Patent GB-190412922-A (GB)
Title: Improved Method of and Means for Loading and Unloading and Tipping Coal and other Minerals.
Inventor: BURNETT CUTHBERT
Filed: 1904-06-07
Granted: 1905-06-01
Abstract: 12,922. Burnett, C. June 7. Mine cage fittings; elevators ; loading and unloading; tipping - apparatus. -Relates to means for loading full tubs into the mine shaft cage, and unloading the empty tubs therefrom at the bottom of the mine ; also means for unloading and tipping the coal from the tubs at the pit top. At the bottom of the shaft a, two endless band elevators c are provided, with the axes of their drums b parallel. The endless bands consist of a series of links jointed together, each carrying a frame or cage having top and bottom members d provided with rails. The mine shaft cage working up and down the shaft a has in this case four decks, each deck holding four tubs. Upon the rails which for the time being are bottom rails rest tubs e, those on the inner side being full and those on the outer side empty. The outer sides of the elevators are connected by a series of curved rail tracks f to the opposite side of the mine shaft. Each of these curved tracks slopes downwards in the direction of the arrows, so that, as the rams i push the full tubs out of the elevator into the mine cage, the empty trucks will be pushed out of the cage and will run around and enter the elevator again on the outside. Instead of the curved tracks f, the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 may be used for getting the empty trucks back to the elevator. Inclined or tilting rails may also be employed in place of the rams i to start the full tubs out of the elevators. Figs. 8 and 10 show an alternative arrangement, in which two pairs of elevator cages are used. The pair m contain the full tubs, the pair o the empty, and the front full-tub cage is connected to the back empty-tub cage by ropes passing over pulleys as shown. The full tubs are delivered to each deck in turn of the elevator cage m ; the ram r<1> then pushes the full tubs into the mine cage, thereby pushing the empty tubs into the cage o. The tub in the top cage cannot be started in this way, and is therefore provided with the usual keps v and lever w. The elevator cages may be supported on hydraulic rams r, and, by arranging suitable pipe connecticns between the cylinders, the same result may be produced as with the pulleys. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show arrangements for unloading the mine hoist cage and tipping the tubs at the pit top. Two elevators are used, as previously described, consisting of endless chains c to which are attached a number of decks d. Two towers 10 are also provided, mounted on wheels 11, running on a circular track 12. The towers are connected to a circular platform 13, having a toothed rim 14 which is driven by the gearing shown in Fig. 13. Hydraulic rams are employed to push the tubs from the mine hoist cage into the elevators. Here the coal is lowered and tipped into the chamber 19, and, after passing through the weighing-apparatus 23, it is conveyed to the screens 21. The empty tubs which have been pushed out of the elevators into one of the towers are now brought around the circular track into position in front of the rams and are then pushed back into the mine cage for descent into the pit. A modification is shown in which each deck of the mine cage accommodates twelve tubs. In the form shown in Figs. 15 and 16, two additional elevators are used instead of the towers. Supposing the elevator 3 to contain empty tubs, the rams push these tubs into the cage, thereby pushing out the full tubs into the elevator 1. This latter is then lowered and the coal tipped into suitable shoots, and the empty tubs are brought back into position in front of the cage. Meanwhile, the cage is lowered into the mine and returned full. The empty tubs are then pushed into the mine cage and the full ones into the elevator 3, which is then lowered. The elevators 2, 4 act in precisely the same manner. A method of adapting the existing arrangements of supplementary cages is also shown. In this case, the frames carrying the tubs are suspended on the chain, which is of the form shown in Fig. 17, in order that the tubs may not be returned upside down. The chain links c<1> are made bail-shaped, the middle member coming in contact with the side of the polygonal drum.