Safety Apparatus for Cages and Hoists.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Safety Apparatus for Cages and Hoists.
OCKWELL HAWKINS Colliery Manager 16 Llantrisant Road Pontypridd
Glamorganshire South Wales 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 :-
The object of my invention is to prevent the descent of the cage when the
winding rope or the chains for connecting the cage to the rope breaks.
In hoists of the ordinary construction the cage is guided by wire ropes or con-
ductors at each side of the cage.
Now my invention consists in applying to each wire rope or conductor an
eccentric jointed to studs fixed to an iron frame which is resting on the cage,
the arm of this eccentric being connected by links to the cage, and the extreme
end of the same connected by small wire ropes to the winding chains.
When the cage is ascending or descending the strain on the connecting wire
ropes and connecting links hold the eccentrics clear of the wire conductors, but on
the breakage of the winding rope or chains the eccentrics are instantly brought
into contact with and bind against the wire conductors, thus preventing the descent
of the cage.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the accompanying sheet of drawing, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
The accompanying drawing represents a safety cage suitable for a coal pit, to
which my improvements are applied; this view shows the parts in the positions they
occupy when the cage is ascending or descending.
a, a, are the sides; and the top rail of the cage, which is constructed in the
usual manner; c is the lower end of the wire or other winding rope for raising
and lowering the cage, the ring cat the end of the rope c is connected to the
cage by the four diagonal chains d as usual; e are the wire guides or conductors.
In the top rail 6 are fixed two studs f which connect the cage by means of the
links o to the eccentrics 9 by studs h. In each of the eccentrics g are fixed studs i
which are fixed to frame j serving as fulcra for the eccentrics 9, the frame j is
bolted to the rests k, the rests k supporting the frame j on the top rail b, and each
eccentric g is connected by wire ropes to the diagonal chains d, the wire ropes or
conductors e are connected to the springs m, the springs m rest on frame n.
The mode of operation is as follows:-So long as the cage continues to ascend
and descend by the usual winding and unwinding gear connected to the rope c the
eccentrics g are held by the wire ropes and links o clear of the wire conductors e,
as shown by the accompanying drawing, but the moment the wire ropes c breaks
the connecting chains à drop on the top of the cage, and the eccentrics g being no
longer held up by the wire ropes / swivel partly round on their fulcrum studs i, and
their surface coming in contact with the wire conductors e presses the conductors e
against the rests k which causes the frame j to be arrested on the conductors e, and
the cage a which is connected to the eccentrics 9 by means of studs f and h and the
links o becomes suspended to the frame j, the studs work in a slot so as to lessen
the jerk on the cage, the spring m which rests on the frame a lessens the jerk on
the conductors e.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-

page_text: 2. The slot holes for studs h and connecting links o so as to lessen the jerk on
the cage.
3. The springs m connected to the conductors e and resting on the frame n to
lessen the jerk on the conductors e.
4. And to hold the cage a when the rope c breaks on the conductors e.
5. By means of these improvements accidents from the breakage of the winding
rope are prevented, and the apparatus is so simple that it is impossible to get
deranged the apparatus can be applied to the cages of coal and other mines, and
to hoists of every description in a very short time and at little expence, and the
weight of the parts is inconsiderable.
;
Dated this First day of December 1892.
OCKWELL HAWKINS.