The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-25
Copyright.
AN IMPROVED HOIST.

The Cheapest Hoist Ever Invented for
Prospecting Mines.
Last summer Frank I. Robitaille was en-
gineer for Fred Manuel on the Josephine
mine, Upper Basin. The engine and boiler
was used for running a iy6-stamp boiler
and concentration, and the waste and ore
was raised from the shaft by means of an
ordinary. windlass.,- Mr.. Robitaille set his
wits to- work to improve on, the primitive
methods of hoisting, and proposed to Mr.
Manuel that if he would furnish material
costing in the neighborhood of $50 to rig up
hoist, that he would do the work of.put-
ting 1t up without extra charge. The prop
osltion was agreed to and in the course of
two weeks time cheap, serviceable hoist
was in operation, capable of raising thirty
tons day with no other power than that
already in use. The invention was So new and
novel, durable and inexpensive that the in
ventor was urged to apply for patent,
which he did, a complete description of
which is published in a late number of the
Scientific American. The hoist can be run
by any kind of power available. The one
erected on the Josephine has been in con-
and has given the very best of satisfaction.
1t Is now raising ore from a 15O foot shaft.
which is to be extended to depth of 200
feet. 1t is run by friction and is the easiest
running and simplest of construction of
any hoist in existence. A one-third inter-
CoO HAS DcCA puICudbcO ia tuc Dy
Fred Manuel and Il. F. Sherwood for the
sum of 600, and upwards of 100 letters
have been received by the inventor from
parties anxious to buy an interest in the
patent. They estimate the cost of this
hoist, set up and IN complete running order
at 500. The Scientific American contains
the'following description of the machine:
hoisting apparatus adapted to raise ma
terlal from mine shaft and for other pur-
poses is shown in the accompanying illus
tration, and forms the subject of patent
issued to MIR. Frank A. Robitaille, Of Hell
the drum supporting frame are held in po-
sitlon by keys, while the third side-bar in
which is journaled one end of the drum
shaft, is pivoted in one of the standards of
the frame, its other end being capable of a
limited vertical movement III the opposite
standard. In the lower part of the frame
is a countershaft, on one end of which is
driving pulley, receiving power from any
convenient source, and near the other end
of the shaft is a friction pulley adapted
to bear upon the face of larger
pulley directly above on the drum
frame is pivoted vertical lever, the lower
end of which has pivotal connection with
the outer end of the pivoted side bar in
which one end of the drum shaft is jour-
nailed, such pivotal connection being made
through a slot in the side bar. SO that when
lie ASsSA 10 AAOSco AOl~dIu OF 1dSAWaTC the
side bar, with one end of the drum shaft.
will be raised or lowered. TO the under
side of the top side bar. just above the
large pulley on the drum shaft, is attached
a curved brake shoe, by raising the pulley
against which the rotation of the shaft may
be stopped entirely, or Its speed regulated
as desired. The upper end of the vertical
lever is connected by a rod to lever
pivoted ut the mouth of the shaft. the
latter lever having suitable latch
adapted to engage a notch in a rack. The
rope attached to the drum in the drum
supporting frame passes over pulley at
the top of the frame in the mouth of the
shaft, and is then attached to bucket or
cage. With this construction the operator
at the mouth of the shaft can, by means of
the hand lever, throw the large pulley ON
one end of the drum shaft into close con- |
tact with the friction pulley on the power
shaft, to wind the rope upon the drum, or
can, by moving the lever in the opposite di- |
rection. break such contact. and allow the
weight of the bucket as it descends to un-
wind the rope on the drum, the latter move
ment being also controlled by pushing the
lever still further, to bring the largo wheel
into contact with the brake SHOE