Patent GB-737274-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to decking apparatus for mine installations
Inventor: DOLAN HARRY
IPC: B66B17/20
Filed: 1952-11-10
Abstract: 737,274. Transferring vehicles to and from pit cages. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO., Ltd. Nov. 6, 1953 [Nov. 10, 1952], No. 28300/52. Class 78 (4). Trams 14, 15 are automatically pushed into a pit cage 10 when the cage reaches the landing, and winding cannot be recommenced until a predetermined number of trams have been pushed into the cage and, as a result, a corresponding number pushed out. The invention is illustrated as applied to the upper landing position. When the cage reaches the landing a cam surface on it engages a roller 27a to operate a member 27 which opens a pilot valve 26 to admit air from a pressure line 17 to open a relay valve 32 through which, and a valve 19, air may then pass to operate a ram 16 which pushes the trams 14, 15 into the cage. Initiation of a further wind is then prevented until four axles have passed each of three counters 22, 23, 24 which respectively check the number of trams leaving the landing, the number entering the cage, and the number delivered to the landing. The counters 22, 23 each operate a cam arranged to be turned through 180 degrees by the passage of four axles to open pilot valves 22a, 23a which in turn open valves 36, 41 to pass air to a valve 38 which locks in its open position until air supplied through a relay valve 33 opened by the pilot valve 26 is cut off as the cage leaves the landing. The counter 24 is geared to an arm which, after four axles have passed the counter, engages a lever adjacent the landing to open a pilot valve 24a which opens a relay valve 39. When all three valves 33, 38 and 39 are open a pneumatic relay 40 is operated to close contacts 40a controlling a relay in the winding circuit. The pilot valve 22a also controls a relay valve 34 so that when both trams 14 and 15 have been pushed past the counter 22 into the cage relay valves 19 and 20 are respectively closed and opened to retract the ram 16 until a limit valve 18 is closed at the end of the return stroke. Chocks 29 holding the trams 14, 15 are lowered when the valve 26 is first operated by arrival of the cage and chocks 28 are simultaneously raised to prevent the arrival of further trams. When the first axle of the outgoing trams operates the counter 23, the chocks 29 are again raised and the chocks 28 lowered to permit two further trams to replace the trams 14, 15. These further trams operate a counter 21 which closes a pilot valve 21a which opens a valve 43 to cut off the controlling air from the valve 38, opens a valve 44 to permit the valves 19 and 20 to return to the condition 'shown, and closes a valve 45 to prepare for the next loading operation. When a cage next arrives at the upper landing a similar sequence of operations occurs except that the pilot valves 21a, 22a, 23a are in the opposite condition from that illustrated, valves 46, 37 and 42 perform the functions previously performed by the valves 43, 36 and 41, and the valves 45 and 35 the functions of the valves 44 and 34. The trams are held in the cage during winding by a controller 25 which is controlled by a detent linked to an arm engaging an arm mounted in the shaft and controlled by a cam driven by the counter 22 to release the controller when the first incoming axle passes the counter 22 and, when the third incoming axle passes the counter 22, to allow the detent to reengage the controller which is thus relocked when it has been operated by four outgoing axles. Gates 30, 31 are automatically raised by the cage as it arrives at the landing. Suitable duplications of the apparatus may be provided for controlling the loading of two cages at both upper and lower landings.