IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING AND FOR PREVENTING THE OVERWINDING OF CAGES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred West, of White Lee Main Colliery, Birstall, in
the County of York, Colliery Proprietor, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING AND FOR PREVENTING THE OVERWINDING
OF CAGES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred West at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1880.
ALFRED WEST, of White Lee Main Colliery, Birstall, in the County of York,
Colliery Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING AND FOR
PREVENTING THE OVERWINDING OF CAGES."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus which answers the purpose of the
ordinary "hook," prevents the cage from being wound over the pulleys and catches,
and suspends the cage on or under the head gear.
The apparatus is constructed as follows:-I employ a block having a transverse
slot therethrough and also a vertical slot. Within the transverse slot are two
plates having vertical and lateral slots cut therein. The outer edge of each plate
is curved or tapered, and projects outside the block. On the opposite edge of each
plate is formed a sneck or notch. The pin of the shackle attached to the winding
rope is passed down the vertical slots in the block and in the slots of the plates
referred to, and the plates are slided inwards, so that the lateral slots therein
embrace the pin of the shackle, whereon a small pin of copper or soft metal is
passed through the block and plates, securing the whole in position.
To the lower part of the block is attached a second shackle of ordinary
construction, and to which shackle the cage is attached.
The action is as follows:-
Should the cage be wound up to and against the head gear of the pit, the
projecting taper or curved edges of the plates are brought in contact with the edges
of or an aperture in a plate attached to the head gear, whereon the plates in the
block are forced inwards, thus cutting the copper pin, releasing the shackle, and
detaching the end of the winding rope. The inward movement of the lower or
curved part of the plates at the same time causes their opposite upper edges, on
which the sneck or notch is formed, to move outwards and over the upper edges
of the plate attached to the head gear, and so the cage is suspended to the head
gear.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred West in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
November 1880.
ALFRED WEST, of White Lee Main Colliery, Birstall, in the County of York,
Colliery Proprietor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUSPENDING AND FOR
PREVENTING THE OVERWINDING OF CAGES."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus which answers the purpose of the
ordinary "hook," prevents the cage from being wound over the pulleys and catches,
and suspends the cage on or under the head gear.
The apparatus is constructed as follows :-I employ a block having a transverse
slot therethrough and also a vertical slot. Within the transverse slot are two
plates having vertical and lateral slots cut therein. The outer edge of each plate
is curved or tapered, and projects outside the block. On the opposite edge of each
plate is formed a sneck or notch. The pin of the shackle attached to the winding
rope is passed down the vertical slots in the block and in the slots of the plates
referred to, and the plates are slided inwards, so that the lateral slots therein
embrace the pin of the shackle, whereon a small pin of copper or soft metal is
passed through the block and plates, securing the whole in position.
To the lower part of the block is attached a second shackle of ordinary con-
struction, and to which shackle the cage is attached.
The action is as follows:-
-
Should the cage be wound up to and against the head gear of the pit, the
projecting taper or curved edges of the plates are brought in contact with the.
edges of an aperture in a plate attached to the head gear, whereon the plates in
the block are forced inwards, cutting the copper pin, thus releasing the shackle
and detaching the end of the winding rope. The inward movement of the lower
or curved part of the plates at the same time causes their opposite upper edges, on
which the sneck or notch is formed, to move outwards and over the upper edges of
the plate attached to the head gear, and so the cage is suspended to the head
gear.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, in order that
the same be fully understood I have hereto annexed a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with Figures and letters of
reference, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 is a side elevation,
Figure 3 is an elevation in section shewing position after an overwind, Figures 4,
5, 6, and 7 are details.
At A is a block having a transverse slot B therethrough and also a vertical
slot C. Within the transverse slot are two plates D and D' having oblique slots E
and E' and lateral slots F and F cut therein. The outer edge G of each plate is
curved or tapered, and projects outside the block A. On the opposite end of each
plate is formed a sneck or notch H, H'. The pin J of the shackle K attached to
the winding rope L is passed down the vertical slot C in the block A and in the
slots of the plates D, D', and the plates are slided inwards, so that the lateral slots
F and F therein embrace the pin J of the shackle, whercon a small pin R of
copper or soft metal is passed through the block and plates, securing the whole in
position.
To the lower part of the block is attached a second shackle O of ordinary
construction, and to which shackle the cage is attached.
The plates D and D¹, or one of them, is provided with facing bits to reduce
friction, and in some cases I apply a small spring M, which when the plates are
expanded lock them in such position, the passage of the pin of the shackle along
the oblique slots E, E', of the plates D and D¹ being the means whereby the latter

page_text: are expanded. At R is shown copper wire inserted for holding the plates D and
D¹ in their normal position, the wire being cut when the plates D and D¹ expand
by contact with the edges of aperture N in the plate P; pin S keeps the plates
from detaching themselves from block A.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
I claim as my Invention,-
Firstly. The use in combination of the block A and plates D and D' having the
slots E, E, F, F, as described herein and illustrated by Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the plates D and D₁ having slots as and for purposes
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred West, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of November, in the year One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
5 Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
ALFRED WEST. (L.S.)
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