Demountable Pin and Collet Assembly and Method to Securely Fasten a Ranging Arm to a Longwall Shearer Using Such Assembly

An assembly for fastening a ranging arm to a lifting bracket of a longwall shearer, comprising :

• a first tapered pin comprising a first central axis bore therethrough and a first outer circumferential tapered surface;
• a second tapered pin comprising a second central axis bore therethrough and a second outer circumferential tapered surface;
• a collet comprising an inner collar defining a central axis aperture and two tapered sections divided by said collar, said collet comprising the first tapered section adapted to receive the first tapered pin so that the inner surface of such first collet tapered section makes contact with the outer circumferential surface of the first tapered pin, said collet further comprising the second section adapted to receive the second pin, wherein the inner surface of the second collet tapered section makes contact with the outer circumferential surface of the second tapered pin;
• a first end cap comprising a central axis hole and being adapted to cover one flat end of the first tapered pin, wherein the first end cap has a plurality of first peripheral holes, each first peripheral hole being externally threaded to receive a fastener which is a set screw with matching threading;
• a second end cap comprising a central axis hole and being adapted to cover one flat end of the second tapered pin, wherein the second end cap has a plurality of second peripheral holes, each peripheral hole being externally threaded to receive a fastener which is a set screw with matching threading;
• a bolt adapted to pass through the central axis holes of one of the end caps, the central axis bore of one of the tapered pins, the collar central axis aperture, the central axis bore of the other tapered pin, and the central axis holes of the other end cap, said bolt comprising at least one threaded end onto which a nut is threaded to tighten the tapered pins into place inside the collet;
• a plurality of first fasteners to be threaded into the plurality of first peripheral holes of the first cap and to exert a force on the first pin;
• and
• a plurality of second fasteners to be threaded into the plurality of second peripheral holes of the second cap and to exert a force on the second pin;
• wherein each of the tapered pins, the collet, and each of the end caps have a common central axis.