Improvements in and connected with the Guide Pulleys of Rope-haulage Systems.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 2nd July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Guide Pulleys of
Rope-haulage Systems.
I, THOMAS JAMES WATERS, of Boston Buildings, Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.,
but temporarily of Henrietta Mansions, Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square, in the
Administrative County of London, Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, 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 improvements in endless or other type of rope-haulage
systems, and is more particularly applicable to underground haulage systems as
they are conducted at the present day in mines.
The invention consists in improvements in the guide pulleys, more particularly
those which are used on curves in the tram-road, and its object is to provide for the
use of pulleys of a larger diameter than it has been practicable to use in the
systems at present in use, the object of the invention being to diminish the friction,
to provide for the work of hauling proceeding more smoothly, and to prevent the
clips from riding on the rims of the pulleys and throwing the endless rope off.
In order that my invention, and the best means for carrying the same into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe it and them in
detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as
part of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a piece of straight tram.
Fig. 2 is a plan of a curve.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line A-B of Fig. 1.
c, care guide pulleys. Heretofore it has been the custom to set them in the
horizontal plane. Consequently, it was not possible for them to be of a larger
diameter than half the gauge of the tram road. Now, according to the present
invention the pulleys are set in an oblique plane and pass under the adjacent rail f.
I do not confine myself to the exact diameter of pulley which I use, but may make
it as large as the special circumstances of the case may permit of.
The axis of the pulley may be either a fast or a loose pin. This latter is secured
to a bracket & which is made fast to a longitudinal sleeper f¹. h is a fixed rope-
guard. It is the curved portion of it that constitutes its operative part, and this
stands in the same plane as, and opposite to, the highest part of the top rim of the
guide-pulley, but at a slight distance therefrom. The guard is made fast to the
transverse sleepers 9 g, in any convenient way, but preferably in the way illustrated.
The extremities of the bar out of which it is made are bent back and have tabs
formed on them by which they are bolted to the respective sleepers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The combination with a hauling rope and a tram road, of a guide-pulley
supported and adapted to rotate in an oblique plane, as set forth.
2. The combination with a hauling rope and a tram road, of a guide-pulley
supported in an oblique plane whereby part of the pulley is under the adjacent
rail.
3. In rope haulage tram systems, the use of guide-pulleys set in an oblique plane
whereby pulleys of a larger diameter can be used, as and for the purpose set
forth.

page_text: 4. The combination of hauling rope, guide pulley in an oblique plane and fixed
rope-guard, as set forth.
Dated this 14th day of March 1892.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.