IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN MINE SHAFTS BY THE BREAKING OF THE ROPE OR CHAIN, OR DISCONNECTION OF THE DRUM FROM THE ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER HOISTING OR LIFTING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Zaccheus Wright, of Upper Wortley, near Leeds, in
the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN MINE SHAFTS BY THE
BREAKING OF THE ROPE OR CHAIN, OR DISCONNECTION OF THE DRUM FROM THE
ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER HOISTING OR LIFTING MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS."
Sealed the 24th August 1860, and dated the 28th February 1860.1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Zaccheus Wright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th February 1860.
'I, ZACCHEUS WRIGHT, of Upper Wortley, near Leeds, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN MINE
SHAFTS BY THE BREAKING OF THE ROPE OR CHAIN, OR DISCONNECTION OF THE DRUM
FROM THE ENGINE. APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER HOISTING OR LIFTING MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to means of stopping the chair or cage when the rope
or chain breaks, or becomes disconnected with the drum or engine, and has
for its object the saving of life, and preventing destruction to property.
The apparatus consists of two plates suitably formed of iron or other mate-
rial placed one on each side of the guide rods, and so arranged as to slide
Price 8d.]

page_text: thereon; between which plates are placed two bell-crank levers, which are
connected thereto by strong bolts or studs on which they oscillate. The levers
are so arranged that their shorter ends grip or act against the guide rods, the
long ends being connected to the chair or cage, and by the leverage thus
obtained the chair will be immediately stopped in its descent on the breakage
of the rope. When the apparatus is ascending or descending the shaft, the
longer ends of the levers are raised by the tension of the rope, and the short
ones removed from contact with the guide rods, but should the rope or
chain break, the said levers are brought into action by their own gravitation,
which is quickened by the aid of springs. Connected with this apparatus is a
lever, which may be operated by any person in the chair so as to stop the
chair at any time, or under whatever accident may happen to. the rope, drum,
or engine. The rope or chain is connected to the chair or cage by a peculiar
spring catch, which, on coming in contact with a frame or projection placed
in a suitable position near the pullies, is disconnected from the chair or cage,
which is thus prevented being carried over the pullies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Zaccheus Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th August 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ZACCHEUS
WRIGHT, of Upper Wortley, near Leeds, in the County of York. send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February. in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did. for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me, the
said Zaccheus Wright. Her special licence that I. the said Zaccheus Wright,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Zaccheus Wright. my executors, administrators, and assigns. should at any
time
agree with, and no others. from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN MINE
SHAFTS BY THE BREAKING OF THE ROPE OR CHAIN, OR DISCONNECTION OF THE DRUM
FROM THE ENGINE, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER HOISTING OR LIPTING MACHINERY OR

page_text: APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Zaccheus
Wright, 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 six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE that I, the said Zaccheus Wright, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to means of stopping the chair or cage in mine shafts
or hoists when the rope or chain breaks, or the drum becomes disconnected
from the engine, and has for its object the saving of life, and preventing
destruction to property. The apparatus consists of two pairs of plates suitably
formed of iron or other material, placed one on each of two opposite sides of
the guide rods, arranged and connected together so as to slide freely thereon.
Between each pair of plates are placed two bell-crank levers, which are con-
nected thereto by strong bolts or studs on which they oscillate. The levers
are so arranged that their shorter ends grip or act against the guide rods, the
long ends being connected to the chair or cage, and by the leverage thus
obtained the chair or cage will be immediately stopped in its descent on the
breakage of the rope, or disconnection of the catch herein-after referred to.
When the apparatus is ascending or descending the shaft, the longer ends of
the levers are raised by the tension of the rope, and the short ones removed
from contact with the guide rods, but should the rope or chain break, the said
levers are brought into action by the aid of springs. Connected with. this
apparatus is a lever which may be operated by any person in the chair, so as
to stop the chair at any time, or under whatever accident may happen to the
rope, drum, or engine. The rope or chain is connected to the chair or cage
by a peculiar spring catch, which. on being drawn through a circle or ring
placed in a suitable position near the pulley, is disconnected from the chair or
cage, which is thus prevented being carried over the pulley.
In order that my said Invention may be more readily and clearly under-
stood, I have given reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings, illustra-
tive thereof, similar letters referring to the same parts in each Figure.
Fig. is a side elevation of the framework, winding pulley. guide rods
chair or cage, and rope or chain attached thereto, passing over the pulley to
the drum or winding apparatus with my improvements applied thereto; and

page_text: Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. A is the framework; B. the pulley;
C, the guide rods: D, the chair or cage, on which is placed a corve or waggon
E, as employed for raising coal or other mineral; F is the rope or chain,
which instead of being attached direct to the cage, my improved apparatus is
introduced; G and H are pairs of iron plates formed to clip the guide rods,
one on each opposite side. and riveted or bolted together as may be found
most convenient, so as to slide freely thereon, the two pairs being braced or
fastened together, by the cross stays 1 (as shewn at Fig. 2).. Betwixt each
pair of plates are two bell-crank levers J, supported on bolts or studs K,
passing through the plates and levers, constituting fulcrums thereto, the
shorter ends of the said levers being curved; the longer ends are connected
by rods I. (or chains) to the chair or cage, and also by other rods M to the
ordinary clotch" bar N, which by the chains O is connected to another part
of my improved apparatus P, herein-after described, and thence to the rope F.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section, Fig. 4 an elevation, and Fig. 5 a horizontal sec-
tion, of one pair of plates with the levers, guide rod, and a stay drawn on a
larger scale, shewing more clearly the form and construction of the several
parts. It will be seen that when the levers J are in the position shewn, and
the weight of the cage and contents falling or pressing on the longer ends of
the levers, the shorter ends will impinge against the guide rods on each oppo-
site side thereof. and the greater the weight applied thereto, the greater will
be the pressure or impingement against the rod; but when the levers are
raised into the position shewn by the dotted lines. the shorter ends will be
clear or free from contact with the said guide rods, so that the apparatus may
slide freely thereon. The inner and larger plate is flanged or bent outwards
to a horizontal position at both top and bottom, the top flange answering as
stops for preventing the levers being drawn too high by the tension of the
rope. Apertures are made in the centres of the bent portions of the larger
plates to encircle the guide rods, and allow them to slide freely up and down
the shaft. These apertures form guards or guides, which may be renewed by
small adjustable plates having a small slot in them bolted to the larger plate,
as shown at Fig. 6. and thereby effectually prevent the shorter ends of the
levers from being worn by rubbing against the guide rods. The springs S
are attached at one end by a loop to the under side of the levers, and to the
bottom flange of the apparatus of the other, and thereby cause the levers to
grip the guide rods when the cage is released by the breakage of the rope or
disconnection of the catch. It will be readily understood that when the rope
is connected to the cage by the levers, they will be in the raised position as
shewn by dotted lines, Fig. 4, but immediately on the rope breaking or

page_text: becoming disconnected, the spring S will instantly operate upon the levers,
together with their own weight and the weight of the cage, the said levers
will be brought into the horizontal or lowered position as shewn in full lines,
the shorter ends impinging on the guide rods. which grip and hold thereon.
sustaining the cage and contents, and thus preventing the same from being
precipitated to the bottom of the mine shaft: T is a hand lever attached to
the apparatus by a stud or fulcrum, and held in horizontal position by a spiral
spring U; the short arm is made to clip or span the guide rod, but sufficiently
clear as not to be actuated thereby, and when it is desirable to stop the chair
or cage in its descent. should danger be apprehended from any cause, such
as disconnection of the drum from the engine, damp, or water in the shaft,
or from whatever motive or reason. any person in the chair may by pressing
the said lever cause it to grip the guide rod. stop the apparatus, and thus
bring the bell-crank levers J into action by throwing the weight of the cage
and contents thereon, and thereby prevent further descent until released by
the lifting of the bell-crank levers; V is a cover to the top of the cage to
protect persons from anything falling from the top or sides of the shaft, hinged
so as to allow any long article being placed in the cage when required.
Fig. 7 shews an arrangement of the apparatus, dispensing with the rods L,
the levers J being attached to the cage by bolts passing through slots in the
said levers, or the levers may pass through slots formed in the sides or frame
of the cage; Figs. 3. 4. and 5 also shew how the plates may be formed when
the apparatus is applied in mines where wood guide rods are employed which
are stayed to the sides of the shaft or pit, but when iron rods are employed the
plates may be constructed as shewn in Fig. 1, the outer plate being in one
piece and enclosing the rods; Fig. 8 is an elevation of a spring catch for
disconnecting the rope or chain from the cage if lifted too high, and prevent
the said cage from being drawn over the pulley. The centre part has a loop
at the top to connect or fasten the rope thereto, with a slit or space at the
bottom to receive the piece shewn at Fig. 10, to which the clotch chains are
affixed. W are arms jointed to the centre part. and to which arms are
jointed flat rods X, shewn in sectional plan at Fig. 9, in which are pins Y to
pass through holes in the centre piece, Fig. 10. The arms W are held
outwards by springs Z, thus keeping the pins Y in the holes. If found more
convenient, the slit or space may be formed in the top, and the piece Fig. 10
drawn therefrom. The studs R on each side of the centre part will compel
both the pins Y to be drawn clearly out when drawn through the ring. Fig. 11,
which is of a suitable size formed in the middle of a rod or bar, or otherwise
as convenient, and fixed betwixt the guide rods below the pulley B, the rope

page_text: passing through it. It will be readily seen that if the catch shewn at Fig. 8 be
drawn through the ring shewn at Fig. 11, the arms W will be pressed in-
wardly, the pins Y will be withdrawn, and consequently the piece attached to
the clotch chains liberated.
Having thus fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is performed or carried into practical effect, I would
have it distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details of construction and arrangement of the parts or apparatus as herein
set forth, as such. may be varied or modified without departing from the main
features of my Invention; nor do I claim the use of levers, jointed rods,
plates, springs or chains, when not connected or brought into action in the
manner herein described; but what I consider novel, and therefore claim as
of my Invention, is,-
Firstly, the construction, combination, and general arrangement of apparatus
for the purposes set forth, substantially as herein described and illustrated in
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Secondly, the application and use of a hand lever for bringing the bell-
crank levers into action.
Thirdly, the construction and use of apparatus for disconnecting the rope or
chain, as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, or
any modification thereof.
In witness whereof. I. the said Zaccheus Wright. have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
ZACCHELIS WRIGHT S
ZACCHEL'S WRIGHT Ti c)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Zaccheus Wright, in the presence
of
WM. TASKER,
Patent Agent, Halifax.