine to combine with the vein of coal and with the floor and roof to form a compartment, said compartment comprising upper and lower sections and a center section vertically telescopingly connected to said upper and lower sections, bearings carried by said center section and rotatably supporting said helix, said means for feeding said helix into the vein of coal comprising power means connected to said center section for transmitting a transverse force to move said partition laterally while feeding said helix laterally into the vein of coal, and means for constantly eliminating coal dust from said compartment.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said power means comprises an hydraulic ram, and a vertical ram connected to said hydraulic ram to support the latter ram together with said center sections, said bearing and said helix, the controlling of the fluid in the ends of said vertical ram controlling vertical movement of said center section and said helix to vary the cutting action of said helix upwardly and downwardly in the vein of coal.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said helix and said partition are horizontally elongated longitudinally of said helix to horizontally elongate said compartment, one end of said compartment being open for the admission of air thereto, and means for exhausting air from the other end of said compartment to carry off dust from said compartment with the exhausted air.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 provided with means for closing said other end of said compartment and including an end board, a motor for driving the shaft of said helix through said end board, said means for closing said other end of said compartment being movable with said partition, said power means effecting movement of said helix into the vein of coal, and simultaneously similarly effecting movement of said partition, said closing means and said motor.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said closing means is arranged beyond the end of the vein of coal in a gallery of the mine, and a conveyor projecting through said closing means and across said comparTment, said helix being pitched to act as an auger conveyor to move coal lengthwise of said compartment onto said conveyor.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 9 provided with housing in which said conveyor operates, said housing being open at one end to said compartment, said closing means including a board parallel to said compartment and fitted around said housing, said means for exhausting air from said compartment comprising a duct communicating with the interior of said housing.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for exhausting air from said compartment further comprises a suction motor connected to said duct, and a dust precipitator arranged in said duct.