Improvements in Apparatus for Equalizing the Strain on Winding Gears such as are Used in Mining Shafts and Warehouse Lifts.
Year: 1888

page_text: DEBOLTIVATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Equalizing the Strain on Winding
Gears such as are Used in Mining Shafts and Warehouse
Lifts.
I, GEORGE LANSELL of Fortuna Crushing Works, Sandhurst, in the Colony of
Victoria, Quartz Miner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention of improvements in apparatus for equalizing the strain on winding
gears such as are used in mining shafts and warehouse lifts, consists mainly in coupling
the shaft of an auxiliary winding drum or spider to the shaft of the winding gears and in
attaching to this auxiliary drum or spider a rope or chain of increasing or diminishing
weight to act as a counterpoise to the cage and haulage rope. This rope or chain when
unwound from its drum passes into and hangs down a blind shaft or bore-hole arranged at
any convenient position adjacent to the winding gears. The respective shafts of the main
and auxiliary drums are coupled together preferably by automatic mechanism during
the time that the loaded cage is being lifted, because then the greatest strain is upon
the winding gears. It will be thus seen that by the out-winding of the rope from the
auxiliary drum a counterpoise is effected which equalizes the strain upon the winding
gears. By the lowering of the cage, the chain or rope is again wound upon the
auxiliary drum, when its shaft is connected to that of the main drum shaft and thus
the strain upon the winding gears due to the gradually increasing weight of the haulage
rope is minimized.
Dated this Seventh day of January One thousand eight hundred and eighty-

page_text: The operation of my invention is as follows:-
Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 1; motion is transmitted
to the winding gear in the direction indicated by the arrow-thus raising the cage c¹
and at the same time lowering the cage c and counterbalance chain f, until the various
parts assume the position indicated in Figure 2, that is to say, until the two cages c
and c¹ are at an equal height in their respective shafts, and the counterbalance chain fhas
all been lowered into its receptacle h and the rope has been unwound to its fullest
extent.
If motion continues to be imparted to the driving gears in the same direction the
parts will assume the positions indicated in Figure 3, that is, the cage c' will be drawn
up, the cage c lowered, the counterpoise chain drawn out of the receptacle h, and the
whole of the rope again wound upon the drum or spider e, but in the contrary
direction, that is, whereas at the commencement of the operation the rope fl was
wound upon the auxiliary drum in such a direction that it caused the chain to act as
a counterbalance to the haulage rope c³ of the cage c¹, yet, when the parts assume the
position indicated in Figure 3, the chain will act as a counterbalance to the haulage
rope of the cage c, because, when the parts were in the position indicated in
Figure 2 the winding of the rope fl on the auxiliary drum or spider e was reversed
by reason of its end being connected to the pivoted clip g (Figure 6) which is
arranged to swing over, as the winding continues, and allow the rope f¹ to be wound
upon the drum or spider e in the reverse direction.
It will be obvious that I may employ an ordinary drum to act as my auxiliary drum
as indicated in Figure 4; but I prefer to construct this portion of my apparatus as
illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8 and I prefer to provide the same with a strap-brake
and with a coupling device e¹ for connecting the same to the main driving shaft upon
which (as hereinbefore mentioned) it is arranged.
The application of my invention to a warehouse lift will be readily understood by
reference to Figure 5 wherein the rope f¹ of the counterbalance chain is simply
wound in the reverse direction upon a suitable drum attached to the main shaft of the
winding gear and is so arranged that when the haulage rope is lowered to its fullest
extent, that is, when the greatest weight has to be counterbalanced, the chain will be
drawn up from off the ground, and thus its whole weight will be acting as a balance
to the rope and cage.
If preferred, I may employ a shorter counterbalance. chain by winding the same
upon a drum of smaller diameter and by arranging a receptacle at a suitable height
similar to the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3; but, of course, in this case the
counterbalance chain would have to be made correspondingly stout in order to obtain
the necessary weight to counterbalance the main winding rope.
I have found when employing the improved drum or spider constructed as illustrated
in Figures 6, 7 and 8 that for use in a mine having say a 2200 fect shaft, it is preferable
to construct the rope for supporting the counterbalance chain of 1100 feet of one-inch
wire rope, whilst the counterbalance chain I construct of:
100 feet of
150 feet of
320 feet of
ths inch chain.
ths-inch chain.
ths-inch chain.
the total weight of which will be approximately 35 cwt.; but of course it is obvious
that I may vary these proportions and dimensions as found desirable and indeed it is
necessary to vary these proportions and dimensions in order to suit the different sizes
of auxiliary drums employed; for instance when employing an ordinary drum of the
same size as the main driving drum as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, it would be
necessary to employ a chain and rope which together are equal in length to the travel
of the cage; but, as hereinbefore mentioned, if a smaller auxiliary drum be employed,
then a shorter length of rope will suffice but the counterbalance chain must be
proportionately heavy.
It is obvious, that the employment of an auxiliary drum and counterbalance chain,
constructed as herein specified, is a great safeguard against overwinding because the

page_text: .
various parts may be so arranged that there shall be great power exerted by the
counterbalance chain and auxiliary drum when the cages are nearing the end of their
travel and this will be especially the case when employing an auxiliary drum
constructed as shown in Figures 6, 7 and because as the rope is wound upon the
said drum, each convolution of the said rope increases in diameter: thus the counter-
balance chain has more effect on the axle of the driving gear and this, combined with
the increase in weight of the counterbalance chain, renders overwinding almost an
impossibility.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
In apparatus for equalizing the strain on winding gears such as are used in mining
shafts and warehouse lifts,-
at
First. Combining with such winding gears, a counterbalance or counterpoise so
constructed and arranged as that when the cage or lift which it is to counterbalance
the bottom of its shaft and requires the greatest amount of power to raise it, said
counterbalance or counterpoise shall be in such a position as to exert its greatest force.
in counterbalancing it.
Second. For the purpose mentioned in the preceding claim, combining with such
winding gears an auxiliary spider bearing a counterbalance consisting of a chain
attached to a rope, such chain being made in lengths of gradually increasing weight
from the rope downwards.
Third. Combining with such winding gears, an auxiliary spider (bearing a
counterbalance weight and rope) so constructed and arranged as that the whole of its
rope will be unwound when the loaded cage or lift has risen half way to the top,
and so as that said rope will then automatically reverse and commence to be
wound up.
Fourth. Combining with such counterbalance gear, a chamber or receptacle in
which such counterbalance will coil and uncoil itself substantially as herein described
and explained.
Dated this Seventh day of May One thousand eight hundred and eighty-