US 4,056,284 A · Machines for use in mining or tunnelling work

Abstract

A machine is disclosed which is for use in mining or tunnelling work and employs a beam or arm supporting cutting means and connected through a support structure to a turntable carried by a movable chassis. The turntable is adjustably rotatable about a vertical axis and one or more piston and cylinder units are provided to raise or lower the arm in relation to the support structure. This structure is itself adjustably pivotable in relation to the turntable about a further axis which is generally aligned with the horizontal forward position of the arm i.e. in the direction of advancement of the mining or tunnelling work. In addition part of the structure connected to the arm is also displaceable along this further axis so that the cutting means located at the free end of the arm can be adjusted in respect of a variety of directions. The cutting means is itself composed of cutter rollers driven to rotate about an axis extending laterally of the arm. To convey away material detached by the cutting rollers the chassis has conveyors at its sides and a loading mechanism composed of an oscillating device mounted over a material reception plate or the like disposed beneath the arm is used to transfer the material onto the conveyors.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A machine for use in tunnelling or mining;

said machine comprising a main chassis, an arm, support means for the arm, means connecting the arm to the support means for pivoting up and down in a generally vertical sense, rotary cutting means provided at a free end of the arm, the axis of rotation of the cutting means extending transversely of the arm and generally parallel to the axis of pivoting of the arm and means connecting the support means to the chassis for pivoting in a generally horizontal sense about a vertical axis;
said support means being composed of a hollow body, bearing means mounting the hollow body on the connecting means for rendering the support means pivotable about an axis which extends parallel to the arm when horizontal and in the direction of advancement of the tunnelling or mining operation performed by the machine, a support member carrying the arm and extending within the hollow body and key means formed between the body and the support member for rendering the support member non-rotatable in relation to the hollow body while allowing displacement of the support member to extend and retract in relation to the hollow body whereby during operation the arm can be swung up and down and the support member displaced in relation to the hollow body to cause the rotary cutting means to move along a path which is approximately vertical.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machines for use in mining or tunnelling work

Life of this patent

Machines for use in mining or tunnelling work

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8