MINING MACHINE WITH DRIVEN DISC CUTTERS

• US 20110227397A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Joy Mm Delaware Incorporated (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: de Sousa, Joaquim Antonio Soares, Skea, Theuns Fichardt, Möller, Arthur Kenneth, Veldman, Charl Christo, de Andrade, Alex Freire
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 299/64
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/02 Automatic control of the tool feed E21B44/005, E21B44/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 25/16 Machines slitting solely by one or more rotating saws, cutting discs, or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 25/18 Saws; Discs; Wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 27/02 solely by slitting rods, drums, for same E21C25/10; saws, discs, wheels E21C25/18; chains, chain guides, for same E21C25/28
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 27/20 Mineral freed by means not involving slitting
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 27/24 by milling means acting on the full working face , i.e. the rotary axis of the tool carrier being substantially parallel to the working face similar machines for tunneling E21D9/1026
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 27/32 by adjustable or non-adjustable planing means with or without loading arrangements by percussed planing means E21C27/46
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/00 Details of, or accessories for, machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam, not provided for in groups E21C25/00 - E21C33/00, E21C37/00 or E21C39/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21D 9/1013 on a tool-carrier supported by a movable boom

Abstract

A mining machine includes a cutting mechanism with an arm, and a substantial weight of more than a thousand pounds attached to the arm. The mining machine also includes a first disc cutter adapted to engage the material to be mined and mounted on a first disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the first disc cutter, the first disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight. The mining machine also includes at least a second disc cutter spaced apart from the first disc cutter assembly and adapted to engage the material to be mined, and mounted on a second disc cutter assembly for eccentrically driving the second disc cutter, the second disc cutter assembly being mounted within the substantial weight.

Claims

1. A mining machine for engaging a mine wall, the mining machine comprising:

a platform;

an arm including a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled to the platform such that the arm pivots in first and second directions about a pivot pin;

a pivot mechanism for pivoting the arm in the first and second directions;

a first disc cutter mounted on the second end of the arm, the first disc cutter being adapted to engage the mine wall; and

a second disc cutter mounted on the second end of the arm and spaced apart from the first disc cutter, the second disc cutter being adapted to engage the mine wall.

2. The mining machine of claim 1, further comprising a weight attached to the arm for absorbing impact loads generated by the disc cutters engaging the mine wall.

3. The mining machine of claim 1, further comprising a third disc cutter mounted on the second end of the arm and spaced apart from the first disc cutter and the second disc cutter, the third disc cutter being adapted to engage the mine wall.

4. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein each disc cutter comprises a cutting disc having a plurality of cutting tips coupled to a periphery of the cutting disc, the cutting disc being coupled to a rotor defining a center axis and being rotatably coupled to a shaft having an axis of rotation.

5. The mining machine of claim 4, wherein the axis of rotation of the shaft is offset from the center axis of the rotor such that rotation of the shaft causes the rotor and cutting disc to move in an eccentric manner.

6. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein in order to engage the disc cutters with the mine wall, the pivot mechanism drives the arm in the first direction.

7. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder including a first end coupled to the platform and a second end coupled to the arm, and further wherein extension or retraction of the cylinder pivots the arm.

8. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein the pivot mechanism comprises an electric rotary actuator adapted to rotate the arm.

9. The mining machine of claim 1, further comprising a rail, wherein the platform is slidably coupled to the rail.

10. The mining machine of claim 9, wherein the platform slides along the rail in order to move the platform and the arm in a direction parallel to the mine wall.

11. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein the pivot pin of the pivot mechanism defines a pivot axis and the pivot axis is normal with respect to a mine floor.

12. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein the first disc cutter rotates about a first axis and the second disc cutter rotates about a second axis, and further wherein the second axis is at an angle with respect to the first axis.

13. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein the first disc cutter and the second disc cutter are adapted to cut equal depths into the mine wall.

14. The mining machine of claim 1, wherein the first disc cutter is located in a lowermost position with respect to the second disc cutter relative to a mine floor, and wherein the first disc cutter is positioned to engage the mine wall before the second disc cutter when the arm is pivoted in the first direction.

15. The mining machine of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum system for providing suction at the mine wall to remove material dislodged from the mine wall.

16. The mining machine of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor positioned below the disc cutters for transporting material dislodged from the mine wall.

39. The mining machine of claim 12, wherein the first axis and the second axis are not coplanar.

17. A mining machine for engaging a mine wall, the mining machine comprising

a platform;

an arm including a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled to the platform such that the arm pivots in first and second directions about a pivot pin;

a pivot mechanism for pivoting the arm in the first and second directions;

a first disc cutter mounted on the second end of the arm and adapted to engage the mine wall, the first disc cutter including a cutting disc rotatably coupled to a first shaft, the first shaft defining a first axis;

a second disc cutter mounted on the second end of the arm and adapted to engage the mine wall, the second disc cutter including a cutting disc rotatably coupled to a second shaft, the second shaft defining a second axis that is at an angle with respect to the first axis; and

a third disc cutter mounted on the third end of the arm and adapted to engage the mine wall, the third disc cutter including a cutting disc rotatably coupled to a third shaft, the third shaft defining a third axis that is at an angle with respect to the first axis and the second axis.

18. The mining machine of claim 17, further comprising a weight attached to the arm for absorbing impact loads generated by the disc cutters engaging the material to be mined.

19. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein each cutting disc defines a center point and each shaft defines an axis of rotation, and further wherein the center point of each cutting disc is offset from the axis of rotation of its respective shaft such that rotation of each shaft causes each disc cutter to rotate in an eccentric manner.

20. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein in order to engage the disc cutters with the mine wall the pivot mechanism drives the arm in the first direction.

21. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein the cutting discs are adapted to cut equal depths into the mine wall.

22. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder including a first end coupled to the platform and a second end coupled to the arm, and further wherein extension or retraction of the cylinder pivots the arm.

23. The mining machine of claim 17, further comprising a rail, wherein the platform is slidably coupled to the rail such that the platform slides along the rail in order to move the platform and the arm in a direction parallel to the mine wall.

24. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein the pivot pin of the pivot mechanism defines a pivot axis and the pivot axis is normal with respect to a mine floor.

25. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein the first disc cutter is located in a lowermost position with respect to the second and third disc cutters relative to a mine floor, and further wherein the first disc cutter is positioned to engage the mine wall before the second disc cutter or third disc cutter engage the mine wall when the arm is pivoted in the first direction.

26. The mining machine of claim 17, further comprising a vacuum system for providing suction at the mine wall to remove material dislodged from the mine wall.

27. The mining machine of claim 17, further comprising a conveyor positioned below the disc cutters for transporting material dislodged from the mine wall.

40. The mining machine of claim 17, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are not coplanar.

28. A mining machine for engaging a mine wall, the mining machine comprising

a first platform positioned on a mine floor proximate the mine wall;

a second platform positioned on the mine floor spaced apart from the first platform and the mine wall, the second platform being coupled to the first platform by at least one hydraulic ram;

an arm platform coupled to the first platform;

an arm defining a longitudinal axis and including a first end coupled to the arm platform and a second end, the arm pivotable about a pivot axis in first and second directions and the pivot axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

a pivot mechanism for driving the arm about the pivot axis;

a cutting head coupled to the second end of the arm and including a weight;

a first disc cutter coupled to the cutting head and adapted to engage the mine wall, the first disc cutter including a cutting disc rotatably coupled to a first shaft, the first shaft defining a first axis;

a second disc cutter coupled to the cutting head and adapted to engage the mine wall, the second disc cutter including a cutting disc rotatably coupled to a second shaft, the second shaft defining a second axis that is at an angle with respect to the first axis; and

a third disc cutter coupled to the cutting head and adapted to engage the mine wall, the third disc cutter including a cutting disc rotatably coupled to a third shaft, the third shaft defining a third axis that is at an angle with respect to the first axis and the second axis.

29. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein each cutting disc defines a center point and each shaft defines an axis of rotation, and further wherein the center point of each cutting disc is offset from the axis of rotation of its respective shaft such that rotation of each shaft causes each disc cutter to rotate in an eccentric manner.

30. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the pivot mechanism comprises a hydraulic cylinder including a first end coupled to the arm platform and a second end coupled to the arm, such that extension or retraction of the cylinder rotates the arm about the pivot axis.

31. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the first platform includes a rail and the arm platform is slidably coupled to the rail to permit the arm platform to move in a direction parallel to the mine wall.

32. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the disc cutters are adapted to cut equal depths into the mine wall.

33. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein in order to engage the disc cutters with the mine wall, the pivot mechanism drives the arm about the pivot axis.

34. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the first disc cutter is located in a lowermost position with respect to the second and third disc cutters and relative to a mine floor, and wherein the first disc cutter is positioned to engage the mine wall before the second disc cutter or third disc cutter engages the mine wall when the arm is pivoted in the first direction.

35. The mining machine of claim 28, further comprising a vacuum system for providing suction at the mine wall to remove material dislodged from the mine wall.

36. The mining machine of claim 28, further comprising a conveyor for transporting material dislodged from the mine wall.

37. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the second platform is anchored to the mine floor and extension of the hydraulic ram causes the first platform to advance towards the mine wall.

38. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the cutting head includes a resilient sleeve positioned between the cutting head and the second end of the arm for isolating the arm from vibrations in the cutting head.

41. The mining machine of claim 28, wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are not coplanar.