Improvements in Safety Devices for Colliery Cages, Hoists, Lifts, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Devices for Colliery Cages, Hoists, Lifts,
and the like.
We, WILLIAM REANEY, Miner, ALBERT WILLIAM PARKES, Clerk in Holy Orders,
THOMAS WILLOUGHBY COLE, Bachelor of Medicine, all of Bolsover, near Chester-
ield, in the County of Derby, THOMAS WARNER TURNER, Land Agent, of 'Cuckney
House, Mansfield, and FREDERICK JOHN TURNER, Land Agent, of Mansfield Wood-
ouse, both in the County of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
nd ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to prevent disaster in the event of the chain or other
support carrying the cage breaking or becoming detached, and it consists in the
application of a device which will grip and distort the guide ropes in case of accident
und prevent the cage from falling.
Our invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings: :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and
Fig. 2 is a plan of the hoist, both figures showing the levers in their normal
position.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one half of the safety device.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the position of the levers and the action of the
gripping device when a breakage occurs.
Figs. and 6 are details of the gripping device out of and in action.
Fig. 7 is a plan and
Fig. 8 is, a section of a modified form of grip.
Fig. 9 is a section showing the same in action.
Fig. 10 is another modification of Figs. 7, 8 and 9.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the levers D and
cross bars F.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
,
A is the cage. Bare the wire guide ropes or rods up and down which the cage
travels. Care chains attached to the corners of the cage and secured to the main
lifting chain or other device. D are two or more levers preferably in pairs
extending from the sides of the cage towards the centre and just clearing each
other at the inner ends. We prefer usually to employ two pairs of levers, but
single levers projecting from opposite sides would answer our purpose. The ends of
these levers may be connected in pairs preferably by heavy cross bars D₁ having a
constant tendency to drag the levers out of their horizontal or normal position.
It is however not essential that the cross bars should be weighted, although in this
Specification we are assuming that the levers are so weighted.
The outer ends K of the levers D travel upon the guide ropes B and are preferably
formed in two parts with a loose cap d secured by bolts d¹ and the upper and lower
edges of the metal surrounding the guide ropes is preferably chamfered or rounded
off as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
Projecting above the top of the cage on opposite sides are brackets E the lower
ends E of which are attached to the upper portion of the sides of the cage; each of
these brackets is provided with a hole E in which fits one of the main cross bars
extending across the top of the cage. On the under side of the cross bars F are
guides F for the arms of the levers D to prevent their moving laterally.
The cross bars D' of the levers are connected by a chain or link or equivalent
device G and by means of the screw link or shackle H are raised and maintained in
a horizontal position which will allow their opposite ends K to freely travel up and
down the ropes.

page_text: The screw link H is not essential but is convenient; the chain can be made the
right length without it.
When a breakage of the chain or other similar accident happens, the levers D
fall out of the horizontal position; the cage momentarily begins to slide down the
ropes but its movement is almost immediately checked by the cross bars F coming
in contact with the levers D) and thus with the whole weight of the cage pull the
levers still further out of the horizontal and cause them to grip and distort the ropes
out of their straight line and prevent the further descent of the cage, as clearly shown.
in Figure 4.
In place of the ends K we may employ pairs of grooved pulleys J the normal
positious of which are represented in Figure 8, while their position for acting as a
gripping device when a breakage occurs is shown in Figure 9.
Fig. 10 is another modification showing two grooved pulleys J whose axes lie in a
plane oblique to that of the guide rope when a breakage occurs the amount of the
obliqueness is increased and a grip on the rope obtained.
In place of the pulleys or lever ends K studs or projections may be employed with
the same effect in the event of an accident; and we do not wish to confine ourselves
to any particular form of gripping device as these may be varied.
As shown in Fig. 11 each of the cross bars F may be provided with sleeves F³
in which the levers D will be capable of sliding longitudinally; in this arrangement
the cross bar will be mounted in bearings so that it may rotate on its axis and
thus allow the sleeves to tilt over to accommodate the varying incline of the levers D
when they are brought into operation.
In this Specification the word "horizontal" has been employed with reference
to the levers D to indicate their normal position such as is shown in Figure 1;
it is not however necessary that those levers should be absolutely horizontal or in
the same plane as it is manifest that they might be constructed cranked for
example so that their normal position instead of being horizontal would be in an
upward direction. The word "horizontal" therefore is used as indicating only the
normal position.
We have described the cage as supported by four chains converging to a point
upon the main chain in the usual manner and a central chain being used to hold
the levers D in their proper position, but it will be observed if the outer ends of
the levers D are properly supported and provided with stops to prevent their
passing their proper position the cage chains may be attached directly to said
levers on the inner side of the bearing and the central chain may then be dispensed
with.
.
The arrangement shown in Figure 1 however is preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a safety device for hoists, lifts and the like the employment of two or more,
levers such as D their outer ends normally travelling free upon the guide ropes but
in the event of accident gripping the guide ropes for the suspension of the cage
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a safety device for hoists lifts and the like the combination with levers
such as D of cross bars D₁ which may or may not be weighted substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a safety device for hoists lifts and the like the combination with levers
such as D of cross bars such as F substantially as and for the purpose described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a safety device for hoists lifts and the like the combination with a lever
such as D of pulleys J studs projections or equivalent carried by the lever and
adapted normally to pass freely over the guide rope but in case of accident to
grip it substantially as described and illustrate in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete safety
device for hoists lifts and the like substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Tthe 10
Nauam bon ENOM
W. REANEY.
A. W. PARKES.
T. W. COLE.
T. WARNER TURNER.
FRED J. TURNER.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.
W. REANEY.
A. W. PARKES.
T. W. COLE.
T. WARNER TURNER.
FRED J. TURNER.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.