Auger type mining machine

Claim 2

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure; adjustable bracing means attached to the rigid frame structure for securing the device in place in relation to a surface from which the mining is to take place; auger drive means for rotatably driving the auger, having an outer casing rigidly secured to the front portion of the frame structure, an inner driving member rotatably mounted within the casing and engageable with the outer peripheral portion of an auger the outermost extremities of which are generally defined by a cylindrical envelope; motor means associated with the inner driving member for providing the rotational torque necessary to drive the auger including, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from, secured to and contained within the casing of the auger drive means in concentric relation to the auger, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and attached to the inner drive member of the auger drive means and disposed circumferentially about the auger in driven relationship to the stator portion; auger advancing means having a variable speed motor mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, at least one threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft driven by the variable speed motor and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threads of the at least one threaded shaft and adapted for driving engagement with the rear portion of the auger the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rearmost portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position an additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member.

Claim 3

A mining device as defined in claim 1 in combination with an auger means for forming a cylindrical auger hole extending into the seam being mined, having releasably inter-engaging auger sections of a spiral configuration the outermost extremities of the spiral being generally defined by a cylindrical envelope and which sections are rigidly securable to the rear end portion of a prior section, the outer extremities of the spiral further having a plurality of spaced discontinuities providing bearing surfaces in the tangential direction from the axis of the cylindrical envelope.

Claim 4

A mining device as defined in claim 1 wherein the auger drive means includes: the casing being rigidly detachably secured to the frame structure with internal surfaces defining a cylindrical opening with a diameter greater than the diameter of the auger; the inner driving member having gripping means disposed in spaced circumferentially surrounding relation to the auger for engagement therewith so as to rotate the auger and transmit the necessary rotational torque to the cutting head.

Claim 5

A mining device as defined in claim 1 wherein the casing of the auger drive means is rigidly detachably secured at a rear portion thereof to a front portion of the frame structure and additional adjustable bracing means for rigidly bracing the mining device in relation to the seam of coal being mined, are secured to the casing, at least one on each side thereof.

Claim 6

A mining device as defined in claim 4, wherein the adjustable bracing means includes a bracing member secured to the lower central rear portion of the frame structure for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, and the additional adjustable bracing means each includes a bracing member secured to the lower side portion of the casing, all of the bracing members combined being capable of supporting the weight of the mining device and wedging the upper portion of the frame structure and casing against the ceiling so as to prevent movement of the mining device relative to the vane during the mining operation.

Claim 7

A mining device as defined in claim 1 wherein the frame structure includes: front and rear vertical end supports spaced apart a distance greater than the length of an auger section; at least two horizontally spaced support members secured to an extending between the vertical end supports; and the front support having attachment means for releasably securing the casing of the auger drive means thereto.

Claim 8

A mining device as defined in claim 6 wherein the frame structure further includes a base plate in the form of a trough disposed below the auger between the vertical end supports and having a slit in the bottom thereof permitting mined spillage to pass therethrough.

Claim 9

A mining device as defined in claim 1 wherein the auger advancing means includes: a speed reduction device secured to an output shaft of the motor and to a first auger advancing shaft; a second auger advancing shaft horizontally spaced from the first; the thrust member having threaded portions in engagement with the threads of the first and second auger advancing shaft and having a thrust bearing mounted thereon and engageable with the rear portion of the auger.

Claim 10

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure having a base plate, at least two horizontally spaced support members and front and rear vertical end supports, the base plate and the horizontal support members being rigidly secured to and extending between the vertical end supports, the end supports being spaced apart at least a sufficient distance to permit a length of the additional auger section to be passed therebetween so as to permit the section to be secured to the rear portion of the auger being advanced; adjustable bracing means attached to the rigid frame structure for securing the device in place in relation to a surface from which the mining is to take place; auger drive means for drivingly engaging the auger, having a casing portion rigidly detachably secured to the frame structure with internal surfaces defining a cylindrical opening with a diameter greater than the diameter of the auger, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from and contained within the casing portion in concentric relation to the opening therein, an inner driving member adapted to engage the outer peripheral portion of an auger the outermost extremities of which are generally defined by a cylindrical envelope, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and secured to the inner driving member and disposed circumferentially about the auger and in driven relationship to the stator portion; and auger advancing means for drivingly engaging the rear portion of the auger to cause the auger to advance at a predetermined rate so as to maintain the cutting head of the auger in contact with the surface being mined, the auger advancing means having a variable speed motor having a power output shaft and mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, a speed reduction device secured to the output shaft, a threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft in driven engagement with the speed reduction device and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft and adapted to drivingly engage the rear portion of the auger so as to advance the auger forward the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rearmost portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position an additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member.

Claim 11

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure having a base plate, at least two horizontally spaced support members and front and rear vertical end supports, the base plate and the horizontal support members being rigidly secured to and extending between the vertical end supports, the end supports being spaced apart at least a sufficient distance to permit a length of the additional auger section to be passed therebetween so as to permit the section to be secured to the rear portion of the auger being advanced; adjustable bracing means attached to the rigid frame structure for securing the device in place in relation to a surface from which the mining is to take place; auger drive means for drivingly engaging the auger, having a casing portion rigidly detachably secured to the frame structure with internal surfaces defining a cylindrical opening with a diameter greater than the diameter of the auger, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from and contained within the casing portion in concentric relation to the opening therein, an inner driving member adapted to engage the outer peripheral portion of an auger the outermost extremities of which are generally defined by a cylindrical envelope, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and secured to the inner driving member and disposed circumferentially about the auger and in driven relationship to the stator portion; and auger advancing means for drivingly engaging the rear portion of the auger to cause the auger to advance at a predetermined rate so as to maintain the cutting head of the auger in contact with the surface being mined, the auger advancing means having a variable speed motor having a power output shaft and mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, a speed reduction device secured to the output shaft, a threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft in driven engagement with the speed reduction device and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft and adapted to drivingly engage the rear portion of the auger so as to advance the auger forward the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rearmost portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position an additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member.

Claim 12

A mining device as defined in claim 9, wherein the adjustable bracing means includes: at least one adjustable lower bracing member the upper portion of which is pivotally secured to the lower portion of the rear end support and the lower portion of which is adapted to engage the floor of a mine shaft; two adjustable upper bracing members secured in vertical spaced relation to the upper portion of the rear end support and engageable with the ceiling of the mine shaft; at least one additional adjustable bracing member disposed on each side of and secured to the lower portion of the casing portion of the auger drive means; and at least one upwardly extending protuberance on each side of the upper portion of the casing portion.

Claim 13

A mining device as defined in claim 9 wherein the inner driving member includes gripping means disposed in spaced circumferential surrounding relation to the auger for engagement therewith so as to rotate the auger and transmit the necessary forces to the cutting head.

Claim 14

A mining device as defined in claim 9 wherein the adjustable bracing means includes: a bracing member secured to the lower central rear portion of the frame structure for pivotal movement in a vertical plane; and additional adjustable bracing means at least one of which is secured to each side of the casing portion and each includes a bracing member secured to the lower side portion of the casing portion; all of the bracing members combined being capable of supporting the weight of the mining device and wedging the upper portion of the frame structure and casing portion against the ceiling so as to prevent movement of the mining device relative to the vane during the mining operation.

Claim 15

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure with front and rear vertical end supports disposed apart a distance greater than the length of a section of auger, and a plurality of spaced support members securing the end supports together, auger drive means, for rotatably driving the auger having an outer casing rigidly detachably secured to the front end support of the frame structure, an inner driving member rotatably mounted within the casing and engageable with the outer peripheral portion of an auger the outermost extremities of which are generally defined by cylindrical envelope; motor means associated with the inner driving member for providing the rotational torque necessary to drive the auger including, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from, secured to and contained within the casing of the auger drive means in concentric relation to the auger, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and attached to the inner drive member of the auger drive means and disposed circumferentially about the auger in driven relationship to the stator portion; auger advancing means having a variable speed motor mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, at least one threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft driven by the variable speed motor and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threads of the at least one threaded shaft and adapted for driving engagement with the rear portion of the auger, the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rear most portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position and additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member; and adjustable bracing means having at least one adjustable bracing member secured to the lower portion of the rear vertical end support and at least one adjustable bracing member secured to each side of the casing portion of the auger drive means, the adjustable bracing means being sufficiently adjustable to cause upper portions of the frame structure and auger drive means to contact the roof of the mine and thereby brace the mining device sufficiently to prevent substantial movement of the device during the mining operation.

Claim 16

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure with front and rear vertical end supports disposed apart a distance greater than the length of a section of auger, and a plurality of spaced support members securing the end supports together, auger drive means, for rotatably driving the auger having an outer casing rigidly detachably secured to the front end support of the frame structure, an inner driving member rotatably mounted within the casing and engageable with the outer peripheral portion of an auger the outermost extremities of which are generally defined by cylindrical envelope; motor means associated with the inner driving member for providing the rotational torque necessary to drive the auger including, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from, secured to and contained within the casing of the auger drive means in concentric relation to the auger, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and attached to the inner drive member of the auger drive means and disposed circumferentially about the auger in driven relationship to the stator portion; auger advancing means having a variable speed motor mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, at least one threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft driven by the variable speed motor and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threads of the at least one threaded shaft and adapted for driving engagement with the rear portion of the auger, the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rear most portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position and additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member; and adjustable bracing means having at least one adjustable bracing member secured to the lower portion of the rear vertical end support and at least one adjustable bracing member secured to each side of the casing portion of the auger drive means, the adjustable bracing means being sufficiently adjustable to cause upper portions of the frame structure and auger drive means to contact the roof of the mine and thereby brace the mining device sufficiently to prevent substantial movement of the device during the mining operation.

Claim 17

A mining device as defined in claim 13 wherein the auger drive means includes: the casing being rigidly detachably secured to the frame structure with internal surfaces defining a cylindrical opening with a diameter greater than the diameter of the auger; and the inner driving member having gripping means disposed in spaced circumferentially surrounding relation to the auger for engagement therewith so as to rotate the auger and transmit the necessary rotational torque to the cutting head.

Claim 18

A mining device as defined in claim 13 wherein the auger advancing means includes: a speed reduction device secured to an output shaft of the motor and to a first auger advancing shaft; a second auger advancing shaft horizontally spaced from the first; the thrust member having threaded portions in engagement with the threads of the first and second auger advancing shaft and having a thrust bearing mounted thereon and engageable with the rear portion of the auger.

Claim 19

A mining device as defined in claim 13 in combination with an auger means for boring a cylindrical auger hole extending into the seam being mined, having releasably inter-engaging auger sections of a spiral configuration the outermost extremities of the spiral being generally defined by a cylindrical envelope and which sections are rigidly securable to the rear end portion of a prior section, the outer extremities of the spiral having a plurality of spaced discontinuities providing bearing surfaces in the tangential direction from the axis of the cylindrical envelope.

Claim 20

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure; adjustable bracing means attached to the rigid frame structure for securing the device in place in relation to a surface from which the mining is to take place; auger means for boring a cylindrical auger hole extending into the seam being mined, having releasably interengaging auger sections of a spiral configuration the outermost extremities of the spiral being generally defined by a cylindrical envelope and which sections are rigidly securable to the rear end portion of a prior section, the outer extremities of the spiral having a plurality of spaced discontinuities providing bearing surfaces in the tangential direction from the axis of the cylindrical envelope; auger drive means for rotatably driving the auger, having an outer casing rigidly secured to the frame structure, an inner driving member rotatably mounted within the casing and having portions mating with the bearing surfaces on the auger; motor means associated with inner driving member for providing the rotational torque necessary to drive the auger including, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from, secured to and contained within the casing of the auger drive means in concentric relation to the auger, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and attached to the inner drive member of the auger drive means and disposed circumferentially about the auger in driven relationship to the stator portion; and auger advancing means having a variable speed motor mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, at least one threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft driven by the variable speed motor, and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threads of the at least one threaded shaft and adapted for driving engagement with the rear portion of the auger, the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rearmost portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position an additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member.

Claim 21

A mining device utilizing an auger which can be increased in length by securing additional sections of auger to the rear portion of the advancing auger so as to extend the cutting head of the auger into a seam of coal or the like being mined, for a greater distance than would otherwise be possible, comprising: a rigid frame structure; adjustable bracing means attached to the rigid frame structure for securing the device in place in relation to a surface from which the mining is to take place; auger means for boring a cylindrical auger hole extending into the seam being mined, having releasably interengaging auger sections of a spiral configuration the outermost extremities of the spiral being generally defined by a cylindrical envelope and which sections are rigidly securable to the rear end portion of a prior section, the outer extremities of the spiral having a plurality of spaced discontinuities providing bearing surfaces in the tangential direction from the axis of the cylindrical envelope; auger drive means for rotatably driving the auger, having an outer casing rigidly secured to the frame structure, an inner driving member rotatably mounted within the casing and having portions mating with the bearing surfaces on the auger; motor means associated with inner driving member for providing the rotational torque necessary to drive the auger including, a stator portion of an electric motor insulated from, secured to and contained within the casing of the auger drive means in concentric relation to the auger, a rotor portion of an electric motor insulated from and attached to the inner drive member of the auger drive means and disposed circumferentially about the auger in driven relationship to the stator portion; and auger advancing means having a variable speed motor mounted on the rear portion of the frame structure, at least one threaded rotatable auger advancing shaft driven by the variable speed motor, and a thrust member having a threaded portion in engagement with the threads of the at least one threaded shaft and adapted for driving engagement with the rear portion of the auger, the thrust member being movable between (1) a rearward position which is at least one auger length from the rearmost portion of the auger drive means and (2) a forward position which is at least as far forward as the rearmost portion of the auger drive means, so that when the thrust member is in the rearmost position an additional auger section may be attached to the rear of a previously inserted auger section and fed through the auger drive means by the thrust member.

Claim 22

A mining device as defined in claim 17 wherein the auger drive means includes: the casing being rigidly detachably secured to the frame structure with internal surfaces defining a cylindrical opening with a diameter greater than the diameter of the auger; the inner driving member having gripping means disposed in spaced circumferentially surrounding relation to the auger for engagement therewith so as to rotate the auger and transmit the necessary rotational torque to the cutting head.

Claim 23

A mining device as defined in claim 17 wherein the casing of the auger drive means is rigidly detachably secured at a rear portion thereof to a front portion of the frame structure and additional adjustable bracing means for rigidly bracing the mining device in relation to the seam of coal being mined, are secured to the casing, at least one on each side thereof.

Claim 24

A mining device as defined in claim 19 wherein the adjustable bracing means includes a bracing member secured to the lower central rear portion of the frame structure for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, and the additional adjustable bracing means each includes a bracing member secured to the lower side portion of the casing, all of the bracing members combined being capable of supporting the weight of the mining device and wedging the upper portion of the frame structure and casing against the ceiling so as to prevent movement of the mining device relative to the seam during the mining operation.

Claim 25

A mining device as defined in claim 17 wherein the frame structure includes: front and rear vertical end supports spaced apart a distance greater than the length of an auger section; at least two horizontally spaced support members secured to and extending between the vertical end supports; and the front support having attachment means for releasably securing the casing of the auger drive means thereto.

Claim 26

A mining device as defined in claim 21 wherein the frame structure further includes a base plate in the form of a trough disposed below the auger between the vertical end supports and having a slit in the bottom thereof permitting mined spillage to pass therethrough.