Patent GB-222157-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to electrical signalling systems for mines
IPC: B66B19/06
Filed: 1923-03-23
Abstract: 222,157. Thiry, N., Viatour, H., and Signalisation Electrique Simplex Soc. Anon. March 23, 1923. Mine and colliery signalling systems.-Comprises a lamp and bell signalling system in which a red or a white e lamp (denoting " staff " and " extraction " respectively) is lit at each level, at the surface, and in the engine room, to indicate that the level denoted by the lamp is sending. The act of lamp-signalling from one level prevents other levels from signalling simultaneously, and also prepares a circuit for bell-signalling from that level. The surface can send a bell signal to any of the levels at any time, and can light white lamps at any time in all the levels to indicate " surface." At each level is provided a visual indicator containing a red and a white lamp p for each level and a white lamp for the surface. This indicator is mounted above a cast-iron casing a containing a switch for visual signalling, comprising two sets of wipers, five in each set. A pair of wipers in each set, viz., 66, 67 and 68, 69, Fig. 3, is normally bridged by a plate 90 or 91, Figs. 2 and 3, while the remaining three wipers in either set can be bridged by the plate 92 in order to signal either " staff " or " extraction " for the level transmitting the signal. The plates 90, 91, 92 are mounted on a cylinder 89 geared to a handle which can turn the cylinder through 90‹ in either direction. The wiring for three levels is shown in Fig. 3, but more levels can be provided for by the use of more than one of the signalling devices at each level. The main 23, Fig. 3, is permanently connected to one side of each of the lamps and bells of the system. The main 24 can be connected to the other side of a given lamp or bell bv operating the appropriate switch. Thus the switch 47<b> at the surface energizes the " surface " lamps 26 of each of the visual indicators, while the switches 44<b>, 45<b>, 46<b>, energize respectively the bells 59, 56, 53 at the three levels shown. In order that these levels may be able to transmit signals, while each level when transmitting cuts out the transmitters at the remain. ing levels, the main 24 is connected to the contacts 63, 65 at each of the levels by a circuit passing through contacts 66, 67, or 68, 69, at each of the other levels. Thus when the cylinder 89 at any level is turned to transmit a signal, the transmitting circuit of each of the other levels is broken at the contacts 66, 67, or 68, 69, of the level which is transmitting. The contact 62 at each level is connected to all the red lamps corresponding to that level in the various indicators, and the contact 64 to the corresponding white lamps; so that such lamps are energized via the plate 92 and live contacts 63 or 65, according as the cylinder 89 is turned to the " staff " or the " extraction " position. In either case the live contact 63 or 65 is connected via contact 42 or 43 to a switch 40 for energizing the bells 33, 34, at the engine-room and surface and a tell-tale bell, 37, it being impossible to transmit bell signals from the levels unless a lamp signal is simultaneously being transmitted.