IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING MACHINERY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Clark Jefferson of Headingley near Leeds in the
County of York for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING
MACHINERY communicated to him from abroad by Herr O. Meinicke of
Clausthal in the Province of Hauover in the German Empire, Engineer
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Clark Jefferson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1883.
JOHN CLARK JEFFERSON of Headingley near Leeds in the County of York
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING MACHINERY (A communication to me from abroad
by Herr C. Meinicke of Clausthal in the province of Hanover in the German
Empire Engineer)
In ordinary winding arrangements at collieries and other mines where two
winding ropes and two cages are employed at the same time (so that whilst the
loaded cage is being raised to the surface the unloaded cage is being lowered from
the surface) at the commencement of winding, the engine or other motor, must lift
not only the useful load (ie the mineral) but also the whole weight of the rope
attached to the loaded cage. As the loaded cage approaches the surface, the rope
attached to the unloaded cage bangs with more or less of its whole woight in the
shaft and if the shaft is of any depth this weight exceeds that of the useful load
and the winding engine has to act against this surplus weight. There is thus at
the commencement and also at the end of the winding operation a surplus weight
acting against the winding engine.
Now the object of this invention is to more or less completely balance this
surplus weight. For this purpose one or more "balance ropes' or chains are
employed which are attached at their ends to lighter "auxiliary" ropes or chains
and are so connected by these "auxiliary" ropes or chains to the winding engine
that the surplus weight of the "balance" rope or ropes acts against and more or
less completely balances the surplus weight of the winding and "auxiliary" ropes.
The employment of balance ropes and chains is not new but hitherto they have
been connected to the winding apparatus in such a manner as to possess several

page_text: disadvantages-notably to throw an increased strain on the winding rope and also
to increase the danger and to throw an extra strain on the safety catches in case of
an actual rupture of the winding rope.
According to the presont invention the winding rope has only the cage and its
load suspended from it, so that the above specially mentioned disadvantages are by
its use obviated.
The "balance" ropes or chains are attached at their ends to "auxiliary" ropes
or chains by which they are so connected to the winding engines that the surplus
weight of the "balance" rope or ropes acts against and more or less completely
balances the surplus weight of the winding and "auxiliary" ropes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Clark Jefferson in the Patent Office on the 23rd April 1884.
JOHN CLARK JEFFERSON of Headingley near Leeds in the County of York
IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDING MACHINERY (A communication to me from abroad by
Herr C Meinicke of Clausthal in the Province of Hannover in the German Empire
Enginoor
In ordinary winding arrangements at collieries and other mines where two
winding ropes and two cagos are employed at the same time (so that whilst the
loaded cage is being raised to the surface the unloaded cage is being lowered from
the surface) at the commencement of winding the engine or other motor must lift
not only the useful load but also the whole weight of the rope attached to the
loaded cage. As the loaded cage approaches the surface the rope attached to the
unloaded cage hangs with more or less of its whole weight in the shaft and if
the shaft is of any depth, the weight exceeds that of the useful load and the
winding engine has to act against this surplus weight-There is thus at the
commencement and also at the end of the winding operation a surplus weight
acting against the winding engine
"
CE
27
Now the object of this Invention is to more or less completely balance this
surplus weight. For this purpose one or more
balance ropes or chains are
employed which are attached at their ends to lighter" auxiliary ropes" or chains
and are so connected by these "auxiliary ropes · or chains to the winding engine
that the surplus weight of the balance rope or ropes or chains acts against and
more or less completely balances the surplus weight of the winding and auxiliary
ropes.
The employment of balance ropes or chains is not new but hitherto they have
been connected to the winding. apparatus in such a manner as to possess. several
disadvantages, notably to throw an increased strain on the winding rope and also
to increase the danger and to throw an extra strain on the safety catches in case of
actual rupture of the winding rope
According to the present Invention the winding rope has only the cage and its
load suspended from it so that the above specially mentioned disadvantages are by
its use obviated.

page_text: given to the accompanying drawings and to thọ letters and marks thereon
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figs 1 to 11 shew various arrangements of the said Improvements which will be
hereafter described in detail, and in which;
c, and c, are the cages, w, and w, are the winding ropes, α, and α, the auxiliary
ropes b is the balance rope shewn in thick lines d₁ and d, are the two winding
drums.
The elevation Fig 1 is common to the two plans Figs 2 and 3 and the elevation
Fig 5 is common to the two plans Figs 4 and 6.
In Fig 2 the drums d, and d, are but little wider than is ordinarily the case.
The winding rope w, is uncoiled from the drum d,; and the cage c, to which it is
attached is at the bottom of the shaft. The winding rope w, is fully coiled on the
drum d, and the cage c, which is attached to the ends thereof is at the top of the
shaft. The auxiliary rope a hangs with its full length in the shaft, whilst the
auxiliary rope a, is fully coiled on the drum d. The balance rope b hanging in
the shaft as shown balances the weight both of the "auxiliary" and "winding":
ropes a, and w As the auxiliary rope α uncoils from the drum d, the winding
rope w, begins to coil thereon and on to the space from which the auxiliary rope a
uncoils; at the same time the reverse proceeding is taking place with the ropes w
and a, and the drum d-On this account therefore the drums d, and d, require to
be but little wider than is usually the case.
It will be evident that in all cases to obtain even a partial balance, the "balance"
rope must always be heavier than the auxiliary rope, and that if the balancing is
to be perfect the weight per running foot of the balance rope must be equal to
the weight per foot of both the auxiliary and winding rope together. If this
latter condition is fulfilled the balancing of the ropes is complete for every position
of the cages in the shaft. In Fig 3 the winding rope and the corresponding
auxiliary rope are coiled at one and the same time on the drum d₂, whilst the
other winding rope and corresponding auxiliary rope are being uncoiled from tho
drum d,; and vice versa. This arrangement requires the drums to be of twice
the usual width
In both these arrangements it is possible to wind from different levels The
winding ropes may also be recapped several times provided in the first instance
that the balance rope hangs sufficiently deep below the shaft bottom in a
comparatively deep sump, since after each capping the lowest portion of the
balance rope is correspondingly raised.
In Figs 4 and 5 the auxiliary ropes α, and α, are combined in one which passes
round a small portion of one of the drums d, and also round the guide pulley r
In this arrangement the capping of the winding rope may be repeated several times
and in every case the bottom of the "balance" rope remains at the same height.
It is not possible however with this arrangement to wind from different levels.
This disadvantage however is avoided by the arrangement shewn in Fig 6 in
which the combined auxiliary ropes a, and α, are wound round a separate narrower
drum or pulley k which is so, arranged that it can be disconnected from the axle
and controlled by a brake
In the case of very deep shafts it may be advisable not only to have the winding
Topes conical (ie of a varying section) but also the auxiliary ropes. In such a caso
however the lower ends of the auxiliary ropes are the thicker whilst the upper ends
of the winding ropes as usual are the thicker. The two auxiliary ropes cannot
then be combined in one but should be wound on separate drums k, and k, Fig 8
which are so arranged that they can be disconnected from the axle and controlled
by brakes. Fig 7 shews the corresponding elevation. With this arrangement it is
also possible to wind from different levels

page_text: When it is inconvenient to pass the "balance" rope beneath the bottom of the
shaft round a wido pulley, this may be effected by means of a "blind" shaft (sce
Fig 9) into which it is passed by guide pulleys and in which it may be passed
round a horizontal pulley of larger size than is possible to place at the bottom of
the main shaft. Or as shewn in Figs 10 and 11 in elevation and plan the
"balance" rope b may be passed round a horizontal pulley o fixed on a carriago
and stretched with the necessary tension, by the weight g
As shewn in plan in Figs 8 and 11 the “balance” rope may be readily boxed off
from the rest of the shaft.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and shewn how the same
may be carried into practice I would have it understood that I do not limit myself
to the precise details shewn in the drawings and herein described, but what I do
claim is:-
23
The use of the "balance" rope b attached at its ends to lighter "auxiliary
rupes a, and a, by which it is so connected to the winding engine, that the
winding ropes w₁ and w, are balanced, substantially as shewn in the
accompanying drawings and herein described.
In Witness whereof I the said John Clark Jefferson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
E