IMPROVEMENTS IN HAULING ENGINES AND GEAR CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1885

page_text: "
I, WILLIAM WILKINSON, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN HAULING
ENGINES AND GEAR CONNECTED THEREWITH and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to engines and to the gear connected therewith, conveniently
applicable to hauling purposes, such as on inclined planes and "levels" in coal or
other mines, or to any similar work, where ropes or chains require to be hauled:
My invention consists of a worm and worm-wheel geared hauling drum, in
combination with one or more driving engines, the wormgear being enclosed in a
special lubricating bath, and the worm shaft being designed to carry end thrust;
and it is designed to effect the required purpose with economy in the space occupied
and in the first cost of plant and foundations, and to work with simplicity and
non-liability to get out of order.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout the
figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a winding engine, combined with my worm-geared
winding drum, the casing of the said worm-gear being cut by a vertical longitudinal
section.
Figure 2 is a plan of a pair of winding engines combined with my improved
worm geared winding drum.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the same, with the winding drum cut by a half
vertical section.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the winding gear.
A is the crank shaft of the combined pair of hauling engines, which may be of
any known type; and upon the said crank shaft is keyed or formed a worm B, with
one, two, or more threads of suitable pitch. Gearing with this worm B, and
attached to a second motion shaft or sleeve C, placed conveniently in a vertical
position, is a worm wheel D, the said worm and worm wheel being made of any
hard and suitable material, such as steel or gun-metal The sleeve O in the
particular arrangement shown, is free to rotate upon the vertical fixed spindle K;

page_text: and attached to the sleeve C is the grooved hauling drum or pulley E, suitable for
a rope. In the case of a chain being used, a sprocket wheel may be substituted for
the rope pulley E, of suitable section or shape to receive the chain links.
Although the sleeve C, and hauling drum or pulley E, are shown mounted and
running freely upon a fixed vertical spindle, it is evident that I may conveniently
substitute for this arrangement a second motion shaft, carrying a hauling drum of
any desired shape and running in suitable bearings, and arranged in any con-
venient position relatively to the worm B, without departing from the general
principle of this part of my device.
I enclose both the worm B and worm-wheel D in the lubricating bath or
chamber F, the openings into which for the admission of rotary shafts, such as the
crank shaft A, may be closed with long necks or stuffing boxes, to prevent escape
of the lubricant. The lower joint may be also conveniently closed on the under
side by a gland and stuffing box G, to prevent escape of the lubricant, and to
permit convenient putting together or the entrance of a rotating shaft. This
chamber is also otherwise completely closed by a cover to prevent the entrance of
dirt or gritty substance. Owing to a constant bath of lubricant being held in this
chamber, in which the worm and worm wheel are immersed, the frictional resistance
and wear and tear of the same are reduced to a minimum, and this I consider to be
of the greatest importance for the successful operation of my device. To receive
the end thrust of the worm on the engine crank shaft, I provide the bearing
journals J J with a series of collars fitting into grooved brasses L L, which thus
form combined bearing and thrust blocks. These blocks are capable of adjustment
upon the bed plate, in opposite directions to one another, in the length of the shaft,
by means of the set bolts H H, which thereby take up any end wear, and at the
same time keep the crank pins in the centre line of the engines.
Owing to the locking effect of the worm B upon the worn wheel C, I find that
no brake gear is required with my improved arrangement.
Any form of driving engine, either horizontal, vertical, beam or compound, may
evidently be used for driving the hauling drum without departing from the
principle of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1st The combination of a driving engine or engines with a worm crank shaft,
constructed to carry end thrust, and a worm-wheel shaft, provided with a drum
suited for hauling ropes or chains, the worm and worm-wheel being enclosed in a
lubricating chamber, substantially as described.
2nd In such a hauling gear the construction of the worm crank shaft with thrust
collar journals, and adjustable bearings, to support and take up the end thrust of
the worm, without disturbance of the crank pin centres, substantially as described.
3rd In such a hauling gear the combination with the worm and worm-wheel, of
an enclosing case, forming a closed bath of lubricant, to reduce the friction and
wear and tear of the worm gear, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of March 1885.