The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-20
SAFETY INVENTION.


4 Device to Prevent Accidents In Ele-
VatoTs and Mining Cages.
The risks that are run and the lives that
have been lost through the faultiness or in-
competence Of elevators, both in building
and mining shafts has been the cause of
much comment, and a world OF speculation
has been INDUCED in in hopes that some
device or appliance might be invented that
would secure safety TO the lives Of those
whose necessities compel them daily, and
sometimes hourly, TO make use of these
methods of ascension ana descensioa. The
New York Mail and Express, in an article
on the subject, says that there are JOG, 600
elevators In constant use in that city, carry
ing more people b. and from their business
than all the railroads Of the city combined,
and that accidents are Of common occur-
renee. In one instance, where the elevator
rope broke and eleven persons were killed
aud nine seriously injured, there is now
pending lawsuit involving more than a
million Of dollars
4 year ago an accident occurred at An
gels. CaiaveraS County, where by the part
ing OF cable the skip was dropped $50 feet
down the shaft and nine men were killed.
The frequency OF these occurrences set the
inventive mind Of II. W. BTacken to work,
and lie has invented what is claimed the most
beneficial safeguard TO human life and
property that has yet been found. 1t is
simply and plainly a llfe-saving safety
clU.ch, and It's practical utility and useful
ness is now daily demonstrated at one of
the mines 10 the county named. In fact so
thoroughly convinced was the Superin-
ten1ent of its efficiency that he showed his
fearless faith IN It's merits by standing on
loaded skip in the shaft when the cOnnec-
ton was let go by cutting the rope or I'M
Clutchng the hosting reel. In each case
perfect success was the result, the sudden
drop was instantly checked by the prompt
action Of the safety device c!utching fast
and immOyaby TO the guides on each side.
Speaking Of it afteTward, tie said 1t Is
the long sought safety device worthy Of the
name. 1t is positively impossible for skip,
cage or elevator to fall having this safety
device attached"
The novel feature of this safety clutch
is that II II independent of the cable alto
getheT, aud Is attached To the bottom or the
top OF the cage. The safety clutches are
operated by the pressure of the air upon air
wings or arms, which receive the pressure
Of the air in the shalt, thereby operating
the clutch. The frame IS formed Of iron,
and the wings Of Light sheet metal inserted
i'm aXes, and housing Of sheet metal suf-
hciently strong to hold the pressure Of air.
In any uudeSred rapid descent OF the cage
in the shaft the air is met directly by the
wings. These wings then rise, revolving
the dogs and causing them to clutch the
guides. This device can lie adjusted so as
to descend by a limited speed and will stop
a fall as readily from an unclutched reel as
from broken rope over or under a sheave.
Thus, any undesired rate Of speed will
cause it to instantly clutch the guides and
hold the cage. The operation is so imme-
date that there Is no opportunity for the
cage to attain speed sufficient TO break
the clutches or tear out the guides, This is
4 new principle In cage safeties.