Rack bar haulage system with an improved rackbar to line pan connection

1. A rack bar haulage system forming part of a drive system for moving the mining machine along a conveyor including a plurality of conveyor pans, the pans being arranged end to end, said rack bar haulage system including

a plurality of rack bars having a longitudinal axis, each having spaced apart gear teeth extending between cheek sections at opposite sides of the rack bar, each rack bar including an end, the end including a pillar portion extending downwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rack bar, one rack bar adapted to be mounted adjacent an end of a line pan, and another rack bar adapted to be mounted adjacent the adjacent end of the adjacent line pan,

a chain-link, the chain-link surrounding and engaging the two adjacent pillar portions on the ends of the one rack bar and the adjacent other rack bar, said chain-link adapted to extend over the adjacent ends of the line pans, and

means for retaining the chain link on said rack bar pillar portions.

2. A rack bar haulage system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means comprises a clog for receiving the rack bar, the clog including an extension that engages the chain-link and traps the chain link between the extension and the rack bar.

3. A rack bar haulage system in accordance with claim 2 wherein each rack bar has a downward extension adjacent and spaced apart from the rack bar end, and wherein said clog has a width corresponding to the width of the nose-shaped extension, and the clog defines a cavity for engaging and providing support for the rack bar by receiving the downward extension.

4. A rack bar haulage system forming part of a drive system for moving the mining machine along a conveyor including a plurality of conveyor pans, the pans being arranged end to end, said rack bar haulage system including

a plurality of rack bars having a longitudinal axis, each having spaced apart gear teeth extending between cheek sections at opposite sides of the rack bar, each rack bar including an end, the end including a pillar portion extending downwardly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rack bar, one rack bar adapted to be mounted adjacent an end of a line pan, and another rack bar adapted to be mounted adjacent the adjacent end of the adjacent line pan,

a chain-link, the chain-link surrounding and engaging the two adjacent pillar portions on the ends of the one rack bar and the adjacent other rack bar, said chain-link adapted to extend over the adjacent ends of the line pans, and

a clog for receiving the rack bar, the clog including an extension that engages the chain-link and traps the chain link between the extension and the rack bar, the clog extension surrounding its respective rack bar pillar portion.

5. A rack bar haulage system in accordance with claim 4 wherein each rack bar has a downward extension adjacent and spaced apart from the rack bar end, and wherein said clog has a width corresponding to the width of the nose-shaped extension, and the clog defines a cavity for engaging and providing support for the rack bar by receiving the downward extension.

6. A rack bar haulage system forming part of a drive system for moving the mining machine along a conveyor including a plurality of conveyor pans, the pans being arranged end to end, said rack bar haulage system including

a plurality of rack bars having a longitudinal axis, each having spaced apart gear teeth extending between cheek sections at opposite sides of the rack bar, each rack bar including an end, one rack bar adapted to be mounted adjacent an end of a line pan, and another rack bar adapted to be mounted adjacent the adjacent end of the adjacent line pan,

a link element, said link element engaging the two adjacent ends of the one rack bar and the adjacent other rack bar, said link element adapted to extend over the adjacent ends of the line pans, and

means for retaining the link element on said rack bar ends.