IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR CAGES, LIFTS, OR HOISTS FOR MINING AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Maurice Bauer, Civil Engineer, of the Firm of M. Bauer
& Co., 30, Boulevard Magenta, Paris, in the Republic of France, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO APPARATUS FOR CAGES,
LIFTS, OR HOISTS FOR MINING AND OTHER PURPOSES." A communication by
Lèon Ricq, of Liévin, Pas de Calais, French Republic.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Maurice Bauer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1880.
MAURICE BAUER, Civil Engineer, of the Firm of M. Bauer & Co., 30, Boulevard
Magenta, Paris, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE
TO APPARATUS FOR CAGES, LIFTS, OR HOISTS FOR MINING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
[A communication by Lèon Ricq, of Liévin, Pas de Calais, French Republic.]
In coal mines there generally exists twe different means for moving the rough
coal from the working pits, viz., 1st, the lift or hoist with the bucket is stopped
at each level, and there filled with the coal from the tip wagons, which contain that
quantity of coal which is to be filled in the bucket; 2nd, each truck or van is
removed on the frame at the level of the cutting.
This Invention relates principally to improvements upon the system mentioned
in the foregoing clause (2).
The construction consists of four double-armed levers for each frame, each two
of which are fixed on axles. The axles are put in revolution by means of a
working lever fixed on one of the axles of the double armed levers, and connected
with the oppositely situated axle by a connecting rod and small lever. According
to the position of the working lever the double armed levers on which the frame
when stopped rests will allow the frame to pass or to be stopped. Two axles act
as centres for the double armed levers. That end of the double armed levers
which faces the pit acts as attacking point, and their opposite end as resistance
point. The resistance of the double armed levers, that is to say, the tendency to
obtain a horizontal position by virtue of the charging through the frame is produced
by means of springs fixed on the outside. The kind of the spring as well as their
fixing can according to requirement be of different sorts, and if, for instance, spiral

page_text: springs are to be used each two of the double armed levers are fixed on one axle,
but each of the levers are retained by means of a special spring. The principle of
employing springs, it may be spiral or flat carriage springs, is to prevent rigidity
and shock upon stopping of the frame. As soon as the frame, when it is to be
stopped, touches the double armed levers the springs will yield little by little, and
thus reduce the speed of the frame before it is in rest.
The facing plate, which is placed next to the free opening of the pit, is according
to all hitherto known systems of very flexible construction, and has no support
above the double armed levers; besides there is an opening between the facing
plate and the frame, thus forming a gap across which the truck in charging and
discharging has to pass. This disadvantage renders the operations very difficult,
but according to this Invention it is prevented in the following manner :- -The
facing plate is fixed on the two double armed levers placed next each other, thus
receiving the same movements as these, and being repelled or depressed coincidently
with them. In the depressed position the facing plate will be almost quite close to the
frame, thus preventing all hitherto experienced inconvenience and danger. In the
other position, when the double armed levers with the facing plate is repelled, an
empty space between the facing plate and the next plate occurs; but this space is
disadvantageous as pieces of coal get placed there, thus hindering the falling down
of the movable facing plate upon the lever's fixed facing plate.
In order to prevent this the before mentioned plate closing next to the facing
plate is fixed on a hinge, and provided with a footboard. In the above mentioned
case, if coal should by accident get into the space the plate would lift itself and
afterwards be replaced by the labourer by using the footboard.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Maurice Bauer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
March 1881.
MAURICE BAUER, Civil Engineer, of the Firm of M. Bauer & Co., 30, Boulevard
Magenta, Paris, in the Republic of France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE
TO APPARATUS FOR CAGES, LIFTS, OR HOISTS FOR MINING AND OTHER PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Lèon Ricq, of Liévin, Pas de Calais, French
Republic.
The apparatus heretofore in use for stopping winding cages have the special
faults that they do not receive such cages softly enough, and in consequence of
their rigidity they easily occasion accidents, besides which they possess the
following disadvantages:-1st. In order to allow the cage to pass the four catches
on which the cage comes to rest must be drawn back, and to give room for them
the plate which lays next to the free opening of the shaft must be raised on both
sides; or if it is desired to avoid this notches must be made, into which the catches
can enter.
2nd. As the points of suspension and application of the weight in the tappet
are very close together the blows of the cage very often cause the point of
suspension of the catch to sink, so that the taking out of the "tubs " from the cage
becomes very difficult.
3rd. The front plate which lays next to the shaft is very liable to be bent,
because there is no support for it over the catches; besides which there must be
left a certain space between this plate and the cage, so that an opening may be left
through which the "tubs " may be passed into and out of the cage. These faults
make the operation of winding particularly difficult. By means of the apparatus
forming the object of the present Invention these disadvantages are completely
avoided. The construction of the catches is shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 11. For
each cage four catches are arranged, which are fastened in pairs on the respective
shafts and . Both shafts receive their movement from the hand lever on the
shaft k, which is connected with the opposite shaft k¹ by means of a connecting
rode and a small lever h². According to the position of the lever h the catches
either allow the cage to pass or hold the same.
The catches are levers which have respectively k and k¹ as fulcra, the ends of the
catches which are turned towards the shaft being points of application of the
weight and the opposite ends points of resistance. The resistance of the catchos
to assume the horizontal position by the pressure of the cage and its load is
produced by the springs attached to their outer ends.
The arrangement and kind of springs may be varied according to requirements.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 is shewn an arrangement with spiral springs; each two
catches are placed on one shaft, but each is held back by a separate spring. In
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are shewn several arrangements with flat coach springs.
In principle however all these arrangements are similar, and have for object the
prevention of a hard and rough stoppage or deposit of the cage upon the catches.
Immediately the cage, in order to be stopped, approaches the catches the springs
yield and reduce the speed before it comes to a state of rest.
The above mentioned front plate b, which according to the old construction
offers special disadvantages, is in this case fastened on the two adjacent catches, so
that it is raised or lowered at the same time as the latter. In this arrangement
when the front plate is pressed down it may extend to the cage without any
inconvenience or danger, so that the otherwise unavoidable openings are obviated.
When the catches with the front plate b are thrown back there occurs a vacant
space between the latter and the plate d, which may be disadvantageous if pieces
of coal should lodge there so as to prevent the lowering of the catches and the front

page_text: plate again. To obviate this the plate d is adapted to turn on a hinge c, Figures 1,
3, and 4, so that in case of the above mentioned event happening it is raised up,
and is then easily returned to its place by a kick of the foot of the workman.
The catches need not be double armed but may be arranged as shewn in
Figure 8, and at the side marked N in Figures 7 and 9.
•
The catches p are one armed, they are acted upon by the spring through the
armo which serves for both, and is secured on the middle of the shaft. The
letters A, B, C, refer to the positions of the catches. In position A the cage is
completely at rest, and standing on the horizontally placed catches which bear on
the support m. In position B the catches are in the act of receiving the cage, and
in position C the catches are allowing the cage to pass.
Figure 9 shews in plan the arrangement of catches indicated in elevation in
Figure 7.
Figure 10 shews in plan the arrangement of the plates b and d.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim is,-
First. In connexion with cages, lifts, or hoists, the combination of the catches
with buffer springs for reducing the shocks in the deposit of the cage on the said
catches, as herein before described and illustrated in the Drawings.
Second. The fastening of the front plate b on two adjacent catches, as herein-
before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Maurice Bauer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
MAURICE BAUER. (L.s.)
Witness,
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, K.G.V.,
Proprietor of the Scandinavian Patent Office,
97, Finsbury Pavement,
London, E.C.