Patent GB-185432-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in mechanical visual indicators for the winding-engine signals in mines
IPC: B66B19/06
Filed: 1921-03-01
Abstract: 185,432. Bramall, E. E. March 1, 1921. Mine and colliery signals.-Relates to signalling apparatus for indicating when men are to be raised' to different levels in mines, in which two ratchet-wheels, operated by pulls on a bar and carrying indicating fingers, are returned to their starting positions by (1) the engine commencing to wind, (2) the engineman, or (3) the action of giving a new signal after a predetermined time interval. A pawl B, Fig. 1, pivoted to a sliding bar A, engages the ratchet-wheel C carrying the pointer C' and moves it one tooth on each return stroke of the. bar A under the influence of spring A<3>. When the bar is pulled towards the left the bell J is rung and the arm L is pulled over by a pin A<4> on the bar. This arm engages a weighted toggle F<3> and, by means of the slotted extension of the bar F, the detent D is lifted, after the pawl B, so that the ratchetwheel C is returned to its starting position by a spring Q. The return of the arm L is delayed by a clock-work train S governed by a fan T, or by a dash-pot &c., so that the. wheel C can be moved further at each return stroke of the bar A, provided the forward pulls are given before the arm L has returned past the toggle F<3>. A stop B<1>, pivoted to the bar A, prevents the wheel C from moving forwards more than one tooth at a time, but allows backward movement of the wheel when the signal is cancelled by the engine or engineman by means of the lever E<1>. In Fig. 2, which shows the back of the apparatus, a cam lever K<3> is shown fixed to the ratchet-wheel spindle C<3>. This lever, after three operations of the bar A, raises the swinging lifter K<4> and shutter K to show the word " Men " through an opening K<12>. If then the signal " one " is given, after an interval sufficient to allow the arm L, Fig. 1, to return past the toggle F<3>, the camlever K<3> returns to its initial position, and the duplicated catch K<6> holds the shutter in place. If more than " three " be signalled, the cam-. lever K<3> pushes the catch K<6> out from engagement with the lifter K<4>, through the intermediary of the hinged tongue K<62>, and allows the shutter to drop. Also the cam-lever passes under the tongue K<62> and allows the catch K<6> to swing back to its initial position, but on the backward movement of the cam-lever, the tongue K<62> swings on its hinges and allows the cam-lever to pass. The engine cancelling-lever E<1> may also operate the catch K<6> bv means of the lever K' and link K<8>. The toothed disc C<5>, carrying the finger C<4>, is driven forwards by a pin V on the wheel C, and is retained in all indicating positions above. " five " by a detent M. Assuming that men are to be raised to level " eight," both fingers are progressed by giving the bar A eight pulls, after which a short interval allows the arm L to return to its initial position. The bar is then pulled three times, and the shutter K thereby raised to expose the word " men." Another pull after a pause causes the finger C' to return to zero and then indicate " one," meaning " to raise up," the catch K<6> holding the shutter raised. The apparatus displaying signals in accordance with these operations is shown in Fig. 4. On the signal being complied with the engine operates the lever E<1> which, by releasing the detents, allows both fingers to return to zero and the shutter to drop. The pointers cannot be advanced beyond " ten," due to a pin C<5> on the wheel C which lifts the detent D from engagement with the wheel after " ten " has been signalled. Instead of the finger C<4>, a numbered shutter disposed behind the dial may be used.