Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A mining machine movable along an armoured flexible conveyor each pan of which is provided with a rigid longitudinal guide rod for the machine, the machine having a winch-driven chain guided into a run alongside the guide rods, and each guide rod having a series of pockets housing pegs reciprocable towards and away from the run of the chain, each pocket being open to the chain and at the end remote from the chain open to a longitudinal slot along which a shoe carried by the machine is movable, and the shoe having tapering ends, so that as the shoe moves with the machine in either direction along the guide rods the pegs are urged to project from the pockets into engagement with the links of the chain in the run alongside the guide rods, to effect the driving of the machine along the conveyor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A mining machine movable along an armoured flexible conveyor each pan of which is provided with a rigid longitudinal guide rod for the machine, the machine having a winch-driven chain guided into a run alongside the guide rods, and each guide rod having a series of pockets housing pegs reciprocable towards and away from the run of the chain, each pocket being open to the chain and at the end remote from the chain open to a longitudinal slot along which a shoe carried by the machine is movable, and the shoe having tapering ends, so that as the shoe moves with the machine in either direction along the guide rods the pegs are urged to project from the pockets into engagement with the links of the chain in the run alongside the guide rods, to effect the driving of the machine along the conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the machine also carries a counter-support for the chain in its run alongside the guide rods, to ensure that the pegs do not deflect the chain but are urged into full engagement with the links of the chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 2, wherein the counter-support and the shoe are combined in a saddle carried by the machine and embracing the guide rods and the run of chain alongside the guide rods.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mining machine and Conveyor as in claim 3, wherein the chain is of the plate link and roller type and the rollers are engaged by the counter-support.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the pegs have rounded ends remote from the chain.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the pegs have rollers at their ends remote from the chain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the chain is guided into the run alongside the guide rods by a pair of sprockets, the teeth of the trailing sprocket serving to push the pegs at least partially back as the chain leaves the run alongside the guide rods.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the chain is guided by rollers into the run alongside the guide rods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 8, wherein a pair of auxiliary shoes are carried by the machine, one beyond each end of the run of the chain alongside the guide rods, to push back the pegs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the chain is of the single-link type.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in cliam 10, wherein the pockets are holes drilled in solid rods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in cliam 10, wherein the pockets are holes drilled in solid rods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the chain is of the double-link type and each guide rod is provided with two series of pockets and pegs side-by-side and with longitudinal slots opening to opposite sides of the guide rod for entry of shoes from opposite sides of a saddle carried by the machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 12, wherein each guide rod is formed of a vertical plate, with spaced blocks welded between the vertical plate and longitudinal side portions, to form the two series of pockets, and with two bars lengthwise below the pockets, to the longitudinal slots.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mining machine and conveyor as in claim 1, wherein the pans of the conveyor are connected together by ball-joints minimising the extent to which the pans can separate to no more than is absolutely necessary for snaking-over to a new alignment adjacent a newly-cut face.