Coal-mining machine

Application filed March 30, 1920. Serial No. 369,921.

To dll whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Richard T. Quaas, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State 5 of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Mining Machines, of which the following is, a specification.

This invention relates to coal mining maid chines, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for mining coal and automatically delivering the coal to the pit cars, and therebv obviate. the laborious and expensive, methods now in 15 vogue.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coal mining, machine especially adapted for use in cutting coal from the entire face or fall of a coal, seam, in a 20 room or stall, and for delivering the cut coal to tlie pit cars at the entries or headings,

A further object of the invention is .the -provision of a coal mining machine embodying an improved type of cutter .and, means 25 fqi- automatically moving the cutter along’ the face of the coal seam as the coal is, being cut. , .

A further object of the. invention is the* prolusion of means for swinging the cutter 30 in an arc of a circle at the sides of the machine, so as to effectively finish the cut at the sides of the room or stall. ., ' .

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cutter for the coal which is 35 adjustable within, certain limits, so that the same can be regulated in size according to. the height of the coal seam.. ... ^:

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coal mining machine embody40 ins a rotary cutter arranged to move later_rally of the room in which the coal is being dug..the machine having an improved means adapted to simultaneously rotate the cutter and move the same along the face of the 45 coal seam as the coal is being dug.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved means carried by tbe cutter and arranged in rear thereof for scraping the coal cut by the cutter into ³⁰ a laterally arranged conveyor carried.by the machine. ·

Λ still further object of the invention is. the provision of means permitting the scraper to be lifted above the surface of the floor of the room when the cutter is being 55 returned to its initial starting position.

A still further object of the invention is the pijoVision of an improved means for receiving the coal from the cutter and scraper and delivering the same to a longitudinally ^6(textending conveyor arranged to transport the coal to the pit cars arranged at the entries. , , '

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved means for si- ^βδmultanequsly operating the laterally extending conveyor, and the longitudinally extending conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is the. provision of an improved means for ⁷⁰shifting or bodily moving the whole machine When, it is ‘desired to position the cutter in place for a new cut. ' \

A still furtheV object of the invention is the provision of , kn improved coal mining ⁷⁵machine especially adapted for use in cutting coal from the face of a seam in a room orj fdr digging headings which is^! durable ariii efficierit' in Use,- _r one thkt is comparatively* simple and easy to manufacture,¹ arid ⁸⁰onfe’ which can be placed upon the market at a, reasonable, cost. · , ’ ¹ ' With these kftd' othOr objects in view, the invention consists in 'thfe novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts' as will ⁸⁵be hereinafter more frilly described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying dfaw^ ings, forming a part of this'specification.¹ ih which drawings: .

Figure 1'is a horizontal section through ⁸⁰a room of a mine showing a plan view of the improved coal mining machine, parts of the cutter being shown in section.

.Figure 2 is a. vertical transverse section through flie improved machine showing the ⁸⁵cutter in .side elevation.

Figure $ is ah enlarged, fragmentary vertical section through the, improved machine illustrating the means for operating the cutter and for moving the cutter laterally of ¹⁰⁰the. machine.

Figure 4 Is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the machine illustrating the means for moving the cutter laterally of the machine. ' ¹⁰⁵

Figure 5 is an elevation of the laterally a

1,493,701 extending conveyor showing parts of the same in section, the longitudinally extending conveyor being shown in cross section.

Figure 6 is ah end elevation of the later5 ally extending conveyor and side elevation of the longitudinally extending conveyor, showing the means for operating the same.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through the machine illus10 trating the means for actuating the improved conveyors.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail transverse section through the longitudinally extending conveyor illustrating the means for con15 necting the extensible section of the conveypr with the rigid section of the conveyor.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the cutter.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section through -'J a room of a coal mine illustrating a top plan view of a machine embodying a modified form of coal cutter.

Figure 11 is an enlarged side elevation ofr the, modified form of the cutter or digger - ’ illustrating the operating means therefor.

Figure 12 is a horizontal section through a further, modified type of cutter.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters desig^S(’ nate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the improved coal mining machine, which includes the motor B arranged on the supporting bracket C slidably mounted ³' on the lower supporting frame D, the swinging boom E, the cutter F, the lateral conveyor G, the scraper H, the longitudinally extending conveyor I, the lateral and longitudinal conveyor operating means J, and ⁴⁰ the shifting means K.

The motor B is of the electric type and may be of any preferred make or size, which is practical for the purpose and includes the usual casing 15, and armature shaft 16. ⁴⁵ The lower edge of the casing 15 is provided with outwardly extending attaching ears 17 which are bolted or otherwise secured as at 18 to the upper surface of the supporting bracket C.

⁵⁰ The supporting bracket C is of substantially inverted U-shape in cross section and includes the top plate or bight portion 19 and the depending side legs 20, which carry outwardly extending depending guide ⁵⁵ flanges 21, for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. The outwardly extending depending guide flanges 21 are braced by outwardly extending webs 22 carried by the legs 20.

⁶⁰ The lower supporting frame D includes a pair of spaced parallel channel beams 23, which extend transversely across the room of the coal mine and across the lower frame 24,. which includes a plurality of spaced ⁶⁵ longitudinally extending bars 25, which form runners on which the machine A is shifted bodily over the floor of the mine towards the face of the coal seam. The spaced' channel beams 23 are Bolted or otherwise secured to the longitudinally extend- 70 ing bars 25, and additional sections of strap iron 26 are provided, which are bolted to the channel beams and bars 25. The terminals of the beams 23 are connected together by means of cross braces 27. The 75 upper faces of the spaced laterally extending beams 23 carry tracks 28 which are engaged by . the outwardly extending depending guide flanges 21, and the supporting bracket C with the motor B is adapted to ⁸⁰be shifted over the track 28, and laterally of the machine A and the room of the mine for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. The lower frame D as shown is arranged relatively near the ⁸⁵rear ends of the spaced bars 25, for a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear. The boom E which carries the cutter F is mounted on the casing 15 of the motor B in such a manner that the same can swing ⁹⁰in an arc of a circle, so that the cutter F may be swung to the side of the machine and start the cut in the face of the seam. The boom E includes an upper and a lower arm 29, which are connected by a vertically ⁹⁵extending rib or web 30. The terminals of the superposed arms 29 carry bearings 31 and 32 and the bearings 31 are adapted to receive a vertically disposed shaft 33. The shaft 33 is carried by outwardly extending ¹⁰⁰ears or bearings 34 formed on the inner face of the casing 15 of the electric motor B. Suitable spacing washers or collars 35 are interposed between the bearings 31 and the ears or bearings 34. The shaft 33 adjacent 105 to the terminals thereof carries collars 36 which are adapted to engage the opposite faces of the bearings 31 and ears 34. This absolutely precludes any vertical movement of the shaft in the bearings, no A sprocket wheel 37 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 33 intermediate its ends, and has formed integral therewith a clutch segment 38 which is adapted to be engaged by the sliding clutch section 39 which is splined 1 i³or feathered on the shaft 33. The movable clutch section 39 is adapted to move into and out of engagement with the clutch section 38 carried by the sprocket wheel 37 by a forked member 40 which is positioned in l-'ΰ an annular groove 41 formed in the movable clutch section. The fork 40 is formed on the inner end of the transversely extending shaft 42, which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 43, bolted or otherwise secured ¹ -³to the outer face of the casing 15 of the motor B. The opposite end of the rod 42 has a hand crank 44 secured thereto. Thus it can be seen that by moving the crank 44 the movable clutch section 39 will be brought 159

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into or out of engagement with the rigid clutch section 38 carried by the rotatable sprocket wheel 37. The extreme lower end of the vertical shaft 33 has keyed or other 5 wise secured thereto the relatively large gear wheel 45, which meshes with a relatively small gear wheel -16, which is keyed or otherwise secured to the armature shaft 16 of the motor B. Thus when the motor B is in τθ operation, the shaft 33 will be operated (herewith. The bearings 32 carried by the outer terminals of the arms 29 of the boom E rotatably supports the vertically disposed shaft is which has keyed thereto intermedi ate its ends a sprocket wheel 49 around which is trained the sprocket chain 50. The sprocket chain 50 is also trained around the sprocket wheel 37, so that upon the rotation of the shaft 33, the shaft 48 will be rotated ·' therewith. The bearings 32 also carry the cross brace 51 which rotatably supports the shaft 52 for the cutter F. The inner end of the shaft 52 has keyed thereto the bevelled gear 53 which meshes with the bevelled gear ’ 54- keyed to the shaft 48.

The cutter F which is particularly adapted for cutting soft coal inchides a hub 55 carrying the radially disposed arms 56. which have formed on their side edges in-³¹¹ turned guide flanges 57. The guide flanges 57 slidably support the T-shaped bars 58. the outer terminals of which carry the inwardly extending arms 59. Each of the arms 59 has secured .thereto the arcuate rim 5’’ sections 60, which have connected thereto the oppositely directed cutting teeth 61. The rim sections 60 are connected together by means of arcuate pieces of strap iron or the like 62 which are provided with a plu40 rahty of eqni-distantly spaced openings 63. for the bolts 64. The provision of the plurality of openings 63 permits of the adjusting of the rim sections in relation to each other, when the cutter is being adjusted to ⁴⁵ the size of the coal seam. The. T-shaped bars 58 are adjustably held in position on the arms 56 by means of bolts 65, which are mounted in slots 66 formed in the arms 56. As clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drniv^so ings, the cutter F moves across the face of. the coal seam and the cutting teeth 61 dig an arcuate channel in the coal face, which breaks the coal away and tends to throw the same toward the machine A. When nec⁵⁸ essary or desirable the bars 58 may be provided with inwardly extending teeth 67 which form means for breaking the coal away as the channel is being dug by the oppositely directed teeth 61. The teeth 61 ⁶⁰ extend beyond the inner and outer faces of the rim sections 60 so as to cut a channel relatively wider than the arms 59 and thereby prevent the binding of the arms in the channel.

⁶⁵ The outer end of the shaft 52 extends through the hub 55 of the cutter F and is detachably secured thereto by a suitable nut or the like 68. Owing to the manner of mounting the arms 29 on the shaft 33, (he boom E is permitted to swing in an arc of 70 a circle as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The swinging of the boom E in an arc of a circle permits a machine of less width than the. room or stall to be used, and allows the finishing up of the sides of the 75 room. Tn the initial positioning of the boom E the same is swung parallel to the beams 23 of the supporting structure D and is gradually moved around until the same becomes at right angles io the beam at which 80 time the boom is moved laterally across the room and (he entire face of the coal seam is acted upon by the cutter F. The means for swinging the boom E on the shaft 33 consists of a sector rack'69, which is secured ⁸⁵to or formed integral with the upper bearing 31 of the arm 29 of the boom E. The sector reck 69 has meshing therewith a worm 70, wliich is rotatably carried by a bracket 71 adjustably mounted on the supporting ⁹⁹bracket 72 l-olted or otherwise secured to the upper surface of the casing 15 of the electric motor B. One end of the shaft 73 on which the worm 70 is secured- has mounted thereon ths- operating hand wheel 74. Thus it will ⁹⁵he seen that when the hand wheel 74 is rotated, the boom E will be swung on its pivot.

To move the boom E and the cutter F transversely of the machine A and across the room or stall a transversely extending ¹⁰⁰shaft 7;5 is rotatably mounted in suitable hearings carried by the inverted U-shaped supporting bracket 20 and this shaft has rotatably mounted thereon the relatively small and relatively large drums 76 and ¹⁰⁵77. The outer faces of the drums 76 and 77 have rigidly secured thereto the rigid clutch sections 78 and 79 which are adapted to be engaged by the. movable clutch sections 80 and 81, which are splined or ¹¹⁰feathered on the shaft 75. Each of the clutch segments 80 and 81 are provided with annular grooves 82 in which are rotatably mounted forked members S3 and 84. The forked members 83 and 84 are pivotally ¹¹⁵mounted intermediate their ends upon suitable supporting brackets 85 which are secured to.the inner faces of the legs 20 of the supporting frame Γ). The outer ends of the forks 83 and 84 have pivotally con- ¹²⁰nected thereto the connecting rod 86 which has its outer terminal pivotally secured to the lower end of an operating lever R7 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a supporting bracket 88. By operating ¹²⁵the lever 87 one of the sliding clutch sections 80 or 81 may be moved into engagement with one of the. rigid clutch sections 78 or <9, while the other slidable clutch section is moved out of engagement with the other ¹³⁰

1,483,701 housing or casing 92. The inner faces of the upper and lower pairs of longitudinally extending beams 93 are provided with guide grooves 98, in which are slidably mounted the sprocket chains 99. The sprocket chains 70 99 have secured thereto the transversely extending flights or scraper blades 100, and these sprocket chains 99 are trained around sprocket wheels 101 rotatably carried by the. housing 92 adjacent to the terminals <5 thereof. Thus it will be seen that when the coal is brought into the housing 92, the flights or blades 100 of the lower run of the conveyor will engage the coal and move the same toward one end of the conveyor. An 80 inclined platform 102 is secured to the front face of the laterally extending conveyor G and extends from the surface of the room or stall to the open front portion of the housing 92. The terminals of the runners ⁸⁵25 are bevelled at this point so as to conform to the inclination of the platform 102.

The terminals of the platform 102 are curved arcuately as at 103 for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully de- ⁹⁰scribed.

The scraper blade H is carried by the boom E and arranged directly in rear of the cutter F and is adapted to engage all of the loose coal cut by the cutter and push , the ⁹³same up the inclined platform 102 and. into the housing 92. The scraper blade H is arranged at an incline to the boom E as clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings so that the cut coal will be gradually moved up the 100 platform and into· the housing 92. The scraper blade H carries brackets 105, which are slidably mounted on depending arms 106, carried by the boom E. The arms 106 are spaced from each other so that the 10u scraper blade will be supported adjacent co each end thereof. When the boom E and cutter F have been moved to the end of a cut in the room or stall and when it is desirous to move the boom E and the cutter 110 F to its initial position, the· blade H is raised above the upper surface of the floor of the room, so that any loose lumps of coal which have not been moved into the casing 92 will not be engaged by the scraper on US its return, movement and pushed to the far side of the room. The means for raising the scraper blade H consists of cables 107, which are trained around suitable guide pulleys 108 carried by the boom. The 120 cables 107 are wound around a drum 109 rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the sector rack 69 and this drum is provided with a hand crank 110. It. can be seen by moving the hand crank 110 the cables 10 ί 12ο can be wound off or on the drum and thus the blade can be raised or lowered on the arms 106.

Arranged at one end of the lateral conveyor G is the longitudinally extending con- 130 rigid clutch section. The sliding clutch sections 80 and 81 may be held in a neutral position out of engagement with^both of the rigid clutch sections 78 and 79. The 5 shaft 75 intermediate the drums 76 and 77 has rigidly secured thereto the worm wheel 89, which’has meshing therewith the worm 90 which is secured to the armature shaft 16 of the motor B directly below the relate lively small gear wheel 46. The relatively small drum 76 has wound thereon a cable 90' which has its opposite end secured to the frame D adjacent to the outer end thereof. Thus it will be seen that when the mov15 able clutch section 80 is moved into engagement with the movable clutch section (8, the cable 90' will be wound upon the drum 76 and thus the frame D carrying the motor B and the boom E and cutter F will be 20 slowly drawn over the upper surface of the tracks 28. A cable 91 is wound around the relatively large drum 77 and has its terminal secured to the opposite end of the frame D from the cable 90' and when it is desired 25 to move the motor B with the boom E and cutter F to its initial position, the lever 87 is operated so as to move the movable clutch section 80 out of engagement with the rigid clutch section 78 and move the sliding clutch 30 section 81 into engagement with the rigid clutch section 79, which will rotate the drum 77 and wind the cable 91 thereon and slide the frame D to its original position. The drum 77 is formed relatively larger than the 35 drum 76, so that the machine, i. e., the motor B, the boom E and the cutter F will be returned to its initial position at a relatively high rate of speed, and when the cutter is in operation, the same will be 40 drawn relativelv slowlv over the upper surface of the track 28. * It will of course be obvious that when the two drums are mounted upon the shaft 75 only one is engaged by its clutch at any time and therefore the ⁴⁵ cable may be wound upon either one of these drums and the second drum will be free to rotate so that the cable can unwind at the proper rate of speed. By the provision of the worm 90 and the gear wheel 46 on the ⁵⁰ armature shaft 16 of the motor B, the cutter

F will be rotated and slid laterally simultaneously.

Arranged directly in front of the lower supporting frame D and parallel therewith 55 is the lateral conveyor G which includes a easing 92. which is secured to the upper surface of the runner bars 25. The casing 92 of the lateral conveyor G includes upper and lower pairs of spaced beams 93, which support the upper wall 94, the bottom wall 95, the rear wall 96 and the side walls 97. The front wall is left open, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings so that the coal thrown by centrifugal force from the ⁶⁵ cutter F will be permitted to enter into the

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veyor I, Avhich is adapted to convey the coal . cut from the lateral conveyor G to the entries or headings and to the pit cars. The longitudinally extending conveyor T con5 gists of a pliirality of: roughs 111. which are preferably formed of sheet metal or the like of substantially U-shaped form in cross section. Owing to the resiliency of the sheet metal, the sides of the trough:·· may be read10 ily compressed so that the f roughs may be placed together. Tn joining the troughs together, the same may be bolted or secured together in any manner that may be desired, and the troughs carry depending arms 112, 15 which are roekably supported by the concaved upper surface of the supporting brackets or cross ties 113, which are secured to the floor of the room or stall. A trough section 114 is permanently carried by the outer end of ²⁰ the housing 92 for the laterally extending conveyor G. One end of the housing 92 of the laterally extending conveyor G is inclined upwardly as at 115 and terminates in a hopper 116 below which is disposed the ²⁵ permanently carried trough section 111.

The laterally extending conveyor G. the inclined platform 102 and the channel beams 23 and the tracks 28 of the lower supporting structure D can be made in sections and ³⁹ joined together as shown al ITT. This facilitates the transportation of the machine and the positioning of the same in a room or stall of the mine. Machines used simply for digging headings or entries may be 35 made in one section if so desired. The permanently carried section or trough 114 carries adjacent to its outer end a pair of parallel spaced angle irons 118, which extend transversely across the trough and the same 40 has secured to their terminals the upwardly extending flexible arms 119. The arms 119 have their upper ends attached to braces 120 secured to the sides of the housing 92 of the laterally extending conveyor G. This 45 trough section 114 is adapted to be oscillated back and forth so that the coal falling thereon from the hopper 116 will be slid down the longitudinally extending conveyor to the pit car. After each cut is made 50 from the face of the coal seam, the whole machine is bodily moved over the floor of the room by the means K which will bo hereinafter more fully described, and as the machine is moved bodily over the floor of 55 the room it is necessary to lengthen the longitudinally extending conveyor I. This is accomplished by providing a telescoping section 121, which is adapted to fit in the permanently carried section 114. In ⁶⁰ placing the telescoping section 121 in the permanently carried section 114, the sides thereof are flexed inwardly. The inner faces of the permanently carried section 114 adjacent to its upper edge is provided with a ⁶⁵ plurality of equi-distantly spaced teeth 122, which extend below the entire length of the section. The telescoping section 121 has formed on its outer side edges adjacent to the inner end thereof the teeth 123, which are adapted to engage the teeth 122. To 70 firmly hold the. teeth 123 formed on the outer side edges of the telescoping section 121 in engagement with the teeth 122, which are formed on the permanently carried section 111, a clamp structure 124 is provided, 75 which includes a pair of pivotally connected arms 125, which carry feet or jaws 126, which are adapted to engage the inner faces of the telescoping section 121. The upper ends of the arras 125 carry operating handles so 127, and by moving the handles, the feet or jaws 126 may be brought into or out of engagement with the side of the telescoping section 121. When the handles 127 are in direct alignment with each other, the jaws 85 or feet 126 are spread so as to force the teeth 123 into engagement with the teeth 122, and the same are held in this position by moans of a removable pin 128, which is adapted to engage in the aligned openings formed in the arms 125.

The operating means J for the laterally extending conveyor G and the longitudinally extending conveyor I includes a single motor 129, which may be of any type, 95 and (he armature shaft 130 thereof extends outwardly from both sides thereof. The motor 129 is bolted or otherwise secured to a suitable bed plate 131 connected to the upper surface of the channel beams 23 at loo one end thereof. One end of the armature shaft 130 has keyed or otherwise secured (hereto a bevelled gear wheel 132 which meshes with a bevelled gear 133 keyed to a shaft 134 rotatably mounted in suitable 105 bearings 135 secured to the upper surface of ihe channel beams 23. The inner terminal of (he shaft 134 has keyed thereto a sprocket wheel 136 which is tn direct alignment with the sprocket wheel 137 keyed to no a shaft 138. which extends transversely through the housing 92 of the laterally extending conveyor G. This shaft 138 supports the sprocket wheels 101 arranged at one end of the housing. The sprocket 115 wheels 136 and 137 have trained around the same the sprocket chain 139. Thus it will be seen that when the motor 129 is in opera tion the shaft 138 will be rotated therewith, thus moving the conveyor through the 120 housing 92. The opposite end of the armature shaft 130 of the motor 129 has a crank arm 140 secured thereto which in turn carries the pitman 141. The outer end of the pitman 141 has secured thereto a pair 125 of spaced nuts 142, and an ear 143 carried by the transversely extending bar 144 bolted or otherwise secured to the permanently carried section 114 of the longitudinally extending conveyor I is arranged between the 130 β

1,493,701 nuts 142. Between the nuts 142 and the ear 143 are arranged the springs 145 which are coiled around the rod 141. Thus it will be seen that when the motor 129 is in operao tion the permanent section 114 of the conveyor will be oscillated back and forth which in turn will transmit its motion to the other sections 111 of the conveyor. Thus the laterally extending conveyor G and the 10 longitudinally extending conveyor I are operated simultaneously. Owing to the spring connection 145 of the pitman rod 141 with the permanently connected section 114 all sudden jars and strains are taken off of 15 the pitman rod and permanently carried section 114. . .,

All of the moving portions of the machine such as gear wheels, sprockets wheels and chains are adapted to be housed in suitable - ‘ housings or casings as clearly shown in the drawings. It is to be understood that any particular type of casing or housing may be used that is desirable or practical according to the character of the moving parts --· to be housed. The means K for moving the machine bodily over the floor of the room of the mine when a new cut in the face of the seam is desired to be, made includes a plurality of equi-distantly spaced anchors 30 or jacks 147 each of which includes an.adjustable pointed bar 148 for digging into the roof of the mine and the forked pointed lower members 149 for digging into the floor of the mine. Each of the jacks 147 35 have collars 150 secured thereto which pivotally support nuts 151in which are thread ably mounted the longitudinally extending screws 152. The inner terminals of the screws 152 cany bevelled gears 153, which 40 mesh with the bevelled gears 154 secured t:> the transversely extending shaft 155. The transversely extending shaft 155 is .provided with a plurality of universal joints 156. These joints also permit the shaft to be 45 taken apart when desired. The shaft 155 is rotatably supported by bearings 157 which are carried by the tracks or runners 25 Ono end of the shaft 155 has secured thereto a ratchet lever 158. By operating the 50 ratchet lever 158 back and forth, the shaft 155 is adapted to be rotated by a. step-bystep movement, which in turn will rotate the screws 152. This will thread the screws 152 out of the nuts 15| and thus move the 55 machine bodily over the floor of the mine.

The anchors or jacks 157 also form means for preventing creeping movement over the floor of the mine when the cutter is in operation. . . ,

In Figures 10 and 11 is illustrated a form of cutter L which is particularly adapted, for. use in. cutting hard coal and this cutter includes a vertically extending shaft 160 which is rotatably mounted in the bearings 6® 32 formed on the terminals of the arms 29 of the boom E. The outer terminals of the shaft 160 has feathered thereon the wheels -162. The wheels 162 carry inwardly extending hubs 163 and it can be seen that owing to the formation of the hub the 70 wheels 162 may be extended beyond the terminals of the shaft. Tire hubs are secured in adjusted position on the shaft 160 by set screws 164. The rims of the wheels 1(52 carry the outwardly extending cutting 75 teeth 165. These teeth extend beyond the faces of the wheels so that the channels being cut thereby will be of greater .width than the wheels so that the wheels will not bind therein. These wheels are adapted to so cut channels adjacent to the upper and lower surfaces of the room, as it has been found by experience that this is the pre ferre.d and most practical method of breaking the coal away from the face of the coal »·> seam as the coal adheres to the mine at these points. By adjusting the wheels, any height of coal seam can be acted upon and the cutters can also be adjusted according to the impurities found in the coal. In some instances, it has been found necessary to provide pickers to break the coal away from the face between the channels being dug and to provide for this contingency oscillating picks 166 are provided. The picks »·> 166 include shanks 167 and heads 168. These shanks and heads are connected by superposed leaf springs 169, so as to prevent the breaking of the picks when hard impurities are found in the coal. The Bio shanks 167 have their inner ends provided with bearings 170 which are rotatably mounted on a shaft 171 which is mounted in suitable bearings 172 formed on the arms of the boom E. The forward ends of the 105 arms in advance of the shaft 171 also carry rotatable cranks 172, which carry links. 173. which are connected to the shanks 16< intermediate their ends. The cranks 172 are operatively connected to the shaft 160 by l^Jt)intermeshing gear wheels 173'. The shaft 160 is rotated the same as the shaft 48 in the form shown in Figures 1. and 2 of the drawings. The heads 168 of the picks 166 carry cross heads 175, which in turn carry H® the picking teeth 176. The connecting.links 173 are connected to a shaft 174 which is connected to the shanks 16i of the. pick. Thus it will be .seen that when the shaft 160 is rotated from the motor B the picks 120 will be oscillated back and forth and brought into engagement with the face of the coal and break the same off.

If so desired any suitable or preferred type of shields 177 may be provided for the 125 cutters so as to prevent the throwing of the coal all over the room. In Figure 12 is illustrated a still further modified form of cutter which is particularly adapted for mining very soft coal such as lignite and in 1*°

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This will wind the cable 91 up on the drum 77 and pull the supporting standard or frame D back to its initial position. The boom E is then swung parallel with the tracks 28 as heretofore described and the ' lever 158 is actuated so as to rotate the screws 152. which will push the whole machine bodily into the room toward the face of the coal seam so that a new cut can be made.

As the coal is forced up the platform brand into the casing 92 the flights or scrapers will engage the coal and force the same from the casing toward the hopper 116 where the same will drop into the longitudinally extending conveyor I. The longitudinally extending inclined conveyor I is oscillated .by the means as hereinbefore described, which will move the coal down the longitudinally extending conveyor toward the entries or headings to the pit cars.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved coal mining machine is provided, which is especially adapted foi cutting or digging coal from the face of a coal seam in a room or the like and autoaor IS liH-ii waL.vu — matically transporting the cut coal to the m-ndmllv turned so as to ' entries to the pit cars. -,-.,, isgradmj ,_____Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; but,