AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WINDING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN MINES, SHAFTS, PITS, OR LIFTS, AND INCLINED PLANES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas, of the Gadlys Iron Works,
Aberdare, in the County of Glamorgan, Mineral Engineer, and
William Davis, of the same Place, Manager of Iron Works, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WINDING
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN MINES, SHAFTS, PITS, OR LIFTS, AND
INCLINED PLANES."
Sealed the 10th August 1869, and dated the 27th February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas and
William Davis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 27th February 1869.
We, WILLIAM THOMAS, of the Gadlys Iron Works, Aberdare, in
the County of Glamorgan, Mineral Engineer, and WILLIAM DAVIS, of
the same Place, Manager of Iron Works, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WINDING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN MINES, SHAFTS, PITS, OR LIFTS,
AND INCLINED PLANES," to be as follows:-
In the present method of raising minerals from mines, shafts, or pits
two ropes are used coiled round a drum situate at some distance from the

page_text: opening to the mine, and each of such ropes is passed over a separate
pulley fixed over such opening and attached to the cage passing down
or up the mine or pit. In this construction of winding apparatus, from
the circumstance of the drums round which the ropes are coiled being
placed at a distance from the pulley, the rope forms an obtuse angle and
requires great motive power to overcome the resistance occasioned by
such angle, there is also great danger from this method of the ropes
being broken on account of the excessive strain, and also the cages being
overwound above the top of the pit or mine.
Our Invention, which entirely prevents overwinding, consists in placing
a pair of groved drums or pulleys in a vertical position upon frames
erected directly over the opening to the mine or pit, and instead of using
a pair of ropes we use a single rope which is passed over each drum or
pulley in two or more coils, to each end of which rope a cage is attached.
By this means we dispense with two pulleys and one entire length of
winding rope. We also propose to apply steam or other motive power
for lifting and other purposes direct to the spindle or shaft of the upper
drum or pulley by fixing thereto the crank of an oscillating or other
engine or engines placed immediately adjoining to or at a distance from
the drum or pulley, or to effect this by means of a single engine driving
a spur wheel in gear with toothed wheels attached to the two vertical
drums or pulleys.
We also propose to adapt this Invention to the winding apparatus or
machinery used in drawing loads along inclined planes, and this object
would effect by fixing the two drums or pulleys horizontally instead
of vertically, and worked by an engine or engines in the manner before
described; or in the case of self-acting inclined planes without any such
motive power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Thomas and William Davis in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 17th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
THOMAS, of the Gadlys Iron Works, Aberdare, in the County of
Glamorgan, Mineral Engineer, and WILLIAM DAVIS, of the same Place,
Manager of Iron Works, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and sixty-nine, in
the thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said William Thomas and William
Davis, Her special licence that we, the said William Thomas and
William Davis, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said William Thomas and William Davis, our 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 "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WINDING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN MINES, SHAFTS,
PITS, OR LIFTS, AND INCLINED PLANES," upon the condition (amongst others).
that we, the said William Thomas and William Davis, our executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said William Thomas and William
Davis, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the present method of raising minerals from mines, shafts, or pits
two ropes are used coiled round a drum situate at some distance from the
opening to the mine, and each of such ropes is passed over a separate
pulley fixed over such opening and attached to the cage passing down or
up the mine or pit. In this construction of winding apparatus, from the
circumstance of the drum round which the ropes are coiled being placed
at a distance from the pulley, the rope forms an obtuse angle, and
requires great motive power to overcome the resistance occasioned by
such angle, there is also great danger in this method of the ropes being
broken on account of the excessive strain, and also the cages being over-
wound above the top of the pit or mine.
Our Iuvention, which entirely prevents overwinding, consists in placing

page_text: a grooved drum and two pulleys in a vertical position upon frames
erected directly over the opening to the mine or pit, and instead of using
a pair of ropes we use a single rope which is passed over the drum or
pulleys in two or more coils, to each end of which rope a cage is attached,
by this means we dispense with one entire length of winding rope. We
also propose to apply steam or other motive power for lifting and other
purposes direct to the spindle or shafts of the upper drum or pulley by
fixing thereto the crank of an oscillating or other engine or engines
placed immediately adjoining to or at a distance from the drum or pulley;
or to effect this by means of a single engine driving a spur wheel in gear
with toothed wheels attached to the two vertical drums or pulleys.
We also propose to adopt this Invention to the winding apparatus or
machinery used in drawing loads along inclined planes, and this object is
effected by fixing the two drums or pulleys horizontally instead of
vertically and worked by an engine or engines in the manner before
described, or in the case of self-acting inclined planes without any such
motive power.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Thomas and William
Davis, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this Thirteenth day
of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said William Thomas and
William Davis, in the presence of
R. ORTON GERY,
26, Cardiff Street,
Aberdare.
WILLIAM THOMAS. (L.S.)
WILLIAM DAVIS.
(L.S.)