# US 4,377,311 A · Multi-purpose mining machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,377,311 A - Document ID: US4377311A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/231,457 - Filed: 1981-02-04 - Granted: 1983-03-22 - Earliest claimed: 1981-02-04 - Assignees: Fox Manufacturing Company Pty. Limited - Inventors: Barry Seller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4377311A ## CPC - E21D 9/102: {by a longitudinally extending boom being pivotable about a vertical and a transverse axis} - 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) ## Abstract A multi-purpose mining machine comprising a self-propelling power unit with a boom pivotally connected to the power unit for raising and lowering movements, the boom having two parts one connected to the power unit and the other being connected to said one part so as to be slewable relative thereto about an axis at 90.degree. to the axis of the connection of the boom to the power unit, the boom other part being in part downwardly inclined with a power shaft rotatably housed in the boom other part with drive means for the power shaft, and extensible means to raise and lower the boom and further extensible means to slew the boom one part relative to the other part thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mining machine adapted to be propelled by a power unit, comprising a boom including a first part and a second part, a pivotal coupling between the power unit and said first part, the axis of said pivotal connection being generally horizontal, a pivotal coupling between said first and second parts, the axis of said latter coupling being substantially at right angles to the axis of the former pivotal coupling, said second part comprising an elongated and generally hollow first section and an elongated second section slideably housed in said first section, said second section including gear means, cutter means, and means for coupling said cutter means to said gear means, driving means disposed in said first section and adapted to be demountably coupled to said gear means, and means for adjusting the length of said boom by sliding said second section within said first section, said adjusting means being releasably coupled to said second section whereby said second section with said gear means, said cutter means, and said means for coupling said cutter means to said gear means may be removed from said machine and another second section may be substituted therefor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mining machine according to claim 1 wherein said first section lies at a depressed angle relative to the horizontal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mining machine according to claim 1 wherein means are provided to prevent rotation of said second section relative to said first section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mining machine according to claim 1 with the addition of extensible raising and lowering means coupling said power unit to said boom first part, extensible slewing means coupling said boom first and second parts, and wherein said means for adjusting the length of said boom includes pivotal connections at one end to said first section and pivotal and releasable connection means for coupling said cutter means to said gear means. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A mining machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein the boom raising and lowering and slewing means are piston and cylinder assemblies. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A mining machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the length of said boom include piston and cylinder assemblies. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A mining machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the boom second section is a part of a cutting tool assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A mining machine as claimed in claim 1 including a speed reduction means in the boom second section, and said driving means includes an input shaft coupled to said gear means with a telescopic driving connection between said input shaft and said driving means. ### Claim 9 A mining machine adapted to be propelled by a power unit, comprising: a boom including a first part and a second part, a pivotal connection between said power unit and said first part with an axis of pivot that is generally horizontal, a pivotal connection between said first and second parts with an axis of pivot substantially at right angles to the axis of said first-named pivotal connection, said boom second part comprising an elongated and generally hollow first section lying at a depressed angle to the horizontal and an elongated second section slideably and removably housed in said first section, rotation-preventing means to prevent rotation of said second section relative to said first section, a gear box mounted in said second section at the work end thereof projecting from said first section, a cutter support at the work end of said second section on which a cutter means can be rotatably mounted so as to be driven when coupled to said gear box, shaft driving means associated with said first section, a power shaft extending through said first section into said second section and being drivingly and slideably engaged at one end with said gear box and at the other end with said driving means, extensible raising and lowering means coupling said power unit to said first part, extensible slewing means coupling said first and second parts of said boom, and boom length adjusting means for telescopically moving said second section relative to said first section, said adjusting means being pivotally coupled at one end to said first section and pivotally and releasably coupled at the other end to said cutter support.