IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO CAGES OR HOISTS USED IN MINING OR LIFTING MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Calow, of Staveley, in the County.
of Derby, Manufacturer, for, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SAFETY APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO CAGES OR HOISTS USED IN MINING OR
LIFTING MACHINES."
Sealed the 7th September 1869, and dated the 25th March 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Calow,
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th March 1869.
I, JOHN THOMAS CALOW, of Staveley, in the County of Derby,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO CAGES OR HOISTS USED IN
MINING OR LIFTING MACHINES." to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to apparatus which in the event of the main
rope or chain breaking or becoming detached from the cage or hoist, or
in case of overloading the cage or hoist, or of the breaking of the driving
belts, will grip the slides, guides, or conductors, and prevent the cage or
hoist from falling and from what is called "running."

page_text: My apparatus is not attached to or connected with the main rope or
chain front which the cage or hoist is suspended, as is usual in other
modes heretofore used for the purpose, and consequently it is not
affected by and has no tendency to come into action, or to be at all
actuated by the tightening or slackening of the main rope or chain.
when the cage or hoist is at rest on the "
props or other supports, but
it is brought into action by the cage or hoist gravitating or becoming a
falling body, or in case of "running" caused by overloading, or by the
breaking of the driving belt, or from other cause.
cause.
"
✓
"
The apparatus consists essentially of one or more springs and weights
connected with and acting upon contrivances for gripping the slides,
guides, or conductors in case of accident, the springs having a bearing or
foundation on the cage or hoist, while the weights hang from or rest
upon the springs, directly or otherwise, so as to neutralize or counteract
the tendency of the springs to bring the grips into action while the cage
or hoist remains suspended or supported. I employ a check rope,
chain, or equivalent to prevent accidents arising through running"
caused by overloading, or by breaking the driving belt, or from other,
When the main rope or chain breaks or becomes detached from
the cage or hoist the grips are brought into action by the law of
gravitation, or when the cage or hoist becomes a falling body, but
when the check rope, chain, or equivalent is applied it will cause the
grips to be brought into action in case of the cage or hoist falling by the
breaking of the main rope, or by "running" caused by overloading, or by
the breaking of the belt, or other cause. The rope, chain, or equivalent
is acted upon by hand or by power employed to lift the cage or hoist,.
the apparatus being under the complete control of the person in charge
of the cage or hoist when riding in the cage or hoist or in a
storey of the building in which it is employed.
If the check rope,.
chain, or equivalent be attached to or acted upon by the power
employed to lift the cage or hoist such lifting power will control the
apparatus in like manner and prevent accident from the main rope or
chain or the driving belt breaking, or from the "running" " caused by.
overloading, or other cause.
My Invention will also prevent overwinding. For this purpose I fix āt
a convenient distance above the cage or hoist a detaching hook, the top or
upper portion of which has two or more plates secured together at the top.
by a joint, These plates are broader, or of dovetail shape, at bottom, so ag

page_text: to carry the lower portion of the hook when the cage or hoist is attached
thereto. The lower portion is connected with the upper by a "D" link
"C"
or shackle, the whole being held together by a slotted plate and "
link, and by inserting pins or rivets through the "C" link and slotted
plate, or if necessary through the slotted plate and the upper portion of
the detaching hook. Underneath the pulley I fix a ring of such diameter
that the hook cannot pass through without the slotted plate being forced
'down over the "C" link, and at the same time severing the pins or
rivets, thereby allowing the top of the detaching hook to open and
release the "D" link, and at once prevent overwinding.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Thomas Calow in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS CALOW, of Staveley, in the County of Derby, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-lifth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Thomas Calow, Her
special licence that I, the said John Thomas Calow, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Thomas
Calow, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO CAGES OR HOISTS USED IN
MINING OR LIFTING MACHINES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Thomas Calow, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within

page_text: six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Thomas Calow, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
My Invention consists of improvements in safety apparatus applicable
to cages or hoists used in mining or lifting machines.
ing belts, will grip securely the
hereby prevent the cage or hoist
unning."
Connected with the main rope or
suspended, as is usual in other,
The improved apparatus constructed according to my Invention,
which in the event of the main rope or chain breaking or becoming
detached from the cage or hoist, or in case of overloading the cage
or hoist, or of the breaking of the
slides or guides or conductors, an
from falling and from what is called
My apparatus is not attached to
chain from which the cage or hoist
modes heretofore used for the like purpose, and consequently it is not
affected by and has no tendency to come into action, or to be at all
actuated by the tightening or slackening of the main rope or chain
when the cage or hoist is at rest on the " props or other supports, but
it is brought into action by the cage or hoist gravitating or becoming a
falling body, or in case of "running" caused by overloading, or by the
breaking of the driving belt, or from other cause.
"
The apparatus may be said to consist essentially of a spring or springs,
and a weight or weights connected with and acting upon mechanical
contrivances for gripping the slides or guides or conductors in case of
accident, the said spring or springs having a bearing or foundation on
the cage or hoist, while the weight or weights hang from or rest upon
the spring or springs, either directly or otherwise, so as to neutralize
or counteract the tendency of the spring or springs to bring the grips
into action while the cage or hoist remains suspended or supported.
I also employ a check rope, or chain, or equivalent to prevent accidents
arising through "running" caused by overloading or by the breaking of
the driving belt, or from other cause. When the main rope or chain
breaks or becomes detached from the cage or hoist the grips are brought
into action by the law of gravitation, or when the cage or hoist becomes

page_text: a falling body, but when the check rope, or chain, or equivalent i
applied it also will cause the grips to be brought into action either
in case of the cage or hoist falling by reason of the breaking of the
main rope, or by "running" caused by overloading, or by the breaking
of the driving belt, or from other cause, which check rope, or chain, or
equivalent is acted upon either by hand or by power employed to lift
the cage or hoist, the apparatus being under the complete control of the
person in charge of the cage or hoist either while riding in the cage
or hoist, or while in any storey of the building in which the cage or
hoist is employed, and if the check rope, or chain, or equivalent be
attached to or acted upon by the power employed to lift the cage or
hoist such lifting power will have the same control over the apparatus,
and will thus prevent any accident to the cage or hoist through the
breaking of the main rope or chain, or the running caused by over-
loading, or from the breaking of the driving belt, or from other
cause.
"
It may be stated that the use of the check rope will not be required
in collieries.
My Invention will also prevent overwinding. For this purpose I fix
at a convenient distance above the cage or hoist a detaching hook which
is thus constructed:-The top or upper portion of the hook has two or
more steel or iron plates secured together at the top thereof by means
of a joint. These plates are broader, or of dovetail shape, at the bottom
ends thereof, so as to carry the lower portion of the hook when the cage
or hoist is attached thereto. The lower portion is connected with the
upper portion by means of an ordinary "D" link or shackle, the whole
being held together by means of a slotted plate and a "C" link, and by
inserting one or more pins or rivets through the "C" link and slotted
plate, or if necessary through the slotted plate and the upper portion of
the detaching hook. Underneath the pulley I fix a ring of such
diameter that the hook cannot pass through without the slotted plate
being forced down over the "C" link, and at the same time severing
the pins or rivets, thereby allowing the top portion of the detaching
hook to open and release the D" link, and at once prevent over-
winding.
I now proceed to explain my Invention. more particularly with:

page_text: Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a plan of an arrangement of
apparatus constructed according to my Invention, and applicable to a
hoist working on the four corners, such as is generally used in ware-
houses, mills, and other buildings; these hoists are liable to accidents
arising from the breaking of the main rope, and " running" from the
breaking of the driving belt, from loose keys, from overloading, and
from other causes. Figure 3 is a side view of a cage or hoist (hereafter
called cage only) provided with two slides, which cage is of the descrip-
tion generally used in the shafts of coal and other mines, and is liable
to accident arising from the breakage of the rope or from overwinding, or
from other causes; Figure 4 is an end view of the said cage; Figure 5 is
a side view of the detaching hook showing the cage hanging thereon;
Figure 6 is a view of the same detaching hook detached.
I now proceed more particularly to explain Figures 1 and 2.
A, A, are diagonal timbers which form the top of the hoist; upou
these timbers I secure angular plates to carry the gripping apparatus,.
as shown at B, B, but when possible it is preferable to fix the plates at a
right angle with or to the shafts C, C, whereon the grips work. D, D
are grips which I use to prevent the cage from falling in case of the
breakage of the main rope E, or in case of "running." On one or both
shafts C, C, I fix a lever or levers F. These levers are acted upon when
required by the main lever F, F. This main lever or levers is or are
acted upon in three different ways. Upon the lever or levers I fix a
weight G', which weight can be moved or slided on the main lever to
regulate the pressure upon the spring G. This spring has its bearing or
foundation on the cage. Attached to the main lever or weight is a
check rope H which is conveyed over pulleys from the top of the cage
through the next convenient part of the building, and is secured to the
cage underneath when worked by hand. But when the check rope is
to be self-acting it may be attached to the drum J. One action of the
main lever is caused by the breakage of the main rope E, although there
is no connection between the main lever and the main rope, but as soon
as the main rope breaks the cage begins to fall or gravitate, and the
spring G being previously weighted is set at liberty, thereby separating
the main lever from the hoist, and at once applying the whole of the
grips to the guides K, K, whereby the cage is stopped from falling.

page_text: These grips can be connected together either by a shaft L, by a belt or
chain, or by other means necessary to bring them all into action at once,
An additional main lever may also be fixed to act upon the other shaft
if required. In case of accident or otherwise the main lever may also
be acted upon if required by the person riding in the cage by elevating
the lever, and thereby applying the whole of the grips. This main lever,
may also be acted upon by means of the check rope H' outside the
cage in case of danger in the following manner:-The person whose
business it is to work the cage whilst it is being raised or lowered, but
who himself is not in the cage, may apply the whole of the grips while
in any part or storey of the building by simply arresting the action of
the check rope H', thereby applying the whole of the grips, and thus
preventing any accident that might arise from any known cause; or the
check rope may be acted upon by the lifting power employed by an
arrangement of fast and loose pulleys, as shown at K, K, or by any,
other known means according to the circumstances attending each case,
for by being acted upon by the lifting power the check rope will work
at the same or similar speed as the machine which drives or lifts the
cage; but the instant the cage begins to descend more quickly, or to
run," as would be the case by overloading, the breaking of the driving
belt, loose keys, or from any other cause, the check rope at once applies
the whole of the grips, and thus prevents accidents.
Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the apparatus working upon two
slides, such as are chiefly used in the shafts of coal or other mines. On
the sides of the cage I fix a strong plate A to carry the apparatus. B is
a solid grip. This grip works on a shaft C, Figure 4, the shaft having a
grip on each end. Inside the grip is fixed a strong pin C', which is
secured to the plate A. In case of accident, more particularly in
descending, the grip can only insert itself a given distance into the guide
or slide D, when the grip comes in contact with the under side of the
pin C, and there remains until the grip has overcome the momentum
which the cage may have acquired at the time of accident during its
descent. By this arrangement the strain on the apparatus is not at all
sudden, but gradual. On the back of the guide or slide I fix a strong
shoe E to receive the pressure given by the grip. F is a lever fixed in
any convenient position on the shaft C. This lever F works loose on
the shaft C. On this lever I fix a moveable weight E' to compress the
spring G, which has its bearing on the cage. This spring may be
weighted to suit the irregular action or speed of the cage during its

page_text: descent. Between the joints of the lever F I fix a cranked lever I,
which lever is secured to the shaft c by a set screw I', or its equivalent,
Figure 7. Through this lever I also fix a set screw J, which acts upon
the loose lever, by which means I can set or adjust the grips B to any
required distance from the guides or slides D. In case of the breakage
of the rope, or its becoming otherwise detached from the cage, the cage
begins to fall or gravitate, thereby releasing the spring G and applying
the grips, whereby the cage is prevented from falling. Figure 7 shows
the spring compressed by means of the lever F and the weight E¹. It
also shows the cranked lever I and set screw J.
The
Figure 5 is a modification of my detaching hook, as before described.
This hook I make by preference of steel. Two taper plates are jointed
together at the top, and are secured by a pin through a " D " link
or shackle in the usual way. At a given distance below the joint the
Tower "D" link is connected by inserting a pin through the "D" link
or shackle and the two taper plates A, A. This pin is not round, but,
pivot-shaped, so as to assist in detaching itself when required.
taper plates are held together by a slotted plate B; C is a plan of the
same slotted plate. This plate is secured to the two upper or taper.
plates, and by preference by copper rivets, either by pins being inserted
through the bottom part of the upper plates, or by two loops surrounding
the whole, and secured by copper rivets through the upper plates, as
shewn by the dotted lines D, D, or by both these means. The weight of
the cage resting on the pivot-shaped pin conveys the strain on the
slotted plate B in a longitudinal direction. In case of overwinding the
hook comes in contact with a ring of a given diameter, as shewn at
Figure 6. This ring will not allow or admit the slotted plate, therefore
the upper or taper plates pass through the ring, thereby forcing the
slotted plate off the ends of the upper or taper plates, and at the same
time cutting or severing the copper rivets. The weight of the cage
resting upon the pivot-shaped pin at once opens the upper or taper,
plates A, A, and thus prevents overwinding. A, Figure 4, gives another
view of the detaching hook.
Although I have only shewn my Invention as applied to two guides
or slides, and four guides or slides respectively, yet when required my
Invention may be applied to any number of guides or slides, whether
made of wood, iron, or wire, without departing from the nature of my
Invention, or from the mode as herein set forth.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. Arranging and combining apparatus in such manner that grips
or gripping appliances may be brought into action when required by the
arrangement of a spring or springs, which spring or springs are com
pressed or distended by means of a weighted lever or levers, substantially.
as described.
Second. The arrangement and employment of a check rope, string,.
or chain, or the equivalent thereof, to be used for the prevention of
running," or of accident arising from any known cause; also the
arrangement of a check rope, string, or chain, or the equivalent thereof,
to be acted upon by the motive power employed for raising or lowering
the cage or hoist when required, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The construction and arrangement of a cranked lever for
setting or adjusting the gripping apparatus, and also the solid grip,
substantially as herein-before described.
Fourth. The construction and arrangement of a detaching hook,.
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas Calow, have here-.
unto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of September,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
JOHN THOMAS CALOW. (L.S.)