Apparatus for use with cutting drums of mineral machines

摘要

A rotatable cutting drum of a mineral mining machine is supported by a pivotable arm and is operably associated with a blade or the like which is positionable to assist in loading mineral detached by the drum. The blade is carried on a ring-like support which is itself mounted for pivoting about the axis of the drum to position the blade. Apparatus serves to couple the blade and its support selectively to the drum when it is desired to re-position the blade so that the latter moves around the axis of rotation of the drum with the drum itself. The apparatus is composed of piston and cylinder units provided in the blade support. The piston rods of these units extend outwardly from either side of the blade support and carry first and second abutment or friction rings. These respective friction rings either couple the blade support to the arm supporting the drum or to the drum. Hydraulic fluid is admitted to the units to bring the associated first friction ring into contact with the drum when the blade is to be re-positioned. The hydraulic force is opposed by restorative spring force which biases the pistons of the units so that the second friction ring normally clamps the blade support to the arm supporting the drum.