Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Effecting Electrical Signals between the Occupants of Cages, Hoists, or Lifts, and others.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 10th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 28th Oct., 1887
TRUVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Effecting Electrical
Signals between the Occupants of Cages, Hoists, or Lifts, and
others.
I WILLIAM ARMSTRONG of Wingate Grange Colly Wingate by Ferryhill in the
County of Durham, Mining Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In apparatus for raising and lowering miners and others in cages hoists or lifts and
also animals and other commodities it is a convenience to be able to communicate
with the person or persons. in charge of the engine windlass gear or other raising
or lowering means and to be able to convey signals clearly as well as simple and
distinct intelligence of the movements of the cage or the like instantly.
For this purpose I insert in the rope or ropes or suspending means an insulated
cord wire or line one end thereof being in connection with an indicating instrument
in the cage and the other end with the engine-man or other attendant whilst for the
sake of checking these persons at their duties or for recording times of travel of tho
cage or detecting irregularities of transit or otherwise leads may be conveyed to other
instruments whereby simultaneous indications may be conveyed.
Dated the 24th day of December 1886.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for Effecting Electrical
Signals between the Occupants of Cages, Hoists, or Lifts, and
others.
I WILLIAM ARMSTRONG of Wingate Grange Colly Wingate by Ferryhill in the
County of Durham Mining Engineer 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:-
In apparatus for raising and lowering miners and others in cages hoists or lifts and
also animals and other commodities it is a convenience to be able to communicato
with the person or persons in charge of the engine, windlass gear or other raising or
lowering means and to be able to convey signals clearly as well as simple and
distinct intelligence of the movements of the cage or the like communications
instantly.
For this purpose I insert or form in the rope or ropes or suspending means an
insulated cord wire or line one end thereof being in connection with an indicating
instrument in the cage and the other end with the engine man or other attendant
whilst for the sake of checking these persons at their duties or for recording times of
travel of the cage or detecting irregularities of transit or otherwise leads or subsidiary
lines may be conveyed to other instruments whereby simultaneous indications may
be conveyed.
Where conductors or guides of wire-rope iron or other material capable of
conveying an electric current are employed, the insulated cord wire or line specially
inserted in the rope or suspending means may be dispensed with and the suspending
means itself be made to form the means of conduction although the separate or distinct
insulated cord or line may be used if preferred, and by insulating the cage or the
like from the shoe ring or other means adopted for engaging the conductor or guide
I can use the suspending means as a lead wire and the conductor or guide of iron or
other suitable material which serve to keep the cage or hoist in position in the shaft
as a return or earth wire, or electrical return conductor or vice-versa as the means of
communicating with the person or persons in charge of the engine windlass or gear
as set forth in the first paragraph. The return conductor may be connected with the
bell or the recorder g direct by a wire. The object in either case being to provide
an efficient means for communicating clear and distinct signals instantly between the
occupants of a cage or other like conveyance and those in charge of the engine or
other hoisting and lowering means, whether in motion or at rest by means of, and
through the suspending means and guides or each and every of them."

page_text: suspending cord c connected to loops c' attached to said cage at c². This cord c passes'
over the overhead wheel d' the axis of which d³ is carried by the bearings de borne
by the framing e.
Figure 2 is a side view of the winding drum d whose axis d' is supported by the
bearings & carried by the supporting framing e, showing the means of connection
between the battery and the signal bell or indicator, and if required recording
means g. This is effected by means of an arm h pivotted at h¹ to the framing e
said arm h at its outer end h³ being grooved or formed to press and maintain
electrical rubbing contact with a rim d³ formed on the shaft of the engine or of
winding drum d which again is in electrical contact with the end of the insulated
wire embedded or applied in the suspending rope or line c or the insulated suspending
rope itself, as the case may be. i is a weighted arm affixed to the axis of the
pivotted arm h adapted to keep the ond of that arm in contact with the rim d³.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 4 is a separate plan view of the cage shewing the shoe rings a' which are
insulated from the cage by vulcanite or other insulating material a².
The cord or line k serves as an electrical lead to connect the insulated line or wire
or the insulated suspending cord band or rope c to push pieces placed in convenient
!
position in the cage or conveyance.
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
In apparatus used in raising or lowering miners and others, goods or animals in
cages hoists or lifts the employment of the means of suspension as a means of
conveying electrical currents for signalling purposes either by insulating the
suspending means itself or by means of a separately insulated line or lead passing
therethrough in manner substantially as herein set forth.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.