CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN ASCENDING AND DESCENDING SHAFTS OF MINES, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Owen, of Worsley, in the County of Lan-
caster, Carpenter, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN ASCENDING
AND DESCENDING SHAFTS OF MINES, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
Sealed the 28th July 1857, and dated the 30th January 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Owen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th January 1857.
I, JAMES OWEN, of Worsley, in the County of Lancaster, Carpenter, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN ASCENDING AND
DESCENDING SHAFTS OF MINES, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO HOISTING AND OTHER LIFTING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
My. Invention relates to a novel description of apparatus for arresting. or
stopping the descent of the "cages" employed in mines and other shafts, if.
the winding rope, band, or chain, by which it is suspended, should break or be
otherwise dissevered. Upon each side of the "cage" two or more levers are
situated, one on each side of the guide rod, extending from the top to the.
bottom of the shaft. These levers turn upon pins or studs secured to the side

page_text: of the "cage" and which form the bearing contres or fulcra of such levers.
The ends of the levers nearest the fulcra are tapered in form, and provided
with a rough or serrated edge, in order to have a more perfect and effectual
grip" or hold upon the rods or guides. The opposite or longer ends of the
levers are each secured by a hinge joint to connecting rods, which are united
together above the "cage" by tie rods, to which a link is attached for securing
the cage to the winding rope. When the cage is suspended, the tapered or
holding ends of the levers are drawn away from the guide. rods, the whole
weight of the "cage, &c." being supported upon the pins or fulcra of the
levers, the connecting or tie rods forming the connection between the rope and
such fulcra, but in the event of the rope, &c. breaking, the whole weight of the
"cage &c." becomes thrown upon the fulcra, and not suspended by the con-
necting rods; this causes the long ends of the levers to fall, and consequently
the shorter ones to rise slightly and "grip" the guide rods, whereby the
"is supported between the fulcra and the short end of the lever, and
the "cage" is prevented from falling or descending the shaft when unattached
to the rope &c. A more certain and quicker action of the levers may be
ensured by the application of springs pressing upon the long ends of the levers,
so as to force the short against the guide rods immediately upon the breaking
of the rope.
cage
The second part of this Invention relates to the novel formation and action
of the bars or rods employed to retain the wagon, bucket, &c. in the "cage,"
and consists in an arrangement of levers in the "cage," which cause the said
bars or rods to rise or fall in front of both ends of the wagon, &c; and thus
open or close the passage to and from the “ cage" simultaneously when
raised or lowered at either side of the "cage."
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Owen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
July 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES 30
OWEN, of Worsley, in the County of Lancaster, Carpenter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters: <
Patent, bearing, date the Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred. and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of. Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the 35
said James Owen, Her especial license that I, the said. James Owen, my

page_text: executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Owen, 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN ASCENDING AND
DESCENDING SHAFTS OF MINES, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO HOISTING AND OTHER LIFTING MACHINES," upon the condition, amongst
others, that I, the said James Owen, by an instrument in writing under my.
hand and seal, 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 I, the said James, Owen, do hereby declare the
naturo of my 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, and accompanying Drawings (that is to say).:-
My Invention relates to a novel description of apparatus for arresting or
stopping the descent of the ".cages" employed in mines and other shafts, if.
the winding rope, band, or chain, by which it is suspended, should break or be
dissevered. Upon each side of the "cage" two, or more levers are situated,.
one on each side of the guide rod, extending from the top to the bottom of the.
shaft. These levers.turn.or hinge upon pins or studs secured to the side of
the "cage," and which formn the bearing centres or fulcra of such levers. The
ends of the levers nearest the fulera are tapered in form, and provided with a
rough serrated edge, in order to have a more perfect and effectual "grip" or
hold-upon the rods or guides. The opposite or longer ends of.the levers are each
secured by a hinge joint, to the connecting rods, which are united together above
the cage by the tie rods, to which a link is attached for securing the "cage"
to the winding rope. When the "cage" is suspended, the tapered or holding:
ends of the levers.are drawn.away from the guide rods, the whole weight of the
"cage" being supported upon the pins or fulcra of the levers, the connecting
or tie rods forming the connection between the rope and such fulcra ; but in.
the event of the rope, &c..breaking, the whole weight of the "cage" becomes
thrown-upon-the fulcra and not suspended by the connecting rods; this causes
the long ends of the levers to fall, and consequently the shorter ones to rise.
slightly and "grip" the guide rods, whereby the cage is supported between the,

page_text: fulcra and the short end of the lever, and the cage is prevented from falling or
descending the shaft when unattached to the rope. A quicker and more
certain action of the levers may be ensured by the application of springs
pressing upon the long-ends of the levers, so as to force the short ends against
the guide rods immediately upon the breaking of the rope.
The second part of this Invention relates to the novel formation and action
of the bars or rods employed to retain the wagon, bucket, &c. in the cage, and
consists in an arrangement of levers in the cage, which cause the said bars or
rods to rise or fall in front of both ends of the wagon, &c. and thus open or
close the passage to and from the cage simultaneously when raised or lowered
at either side of the cage.
. In order that the Invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale of
about one inch to a foot, and having similar letters of reference marked upon
corresponding parts of the apparatus in both the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the "cage," having the improvements applied
thereto, shewing the position of the levers and connecting rods as when sus-
pended, the red lines indicating the position of the same parts when holding
or "gripping" the guide rods in the instance of the disconnection of the rope.
This Figure also shews the connection and action of the bars or rods employed
to retain the waggon within the cage'; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.
'
In Fig. 1, a, a, is the cage, and b, b, the levers, which "grip the
rods c; c, which extend from the top to the bottom of the shaft, and also
act as guides for the cage during its ascent and descent; d, d, are the con-
necting rods, which are united above the cage by the tie rods e, e, and form
the connection between the suspending rope and the levers b, b, supporting the
"cage", fare the springs, by which the more efficient action of such levers
is ensured by means of the formation and arrangement of the bars g, g, and
their connecting rods h, h. It will be évident that both ends of the cage may
be opened or closed at the same time, and from either (side) of the shaft.
The action of the various parts of the apparatus will be more easily under-
stood by the following detailed description thereof:-When the rope or
suspending medium is perfect and entire, the levers b, b, will be kept free from
contact with the guide rods c, c, assuming the position as drawn in black lines,
and allowing of the uninterrupted ascent or descent of the cage in the shaft ;
but in the event of rope, &c. becoming dissevered, disconnected, or rendered
otherwise incapable of retaining the cage in suspension, the weight of the cage
is then thrown upon the fulcra of the levers, the longer ends thereof being
allowed to fall (in consequence of the disconnection from the rope will cause
i

page_text: the shorter ends to rise, and pressing inwards or gripping the guido rods will
effect the instant stoppage of the descent of the cage, the levers and rods then
being in the position shewn in red lines in the Drawing.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark, in con-
clusion, that I claim the novel description, construction, and arrangement of
mechanism or apparatus to be employed for the prevention of accident in
ascending or descending the shafts of mines, hoists, &c. as herein-before
described, set forth, and fully illustrated and exemplified in the accompanying
Drawings, or any other slight modification or variation of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Owen, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JAMES OWEN. (L.S.)