IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF MINE. CAGES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Ridout Wills, of Rowley Regis, in the County
of Stafford, Mining Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE LOADING AND UNLOADING
OF MINE. CAGES."
Sealed the 22nd September 1877, and dated the 25th June 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Ridout Wills at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1877.
WALTER RIDOUT WILLS, of Rowley Regis, in the County of Stafford, Mining
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING'
THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF MINE CAGES."
My Invention consists, first, of the arrangement of parts herein-after described,
whereby the empty tubs are permitted to pass one at a time on to the cage
bottom.
I make the whole of the landing stage of the pit as well as the cage bottom
slightly inclined, so that the empty tubs at one side of the pit's mouth travel when,
at liberty to move towards the cage, and the loaded tubs when released from the
cage travel from the cage at the opposite side of the pit's mouth. At the feeding
side of the pit's mouth a rocking lever moving in a vertical plane is situated, the
said lever having at or near each end an arm or catch at right angles.
I will call that arm of the lever nearest the pit's mouth the front catch, and the
other arm the rear catch. Under the rear catch is a weight by which the rocking
lever when at liberty to move is brought to its normal position. In this, its normal
position, the front catch is elevated, and is situated in front of the axle of the first
tub of the series of tubs at the feeding side of the inclined landing stage, the said
front catch preventing the motion of the said front tub. The rear catch in the
normal position of the rocking lever is below the level of the axles of the tubs, and
offers no obstruction to their motion. An arm is jointed to the front end of the
rocking lever, the said arm projecting into the pit, near the top thereof. The said
arın is acted upon by the bottom of the ascending and descending cage, the said arm
being so constructed that the ascending cage lifts and escapes from the said arm
without affecting the rocking lever, the said arın after the cage has passed it falling
D

page_text: into its normal position ready to be acted upon by the bottom of the cage when the
latter descends to a position proper for the removal of the charged tub. On the
cage reaching this position the bottom of the said cage acting on the arm of the
rocking lever presses down the said lever and lowers the front catch, thereby
releasing the front or first tub, which immediately runs on to the cage bottom.
As the front catch of the rocking lever descends, the rear catch is lifted and
engages in front of the axle of the next tub and prevents its motion until the rocking
lever assumes its normal position. As the cage is lowered into the pit its bottom
escapes from the jointed arm of the rocking lever, and the latter resumes its normal
position. The rear catch of the said lever thereby descends and releases the second
tub, which travels to the position of the first-described tub, in which position it is
held by the now raised front catch against which the axle of the tub bears. The
second tub is now ready when the cage has returned and the charged tub has been
removed from it to pass into the said cage, as before described. In this way the
series of tubs on the feeding side of the inclined landing stage are allowed one at a
time to pass into the cage.
My Invention consists, further, of the arrangements of parts herein-after described
for holding the tubs in the cage, and for releasing the said tubs at the proper
times.
At that end of the cage at which the charged tub is removed from it, two
holding levers are jointed, one at each side of the cage. The bottoms of these levers
are cranked or bent at right angles, the cranked ends carrying antifriction rollers.
By means of springs or weights the holding levers are maintained in their normal
position, in which position the cranked ends of the said levers partly cross or come
in front of the end of the tub in the cage and retain it in its place.
When the cage rises above the top of the pit's mouth, the holding levers strike
against and press inwards spring or weighted catches. When, however, the holding
levers have passed the said catches, the latter return to their normal position and
prevent the cage descending until the said holding levers have been pressed in. As
the upper ends of the holding levers are pressed inwards by coming against the
catches, the lower or cranked ends of the said levers are removed from the end of
the tub, which tub immediately travels between them, and by the time the cage
has descended to the proper position for unloading, the said tub is partly through
the said holding levers, and when the holding levers are released after the charged
tub has left the cage, they resume their normal position and act as stops to the
empty tub next entering the cage.
The arrangements described for loading and unloading the cage are used with
slight modification at the bottom of the pit as well as at the top.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Walter Ridout Wills in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
December 1877.
WALTER RIDOUT WILLS, of Rowley Regis, in the County of Stafford, Mining
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM OR APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING
THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF MINE CAGES."
My Invention consists, first, of the arrangement of parts hercin-after described
whereby the empty tubs are permitted to pass one at a time on to the cage
bottom.
I make the whole of the landing stage of the pit, as well as the cage bottom,
slightly inclined, so that the empty tubs at one side of the pit's mouth travel when
at liberty to move towards the cage, and the loaded tubs when released from the.
cage travel from the cage at the opposite side of the pit's mouth. At the feeding
side of the pit's mouth a rocking lever moving in a vertical plane is situated, the
said lever having at or near each end an arm or catch at right angles.
I will call that arm of the lever nearest the pit's mouth the front catch, and the
other arm the rear catch. Under the rear catch is a weight by which the rocking
lever when at liberty to move is brought to its normal position. In this, its normal
position, the front catch is elevated, and is situated in front of the axle of the first
tub of the series of tubs at the feeding side of the inclined landing stage, the said
front catch preventing the motion of the said first tub. The rear catch in the
normal position of the rocking lever is below the level of the axles of the tubs, and
offers no obstruction to their motion. An arm is jointed to the front end of the
rocking lever, the said arm projecting into the pit, near the top thereof. The said
arm is acted upon by the bottom of the ascending and descending cage, the said arm
being so constructed that the ascending cage lifts and escapes from the said arm
without affecting the rocking lever, the said arm after the cage has passed it falling
into its normal position ready to be acted upon by the bottom of the cage when the
latter descends to a postiion proper for the removal. of the charged tub. On the
cage reaching this position, the bottom of the said cage acting on the jointed arm of
the rocking lever presses down the said lever and lowers the front catch, thereby
releasing the front or first tub, which immediately runs on to the cage bottom.
As the front catch of the rocking lever descends, the rear catch is lifted and
engages in front of the axle of the next tub and prevents its motion until the
rocking lever assumes its normal position. As the cage is lowered into the pit its
bottom escapes from the jointed arm of the rocking lever, and the latter resumes its
normal position. The rear catch of the said lever thereby descends and releases the
second tub, which travels to the position of the first-described tub, in which position
it is held by the now raised catch against which the axle of the tub bears. The
second tub is now ready, when the cage has returned and the charged tub has been
removed from it, to pass into the said cage, as before described. In this way the
series of tubs on the feeding side of the inclined landing stage is allowed one at a
time to pass into the cage.
I prefer to combine with the tub releasing and arresting mechanism described,
mechanisin herein-after described for working the pit legs, and a safety bolt, and
for signalling the position of the pit legs.
My Invention consists further of the arrangement of parts herein-after described
for holding the tubs in the cage, and for releasing the tubs at the proper times.
At that end of the cage at which the charged tub is removed from it, two
holding levers are jointed, one at each side of the cage. The bottoms of these levers
are cranked or bent at right angles, the cranked ends carrying antifriction rollers.
By means of springs or weights the holding levers are maintained in their normal
position, in which position the cranked ends of the said levers partly cross or come
in front of the end of the tub in the cage and retain it in its place.

page_text: When the cage rises above the top of the pit's mouth the holding levers strike
against and press inwards or press back inclined spring or weighted catches. When,
however, the holding levers have passed the said catches, the latter return to their
normal position and cause the holding levers on the descent of the cage to be pressed
inwards. As the upper ends of the holding levers are pressed inwards by coming
against the catches, the lower or cranked ends of the said levers are removed from
the end of the tub, which tub immediately travels between them, and by the time
the cage has descended to the proper position for unloading, the said tub is partly
through the said holding levers, and when the holding levers are released,' after the
charged tub has left the cage, they resume their normal position and act as stops to
the empty tub next entering the cage.
The arrangements described for loading and unloading the cage are used with
slight modification at the bottom of the pit as well as at the top.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
In
Figures 1 and 2 represent side elevations (partly in section) of mechanism or
apparatus constructed according to my Invention for facilitating the loading and
unloading of mine cages; and Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of the same.
Figure 1 the several parts are represented in the positions which they respectively
occupy when the mine cage has been lifted above the pit's mouth preparatory to the
removal of the loaded tub from the cage and the passing of an empty tub into the
cage; and in Figure 2 the several parts are represented in the positions which they
respectively occupy when the cage has descended to the level of the pit's mouth, and
the loaded tub is being removed from the cage and an empty tub is passing into
the cage.
Figures 4 and 5 represent end elevations of the mine cage and parts at the pit's
mouth, and exhibit (among other matters) the mechanism for holding the tub in
the cage and for releasing it when the tub is to be removed from the cage.
Figure 6 represents the arrangement of mechanism which is used at the bottom
of the pit.
And Figures 7 and 8 represent arrangements which I employ when the cage is
furnished with three or more decks or platforms to be loaded and unloaded.
I will first describe the mechanism represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 for per-
mitting the empty tubs to pass one at a tine on to the cage bottom.
The landing stage A, B, of the pit is inclined as represented, the side A being the
higher and feeding side of the pit's mouth, and the side B the lower side, at which
the charged tubs are removed. The bottom c² of the nine cage c, c, is also inclined
and provided with rails, the said inclined bottom of the cage forming, when the
cage is in its position for unloading and loading, a continuation of the inclined
feeding side A of the landing stage, and connects the rails of the stage at A with
the rails at the removal side of the stage B. By this arrangement the empty tubs
at the higher side A of the inclined platform travel by their own weight when at
liberty to move towards and on to the cage bottom c², and the loaded tubs carried
by the cage when released travel from the cage on to the incline at the side B of the
pit's mouth.
At the feeding side A of the pit's mouth a rocking lever a, a, is stationed, the said
rocking lever moving in a vertical plane on the axis a². Near the ends of each of
. the arms a, a, of the rocking lever is a forked catch or arm; these forked catches
are marked respectively a³, a. Near the rear catch a', and hung from the end of
the rocking lever, is a weight a³, by which the said rocking lever when at liberty to
move is brought to its normal position, or the position represented in Figure 1.
When the rocking lever a, a, is in its normal position the front catch a³ is elevated,
and is situated in front of the axle of the first tub 1 of the series of tubs 1, 2, 3, at
the feeding side A of the inclined landing stage; and when the said front catch ³ is
Bo elevated it prevents the descending motion of the said first tub 1.
The rear
catch a in the normal position of the rocking lever a, a, is below the level of the

page_text: axles of the several tubs, and offers no obstruction to their motion. Jointed to the
front or inner end of the rocking lever a, a, and projecting into the pit near the top
thereof, is an arm a, the said arın aª carrying a fork, the branches of which are
· situated between the end of the lever a, a. It is only through the branches of the
forked arm a that the lever a can be moved by the action of the cage on the said
arm a, as herein-after described.
By an examination of Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that on the ascending cage
coming against the said arm as the said cage lifts the said arm and escapes from it
before the upper branch of the fork comes in contact with the rocking lever u, and
the said lever is consequently not moved from its normal position, Figure 1. After
the cage has passed the arm a it returns by its own weight to the position
represented. When however the cage after it has been raised above the pit's mouth
and is allowed to descend to the position represented in Figure 2 for the removal
of the loaded tub strikes the jointed arm a on the rocking lever a, the said arm a³,
in consequence of the position of the lower branch of its fork which acts as a stop,
is incapable of descending on its joint, and hence the action of the cage bottom on
the said arm presses it down together with the rocking lever a, a, into the position
represented in Figure 2. The front catch a³ is thereby lowered, releasing the first
tub 1, which immediately runs on to the cage bottom c², the loaded tub 4 at the
same time passing from the cage bottom on to the inclined platform at B. As the
front catch a of the rocking lever a descends the rear catch a is lifted in front of
the axle of the next tub 2, as shown in Figure 2, and prevents the descending
inotion of the said tub 2 until the rocking lever a is again raised into the position,
Figure 1. The rocking lever a is held in the position represented in Figure 2, and
released so as to take its normal position when the cage has descended the desired
distance in the pit by the following arrangement of parts.
When the cage c descends to the unloading position, Figure 2, the rocking lever a
is caught by the hooked end of a weighted lever catch d, turning on the centre d².
This lever catch is shown in side clevation in Figure 1, and front elevation in Figure 4.
The head of the lever catch is bevelled or inclined, and the rocking lever a in
its descent strikes against the said head and pushes the lever catch back to the
position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 4. On the rocking lever a reaching the
'position, Figure 2, the said lever catch by the action of its weight takes the
position represented in continuous lines in Figure 4 and its hooked head engages
with the rocking lever and holds the latter in the depressed position, Figure 2.
The said lever catch d is connected to a rod d³, which passes some distance down
the pit, and the bottom end of the said rod is connected to the lever d³ (see
Figure 1), having a jointed arm d³, the said arm d³ being constructed in the manner
described with respect to the arm of the rocking lever a; that is, the arm do can
be lifted by the rising cage without affecting the lever d, rod d³, and lever catch d,
but the said arm 5 operates the said lever d', rod d³, and lever catch d, when
the descending cage strikes against it. It will therefore be understood that
when the cage c, c, is permitted to descend after the tub 1 has passed on to its
bottom, and the tub 4 has passed from off its bottom, the said descending cage
strikes against and depresses the said arm 5, turning its lever d' on its joint, which
lever pulls down the rod and turns the lever catch d on its joint, and withdraws
its head from the rocking lever a, a, which latter on being thus released resumes its
normal position, or the position represented in Figure 1 by the action of the
weight a. The rear catch a' of the rocking lever a thereby descends and releases
the second tub 2 which travels to the position of the first described tub 1 (Figure 1)
in which position the second tub 2 is held by the now raised front catch a³, against
which the axle of the said tub 2 bears. The tub 2 is now ready, when the cage has
returned and the charged tub has been removed from it to pass on to the cage
bottom c in the manner described with respect to the tub marked 1.
.
By this arrangement. the series of tubs on the feeding side, A of the inclined
landing stage is allowed one at a time to pass into the cage.

page_text: A weighted lever catch x (see Figure 1) pivotted to the cage prevents the back
motion of the tub after it has completely passed into the cage.
By an examination of the said Figure 1 it will be seen that on the tub travelling
into the cage its axles depress and pass over the upper short arm of the catch x,
but the rising of the said short arm (the long arm acting as a stop) prevents the
return of the tub.
I will now describe the mechanism for holding in and releasing the tubs from the
cage at the proper times. At that end of the cage c, c, at which the charged tub
is removed from it is a pair of folding levers ff, jointed to the cage at e². A
holding lever is situated at each side of the cage, and the lower acting ends of the
holding levers are cranked or bent at right angles to the axes e, e, of the said levers,
and the extreme bent ends carry antifriction rollers. The holding levers are
weighted by the weights f2, or springs may be used instead of weights. By means
of the weights f³ (or springs) the holding levers f, f, are maintained in the normal
.position represented in Figure 4, that is, the cranked lower ends of the levers are
made to partly cross or come in front of the end of the tub in the cage and retain
it in its place, as seen in the said Figure 4. By means of stops or short arms f³
jointed to the axes e of the holding levers, and bearing against the side of the cage,
as represented in Figure 4, the said folding levers cannot advance beyond the
normal positions represented in the said Figure 4. On the axes e, e, of the said
levers ff, arms f, f, are fixed, by the action of which arms the said levers are
withdrawn from the tub. When the cage c rises above the top of the pit's mouth
the arms f, f, of the holding levers f, f, strike against the under inclined sides of,
and press back, the weighted or moveable catches h, h, jointed to the uprights or
posts at the pit's mouth (see Figures 1 and 2). By means of the weights connected
to the catches h, h, the latter always fall forward into the position represented when
at liberty to move. As soon as the arms ft, f, of the holding levers pass the
catches h, h, in the ascending motion of the cage, the said catches resume their
normal positions. On the cage being lowered on to the pit legs (herein-after
described) the arins ff, of the holding levers are pressed inwards by striking
against the heads of the catches h, h, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5.
acting ends of the holding levers f, f, are thereby withdrawn from the end of the
tub and occupy the position indicated in Figure 5, until the cage has descended to
within about six inches of the pit legs.
The
When the cage has descended on to the pit legs the holding levers f, f, occupy
the position represented in continuous lines in Figure 5, the ends of the arms f,f,
of the said levers having passed the catches h, h, but the said holding levers cannot
close or resume their normal position, as the tub 4, Figure 2, has travelled between
them, and the antifriction rollers now bear against the under side of the tub (sec
Figure 2) till the said tub has completely left the cage. By the time the cage c, c,
has descended to the proper position for unloading it, the said charged tub 4 has in
part advanced between the holding levers, as illustrated in Figure 2, and when the
charged tub 4 has left the cage the acting ends of the levers ff, resume their
normal positions, as illustrated in Figure 4, and act as stops to and arrest the
motion of the empty tub 1 entering the cage. The forward motion of the incoming
tub is thus prevented by the holding levers f, f, and the back motion by the lever
catch c.
After the charged tub 4 has thus left the cage and has been replaced by
an empty tub 1, the cage is first slightly raised to allow the pit legs to be with-
drawn, and the said cage is afterwards lowered into the pit, the said operations
being performed each time a tub is removed from the cage.
I combine with the mechanism already described the following arrangement of
parts, whereby the raising or lowering of the cage is made to work the pit legs
and also a safety bolt, and to operate a signal. The pit legs marked i, i, in
Figures 1 and 2, consist of catches, upon whichi the cage is supported when in its
unloading position. The said catches or legs i, i, are keyed to horizontal shafts 12, 12,
and are connected together by the rod. By means of a weighted lever won one.

page_text: of the shafts the two catches or legs i, i, are made to take the normal
position, Figure 1, so as to be out of the way of the mine cage.
Heels on
the catches or legs i, i, when the latter are moved into the position, Figure 2,
bear against the pit's side, and prevent the said catches passing beyond that
position. Above the pit's mouth is a weighted lever j, k, on the axis 2, the
end of the arinj of the said lever being constructed in the manner herein-before
described with respect to the end of the rocking lever a, a, and the end of
the lever d for permitting the cage to act upon it only on its descending motion.
On the shaft or axis j2 of the lever j, k, a second lever is fixed, and to the end of
the lever a rod n is jointed. The end of the rod n is forked, and carries an anti-
friction roller; and between the branches of the said fork the lower part of a long
lever m is situated, the said lever m being fixed to one of the shafts 2 of the pit
legs. The lever m is pressed into contact with the roller at the base of the fork
of the rod n by the weighted lever u on the said shaft. The top of the lever m
carries a circular disc or signal m², by the position of which the engineman ascertains
if the pit legs are in their acting or non-acting position respectively. By the action
of the weight of the lever j, k, and the weighted lever w of the pit legs i, i, the
said lever j, k, and legs i, i, are maintained in the normal position represented in
Figure 1. When the cage rises above the pit's mouth the lever j, k, is unaffected
by such motion, in consequence of the construction of the jointed end j³ of the
arm j; but when the cage is lowered for the purpose of unloading it the said cage
acts upon and depresses the lever j, k, into the position represented in Figure 2.
By this motion of the lever j, k, its axis performs a partial rotation and throws
the lever and rod n forward to the positions represented in Figure 2. The forked
end of the rod n thereby depresses the lever m, which, acting through the shafts 2, i²,
and connecting rod ³, causes the legs i, i, to be pushed outwards under the cage,
and the said cage, on descending to its unloading position, falls on to and is sup-
ported by the said legs i, i, as represented in Figure 2. When the cage has reached
the position, Figure 2, the end 3 of the lever j, k, escapes from the cage, and the
said lever j, k, rod n, and lever return to their normal positions by the action of
the weight on the lever j, k, the fork on the rod n permitting of the free motion of
the parts described when the pressure of the cage is removed from the end of the
lever j, . The charged tub having been removed, and replaced by an empty one,
the engineman slightly raises the cage, when the weight of the said cage, being
removed from the legs i, i, they are immediately drawn back or take their normal
positions by the action of the counter balance weight w, and the cage may now be
lowered, without obstruction from the said legs, as shown in Figure 1.
The position of the disc or signal m² on the top of the lever m indicates to the
engineman the position of the pit legs.
For the purpose of ensuring that the pit legs shall be in their forward or sup-
porting position before the descent of the cage takes place, a safety bolt (Figure 3)
is so arranged and worked that when the pit legs are not in their forward position,
the said safety bolt crosses one of the rails of the inclined tramway at the feeding side
A, and thereby arrests the motion of the tub at the said side A; but when the pit
legs i, i, are in their forward or supporting position the safety bolt is withdrawn.
The safety bolt is worked from the signal lever m by the rod t jointed to the bell-
crank levers and rod s², and the latter to the safety bolt, as best seen in Figure 3.
It will thus be understood that when the signal lever m takes the position,
Figure 2, it also acts through the rod t, lever s, and rod s, and withdraws the bolt
, and a tub is permitted to pass onto the cage bottom which is supported on the
legs i, i.
3"
Should the legs not have been operated upon by the lever mechanism represented
the safety bolt remains in its shot position, and no tub can pass on to the cage
bottom. It will thus be seen that if the engineman draws the cage high enough to
release the tub at the side A of the platform he must at the same time-bring the
pit legs into their supporting position, and unless the legs are in that position the

page_text: tub cannot be released. The movements described are thereby made to interlock
each other and prevent accident.
The arrangement of the rocking lever a, a, at the bottom of the pit is represented
in Figure 6. The said lever has a straight end, and the cage drops on to the
platform y. The mechanism for releasing the holding levers f, f, is the same as
that at the top of the pit.
When cages having three (or more) decks are employed, the rocking levers a, a,
are combined together by cranks 1, 2, and 3, and connecting rod 4, as represented
in Figure 8. In this case the bottom rocking lever is only of a length to be acted
upon by the descending cage. The holding and releasing mechanisin for the three
tubs when a three deck cage is used, is shown in Figure 7. In this arrangement 5,
6, and 7, represent the holding levers which are connected together and worked by
the cranks 8, 9, and 10, and connecting rod 11. This compound arrangement is
actuated by the single arm 12 on the axis of the bottom holding lever 7 coming
against the catch (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), as before described with respect to
the single arrangement. The crank 10 and arm 12 are connected and move together,
the said crank and arm turning loosely on the axis 7a of the holding lever 7, but
the said arm 12 cannot fall beyond the position represented in Figure 7. The
cranks 8 and 9 of the upper holding levers 5 and 6 respectively work loosely on
their axes 8 and 9a, so that the cranks 10, 9, 8, on being lifted, through the
operation of the arm 12 and rod 11, cause the holding levers 7, 6, and 5 to take
their withdrawn positions (as indicated by the lever 5), yet the said holding levers
when at liberty to move can independently take their normal positions by the
action of their respective weights without moving the cranks 8, 9, 10. This arrange-
ment renders each holding lever independent of the others, and each. lever can close
immediately the tub has passed out of the cage.
The arrangement, Figure 7, may be applied to the loading of two, three, or more
tubs abreast by multiplying the holding levers, and connecting them together, and
also to loading two, three, or more tubs one over the other, or one behind the other
by making the rollers on the ends of the holding levers sufficiently large to cover
the distance between two or more tubs and timing the incoming tub so as to leave
room for the levers to close.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
samic is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention, but I claim as my Invention of
improvements in mechanism or apparatus for facilitating the loading and unloading
of mine cages,-
First. The construction and arrangement of parts herein-before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for permitting the empty tubs to pass
one at a time on to the cage bottom, or on to the decks of the cage, when cages with
two or more decks are used, that is to say, the arrangement or adaptation of the
rocking lever a, a, (or rocking levers) combined with an inclined tramway at the
pit's mouth or at the bottom of the pit, the said rocking lever (or rocking levers)
being put into operation and restored to the normal position by the descent of the
mine cage, the several parts being constructed and operating substantially as
described and illustrated.
Secondly. The combination with the tub releasing and arresting mechanisin
referred to in claim 1 of the arrangement or combination of parts herein-before
described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for working the pit legs
and signalling the position of the said pit legs.
Thirdly. The combination with the tub releasing and arresting mechanism
referred to in claim I of the combination or arrangement herein-before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, of the parts of a safety bolt, whereby
the passage of an empty tub into the cage is prevented should the pit legs not have
been brought into the position proper for supporting the cage.

page_text: Lastly. The construction and combination of parts herein-before described, and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for holding the tubs in the cage, and for
releasing the tubs at the proper times, whether the holding and releasing mechanism
be applied to the holding and releasing of single tubs, or to the holding and releasing
of two or more tubs arranged in series as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ridout Wills, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
WALTER RIDOUT WILLS. (L.S.)