# US 10,844,715 B2 · Loading arm assembly and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,844,715 B2 - Document ID: US10844715B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/448,432 - Filed: 2019-06-21 - Published: 2019-12-26 - Granted: 2020-11-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-21 - Assignees: Repair King, Inc. - Applicants: Repair King, Inc. - Inventors: Charlie L. Tosh, IV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10844715B2 ## CPC - E21D 9/12: Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoil; Working or loading platforms (underground transport E21F13/00) - E21D 9/128: {Loader-conveyors with gathering arms} - E21F 13/063: {Loading devices for use in mining} - B65G 2814/0343: Rotating discs, drums or gathering arms - E21D: SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS (soil-conditioning or soil-stabilising materials C09K17/00; drilling or cutting machines for mining or quarrying E21C; safety devices, transport, rescue, ventilation or drainage E21F) - E21F: SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A loading arm assembly for directing material removed by a mining machining having a cutting head and a conveyor assembly includes a loading arm assembly that includes a loading arm and a spacer connector. The loading arm is configured to be removably attachable to the spacer connector and the spacer connector is configured to be removably attachable to a gear box or other driving mechanism of the mining machine. A centering cap assembly can also be used to assist in centering the loading arm-spacer connector combination, the centering cap assembly being removably attachable to the gear box. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A loading arm assembly for a mining machine comprising: a loading arm having a center portion and plurality of arms extending from the center portion for directing mined material to a conveyor of a mining machine, the center portion including an optional opening and an underside surface, and a spacer connector having a top surface facing the underside surface of the center portion of the loading arm, the center portion of the loading arm having a first set of openings and the spacer connector having a second set of openings, the first set of openings aligned with the second set of openings and permitting the center portion of the loading arm to be removably attachable to the spacer connector, the spacer connector having a third set of openings, the third set of openings permitting the spacer connector to be removably attachable to a loading arm drive mechanism of the mining machine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The loading arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the center portion of the loading arm includes a center through opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The loading arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the first set of openings are in the center portion of the loading arm and the second set of openings in the spacer connector are threaded to permit the center portion of the loading arm to be removably attachable to the spacer connector using a threaded connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The loading arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the third set of openings in the spacer connector allow for bolts to pass therethrough and threadably connect to the loading arm driving mechanism of the mining machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The loading arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the third set of openings in the spacer connector allow for bolts to pass therethrough and threadably connect to the loading arm driving mechanism of the mining machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The loading arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacer connector has a first set of keyway slots spaced apart along an inner part of the spacer connector and a second set of keyway slots spaced apart along an outer part of the spacer connector, the first and second sets of keyway slots facilitating alignment with correspondingly aligned keyway slots in the underside surface of the loading arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The loading arm assembly of claim 2, further comprising a cap assembly, the cap assembly configured to pass through the center through opening in the loading arm and a center through opening spacer connector and be removably attachable to a driving mechanism of the mining machine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The loading arm assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a center portion of a top surface of the spacer connector and at least a center portion of a bottom surface of the loading arm have machined flat surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A mining machine having at least a conveyor assembly for removing the mined material, and at least one loading arm assembly for directing the removed material to a conveyor of the conveyor assembly, each loading arm assembly, the at least one loading arm assembly comprising the loading arm assembly of claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) In a method of mining a material using a mining machine having a conveyor assembly for removing the mined material and loading arm assemblies for directing the removed material to a conveyor of the conveyor assembly, the improvement comprising using the loading arm assembly of claim 1 for directing the mined material to the conveyor.