IMPROVEMENTS, IN LIFTS OR CAGES AND TUBS FOR RAISING MINERALS FROM PITS OR MINES AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Job Edwards, of Wednesbury, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS, IN LIFTS OR
CAGES AND TUBS FOR RAISING MINERALS FROM PITS OR MINES AND FOR
OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
Sealed the 13th December 1867, and dated the 18th June 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Job Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the.
18th June 1867.
I, JOB EDWARDS, of Wednesbury, in the County of Stafford, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LIFTS OR CAGES AND TUBS FOR RAISING MINERALS PROM PITS OR MINES AND FOR
OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
Lifts or cages for raising minerals from mines are usually constructed of
bars of angle iron and flat iron bars, the bars of angle iron being used to form
the framing of the horizontal stages or decks, and the flat iron bars being
employed to form the vertical parts of the framing: The flat bars are secured
to the angle bars by rivetting. Lifts or cages so made are liable to lose their
rigidity after short use, the strain and concussion to which the lift or cage
is subjected in use loosening the rivets, and thereby making, the junctions loose.
The tubs used for holding the mineral, and which are placed on the decks
or stages of the lift or cage, are usually made of wood.
The object of my Invention is to remedy the defects which exist in the said
lifts or cages and tubs as ordinarily constructed, and to produce lifts or cages
and tubs more rigid and capable of bearing much longer wear than ordinary

page_text: lifts or cages and tubs.
Lifts or cages constructed according to my Invention
are much lighter than those of the ordinary construction.
In constructing the said lifts or cages according to my Invention I make
both the horizontal and vertical framing of iron or steel tubing, and I effect
the connection of the horizontal and vertical tubes at the required parts, that
is, at the junctions of the horizontal stages. or decks with the vertical part of
the framing by means of wrought-iron or steel joints, somewhat similar to
those employed in joining gas pipes. The ends of the tubes are screwed exter-
nally, and the joints are screwed internally, and the said tubes are screwed
into the joints. I make the screw on one end of each tube right-handed, and
that on the other end of the tube left-handed, and I make the screws in
the joints of a kind proper for those on the ends of the tubes respectively to
engage with. When the parts are screwed together a perfectly rigid framing
is produced which is lighter than that of ordinary lifts or cages, and the parts
of which are not liable to get loose. The strips used for strengthening the lift
or cage, the conductors or guides, and other parts not described, are made in
the ordinary way. The lift or cage is furnished with feet at its bottom angles,
and buffers are fixed at the bottom of the shaft for the feet of the lift or cage
to fall upon on the descent of the lift or cage. The said buffers consist of
disks of vulcanized india-rubber with a plate on their top, the said disks and
plate being, contained in a case fixed at the bottom of the shaft.
•
Lifts or cages can be made according to my Invention of any size and with
any required number of decks.
Lifts or cages made according to my Invention may be employed for other
purposes than raising, minerals from mines, such, for example, as lifts in
warehouses, hotels, and other places.
:
In making tubs for raising minerals according to my Invention I make the
framing of the said tubs of iron or steel tubing and iron or steel joints similar
to those described with reference to the framing of lifts or cages: By making
the framing of the tubs in the way described they are much stronger than
tubs of the ordinary construction.
' .
J

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of. Her
reign; did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Job Edwards, Her special licence that I, the said Job. Edwards,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Job
Edwards, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during.
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands; and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS' IN LIFTS.OR CAGES
AND TUBS FOR RAISING MINERALS FROM PITS OR MINES AND FOR OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst; others) that I, the said Job Edwards,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing, under my, or
their, or one of their hands, and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of: the; said: Invention; and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months.next and iinmediately after the date of 'the
said Letters Patent:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Job Edwards, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
Lifts or cages for raising minerals from mines are usually constructed of
bars of angle iron and flat iron bars, the bars of angle iron being used to form
the framing of the horizontal stages or decks, and the flat iron bars being
employed to form the vertical parts of the framing. The flat bars are secured
to the angle bars by rivetting. Lifts or cages so made are liable to lose their
rigidity after short use, the strain and concussion to which the lift or cage is
subjected in use loosening the rivets and thereby making the junctions loose.
The tubs used for holding the minerals, and which are placed on the decks or
stages of the lift or cage, are usually made of wood.
The object of my Invention is to remedy the defects which exist in the said
lifts or cages and tubs as ordinarily constructed, and to produce lifts or cages
and tubs more rigid and capable of bearing much longer wear than ordinary
lifts or cages and tubs. Lifts or cages and tubs constructed according to my
Invention are much lighter than those of the ordinary construction.
In constructing the said lifts or cages according to my Invention I make
both the horizontal and vertical framing of iron or steel tubing, and I effect

page_text: the connection of the horizontal and vertical tubes at the required parts, that
is, at the junctions of the horizontal stages or decks, with the vertical part of
the framing by means of wrought-iron or steel joints, somewhat similar to
those employed in joining gas pipes. The ends of the tubes are screwed
externally, and the joints are screwed internally, and the said tubes are screwed
into the joints. I make the screw on one end of each tube right-handed, and
that on the other end of the tube left-handed, and I make the screws on the
joints of a kind proper for those on the ends of the tubes respectively to
engage with. When the parts are screwed 'together a perfectly rigid framing
is produced, which is lighter than that of ordinary lifts or cages, 'and' the parts
of which are not liable to get loose. The strips used for strengthening the
lift or cage, the conductors or guides, and the other parts not described, are
made in the ordinary way. The lift or cage is furnished with feet at its
bottom angles, and buffers are fixed at the bottom of the 'shaft for the feet of
the lift or cage to fall upon on the descent of the lift or cage. The said buffers
consist of disks of vulcanized india-rubber with a plate on their top, the said
disks and plate being contained in a case fixed at the bottom of the shaft.
In making tubs for raising minerals according to my Invention I make the
framing of the said tubs of iron or steel tubing and iron or steel joints, similar
to those described with reference to the framing of lifts or cages. By making
the framing of the tubs in the way described they are much stronger than
tubs of the ordinary construction.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe,
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, and Figure 2 in front elevation, a lift
or cage for raising minerals provided with a double deck or stage constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 3 is a plan of one of the decks or stages
of the same, and Figure 4 represents the lift or cage'in perspective. The other
Figures represent 'parts of the same and other details. The same letters of
reference are, employed to indicate the same parts in each Figure of the
Drawing.
a are the vertical and b the horizontal iron or steel tubes of the lift or cage,
the said tubes a, b, being coniected together by the wrought iron or steel angle
joints c, the said joints being somewhat similar to those used in joining gas
pipes, The said 'tubes a, b, are connected to the said joints 'c'by screwing, one
end of each tube being screwed 'externally with a right-handed screw, and
the other end of each tube being screwed externally with a left-handed screw,
the joints-c being screwed internally with corresponding screws to receive the

page_text: said screws on the ends of the tubes. By screwing the horizontal and vertical
tubes a, b, together by the joints c a perfectly rigid framing is produced which
is lighter than that of ordinary lifts or cages, and the parts are not liable to
get loose. The upper and lower decks or stages are provided with cross
bars d upon which the tubs are supported. The sides of the frames are
strengthened by 'strips e, e, which are bolted to the frame in the manner repre-
sented, and the top of the lift or cage is provided with a roof or cover f. On
the sides of the top and bottom horizontal tubes of the frame the conductors
or guides g are bolted, through which the ropes h, h, pass for guiding the lift
or cage. To the summits of the joints c at the top of the frame of the lift or
cage loops marked i are secured, through which the chains k pass to the
central chain, by which the lift or cage is raised or lowered in the mine shaft;
one of these loops i is shown separately on a larger scale in Figure. 5. The
bottom of the lift or cage is provided with feet (formed by the bottom
joints c), and fixed on the sills at the bottom of the shaft are four spring.
buffers 1, 1, (see Figure 1).for the said feet c. to fall upon on the descent of
the lift or cage; one of these spring buffers is shown. on a larger, scale. in
vertical section and plan of upper side in Figure 6. These spring buffers
consist of a series of disks of vulcanized india-rubber with a plate on their top,
the said discs and plate being. contained in a case m. By the use of the said
spring buffers the jar or vibration of the lift or cage on its descent is prevented
or diminished. Props or catches represented in Figure 7 and marked q, are
used to support the cage or lift when raised to the mouth of the shaft. A
portion of the cage marked r is represented supported in the props. Instead of
employing rope or wire conductors in the mine shaft for guiding the lift or cage
tubular conductors of the kind represented in Figures 8, 9, and 10, may be
used in place thereof. The said conductors consist of tubes joined together by
sockets on the end of one tube taking into the end of the other tube as illus-
trated in section and elevation in Figure 8. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the
manner of supporting and joining the tubular conductors by means of screwed
stays or brackets n fixed in the mine shaft. I make the frames of the tubs
which are carried by the lifts or cages in the manner described with respect to
lifts or cages, that is, I make the said frames of the tubs of tubes joined
together by angle joints. As the method of joining the tubes together by which
the frames of the said tubs are made is in all essential respects the same as
that described with reference to lifts or cages I have not thought it
necessary to describe and represent a tub made according to my Invention.
The wheels of mine tubs, the frames of which are constructed according to
my Invention or in the ordinary way, may be best lubricated by the arrange-

page_text: ment represented in elevation in Figure 11 and vertical section in Figure 12.
The oil is poured in at the opening indicated by the arrow, and passes to
the cavity p in the boss of the wheel. On the revolution of the wheel the oil
is raised and delivered upon the upper side of the axle, and the said axle thus
effectually lubricated.
Lifts or cages can be made according to my Invention of any size and with
any required number of decks..
Lifts or cages and tubs made according to my Invention may be employed
for other purposes than raising minerals from mines, such, for example, as lifts
in warehouses, hotels, and other places...
'Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same 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 .the improvements in lifts or cages. and tubs for
raising minerals from pits or mines, and for other like purposes, herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawing, that is to say,
constructing the frames of the said lifts or cages and tubs of tubes of iron
or steel connected together by angle joints of iron or steel into which joints
the said tubes: are screwed, substantially as described 'and 'illustrated.
In witness whereof I, the said Job Edwards, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of 'our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
FRANCIS LEES,
Wednesbury.
JOB EDWARDS. (L.S.)
13