Guide shoe for mining machine

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.

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 wall having a surface configured to engage a surface of the rack, wherein at least one of the surface of the wall and the surface of the rack is angled or curved.   
     
     
         2 . The drive mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the wall and the surface of the rack are planar and oriented at an oblique angle relative to an upper surface of the guide shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The drive mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the surface of the 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 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 wall and the surface of the rack has a concave profile. 
     
     
         6 . The drive mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the 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 wall is planar and oriented parallel to an upper surface of the guide shoe, and wherein the surface of the rack is oriented at an angle relative to the surface of the guide shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The drive mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the guide shoe includes a first wall, and a hook extending from the first wall, wherein the wall surface is positioned on the hook. 
     
     
         9 . The drive mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the rail is a first rail, and the rack includes the 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 . 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 having an angled surface,   wherein the rack includes a planar surface configured to engage the angled surface.   
     
     
         11 . The drive mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the guide shoe includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a hook extending from the first wall. 
     
     
         12 . The drive mechanism of  claim 11  wherein the hook includes the wall having the angled surface. 
     
     
         13 . The drive mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein the first wall is oriented perpendicular to the second wall and parallel to the third wall. 
     
     
         14 . The drive mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the angled surface is angled away from second wall in a direction from a first end of the hook, adjacent the first wall, to a second end of the hook. 
     
     
         15 . 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 first wall, and 
 a hook extending from the first wall, wherein the hook includes a surface oriented substantially parallel to the first wall; 
   wherein the rack includes a rail having an angled edge configured to engage the edge of the hook.   
     
     
         16 . The drive mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the rail is a first rail, and wherein the rack includes the 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. 
     
     
         17 . The drive mechanism of  claim 16 , wherein a distal end of the first rail includes the angled edge, and an upper edge obliquely oriented relative to the angled edge. 
     
     
         18 . The drive mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein one of the plurality of teeth includes an edge extending parallel to the upper edge of the first rail. 
     
     
         19 . The drive mechanism of  claim 18 , wherein the angled edge is obliquely oriented relative to the edge of the one of the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         20 . The drive mechanism of  claim 17 , wherein the angled edge is angled away from the upper edge in a direction from a first end of the angled edge, adjacent the plurality of teeth, to a second end of the angled edge.