IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING ENGINES FOR SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND HAULING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Watkin Lewis, of Treherbert, near Pontypridd,
in the County of Glamorgan, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDING ENGINES FOR SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND HAULING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Watkin Lewis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1877.
HENRY WATKIN LEWIS, of Treherbert, near Pontypridd, in the County of
Glamorgan. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING ENGINES FOR SURFACE AND UNDER-
GROUND HAULING."
My Invention consists in improvements in the construction of winding engines,
in which I build up the frame of wrought-iron bridge plates, and made by pre-
ference in two halves, in order to obtain a greater facility of transport.
To one end, and upon the outside of this frame, the cylinder or cylinders of the
engine are attached, whilst the plummer blocks carrying the crank shaft are
attached to the opposite extremity.
The winding drum or drums occupy the central portion of the frame, and turn
loosely upon a shaft supported at either end by plummer blocks bolted to the
wrought-iron frame. This shaft also carries a clutch for throwing the drum or
drums in or out of gear, and to this clutch the driving wheel is keyed.
The advantages obtained by keying the driving wheel to the clutch are,-
1st. Should either the clutch or the driving wheel be in any way damaged, the
one broken may be replaced, whilst the other may still be employed.
2nd. The one clutch serves to throw either drum in or out of gear, whereas it is
usual to employ a clutch for each drum. A saving is thus effected in the cost, and
the number of the wearing parts of the engine are reduced. The clutch might also
be made to slide, leaving the driving wheel stationary.
The bosses of the drums are brass bushed, thus enabling the wearing parts to be
readily and cheaply replaced instead of having to obtain new drums as soon as the
bearings have worn loose.

page_text: The motion of the piston in the cylinder is communicated from the piston rod to
the crank shaft by a connecting rod in the usual manner. The crank shaft carries a
pinion which gears with the driving wheel and is of sufficient width to enable it to
remain in gear when the driving wheel is shifted horizontally on its shaft, in order
to throw either drum in or out of gear.
The throwing of the clutch in or out of gear with either drum is effected by
means of a shaft running longitudinally across the frame, supported at either end,
but turning freely, and having a forked lever attached to it towards the centre, the
ends of which fit into a groove upon the clutch. To one end of this shaft a hand
lever is attached in order to give the rotation requisite to produce the shifting of
the driving wheel and clutch horizontally upon their shaft; or, instead of a hand
lever, a wheel and pinion may be employed so as to give more power for shifting
the clutch to and fro.
The reversing gear consists of the ordinary link motion, and is worked from the
side of the engine by a lever attached to the weigh shaft, the ends of which may be
connected in any convenient manner to the reversing tackle. The weigh shaft
further serves to carry the treddles by which the breaks upon the drums are put
into action. These treddles consist of bell-crank levers turning loosely upon the
weigh shaft, to one end of which the foot is applied to give the requisite pressure,
and the other extremity receives the end of a metallic band or strap, which passing
round any convenient part of the drum, has the other end firmly attached to any
suitable point. The break straps can be lagged with wooden curbs, if necessary.
This arrangement of employing the same weigh shaft to carry the break treddles
and reversing levers and slot link gear greatly increases the compactness of the
engine.
The bearings of the crank shaft, and the shaft carrying the drums and the
driving wheel consist of angle plummer blocks placed inversely, that is to say,
with the angles in opposite directions, so that when requisite to change or see to
any parts, either shaft may be removed independently of the other, and without
disturbing anything but the shaft carrying the parts to be examined.
When the engine is not covered by an arch, the valve gearing and the driving
wheel and pinion may be covered with sheet iron to prevent any loose shale from
the top or roof falling into them.
The whole machine for a pair of 8-inch engines, 13-inch stroke, with two drums,
each 2 feet 10 inches diameter, and 10 inches wide inside, stands upon a wrought-
iron framing made of bridge plates 5 feet 8 inches by 4 feet, so that the machine can
be fixed and sufficient room to go all round it in about 7 feet square; and a pair of
10-inch or 12-inch engines would take up very little more room. When required to be
moved the machine can be mounted upon four wheels and taken to any part of the
mine in a few hours.
Where there is a long distance from the pit to the screen the machine will
dispense with the employment of manual and horse labour.
A great economy would also be effected by employing it at the top for clearing
away rubbish to the tips instead of employing horses.
The machine is self-contained, and no foundation is required.
When these machines are to be used for underground work they are set up in
two halves at the pit top, and lowered upon an ordinary trolly, so that no skilled
labour is required below, as the two halves have only to be bolted together.
The great advantages of these machines over others are,―
1st. Facility of making repairs.
2nd Ease of transport.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Watkin Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1878.
HENRY WATKIN LEWIS, of Treherbert, near Pontypridd, in the County of
Glamorgan, South Wales. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING ENGINES FOR SURFACE
AND UNDERGROUND HAULING."
My Invention consists in improvements in the construction of winding engines,
in which I build up the frame of wrought-iron bridge plates, and made by preference
in two halves in order to obtain a greater facility of transport.
To one end and upon the outside of this frame the cylinder or cylinders of the
engine are attached, whilst the plummer blocks carrying the crank shaft are
attached to the opposite extremity.
The winding drum or drums occupy the central portion of the frame, and turn
loosely upon a shaft supported at either end by plummer blocks bolted to the
wrought-iron frame. This shaft also carries a clutch for throwing the drum or drums
in or out of gear, and to this clutch the driving wheel is keyed.
The advantages obtained by keying the driving wheel to the clutch are,-
1st. Should either the clutch or the driving wheel be in any way damaged, the
one broken may be replaced whilst the other may still be employed.
2nd. The one clutch serves to throw either drum in or out of gear, whereas, it
is usual to employ a clutch for each drum. A saving is thus effected in the cost,
and the number of the wearing parts of the engine are reduced. The clutch might
also be made to slide, leaving the driving wheel stationary.
The bosses of the drums are brass bushed, thus enabling the wearing parts to be
readily and cheaply replaced, instead of having to obtain new drums as soon as the
bearings have worn loose.
The motion of the piston in the cylinder is communicated from the piston rod
to the crank shaft by a connecting rod in the usual manner. The crank shaft
carries a pinion which gears with the driving wheel, and is of sufficient width to
enable it to remain in gear when the driving wheel is shifted horizontally on its
shaft, in order to throw either drum in or out of gear.
The throwing of the clutch in or out of gear with either drum is effected by
means of a shaft running longitudinally across the frame, supported at either end,
but turning freely, and having a forked lever attached to it towards the centre, the
ends of which fit into a groove upon the clutch. To one end of this shaft a hand
lever is attached, in order to give the rotation requisite to produce the shifting of
the driving wheel and clutch horizontally upon their shaft; or instead of a hand
lever a wheel pinion may be employed, so as to give more power for shifting the
clutch to and fro.
The reversing gear consists of the ordinary link motion, and is worked from the
side of the engine by a lever attached to the weigh shaft, the ends of which shaft
may be connected in any convenient manner to the reversing tackle. The weigh
shaft further serves to carry the treddles by which the breaks upon the drums are
put into action. These treddles consist of bell-crank levers turning loosely upon
the weigh shaft, to one end of which the foot is applied to give the requisite
pressure, and the other extremity receives the end of a metallic band or strap,
which passing round any convenient part of the drum has the other end firmly
attached to any suitable point. The break straps can be lagged with wooden
curbs, if necessary. This arrangement of employing the same weigh shaft to carry
the break treddles, and reversing lever and slot link gear, greatly increases the
compactness of the engine.
The bearings of the crank shaft and the shaft carrying the drums and the driving
wheel consist of angle plummer blocks placed inversely, that is to say, with the

page_text: Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,—
First. The construction and arrangement of winding engines, as herein described,
and shown in the Drawings.
Second. The combination of the clutch and the driving wheel, as herein described,
and shown in the Drawings.
Third. The employment of the same shaft to carry the break treddles and
reversing lever and slot link gear, as herein described, and shown in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Watkin Lewis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
HENRY WATKIN LEWIS. (L.S.)