Improved Appliances for Use in Mines for Lifting or Drawing Pit- wagons, Railway-trucks and Rails, Tightening Wires and Cables, Withdrawing Pit-props, and other similar purpose9.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliances for Use in Mines for Lifting or Drawing Pit-
wagons, Railway-trucks and Rails, Tightening Wires and Cables,
Withdrawing Pit-props, and other similar purpose9.
I, WALTER SYLVESTER Grosvenor Buildings Station Road, Tunstall,
Staffordshire, Miver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This my invention has reference to appliances for use in lifting or drawing
pit-wagons, railway trucks and rails, tightening cables and wires, with-
drawing props and the like bars which are used for supporting the 1oofs and
sides in mince, and for similar purposes, the props or supports whilst being
removed being prevented from springing backwards, thus facilitating the with-
drawing of such supports, the object of any invention being to construct such
appliances so as to be adaptable or used with the chams in general use in
mines.
One way of canying my invention into practice for drawing or raising weight's
or vehicles 18 by making a suitably shaped block or slide of or form wrought-ion,
cast-iron or other suitable metal, which block or slide I fit upon a wrought or cast-
iron metallic bar of any suitable length, shape and size, the top side or edge of suoli
ban having any suitable number of suitably shaped notches of slots formed therein
at a suitable distance or distances apart, the fore top part of each notch being flush
or square with the top side or edge of the said bar, and the rear top part of each
notch rounded or curved In the upper portion of the aforesaid nietallic block I
fit or fix a suitably shaped metallic spring-bolt, the spring of which bolt when in ite
normal position retains the lower end of such bolt in any desired slot or notch,
and the block or slide in any desued position on its notched bar, the upper end of
the said bolt being fitted with a suitable ing and catch, so that by lifting the said
bolt by the said ing, and tuning or twisting the said bolt and catch at, or at
about right angles to its normal position the said catch will bear or rest upon a
part of the upper surface of the block, and prevent the lower end of the bolt from
engaging with any of the notches in the bai, and permit the said block or slide to
be freely drawn to the fore-part of the notched bar when it is required to catch
hold of another portion of the cham attached to the weight to be diawn forward,
o attached to the prop being withdrawn, the fore end of such metallic slude oi
black I make of suitable shape so that the opposite end of the chain to that
which is attached to the weight, or bound round the "prop" to be removed can
be readily placed therem and held firmly without hooking into the links of the
chain used, and permitting such chain to be readily removed therefrom when
requied. When tho said slide-block is placed or fitted upon the fore-end of the
said ail or bar the lower end of the spring bolt I lowered into one of the notches
In the bar, a metallic pin or bolt neniest to the bifurcated or forked end of a
metallic, or wood and metallic hand-lever working into the notches of the metallic
bar, so that the aforesaid metallic slide block which is connected to the bifurcated
eud of the hand-lever by means of a metallic pin or bolt may be drawn along the
said notched bar, or the said notched bar may be raised out from a suitably shaped

page_text: vertical or nearly vertical metallic column, support or framework by the said hand-
lever without using a slide block, thus forming an appliance similar to a lifting-
jack.
It will be understood that when the said slide-block is placed or fitted upon the
fore-end of the said ail or bar, the lower end of the spring-bolt is lowered into one
of the notches in the said rail or bar, the bifurcated or forked end of a suitably
shaped metallic, or metallic and wood hand lover is then connected to the said
slide block by a suitably shaped ear or lug attached to and within the folks or
prongs of the said hand lever by means of a metallic pin or bolt, the opposito end
of the ear or lug being placed in a slot formed in the rear-end of the slide-block,
and connected thereto by a metallic pin or bolt.
A netallic pin or bolt fitted or fixed at or near the end of the forks of the hand-
lever is then placed in one of the notches of the rail or bar, the rear-end of the
notched bar having a suitably shaped swivel eye-bolt fitted or fixed thereto is
connected by means of a chain or rope to any convenient place or obstaclo which
will overcome the resistance offered by the weight to be lifted or withdrawu.
It will be understood that as the upper end of the hand-levet of the appliance
pulled or forced back.wards the weight chain is stretched or made "taut," so
that the said notched bar and weight chain will become about parallel to each
other, as each stroke is made by means of the hand-lever the block slides along
the notched edge of the bar, the lower end of the spring bolt as each stroke is
made falling into another or different notch, and keeping the chain attached to the
weight, or "prop" tight until the lower aud of the haud-lever has arrived at and
been pushed into another notch of the bar or rail, the operation being repeated
until the weight is lifted sufficiently, or the "prop" has been withdrawn sufficiently
to dispense with the appliance.
In tightening wires or cables an ordinarily shaped screw and jaw grip may be
substituted, or a common metallic hook or link, when hemp or similar ropes are
used for pulling or raising, instead of the said chain clip.
In lifting or raising weights a similar notched bar enclosed in a verticall metallic,
or in a wood and metallic columu, support or frame-work is used, the hand-lever
being attached to the column or support by a metallic piu or bolt as in the case of
the slide-block, a spring-bolt, pawl or hinged-bolt being fitted to the column or
support.
"
The notched bar may have a hole and slot united formed in same at, or near to
its top end, similar in shape to that in the slide block, through which slot a metallic
chain of any suitable length may be passed aud secured therein, one end of the said
cham may be attached to pit wagons, "props o similar objects, above the hole
and slot and at the top end of the notched bar a cap or table of suitable size and
material may be fitted or fixed when such appliance is intended for use for lifting
railway trucks and similar weights, a foot oi ledge of suitable size and material
may be formed on, or attached to the lower end, or near to the lower end of the
notched bar for use in lifting railway rails and similar purposes.
It will be understood that as the hand-lever is pushed or forced downwards, the
'notched bar is raised up out of the vertical or upiight column or support, by this
means the weight bearing on the cap at the upper end of the notched bar, or the
weight bearing on the foot or ledge at or near the lower end of the said notched
bar will be lifted or raised.
Dated this 10th day of May 1895.

page_text: Improved Appliances for Use in Mines for Lifting or Drawing Pit-
wagons, Railway-trucks and Rails, Tightening Wires and Cables,
Withdrawing Pit-props, and other similar purposes.
I, WALTER SYLVESTER Grosvenor Buildings, Station Road, Tunstall,
Staffordshire, Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement
This my invention has reference to appliances for use in drawing and lifting pit-
wagons, railway-trucks and rails, tightening cables and wes, withdrawing prop
and the like bars which are used for supporting the roofs and sides in mines, and
for similar purposes.
One way of cairying my said invention into practice for diawing or raising
weights or vehicles, is by making a suitably shaped slide or block of or from cast-
iron, wrought-iron or other suitable metal, which block or slide 1 fit upon a wrought-
iron, cast-iron, steel or other metallic bar or rail of any suitable length, shape
and size, the top side or edge of such bar having any suitable number of suitably
shaped notches or slots formed therein at a suitable distance or distances apart, the
foie top part of each notch being flush or square with the top sudle or edge of such
bar, and the reni top part of each notch rounded or curved.
In the upper portion of such slidable metallic block I fit or fix a suitably shaped
metallic sping-bolt, the spring of which bolt when in its normal position holds or
retains the lower end of such bolt in any desired slot or notch, and the slidable
block in any desued position on its notched bar or rail, the upper end of the said
spring-bolt being provided or made with a suitable spindle and catch, so that by
lifting the said Lolt by its spindle and turning on twisting such bolt to, or at about
right angles to its normal position the catch of such bolt will bear or rest upon a
part of the upper surface of such slide block, and so prevent the lower end of such
bolt from engaging with any of the notches in the bar, and permit such block to
be freely drawn to the fore-part of the notched bai when it is required to take
hold of another portion of the chain to be drawn forward, or which is attached to
the prop to be withdrawn, the fore-end of such slide block I make of suitable
shape so that the opposite end of the chain to that which is attached to the
weight, or which is bound ound the "prop" to be removed can be readily
placed therein, and held firmly without hooking into the links of the chain used,
also permitting such chain to be readily removed therefrom when required
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings on which letters of
reference are marked on corresponding paits on all the figures alike.
Figure 1 is a side clevation of an improved honzontal or nemly borizontal
slidable metallic block fitted on or to a notched metallic bai on rail made according
to my invention for use in withdrawing pit-props, tightening cables and wnes, and
for similar purposes.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the slidable block shown at Figure 1, and a portion
of the lower end of the lever used with same
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the slidable block shewn at Figures 1 and 2, and
of the notched bar on rail within same, looking in the duection shown by arrow x.

page_text: கப
indicated by arrow y.
of the Budable DOCK JOOKing in the direction
Figure 5 is an end elevation of the bolt and spindle without spring.
The above figures are drawn half-full size of such blook and rails intended for
general use in withdrawing pit-props and similar purposes.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of an upright or nearly vertical metallic standard,
having a vertical or nearly vertical slidable notched metallic rail or bar fittod
within such standard for use in lifting pit-wagons, railway-wagons, rails and for
similar purposes
Figure 7 is a front elevation of the lifting appliance shewn at Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a sectional plan view of Figures 6 and 7 taken on the lines z.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are drawn one-third full size of such lifting appliances
intended for general use in lifting tailway trucks, pit-wagons, rails and for like
purposes; but I would have it understood that such drawing and lifting appliances
may be made in different sizes according to the work for which they are intended.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, when the cast or wrought iron slide-block a
1s placed or fitted on the fore-end of the said wrought-iron or steel rail or bar b,
the lower end of the wrought-iron or steel sping-bolte is lowered into one of the
notches d in the upper edge of the bar b, a wrought-nou, or steel pin or bolt e
nearest to the bifurcated or forked end of a wrought-on, or wood and metallic
hand-lever 9 working into the notches d of the metallic bar b, so that the said
metallic slide block a which is connected to the bifurcated end of the hand-lever
by means of a wrought-iron, steel or other suitable car or lug h and metallic pins
or bolts and may be drawn along the said notched bai or rail b.
g
Similar operations may be performed by having holes near to the upper edge of
a bat or rail of similar section to that shewn on the drawings annexed, instead of
notches in such bars, this would make it necessary to bave a movable bolt near to
the end of the lifting and pulling lever so as to pass through the forks of such
levet and the holes in the tail at each operation of the lever.
The notches in such rails may be either round or square on their inner or
hottom side, and that portion of the bolt near to the end of the lever which rests
in the slots made of similar shape; but the ends of the bolt which rest in tho
forks of such leser require to be round, or curved on their under side to enable
such bolt ends to oscillate or partially revolve in such slots.
Instead of having a forked or bifurcated end to such levers two aims may project
on either side of such levers neat to their lower end at a suitable distance apart,
the bottom aims working in a parallel, or double notched bar fixed at a suitable
distance apart to allow the end of such levers to work freely between such parallel
bais, the upper pair of arms ou such levers being connected to a slidable metalhe
block, or resting or bearing in suitably shaped slots formed in such slide block.
In working the lifting-jack shewn at Figures 6, 7 and 8, the wrought iron, or
steel bolt near to the end of the lever g is placed in one of the notches d of the
upright bar or rail b, the lever g is then pressed downwards until it is in the
position shown in dotted lines which operation enables the end of the spring-catch c
to drop or fall into one of the notches of the rail 6 to support the weight resting
or bearing on the upper end of such upright bai b, the bolt of the lever remaining
in the same notch, such lever is lifted up to raise the wrought non o steal ear or
lug which forms the fulcium for the lesca, sufficiently to enable the metallic
slide block to be placed under the lower end of such ear or lug h, this being done
to allow the lever g to describe another arc, as the lever must make two ares in
each notch d to rate the notched bar or tail b sufficiently to enable the metallic
pin e neni to the end of such lever to reach or to be placed in the notch below, the
spring catches c and c³ falling into the several notches alternately, a suitable length
of metal chain connecting such catches so as to enable them to be readily drawn
out from such notches when it is requned to lower the rail & into the standard or
casing l

page_text: To lower weights steadily similai motions are performed to those described for
raising weights; but in the opposite direction, the spring catches and being
drawn back alternately by their connecting chain, the wood wedge or block m fitted
o fixed in the lower end of the standard is for the lower end of the upught notched
bor rail to fall or strike against so as to reduce the effect of concussion when
such ail is allowed to drop sharply.
I
79
The notched bar may have a hole on slot united formed in same a', or near to its
top end, similar in shape to that the slide block, through which slot a inetallic
chain of any suitable length may be passed and secured therem, one end of the said
chain may be attached to pit-wagons, "props" or similar objects, above the hole
and slot and at the top end of the notched bar a cap or table of suitable size and
material may be fitted or fixed when such appliance is intended for use for lifting
ailway trucks and similar weights, a slot may also be formed in the cap or table to
enable a chain to be attached thereto ustead of having a hole and slot formed
below same.
The appliances or jacks for lifting purposes heretubefore described may have the
lower end of their column or standard formed so as to travel backwards or forwards
on a horizontal or nearly horizontal table or bed whilst supporting a weight, both
sules of each notch of the rail being left flush or square mstead of one side being
rounded off as in the previously described cases, and the standard drawn by the
same lever as used for iaising weights, in a similar manner as the slide block is
diawn along the horizontal or nearly horizontal notched bar or rail.
Instead of using a notched bar for this purpose the standard may be forced
backwards or forwards by means of a threaded shaft, similar to those in general use
known as travelling lifting-jacks
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim 18.
1st. The construction of appliances for use in withdrawing "props" and bars in
nimes and for similar purposes consisting of a metallic block vi slide fitted with a
suitably shaped metallic spring-bolt, drawn along a metallic bar or rail having
suitably shaped notches formed in its upper edge by means of a bifurcated or
forked metallic lever having a metallic eat on lug swivelly connected near to its
lower end by a metallic pin or bolt, as illustrated at Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings
hereto annexed, and operated in the manner as herein described and set forth.
2nd The construction of appliances for use in withdrawing bars and props in
mines and for similar purposes consisting of two notched metallic bars of suitable
transverse section fixed oi joined together at a suitable distance apart and parallel
to each other, the upper edge of each bar having suitably shaped notches formed
therein at a suitable distance or distances apart, and used in conjunction with a
metallic lever, on a metallic and sood lever having two suitably shaped projections
formed on each side of the lower end of same at a suitable distance apart, such
appliances being operated in the manner as herciD described and set forth.
3rd. The construction of lifting appliances or jacks in which a slidable notched
bar or rail is encased or partially encased within a suitable metallic standard,
provided with stable metallic sping bolts, or bolts without springs, a suitable
slide bolt (similar to that indicated by the letter k and used in conjunction with a
bifurcated or forked metallic lever having a suitably shaped metallic ear or lug
swivelly connected to saine near to its lower end by a suitable metallic pin or bolt
as shown on the drawings at Figures 6 and 7, and operated in the manner as herein
described and set forth.
4th. The construction of appliances for lifting or lowering weights as in Claim 3
made so as to be movable to and fro' upon a suitable metallic table or rails whilst
supporting a weight or weights on its upper end or table by means of a horizontal
metallic shaft threaded or screwed working through the lower end of the standard

page_text: and fitted to such metallic table or nails, such appliances being operated in the
manuer as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 13th day of February 1896.
JOHN NEWTON,
Longport, Staffe, Agent for Applicant.