Year: 1887

page_text: I, HERBERT PRICE LAVENDER, of Cleveland Street, Wolverhampton, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 manufacture an improved apparatus, to prevent or
provide against accidents by persons or goods falling down hoist holes, or being caught
by the hoist cage, when rising or falling.
I fit a barrier to each opening in such a manner that it is caused to fall auto-
matically across the opening, whenever the cage leaves the level of the floor (or
thereabouts) on passing through the opening up or down. The barrier may be lifted
out of the way, when required; but if the cage is away from the floor of such barrier,
the latter will immediately return across the opening, when released.
When the cage is level with a floor, the barrier on that floor may be thrown back,
out of the way of the cage, and will remain out of the way until the cage ascends
or descends, when the barrier will gently return across the opening, and bar the
entrance.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the safety apparatus. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one
of the brackets, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the brake.
a is the level of the floor. bis the opening to the hoist-hole. cc are the top rails
to the barrier, dd the lower rails to the same, and ee the vertical rails. The rails
are pivotted to the brackets ff and to the rails e e, as shewn, to permit of their being
raised out of the way.
The brackets ff are fixed to the side of the hoist-hole. c' is the rod or axle to
which the rail c is fixed. This axle is carried across the top of the bracket, as
shown in Fig. 2. c is a brake wheel, fitted to the axle c¹. g is a brake strap and
lever pivotted at g³, carrying a small wheel hat its lower end. k is a small air check
cylinder, pivotted at m, and having its connecting rod connected to the rail c, as
shewn in Fig. 1. n is a portion of a cage, to which the spring o is fitted.

page_text: The operation is as follows:-The barrier may be lifted by hand, and placed in a
nearly vertical position against the walls, for the purpose of gaining access to the
lift. The springs o press against the pullies h and cause the levers g to apply the
brake; thus retaining the barrier in a raised position; but, when the cage rises
or falls, the barrier immediately closes the entrance, falling gently by it own weight,
checked by the air-checks kk.
If the lift is a small one, a single gato is sufficient, passing right across the
opening.
The apparatus is formed of light materials, the bars being preferably made of
angle steel.
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 application and use of barriers fitted to hoist holes, capable of closing
automatically, substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
2. In the construction of safety apparatus as aforesaid, the application and use of
automatic brakes g and brake wheels operated by springs o fitted to the cage, sub-
stantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
3. In combination with apparatus as aforesaid, the application and use of air
checks for the purpose of checking the descent of the barrior, substantially as
herein before .described and shown on the drawings.
4. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of an improved automatic safety
apparatus for hoists, substantially as herein before described and shewn on the
drawings.
Dated 8th December 1887
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant