Improvements in and Connected with Pit Cages and Head Gear for Collieries to Prevent Overwinding of the Cage.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1887.
Complete Left, 18th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th Sept., 1887.
Improvements in and Connected with Pit Cages and Head Gear for
Collieries to Prevent Overwinding of the Cage.
I, THOMAS SMITH of Stoke-on-Trent in the County of Stafford, Coppersmith, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention is designed with the object of preventing accidents occurring from the
overwinding of the pit cages at collieries, by checking the upward impetus of the cage
when it has reached too high a point, and holding or retaining it so as to prevent its
falling back down the shaft.
In constructing the cage I place a catch upon two or more, preferably upon each of
the uprights of the cage, to engage with a buffer on the head gear. This catch may
be of any suitable form that will pass a fixed or movable plate or catch in an upward
direction, but catch upon it, when moving in an opposite direction.
The shape I at present prefer is somewhat that of a barbed spear or arrow head.
Above the mouth of the shaft, and it may be in connection with the head gear, is fixed
one, two, or more buffers corresponding in number to the catches carried by the cage.
These buffers are arranged for the cage to strike against if raised too high, and at the
same time to receive and hold the catches on the cage, and prevent the cage falling.
The buffers are so arranged that they receive the shock and upward pressure of the
cage without rebound. The buffers are securely attached to a strong beam by means
of bolts or screws, and in outward appearance somewhat resembles the buffer carried
by a railway carriage. The spring is contained in a strong casing preferably some-
what tapering. The slide carrying the buffer head extends below the spring casing.
The head is formed with a hole or recess, and contains one, two, or more catches or
plates moving horizontally. These are beveled or inclined so that when pressed
gainst from below they open or move apart. These receive the catches on the
which when pressed up against the buffer, open the moving catches or plates until the
arbed heads pass above their upper surfaces. The cage catches are thus held and
revented returning. The face of the buffer head is provided with an india rubber
cushion. The slide or rod of the buffer extends upwards through the beams, and
Price 8d 1.
cage

page_text: cage
towards its upper end it is provided with inclined or barbed shoulders or projections
which pass up through similar catches or plates to those on the buffer head. When
the buffer is raised and the spring compressed these projections pass up through the
top catches and prevent rebound. Both sets of sliding plates or catches are provided
with springs of wire, india rubber or other material which tend to keep then closed.
and rigid
It will be evident that movable or pivoted catches may be affixed to the
or stationary ones to the buffer, the object being to provide suitable catches, which
when brought together will engage and lock so as to prevent the downward motion of
the cage. I prefer however, the arrangement of catches specifically mentioned. The
chain of the cage is suspended from the haulage rope by means of a self detaching
hook, which opens when brought in contact with the beam which carries the buffers.
Catches on the side of this hook also engage with a plate or catch on the top surface
of the beam and is retained there and thus prevented falling on the occupants of the
cage. In order to release the cage, screws are placed in the sliding plates by means
of which they can be drawn back when required. These screws are fitted with suitable
heads or nuts, and on the upper end of the sliding rod of the buffer is placed a nut
to adjust the slide and spring of the buffer.
By this arrangement in case of overwinding, the framework or head gear cannot
be carried away, and when the cage is released from the self detaching hook it is held
by the buffers, and so prevented falling back down the shaft.
1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: аци пели Gear for
Collieries to Prevent Overwinding of the Cage.
I, THOMAS SMITH of Stoke-on-Trent, in the county of Stafford, Coppersmith, 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 is designed with the object of preventing accidents occurring from
the over-winding of the pit cages at collieries, by checking the upward impetus of the
cage, when it has reached too high a point and by holding or retaining it so as to
prevent its falling back down the shaft.
The way in which I carry out my invention may be understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings in which,-
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the arrangement of parts before
the cage has come into collision with the head gear of the shaft.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the relative position of the parts after such
collision has taken place.
Figures 3 and 4 are details of one of the catch plates hereafter described, being
sectional plan and sectional elevation respectively.
In these A is the cage which is retained in a vertical position by guides B. Upon
two or more preferably upon each of the uprights of the cage, I place a catch C
secured thereto by any convenient means. The catch may be of any suitable form
that will pass a fixed or movable plate or catch in an upward direction, but catch upon
it when moving in an opposite direction. The shape I prefer is somewhat that of a
barbed spear or arrow head as shown. Above the mouth of the shaft, and it may be
in connection with the beam D of the head gear, is fixed one, two, or more spring
buffers E corresponding in number to the catches carried by the cage. These buffers
are so located that the cage may strike against them if raised too high. The head of
each buffer E is formed with a recess or hole in which slide horizontally one or more
catches or plates e, being held in position by plates e. The plates e are normally held
in the closed position by springs or their equivalent. In Figure 3 an india rubber
pad e takes the place of the spring e². A tapered hole e converging upwards is
formed at the adjacent edges of the catch plates e, one half of the hole being in each
plate. The catch plates are provided with a stud and nut e' for the purpose of with-
drawing or adjusting them. A cushion of india rubber or similar material is
attached to the extreme face of the buffer-head to lessen the jar of the blow when the
cage and buffer head come in collision. The buffers E are securely attached to a
strong framework or beam D by means of bolts or screws, and in outward appearance
somewhat resemble the buffers carried by a railway carriage. They are so arranged
that they receive the shock and upward pressure of the cage without rebound, as will
be explained hereafter. The buffer spring E' which is preferably a volute steel spring
s contained in a strong casing E2. The stem of the buffer has an extension F which

page_text: passes through the centre of the spring E' and through the supporting beam D being
provided at its outer end with a nut F' or similar device, by which the buffer and
buffer head are supported when in their normal position, and by means of which the
buffer spring may be adjusted. The extension F has one or more inclined or barbed
shoulders or projections f which pass up through and engage with the catches F.
These catches are similar to the catches e and are provided in like manner with
springs, retaining plates and adjusting screws and nuts. It will be evident that
movable or pivoted catches may be affixed to the cage, and rigid or stationary ones to
the buffer, the object being to provide suitable catches, which when brought together
will engage and lock so as to prevent the downward motion of the cage. I prefer
however, the arrangement of catches specifically mentioned. The chain or sling of
the cage is suspended from the haulage rope by means of any ordinary self' detaching
hook such as G, which will open when brought in contact with the beam D which
carries the buffers. Catches may also be provided on the side of this hook to engage
with a plate or catch on the top surface of the beam, the hook being thus retained
there and prevented from falling on the occupants of the cage. These catches, which
may be similar to those on the buffer, are not shown on the drawing.
The mode of action in the event of overwinding is as follows:-
The cage in rising forces the catches C into the holes e causing the spring catches e
to move apart until the shoulders of the catches C have passed the upper edge of the
spring catches, when the latter close again and prevent the catches C from being
withdrawn. The first shock of the rising cage is taken up by the cushion e³. The
remainder of its momentum is expended in compressing the buffer springs E' and
driving the extension F through the catches F2 which engage with the shoulders as
soon as the recoil of the cage begins. Should the movement of the winding rope or
chain not be arrested by the stoppage of the cage, the detaching hook G gives way,
being prevented from falling into the cage by the catches on the beam D. The cage
is now supported by the buffer catches alone and remains suspended in this position
The buffers
till released by screwing up the nuts e and withdrawing the catches e.
are also restored to their original position by similar means.
My apparatus is also applicable to many kinds of hoists.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved means for preventing the overwinding of pit cages, which consists
in one or more spring buffers attached to a rigid beam or framework above the pit
shaft, catches affixed to the cage to engage with complementary catches on said
buffers, and the cage sling and winding medium connected by a hook or shackle
which automatically opens when it has reached a given height substantially as
described.
2. The combination with the barbed catches C and respectively, of the movable
catches e and F2, whereby the cage is held suspended and a recoil of the parts prevented,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
1007