An Improvement relating to Miners' Cages.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement relating to Miners' Cages.
We, WILLIAM JOHN DAVIES, of 10, George Street, Dowlais, Glamorgan,"
Mining Engineer, and DAVID EVAN DAVIES, of Dowlais House, Dowlais,
Glamorgan, Fitter, 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, which relates to miners' cages, has for its object to prevent
miners and others from falling out of or leaving a cage during descent and ascent
of mine shafts.
The means whereby, according to this invention, the aforesaid end is attained,
consist of movable gates slung and free to work vertically on pillars extending
upwards from the cage floor. To the gates, which normally rest on collars provided
on the said pillars, are attached chains or ropes which are conducted over pulleys
supported in brackets fixed on the upper ends of the pillars. The free ends of the
chains or ropes terminate in loops or eyes, the steins or shanks of which, when
between the pulleys and the pulley brackets, cause the loops to stand out
horizontally, or approximately so. Fixed to the usual frame erected over the
shaft mouth are claws which overhang the shaft inwards in such manner as to be
in a position to engage with the loops of the chains when, in the ascent of the cage,
the said loops are presented to the claws. By such engagement the cage gates
guarding each end of the cage are raised as the cage continues to ascend, and,
when the cage floor is on a level with the bank or landing stage at the shaft mouth,
the cage gates are drawn above the cage roof, leaving the ends of the cage
unobstructed.
In their ascent the cage gates carry up, by means of overlapping toes, the usual
"surface" gates guarding the shaft mouth.
In the descent of the cage, the cage gates and surface gates descend together
until the downward progress of the surface gates is arrested by contact with the
bank or stage. The cage gates continue to descend until they rest on the collars
provided, as aforesaid, on the pillars. In this position the gates guard the cage
ends during its descent in the shaft.
At a suitable distance above the shaft bottom are fixed ledges which, when the
cage has descended sufficiently far, come into contact with corresponding ledges
provided on the cage gates. In this manner the downward progress of the cage
gates is arrested in advance of the cage so that when the latter reaches the shaft
bottom the cage ends are unobstructed. On the resumption of ascent the cage
gates again take up their former position across the cage ends. Thus, during
ascent and descent of the cage in the shaft the cage ends are guarded by the gates,
while, on arrival at the shaft mouth and shaft bottom, the gates are mechanically
operated to leave the cage ends clear.
. Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 represents
a miners' cage fitted with end safety gates in accordance with this invention,
Fig. 2 is an end view.
Extended upwards from the floor of the cage a are pillars 6 on which are slung
gates c normally resting on the collars provided on the pillars 6 which are tied
together at the top by the stays 63. To the gates c are connected chains d which
are conducted over. pulleys e carried in brackets f fixed on the upper ends of the
pillars b. The outer ends of the chains d are furnished with eyes or loops d the
stems or shanks of which, when the gates c are in the position shown and in which

page_text: they guard the cage ends, cause the eyes or loops d' to stand out horizontally, or
approximately so.
Fixed to the usual frame g erected over the mouth of the shaft are claws h
projecting inwardly towards the shaft and overhanging the eyes or loops d¹ of the
chains d.
or
When, in each ascent of the cage, the loops or eyes d'engage with the claws h,
the gates c are drawn up on the pillars as the cage continues to ascend and the
arrangement is such that when the floor of the cage is level with the "bank
stage at the top of the shaft the gates c are drawn up to an extent which leaves
the cage ends unobstructed for free ingress and egress. In their ascent the cage
gates c carry up the usual surface gates i slung on the usual pillars guarding the
mouth of the shaft. This is effected by contact of the toes o projecting outwardly
from the lower rails of the cage gates e with the toes projecting inwardly towards
the shaft from the lower rails of the surface gates i. When the cage resumes descent,
the cage gates c and surface gates i descend together until the downward progress
of the gates is prevented by contact with the "bank" or stage at the top of the
shaft. Having thus deposited the surface gates on the bank, the cage gates
descend until they rest on the collars of the pillars b. Disengagement of the
loops with the claws h ensues, and the gates e, descending with the cage, guard
its ends in its progress down the shaft.
Towards the bottom of the shaft and fixed on suitable beams are ledges k
projecting inwardly in the shaft, as seen in the side view Fig. 3 in which
represents the shaft bottom or landing place and m beams to which the ledges
are fixed.
When the cage has descended sufficiently therefor, the ledges k come
into contact with corresponding ledges c² provided on the upper rails of the cage
gates c. By this means the descent of the gates c is arrested, (the chains d simply
doubling loosely) and when the cage arrives at the bottom of the shaft the cage
ends are clear.
Ascent having been resumed, the chains are drawn and the cage gates care
lifted off the ledges k and again lie across and guard the cage ends.
Hence it will be seen that both in ascending and descending the shaft the cage
is guarded at the ends by the gates c which ou arrival at the top and bottom
respectively of the shaft are mechanically operated to leave the cage ends
clear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a miners' cage, the device of vertically movable gates fitted at the cage
ends guarding the same during ascent and descent in the shaft, and mechanically
operated to leave the ends free and unobstructed for ingress and egress when the
cage is at the top and bottom respectively of the shaft.
2. In a miners' cage, the device of gates such as c normally obstructing ingress
to and egress from the cage by resting on collars such as 6 provided on pillars
such as 6 (or on any other suitable support); the said gates being connected to
chains such as d, or the equivalents thereof, conducted over pulleys such as e
supported in suitable bearings carried on the pillars ; the outer ends of the
chains being furnished with open eyes or loops for engagement, in each ascent of
the cage, with claws such as fixed to the frame above the mouth of the shaft.
3. In a miners' cage fitted at each end with vertically movable gates, as above
described, means for carrying up the usual "surface" gates; said means consisting
of the outwardly-projecting toes c¹ of the cage gates c and the inwardly-projecting
toes of the surface gates i; the arrangement being such that, in each ascent of
the cage, the toes c' make contact with the toes and thus cause the gates i to be
carried up with the gates c.
4. In a miners' cage fitted at each end with vertically movable gates, as above
described, the means for arresting the further downward progress of the cage

page_text: gates c when the cage has arrived near the bottom of the shaft; the said means
consisting of inwardly-projecting ledges such as k fixed on beams such as m (or to
any convenient support) and outwardly-projecting ledges such as c² provided on
the cage gates c; the arrangement and disposition being such that when the cage
reaches the bottom of the shaft, the cage ends are clear and unobstructed, and, on
ascent being resumed, the gates c are lifted off the ledges k, as hereinbefore set
forth.
Dated this 5th day of February 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.