LUMP BREAKER FOR MINING MACHINE

• US 20140084666A1
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Joy Mm Delaware Incorporated (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Inventors: Niederriter, Edward F., Franklin, Shawn W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,140,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 299/43
• 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 27/08 with additional means for cutting the mineral into blocks
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 29/02 by means on the machine exerting a thrust against fixed supports
• 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: E21F 13/002 Crushing devices specifically for conveying in mines

Abstract

A longwall shearer is positioned adjacent a face conveyor for transporting material that is cut from a mining face. The longwall shearer includes a chassis, an arm pivotably coupled to the chassis, a cutting drum for engaging the mining face, and a lump breaker for engaging material on the face conveyor. The chassis includes a first end and a second end, and the chassis is movable in at least a first direction that is generally parallel to the mining face. The cutting drum is rotatably supported on the arm. The lump breaker is pivotably coupled to the chassis about an axis, and the lump breaker includes at least one tooth for breaking apart the cut material.

Claims

1. A longwall shearer for cutting material from a mining face, the longwall shearer positioned adjacent a face conveyor for transporting material, the longwall shearer comprising:

a chassis including a first end and a second end, the chassis movable in at least a first direction that is generally parallel to the mining face;

an arm pivotably coupled to the chassis;

a cutting drum for engaging the mining face, the cutting drum rotatably supported on the arm; and

a lump breaker for engaging material on the face conveyor, the lump breaker pivotably coupled to the chassis about an axis, the lump breaker including at least one tooth for breaking apart the cut material.

2. The longwall shearer of claim 1, wherein the lump breaker includes an elongated breaker arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end opposite the first end, the tooth being supported on the breaker arm.

3. The longwall shearer of claim 2, wherein the lump breaker further includes an actuator coupled between the chassis and the breaker arm and operation of the actuator pivots the breaker arm about the axis.

4. The longwall shearer of claim 2, wherein the breaker arm defines a first portion proximate the first end and a second portion proximate the second end, the second portion being oriented at an angle relative to the first portion.

5. The longwall shearer of claim 1, wherein the lump breaker includes a plurality of teeth arranged in a linear configuration.

6. The longwall shearer of claim 1, wherein the axis is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The longwall shearer of claim 6, wherein the lump breaker includes multiple teeth aligned along a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

8. A lump breaker for a longwall shearer, the longwall shearer including a chassis supporting a cutting drum for cutting material from a mining face, the chassis positioned proximate a face conveyor for transporting cut material in a first direction, the lump breaker comprising:

an elongated arm including a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be pivotably coupled to the chassis proximate the face conveyor, the first end being pivotable about an axis;

a plurality of teeth for engaging material transported on the face conveyor, the teeth supported on the arm; and

an actuator for pivoting the arm about the axis, the actuator including a first end coupled to the arm and a second end adapted to be coupled to the chassis.

9. The lump breaker of claim 8, wherein the arm defines a first portion proximate the first end and a second portion proximate the second end, the second portion being oriented at an angle relative to the first portion.

10. The lump breaker of claim 8, wherein the plurality of teeth are arranged in a linear manner.

11. The lump breaker of claim 8, wherein the axis is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

12. The lump breaker of claim 11, wherein the teeth are aligned along a surface of the arm that is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

13. The lump breaker of claim 8, wherein the teeth are aligned in a plane that is generally parallel to the first direction.

14. A longwall mining system for cutting material from a mining face, the longwall mining system comprising:

a face conveyor for transporting material in a first direction, the face conveyor extending parallel to the mining face;

a chassis coupled to the face conveyor and positioned above the face conveyor, the chassis including a first end and a second end, the chassis being movable along the face conveyor in at least the first direction;

an arm pivotably coupled to the chassis, the arm rotatably supporting a cutting drum for engaging the mining face; and

a lump breaker for engaging material transported by the face conveyor, the lump breaker pivotably coupled to the chassis and including at least one tooth positioned proximate the face conveyor.

15. The longwall mining system of claim 14, wherein the lump breaker includes an elongated breaker arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the chassis and a second end opposite the first end, the tooth being supported on the breaker arm.

16. The longwall mining system of claim 15, wherein the lump breaker further includes an actuator coupled between the chassis and the breaker arm such that operation of the actuator pivots the breaker arm about an axis.

17. The longwall mining system of claim 15, wherein the breaker arm defines a first portion proximate the first end and a second portion proximate the second end, the second portion being oriented at an angle relative to the first portion.

18. The longwall mining system of claim 14, wherein the lump breaker includes a plurality of teeth arranged in a linear configuration.

19. The longwall mining system of claim 14, wherein the lump breaker is pivotably coupled to the chassis about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the first direction.

20. The longwall mining system of claim 19, wherein the lump breaker includes multiple teeth aligned along a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the axis.

21. The longwall mining system of claim 14, wherein the teeth are aligned in a plane that is generally parallel to the first direction.