Improved Apparatus for "Putting On" and Preserving the Centre Line in Sinking Deep Pits or Shafts.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
Improved Apparatus for "Putting On" and Preserving the Centre
Line in Sinking Deep Pits or Shafts.
I
I WILLIAM FOULSTONE of 94 Eldon Street North, Barnsley, in the County of
York, Colliery Engineer and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction and use of apparatus for accurately
"putting on" and preserving the centre line in sinking deep pits or abafts, the
objects of the invention being to construct an accurate and permanent apparatus
for such purposes whereby the accuracy of the centre line can be tested as often as
required without much labor and with very little expenditure of time, and with no
danger or inconvenience to the men who may be at work in the pit, whereby time
labor, and expense are economized, the centre line can be put on more frequently
and the pit accurately tested, and as there are no detachable parts all danger to the
workinen is entirely obviated.
The nature of my said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference to
the drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1 is a sida elovation Fig. 2 a plan view and Fig. 3 an end view of my improved
apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a section through the line A—B Fig. 2.
7:
a represents a section of the brickwork at one side of the pit and the dotted line bis
the centre line of the shaft.
The fixed part or frame of the apparatus is supported by wooden beams or
joists cc and cousists principally of two rolled wrought iron beams or girders d.
These girders d are carried at the end nearest the centre of the pit by two wrought
irop knee plates a bolted to the underside of the wooden joist or beam ex and the
centre and the other ends of the same rest upon and are bolted to the wooden joists
or beams c.
The central beam or girder is loose being placed between the two fixed girders d
(see section Fig. 4) and runs on four pulleys which are turned to fit between the
flanges of the fixed girders d. The flanges of the running girder and those of
the fixed girders d are planed truly at their edges so that the girder can run
accurately in contact between the Hanges of the fixed girders d "without any side
play or shaking.
On the upper side of the central loose girder is fixed a long toothed rack 4* and
at the inner end of this girder a grooved pulley is carried between two cranked
steel plates, and a crab or purchase is bolted at or near the centre of the fixed
frame and is provided with a pinion gearing into the rack 4* whereby the movable
girder can be run forward so as to bring the rope which runs in the groove of the
pulley 9 plumb with the centre line 6 of the pit or shaft or it may be drawn back so
as to bring the said rope to within a few inches of the side of the pit, as shown by
the dotted line a.Fig. 1.
The first motion shaft 1 of the crab i is so arranged that it can slide endwise so as
to put the toothed pinion 2 into gear with the wheel 3 on the drum shaft (as shown
at Fig. 2) so as to wind the rope up or down, or so as to put the toothed pinion 4
into gear with the wheel 5 which works the rack pinion for running forward or
drawing backward the central beam carries the grooved pulley g over which the
centering rope passes.
The action of this apparatus is as follows: the girder being drawn in so that
the rope with its weight is about soven inches from the side (see dotted line) is
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page_text: lowered to the bottom of the pit by means of the crab, the wrought iron catch /
which works into the ratchet wheel on the drum shaft of the crab i being thrown
back out of gear for that purpose.
When the weight is at the bottom of the pit the catch! (Fig. 1) is put in gear
and the first motion shaft 1 is pushed.end wise moving the pinion 2 out of gear with
the drum wheel 3 and bringing the pinion 4 into gear with the wheel 5 which works
the rack motion, when the same handle will work the central girdor outwards
until it comes over the contra of the pit (dotted line 6) the extent of motion of the
girder being limited by stops at each end, and the girder is held in position
whilst the pit is being centred by means of a wrought iron cotter m Fig. 1 which
passes through corresponding slots in the two outside girders and behind the running
girder.
When the centering is completed the weight is hoisted a few yards up the pit and
the central girder is run back as far as it will go or until the rope is within a few
inches from the side of the pit (dotted line) and the weight may then be hoisted.
up 20 or 30 yards or more so as to be put out of danger when shots are fired.
It will be seen that this centering apparatus and its method of working are
exceedingly simple and by its use the centre line can be lowered to the bottom of
the pit while sinking operations are going on and directly the "hoppet" or trunk
is raised to the surface to empty the debris, and while this is boing done, one man
can push the line to the centre of the pit and place it in its exact position in a few
seconds, so that no time is lost.
If care is taken in fixing the apparatus in a true line with the centre of the pit
and winding engine drum it will be found to be of great advantage in setting out
Horches or arches leading to the various workings, as by first getting the central
line of the pit, then drawing the rope back to the side of the pit, and then drawing
a straight line across the two points the truc centre line of porches or arches can be
got in a few minutes, and the “sump" frames can also be set out in the same way,
and it will be evident that by the use of this invention not only will greater accuracy
be secured, but owing to the great economy of both time and labour effected the
cost of the apparatus will be saved in a few months.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what . I- -
claim is :-
:
The construction and use of permanently fixed apparatus for accurately centering
deep pits or shafts substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
annexed drawings, and more especially 1 claim the combination with two fixed
parallel girders of an adjustable running girder working endwise between them and
carrying at its free end a grooved pulley over which the centering rope passes, in
connection with a crab or purchase so arranged that it can be used either to wind
the rope up or down, or to adjust the position of the running girder over the centre
or towards the side of the pit or shaft.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1893,