PREVENTING ACCIDENTS IN MINE SHAFTS
Year: 1885

page_text: WALTER WATSON of 52 Balmes Road, Southgate Road, London, N. Inspector, Life
Assurance Office, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for PREVENTING
ACCIDENTS IN MINE SHAFTS to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the Preventing Accidents in Mine Shafts, which
might arise from the failure of the hoisting tackle and prevent overwinding and
thus prevent loss of life and destruction of property. This invention is equally
applicable to lifts and similar arrangements where persons and weights are raised
and lowered:
For my present purpose I suppose a cage for nine shafts to have its sides, roof,
and top cross pieces of iron, pierced with slots and holes as required, with bottom
of timber, and all of sufficient strength for the work to be done the top of the sides
'to have a triangular shape.
A cross beam, whose ends project through slots in the sides of the cage, is raised
by the hoisting tackle, to which it is attached, and by this means the cage, with its
contents, is lifted and lowered; when the cage is rested at top and bottom this
beam descends the depth of the slots.
Near the middle of this cross bean is attached two links, and to the lower end
of each link is attached a lever, which works in a bearing, fastened to the roof of
the cage, as a fulcrum,
I make the outer end of one of these levers of a two-pronged-fork shape, each of
which prongs project through the side of the cage, to the side of the guide, and at
such a distance from it as to afford free action. To each of these fork-ends I attach
a connecting-rod, whose lower end is attached to a gripping-lever, hereinafter
described. To the outer end of the other lever which projects the side of the cage,
I attach an oblong piece of plate iron, and a similar piece inside, but not attached
to the lever, and held in their positions by two bolts, a short distance apart,
through slots in the side of the cage, to secure even perpendicular motion. To one
of these bolts I fasten outside the side of the cage, the end of two bent connecting-
rods, the other end of each is attached to a gripping-lever, hereinafter described.

page_text: By each of these two bolts I attach inside the side of the cage, a hand lever, in
reverse order, the one extremity of each is fixed to the side of the cage by a bolt,
on which it acts as a fulcrum; the other extremity is for any person who might
be on the cage when the hoisting tackle fails, or other emergencies, to apply his
power to assist the apparatus to take effect.
On each side of the cage, outside, I place a pair of gripping-levers herein before
referred to, of the same size and description. Their upper ends are secured to the
ends of two rods which stretch the width of the cage, above the roof, and project
through the sides, and on which these gripping levers act as a fulcrum. The con-
necting-rods, herein before described, are attached to these gripping levers in such a
manner, as to incline their lower ends toward the perpendicular guides, so as to
form with them an angle of 45°.
It will be evident that when the cross beam is lifted up, the links, and end of
the levers attached thereto, will also be lifted up; the outer end of the levers and
connecting-rods will be consequently forced down, and will push out the gripping
levers from the guides, and allow the cage to go up and down without hindrance.
When the cross beam is lowered, diametrically opposite results to the foregoing
will take place; the lower ends of the gripping levers will be brought into contact
with the sides of the wood guides, and those ends being pointed or sharpened grip
and penetrate the guides and suspend the cage. The pressure by each pair of
gripping-levers on the guides will be equal and opposite, and in a direction which
will make their effectiveness proportionate to the weight of the cage and its
contents.
By making the angle formed by the gripping-levers with the perpendicular
guides about 75°, and altering the shape and form of their lower ends, the whole
apparatus will then be equally adapted for wire rope guides.
A sloping cover is placed on each side hinged to the top cross piece and can be
secured to the front cross pieces by a padlock, to protect the gear from injury from
falling debris and ill disposed persons.
Above the cage is attached an automatic disconnecting link, and this part of the
Invention is contrived to prevent the cage being drawn too far up, or descending
the shaft, by suspending it, if drawn up to a fixed point, higher that usual, in the
ordinary course of working.
Two oblong plates of iron or other material of sufficient strength for the work to
be done, with pieces between at top and bottom, the latter projecting outside the
plates, are secured together, pierced with slots and holes as required.
I place between the plates on each side a suspender, lever and crank, which are
made to move on pins which go through the plates, and on which they act as
'fulcrums, with their outside extremities projecting beyond the plates, so as to form
an oblique projection with the sides of the plates.
Between the plates and the levers I place a wedge of peculiar shape, which keeps
the lower ends of the levers extended in position and their upper ends pressing
against each other and form the arc of a circle and to which one extremity of the
cranks is attached.
A block link which is connected to the lifting tackle, is made to fit in the slots
of the plates, the lower end is pierced to admit the top of the levers and by this
means a connection is formed with the cage and the hoisting apparatus.
•
A beam of timber must be fastened to the head gear right above the shaft with
a hole in the centre of a diameter a shade larger than the width of the plates and
through which the lifting rope or chain must pass.
It will be evident that if the cage is inadvertently carried up beyond the usual
working point till the automatic disconnecting link passes partly through the hole
in the beam till the projecting part, at the bottom touches the beam, the projecting
extremities of the suspenders, cranks and levers will be in turn pushed back the
.wedge raised and the top of the levers widened to set free the block link and the
disconnection thereby effected.

page_text: The suspenders which have gone through the hole in the beam, assume of their
own gravity their normal position and rest on the top of the beam and suspend
the cage.
The connecting parts of this automatic disconnecting link and the lifting tackle
being independent of the suspenders reconnection is effected without loss of time
and absolute security is attained without the use of the conventional springs.
A spring is placed longitudinally between the lower arms of the levers, but only
to assist in the reconnection, although not necessary.
WALTER WATSON, of 52 Balmes Road, Southgate Road, London, N. Inspector,
Life Assurance Office, 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 :-
This Invention has for its object the preventing Accidents in Mine Shafts which
might arise from the failure of the hoisting tackle and prevent overwinding and
thus prevent loss of life and destruction of property. This Invention is equally
applicable to lifts and similar arrangements where persons and weights are raised
and lowered.
For my present purpose I suppose a cage for mine shafts to bave its sides, roof,
and top cross pieces of iron, pierced with slots and holes as required, with bottom
of timber, and all of sufficient strength for the work to be done, the top of the
sides to have a triangular shape.
A cross beam whose ends project through slots in the sides of the cage, is raised
by the hoisting tackle, to which it is attached, and by this means the cage with
its contents is lifted and lowered. When the cage is rested at top and bottom this
beam descends the depth of the slots.
•
Near the middle of this cross beam is attached two links, and to the lower end
of each link is attached a lever which works in a bearing, fastened to the top of
the cage as a fulcrum.
I make the outer end of one of these levers of a two-pronged fork shape, each
of which prongs project through the side of the cage to the side of the guides and
at such a distance from it as to afford free action. To each of these fork-ends
I attach a connecting-rod whose lower end is attached to a gripping lever herein-
after described. To the outer end of the other lever which projects the side of
the cage 1 attach an oblong piece of plate iron, and a similar piece inside but not

page_text: attached to the lever and held in their positions by two bolts, a short distance
apart, through slots in the side of the cage, to secure even perpendicular motion..
To one of these bolts I fasten outside the side of the cage the end of two bent
connecting rods, the other end of each is attached to a gripping lever hereinafter
described. By each of these two bolts I attach inside the side of the cage, a hand
lever, in 'reverse order, the one extremity of each is fixed to the side of the cage by
a bolt, on which it acts as a fulcrum. The other extremity is for any person who
might be on the cage when the hoisting tackle fails or other emergencies, to apply
his power to assist the apparatus to take effect.
On each side of the cage, outside, I place a pair of gripping-levers hereinbefore
referred to of the same size and description. Their upper ends are secured to the
ends of two rods which stretch the width of the cage above the roof, and project
through the sides, and on which these gripping levers act as a fulcrum. The
connecting-rods herein before described are attached to these gripping-levers in such
a manner as to incline their lower ends toward the perpendicular. guides as to form
with them an angle of 45°.
It will be evident that, when the cross beam is lifted up, the links and end of the
levers attached thereto, will also be lifted up, the outer end of the levers and con-
necting-rods will be consequently forced down, and will push out the gripping
levers from the guides and allow the cage to go up and down without hindrance.
When the cross beam is lowered, diametrically opposite results will take place, the
lower ends of the gripping levers will be brought into contact with the sides of
the wood guides, and those ends being pointed or sharpened, grip and penetrate
the guides and suspend the cage. The pressure by each pair of gripping levers on the
guides will be equal and opposite, and in a direction which will make their effective-
ness proportionate to the weight of the cage and its contents.
By making the angle formed by the gripping-levers with the perpendicular
guides about 75° and altering the shape and form of their lower ends the whole
apparatus will then be equally adapted for wire rope guides.
A. sloping cover is placed on each side hinged to the top cross piece and can be
secured to the front cross piece by a padlock to protect the gear from injury from
falling debris and ill disposed persons.
Above the cage is attached an automatic disconnecting link, and this part of the
invention is contrived to prevent the cage being drawn too far up or descending
the shaft, by suspending it if drawn up to a fixed point higher than usual in the
ordinary course of working.
Two oblong plates of iron or other material of sufficient strength for the work
to be done, with pieces between at top and bottom, the latter projecting outside
the plates, are secured together, pierced with slots and holes as required.
I place between the plates, on each side, a suspender, lever, and crank, which are
made to move on pins, which go through the plates, and on which they act as
fulcrums, with their outside extremities projecting beyond the plates so as to form
an oblique projection with the sides of the plates.
Between the plates and the levers, I place a wedge of peculiar shape which keeps
the lower ends of the levers extended in position and their upper ends pressing
against each other and form the arc of a circle, and to which one extremity of the
cranks is attached.
A block link which is connecting to the lifting tackle, is made to fit in the slots
of the plates, the lower end is pierced to admit the top of the levers and by this
means a connection is formed with the cage and the hoisting apparatus.
A beam of timber must be fastened to the head gear, right above the shaft, with
a hole in the centre of a diameter a shade larger than the width of the plates, and
through which the lifting rope or chain must pass.
It will be evident that if the cage is inadvertently carried up beyond the usual
working point till this automatic disconnecting link passes partly through the hole
in the beam, till the projecting part at the bottom touches the beam, the projecting
extremities of the suspenders, cranks & levers, will be in turn pushed back, the

page_text: wedge raised, and the top of the levers widened to set free the block link and the
disconnection thereby effected.
The suspenders which have gone through the hole in the beam, assume of their
own gravity, their normal position, and rest on the top of the beam and suspend
the cage.
The connecting parts of this automatic disconnecting link and the lifting tackle
being independent of the suspenders, reconnection is effected without loss of time
and absolute security is attained without the use of the conventional springs.
A spring is placed longitudinally between the lower arms of the levers, but ouly
to assist in the reconnection, though not necessary.
In order that my Invention may be easily and readily understood, I have given.
two sheets of Drawings illustrating the various parts thereof; the reference letters
are similar in the different figures. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a front
elevation of the framework at bank top, with cage suspended by a rope with my
apparatus attached. A is the framework B, the rope passing over the pully C. to
the winding drum, D. is the cage for raising minerals, and raising and lowering:
men. The rope B. is attached to the automatic disconnecting link E which is
secured to the cage, F. F. wood conductors, G. G. guides fitted on the cage and
slide up and down the conductors when the cage is descending or ascending;.
N. N. are front pieces secured to sides of the cage, O, bottom of wood, H. H. are
covers to protect the apparatus from falling debris, E. is an automatic disconnecting
link, fastened to the cage and to which the rope is attached. Fig. 4. is a front
view of the cage as in Fig. 2, with one cover removed to show the different parts
above the roof of the cage, K, is a top cross piece secured to sides of cage, having
an aperture pierced for the top part of the beam, a. to go through, the ends of this
beam are inserted in slots in the sides of the cage, b. b' are levers which work on
the bearings c. c. as fulcra, with their outer ends projecting the sides of the cage,
the links d. d. connect the levers b. b¹ to the beam a. g. g. are rods, the ends of
which go through the sides of the cage; f. f. and h. h. are gripping levers and are
fastened to the ends of the rods g. g. and act thereon as fulcrums, they are kept in
position by the conc-thumbles l. l. and nuts on the screwed end of the rods, these
gripping levers are connected to the ends of the levers b. b' by connecting links, e. c.
on the one side Figs. 3 & 8 and j. j. on the other side Figs. 1 & 7. Figs. 5 & 6
show the arrangement and positions of the hand levers which are attached to the
inside of the sides of the cage, when the rope is tensioned as the cage ascends or
descends the shaft, and as indicated by Figs. 1. 2 & 3 these hand levers admit of
manual power being applied to stop the cage in cases of emergencies, the movable
plates, i. k. & m are used to connect the hand levers with the apparatus.
It will be observed that I show two plans for connecting the gripping levers f. f.
& h. h. with the levers b. b¹.
This apparatus acts in the following manner,When the rope of the hoisting
tackle is tensioned up to raise or lower the cage, the beam, a. is raised till its ends
reach the top of the slots, the beam draws up, by means of the links d. d. the ends
of the levers b. b' and their outer ends are depressed, this action pushes out, by
means of the links, c. e. Figs. 3 & 8. and the connecting rods, j. j Figs. 1 & 7. the
gripping levers h. h. & f. f. to which they are attached, from the conductors F. F.
and hold them in that position while the cage is ascending or descending.
It will be readily seen that; when the rope breaks, the action of the apparatus
will be a diametrically opposite one to that just described, the beam a. by the
prepondrance of weight and the assistance of the spring a. will descend till its ends
rest upon the bottom of the slots in which they move, the ends of the levers b. b¹
will be depressed and their outer ends raised, the gripping levers will be drawn
into contact with the conductors F F as shown in Figs. 7 & 8 and their sharpened
ends will readily catch and penetrate the wood conductors and suspend the cage ;
the angle they form with the conductors together with the weight of the cage and
its contents will contribute to their effectiveness.

page_text: The spring s. is used to keep the weight of the parts at a minimum, a bell may
be placed on the roof to give a signal by the downward movement of the beam.
Notches are made in the conductors to give freedom to the gripping-levers when
the cage is at rest at the top and bottom.
Fig. 9 is a front elevation, and Fig. 10 an end elevation of the automatic
disconnecting link. A. A. side plates, between which are placed pieces B. B. at top
and B¹ at bottom, of a thickness the space between the plates is desired and all
firmly secured together by bolts and nuts. The ends of B¹ project beyond the
edges of the plates a distance rather more than the outside diameter of the bevelled
part of the ring in cross beam, hereinafter described, C. C. are suspenders which
hang loosely on bolts, which go through the plates, in such a manner as their outer
ends form an oblique projection with the edges of the plates, S. S. are springs to
force them out to their normal position when they have been acted upon as herein-
after described. D. D are bell cranks and E. E levers which hang and act on the
bolts as fulera the latter of a thickness equal to the distance the plates are apart to
act freely. Their outer lower extremities extend beyond the edges of the plates so
as to form an oblique projection with them. The upper ends of the bell cranks are
attached to the wedge by studs a. a. to lift it up when they are acted upon, the
top ends of the levers E. E meet, and form the arc of a circle to grip or clutch a
hole in the block link G. Fig. 14. which is attached to the rope or chain and by
this means a connection is formed between the cage and the hoisting tackle.
Fig. 11. shows the arrangement of the foregoing described parts between the plates
one side plate of Fig. 9. being removed, F is a wedge with two fixed studs, a. a.
which work in slots in the plates to secure perpendicular motion. The extending
parts b. b. of the wedge F rest against the inside of the lower extremities of the
levers E. E and keep them extended and their upper ends pressing against each
other, when in working condition and by this means a lock connection is secured
between the automatic disconnecting link and the hoisting tackle.
Fig. 15 is a plan of the top of the cross beam which is fixed to the top frame
work, H. is a metal ring inserted therein and secured to it by bolts passing through
the flange at the bottom, the bottom of the inside of the ring is bevelled to facilitate
the free entrance of the automatic disconnecting link.
Fig. 12 shows the position of the working parts of the appliance, immediately
a disconnection has taken place, by being drawn into the ring when the cage is
brought too far up. The suspenders b. b. are pushed back between the plates and
held in that position during their passage through the ring till they are free at the
top when they instantly assume their former normal position by the action of the
springs, as shown in Figs. 11. 12 & 13. The extremities of the bell cranks D. D.
which project the edges of the plates are pushed in when drawn into the ring and
held in that position, this action raises the wedge F and unlocks the connection.
The extremities of the levers E. E. projecting the edges of the plates are next forced
in by the ring when they are drawn into it, their upper ends are forced apart, this
action liberates the link G and the disconnection between the cage and the
hoisting tackle is effected. The cage then of its own weight drops a few inches
till the suspenders rest on the top of the beam, as shown in Fig. 13 and suspends
the cage.
The levers E. E. and bell cranks D. D. being then free of the ring will assume
their former positions below it, the former by aid of the spiral spring T. and the
latter by weight of the wedge F as shown in Fig. 13.
The reconnection is effected in the following manner.―
The projecting ends of the bell cranks are pushed back and raise the wedge, the
projecting ends of the levers are next pushed and held back, their upper ends being
opened, the block link is replaced. The levers are set at liberty and their upper
ends grip or clutch the link G as before, the bell cranks are next set free, and the
wedge drops and locks as before and the connection is completed. The rope is
then tensioned up and the cage is lifted and the suspenders are held back, till
the lowering of the cage admits thein entering the ring, work is then resumed,

page_text: 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
First. The principle of communicating the motion of the hoisting tackle to the
side breaking appliances, but of a reverse order, to arrest and suspend the cage
when breakages of the ropes or chains take place.
Second. The principle of connecting hand levers to the breaking appliances,
attached by fulcra to the inner sides of the cage to admit of manual power being
applied to arrest and suspend the cages when desired.
Third.—The principle of effecting by means of an automatic disconnecting link
a connection between the cage and hoisting tackle which is absolutely secure and
a disconnection which is absolutely certain.
Fourth. The general plan of arrangements and construction of the various
parts, and any modification thereof, all as set forth and described in the foregoing
specification and fully and clearly indicated and illustrated by the accompanying
two sheets of drawings.