The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-12-14
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DOWN in A COAL MINE.
Electricity as Motive Power For I'm
foreground Mine Hauling.
BY j. Barry Sheehan.
Part Seren.

tHe uuUleS formerly delegated
to steam power and has been
proven in Europe to be an
effective, economical and safe power for use
in mining operations.
In this country, aside from the use of the
telephone and electric signal bells in Mines
it has been applied to practical use as far
as we know Of, in but very few instances
To the Lykins Valley Coal Company be-
longs the honor of being the first party to
put this power to practical use at their
Lykens Valley colliery in Wiconisco town
ship, Dauphin county, situated in the
western end of the southern anthracite
coal field of Pennsylvania.
The system in use at this collierv is
known as the Schlessinger system: it is
at present used to run an electrical locomo-
tive to haul coal from water level work
ing to the surface. The machinery employ
ed there consists of a econd-hand ordinary
horizontal steam engine with an eighteen
inch cylinder, and forty-eight inch stroke
attached to which is belt wheel, nine feet.
six inch free. On this is n leather belt
turning smaller wheel on a counter shaft,
which has attached to it an additional belt.
From this wheel another belt turns the
smaller wheel, fifteen inches in diameter on
the dynamo or generator which is similar
III construction and principles of working
to all those used in generating electricity.
The space taken up by the dynamo is very
small. Its dimensions in the clear being
but three feet six inches by four feet high,
including sixteen inches in height Of foun-
datiOns that extend above the floor of the
generator room.
The belt wheel on the engine is run at
rate of sixty revolutions per minute and
by the use OF the small belt wheel on the
dynamo runs at a speed of ,even hundred
revolutions per minute.
The electricity is carried to the conductor
by insulated copper wires, and is carried
along this conductor as far as the locomo-
tive is required to run. In this case the
conductor consists of an ordinary iron trail
weighing about twenty-five pounds per
yard, though sixteen pound would answer
the purpose as well. The conductor is car
ried outside along buildings and supports
parallel to the track at a vertical height of
about five feet and distant horizontally
from the rail of about twenty inches.
1t is insulated by having small piece of
sheet gum placed between the rail and sup
port. And the rails are made continuous
by being bolted together with fish plates
between which the rails are placed with
small pieces OF sheet, inside in the drift
The conductor is carried along the low side
and by being fastened to small props
especially put in for this purpose where
there is no timbering.
At several points along the gangway as
we'll as to the entrance of the drift, the
height of the conductor above the rail of
necessity varies. This is remedied by put
ting in few feet OF the conductor on an in
cline thus joining the sections at different
heights. The return current is carried back
by the regular rails Of the track which are
exactly similar to any ordinary track ex-
cepting that the rail joints are made con-
tinuous by fish plates and the addition Of
sheet brass between the plates and rails, as
in the conductor, so as to prevent the
| hraolyinn ~ tha h.
needs repairing. At distances Of about
three hundred feet the two rails Of the
track are connected by copper wire, so that
il necessary to take out rail, the current
is carried out by the rail on the other side
OF the track. The locomotive consists oil
an electric motor, to which the power is
transmitted, and then converted from the
electrical to the mechanical form, and by
the turning OF small cog Wheel motion
is impaired to an endless chain that in turr
imparts motion to the driving wheels
Aside from the running gear the motor i.
very small and compact. The motor anC
running gear weigh 800 pounds, but t.
secure sufficient adhesion of the rails neces
sary to haul its load the locomotive il
weighted down to ZOO pounds. AS thu
running is simple in its construction anC
made according to simple mechanical prin
ciples it can be made of almost any size a.
regards height and guage, and the motor
itself taking up so little space together
with the fact that lead ballast, if neces
sary could be used, makes this style Of
locomotive especially adapted to work il
small veins where the use OF an ordinary
locomotive would be impracticable. There
is no trouble to make this style Of a motor
small enough for any purpose, as tht
greatest space taken up in its construction
when specially designed for small opening.
is the space reserved for the motorman Oh
engineer. The locomotive can be run by 9
young man OF average intelligence, and il
controlled by levers that work similar
engine.
The force of the electrical current carried
through the motor is regulated by the engi
neer, who is guided by small electric ligh
that burns either dimly or brightly accord
ing to the strength Of the current. Tha
portion OF the workings in which the loco