Guide shoe for mining machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12378883-B2
Application number	US-202318097067-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2023
Priority date	Jan 13, 2023
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

An interface between a guide shoe of a mining machine and a rack includes a first surface positioned on the guide shoe. and a second surface positioned on the rack. At least one of the first surface and the second surface including a profile oriented at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the rack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive mechanism for a mining machine, the drive mechanism configured to engage and move the mining machine along a rack, the drive mechanism comprising:
a gear configured to engage the rack, rotation of the gear causing movement of the mining machine along the rack; and
a guide shoe for maintaining engagement between the gear and the rack, the guide shoe including a first wall, a second wall extending orthogonally from a first end of the first wall, a third wall extending orthogonally from a distal end of the second wall, and a fourth wall extending orthogonally from a second end of the first wall, the fourth wall having a planar surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the second wall, wherein the planar surface is configured to engage a surface of the rack.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the rack is planar and oriented at an oblique angle relative to the second wall of the guide shoe.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the surface of the fourth wall and the surface of the rack are angled in the same direction.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the fourth wall and the surface of the rack have complementary curved profiles.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 4 , wherein one of the surface of the fourth wall and the surface of the rack has a concave profile.

6. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the fourth wall is oriented at an angle relative to the surface of the rack, and wherein the surface of the rack is planar and oriented parallel to an upper surface of the rack.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the rack is oriented at an angle relative to the second wall of the guide shoe.

8. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the fourth wall provides a hook and the planar surface is positioned on the hook.

9. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the rack includes a first rail, a second rail oriented parallel to the first rail, and a plurality of teeth positioned between the first rail and the second rail.

10. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the planar surface is oriented at an oblique angle, a distance between a first end of the planar surface and the second wall being less than a distance between a distal end of the planar surface and the second wall.

11. The drive mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the planar surface is oriented at an oblique angle, a distance between a first end of the planar surface and the second wall being greater than a distance between a distal end of the planar surface and the second wall.

12. A drive mechanism for a mining machine, the drive mechanism configured to engage and move the mining machine along a rack, the drive mechanism comprising:
a gear configured to engage the rack such that rotation of the gear moves the mining machine along the rack; and
a guide shoe for maintaining engagement between the gear and the rack, the guide shoe including a wall providing a hook,
wherein the rack includes a rail adjacent to the guide shoe and having a planar surface configured to engage the hook, the rail including a first edge and a second edge, the planar surface positioned on the first edge, the planar surface being oriented at an oblique angle relative to the second edge, a distance between a first end of the first edge and the second edge being less than a distance between a second end of the first edge and the second edge.

13. The drive mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the wall is a first wall, the guide shoe further including a second wall extending from a first end of the first wall, a third wall extending from a distal end of the second wall, and a fourth wall extending from a second end of the first wall, wherein the fourth wall includes the hook.

14. The drive mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the hook includes a surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the first wall.

15. The drive mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the first wall is oriented perpendicular to the second wall and parallel to the third wall.

16. The drive mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the hook is oriented at an oblique angle, a distance between a first end of the hook and the second wall being less than a distance between a distal end of the hook and the second wall.

17. The drive mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the hook is oriented at an oblique angle, a distance between a first end of the hook and the second wall being greater than a distance between a distal end of the hook and the second wall.

18. An interface between a guide shoe of a mining machine and a rack, the interface comprising:
a first surface positioned on the guide shoe, the guide shoe including a first wall, a second wall extending orthogonally from a first end of the first wall, a third wall extending orthogonally from a distal end of the second wall, and a fourth wall extending orthogonally from a second end of the first wall, the fourth wall including the first surface; and
a second surface positioned on the rack, the rack including a rail and a plurality of teeth, the second surface positioned on the rail,
wherein the first surface has a concave profile and the second surface has a convex profile that is complementary to the concave profile.

19. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the first surface is oriented at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the rack.

20. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the second surface is oriented at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the rack.

21. The interface of claim 18 , wherein the first surface is oriented at an oblique angle relative to a plane of the rack, and the second surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the plane of the rack.

Assignees

• Joy Global Underground Mining Llc

Inventors

• Perry Ryan E
• Franklin Shawn
• Lutz Joshua

Classifications

• E21C29/02 Primary

  by means on the machine exerting a thrust against fixed supports · CPC title

• E21C35/12 Primary

  along a conveyor for the cut material · CPC title