An Improved Electric Signalling Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 10th May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Electric Signalling Apparatus.
I, JULIUS OTTO WINCKLER, of 12 Jordanstrasse, Neustadt, Dresden, in the
Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire, manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to enable miners during their ascent or descent of
the mine to give electric signals to the engineer from the cage or lift, as to
whether he is to stop, lower, or wind up, also to indicate to the engineer the
speed of travel of the cage by electric bell signals.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I now proceed to describe
the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. I. shows a view of my complete apparatus.
Fig. II. is an enlarged view of the arrangement of the contacts.
This electrical mine signal apparatus is placed at the top of the shaft and consists
of a piece of angle iron a, carrying two pieces of angle iron 6, 61, which serve as
guides to the sliding rod g; between the guide b and the adjusting collar s, is arranged
a spiral spring on the sliding rod g. The spring fis partially compressed by the
weight of the steel wire which hangs down the shaft and the weight c attached thereto.
The wire is hung in such a position that it can be easily reached by a person in the
cage.
Upon the slightest pull in a downward direction the spring is further compressed,
or by lifting the weight or the wire to which the weight is suspended. at any point in
its length the spring expanis and so makes contact with one or other of the two
contacts which lead the current to the signaling apparatus.
The contact screws are insulated from the angle iron a and are connected
together electrically in the circuit y with the bell and battery v and the contact
screw fixed on the angle iron a. When therefore the sliding rod g is moved in an
upward or downward direction the contact spring o touches one or other of the contact
screws and completes the circuit through the sliding rod g, adjusting collar s, spiral
spring, angle iron 6 to the contact screw upon the angle iron a'; upon which the
current rings the bell z.
When ascending or decending the mine the suspended wire need only be lightly
touched with the hand or struck to effect the contact which is made by the transmitting
of the slightest movement in the wire to the sliding rod.
If the spiral spring f, should be weakened the contact spring o may be easily
adjusted into position by the adjusting collar s.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Claim. An electrical mining signal apparatus consisting of a pulling wire arranged
to hang down the pit so as to be easily accessible from the cage and connected to a
spring at the signal post situated at the top of the shaft the weight of the said wire
and any additional weight that may be attached to the same compressing the said
spring so that at the slightest movement of the wire in an upward or downward
direction, the said spring is extended or further compressed in order to produce
electrical contact substantially as described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1889.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.