US729566A - Method of mining coal. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1903'.

W. FOGLESONG.

METHOD OF MINING GOAL.

APPLICATION ,EIYLED JUNE 5,1902.-

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

- INVEN TO WITNESSES Affomgzy a No. 729,566. PATENTBDJUNE 2,1903.

W. FOGLESONG. METHOD OF MINING GOAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1902- N0 MODEL. SHBETS-SHBET 2.

WI /Z3555.- I INVENYT-OR I I B UNITED STATES Patented June 2, 1903.

WASHINGTON FOGLESONG, OE DAYTON, OHIO.

METHOD OF MINING COAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,566, dated June 2, 1903.

Application filed June 5,1902.

To aZZ whom it may concern: 2 Be it known that 1, WASHINGTON FOGLE- SONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Mining Coal; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My present invention relates to the art of mining, andhas for its object the better mining of coal in thin veins, by Which the amount of labor is reduced and the coal left in better marketable condition.

My improved method is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the same is'fully set forth in the following description and claims.

In the present modes of getting out coal found in thin veins the so-called long-wall method is generally employed. In carrying on mining operations in this way the coal is undercut by hand or machine along the Whole length of the wall in the drift, and it is then broken down by blast or other means. The work of getting out the coal thereafter to the cars in the haulways is very great and constitutes a very large partof the cost. .By my invention the cost of this part .ofthe op eration is-greatly reduced, with the further. gain of getting the coal more quickly to the cars and leaving the coal'in larger masses and in better marketable condition.

In the drawings,-'Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a mine, the-cars in the haulway, and the appliances employed to move the coal to the cars.. Fig. 2, is a vertical'section showing thecoal' undercut and the-trays inserted i-n thekerf. Fig.3 is a top or plan view of the parts shown in.Fig. 2 with the coal broken down and in readiness to be moved to the haulway. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of two ofthe ways andthe mannerlin which they aremade to overlap. Fig. 5 is a trans verse sectional view of one of the trays.

The hauling-trays employed by me are each composed of a single sheet of metal A of substantially the same width as the kerf usually cut beneath the coal and having the main portion of the body of the same provided Serial No. 110,345. (No model.)

with straight parallel sides. Atthe ends the sides are cut away to form inclines. a. a to enable the tray to more easily pass obstacles along the straight portion of one edge. The tray is provided with a rigidupwardly-extending flange or side a, which is of slightly less height than the kerf. The opposite side of the tray is preferably provided.with a hinged side or flap b. This sidemay be raised into a vertical position,.as shown-in Fig. 5, in Whichposition it is held by latches bb of the form bestshown in Fig. f 1.

In line with the rearward latch 1) is placed a row of breaking-points 0. These points are made pyramidal in form and are of the same or slightly less height than the rigid side of the body. The front of the tray is provided with a hook d, by which it may be drawn from place to place.

The construction and arrangement of this device is such that when the trays are brought together with the front end of one overlapping the rear end of another the side a of one will abut against the side a, of the other and the sides I) will in like manner, the two forming practically continuous upwardly-extending sides for the trays. When placed in this position, the hook d of one tray will be practically in line with the breaking-points c of thetray immediatelyforward ofit.

- In the practical working of a mine the kerf oftheusiial si'ze is first cut in the coal at the bottom of the wall along the whole length'of the same. The trays are then inserted in the kerf, the forwardend of one overlapping the rear end of the one in front of it to bring the sides a and b in contact. Thesides bare then preferably raised into position and secured by the latches b. The trays are inserted in thekerfthe whole distanceit is proposed to break down the coal at onetime.

When the trays are in position, the coal is then broken down by blast or otherwise. When the coal is so broken down, the'side a Will act as a breaker to break thecoalin line therewith and longitudinally of the wall,and the breaker-points 0 will act to break the coal transversely. There may be transverse breaks at other points; but these points will cause a line of breakage across the body of the falling coal above them. The tray nearest the haulway is then connected with some power device and drawn to the hanlway. In doing this the breaking-points hold the coal on the tray and prevent its sliding rearward upon it.

When the tray reaches the haulway, it is placed in the best position to discharge its load into a car. To facilitate doing this, the side or flap 1) may be released from its latches and turned downward to the position desired.

After the tray has been discharged of its load it is drawn back to a place in line with the long wall, to be again used as described. The next tray is then drawn to the haulway and unloaded in like manner. This is continued until all the coal broken down is removed, when the operation is repeated.

Any suitable means may be employed for moving the trays. In thisvinstance I have shown an electric motor E, actuating drums e e, upon one of which the cablefis wound as it is released from the other. By this means I am enabled to put a carrying means beneath the coal before breaking it down without employing a track for said carrying means and am able to remove the coal without increasing the size of the kerf from that usually employed.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of mining coal which consists in forming a kert of usual dimensions at the bottom of the wall and along the same, then placing hauling-trays in said kerf from the side of the wall, then breaking the coal down upon the trays, then hauling the coal away upon said trays, substantially as described.

2. The process of mining coal which consists of forming a kerf from the side of the wall of usual dimensions under the coal, along a long wall, then placing hauling-trays in said kerf for the entire distance it is desired to break the coal down at one time, then breaking down the coal, and then hauling the trays in succession to and loadingthe coal upon the usual cars, substantially as described.

. 3. In the art of mining coal, the process which consists in placing a series of hauling devices beneath undercut coal, then breaking down the coal upon hauling devices,and at the same time breaking the coal to separate the coal into separate loads for the hauling devices, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

'WASHINGTON FOGLESONG.

Witnesses:

O. O. SIPE, A. A. HARTSOCK.

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