AN IMPROVED COUNTERPOISE BRAKE FOR MINING PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tengue, Junior, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1883.
WILLIAM TEAgur Junior of Carn Brea Cornwall "AN IMPROVED COUNTERPOISE
BRAKE FOR MINING PURPOSES
"
This Invention for "Improved Counterpoise brake" consists mainly of a Balance
Wire Rope attached to the Gig or Skip used in lowering and raising Men from
below ground
It is connected to the top of the gig by means of a link or chain, and passed
over a separate pulley, which is provided in addition to the ordinary shaft tackle,
on to a brake pulley on which the rope has to make a complete turn around, so as
to form a grip sufficient to bring up the cage or skip, when a slight pressure is
brought to bear on the Rope itself, which I propose doing by means of a Brake
lined with India Rubber properly attached, the advantage of the Brake on the
Rope and Wheel combined would be, that a much less pressure would bring it up
at the same time, and would not injure the Rope, (it would only be used in case of
an accident).
This Brake pulley would be some few yards from the Shaft, the rope would then
pass over a guide pulley into the pit, which would have to be provided with a
small open space for the counterpoise rope to work on to a return pulley, fixed at
the bottom of the Shaft, and continued to the Gig or Skip, and so fastened to the
bottom. It would then form a complete balance, the duty of which would be to
run around after the skip or Gig, and would not be detrimental to the ordinary
working rope, but in case an accident should occur with the working rope, a man
should always be stationed at the Brake above named, which when put in action
would instantly have the desired effect, and so prevent a fatal accident, the
occupants could then be easily lowered to the bottom of the Mine, without injury
or unnecessary waste of time.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Teague, Junior, in the Patent Office on the 7th May 1884.
WILLIAM TEAGUE Junior of Carn Brea, Cornwall, "AN IMPROVED COUNTERPOISE
BRAKE FOR MINING PURPOSES
"
My Invention of an improved counterpoise brako for mining purposes consists of
a balanced or endless wire rope attached to the cage, gig, or skip used in lowering
and raising men from below ground-It is connected to the top of the gig or cago
by means of a link or chain, and passed over a separate pulley or wheel which is
provided in addition to the ordinary shaft tackle at the mouth of the shaft, the
rope then passes down the shaft, being guided in its direction by one or more
suitable pulleys, and around a pulley at the bottom of the shaft, and is attached to
the underside of the gig or cage; a recess or opening is provided at the bottom of
the shaft for the last mentioned pulley.
A brake strap lined with india rubber or other suitable material and embracing
about one half the circumference of the first mentioned pulley at the top of the
shaft is provided, and fitted with suitable levers, 'so that it can be brought to bear
on the rope itself, as well as on the wheel, so that a comparatively slight pressure
will arrest the motion of the cage or skip without injury to the rope.
The brake rope forms a perfect balance; and does not interfere in any way with
the ordinary working rope, but in the event of an accident to the working rope,
the brake can be applied by a man stationed at the levers; the cage will then be
supported by the brake rope, and with its occupants can be easily lowered to the
bottom of the mine without injury or unnecessary waste of time-.
In order that the nature of the Invention and the manner of carrying it into
effect, may be more clearly understood, I will now procced to describe it by
reference to the drawing accompanying this specification;-which illustrates the
application of the brake to a mine shaft.
A wire rope A is attached to the top of the cage E by a link or other suitable
means, and passes over a brake pulley B at the top of the shaft-From thence it
passes down the shaft over a suitable guide wheel or pulley H, and at the bottom
of the shaft, it passes round another wheel or pulley D, placed in a recess or
opening, and is connected to the bottom of the cage as shown-The brake L, which
is operated by means of the levers C. C., should be lined with india rubber or
similar flexible material (as shown at J, which is a section through the line K. K.,)
so that when, in case of an accident or from other cause, it is brought into action,
a comparatively slight pressure upon the rope A passing over the brake pulley, will
be sufficient to grip the rope without undue strain upon it, and consequently retard
the upward or downward progress of the cage E, with ease and promptitude.
F represents the ordinary drawing rope attached to the top of the cago E, for the
- purpose of raising and lowering the same, which rope passes round the drum G in
the usual way.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that
I claim the Invention of
"An improved counterpoise brake for mining purposes," consisting in the
application of a balanced or endless rope attached to the top and bottom of a pit

page_text: cage or skip, and passing over guide pulleys in combination with a brake strap and
levers, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, and illustrated
by the accompanying Drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said William Teague Junior have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.