IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING AND LOWERING CAGES IN MINES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO LIFTS AND HOISTS GENERALLY
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Jones and James Griffiths
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th October 1882.
THOMAS JONES and JAMES GRIFFITHS both of Aberavon in the County of
Glamorgan, "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAISING AND LOWERING CAGES IN MINES, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO LIFTS AND HOISTS GENERALLY,"
Our Invention which relates to improvements in raising and lowering cages in
mines, which improvements are applicable to lifts and hoists generally, consists in
the employment of pinion wheels carried at intervals in a vertical framing placed
in the shaft of a mine or in the well or way of a hoist or lift, which pinions gear
with racks secured to one side of each cage, whereby, when the pinions are rotated,
the cages are raised and lowered, as hereinafter described. The vertical framing
in which the bearings of the pinions are formed is constructed in sections of desired
length secured to each other and is maintained in position, at or near the centre of
the shaft, by struts and ties secured to an outer framing which is, in turn,
supported and maintained in place by struts, ties or other supports fixed in the
masonry or other lining of the shaft. Both framings stand, at the bottom of the
shaft, upon a foundation or bed. The pinions are placed at such distances apart in
the central vertical frame as required by the length of the racks on the cages.
From two to three pinions should be in gear with a rack at one time. Upon the
ends of the spindles upon which the pinions are fixed, are formed cranks, one at
each end, the crank at one end being set at right angles to that at the other end.
Each crank is connected by a connecting rod to the cranks immediately above and
below it. Thus a double series of cranks and connecting rods, linked together and
balanced, extends throughout the depth of the shaft. Motion is imparted thereto
from an engine situated at or near the mouth of the shaft, and the arrangement so
operates that as a cage ascends at one side of the pinions, a cage descends on the
opposite side. Fixed to the outer vertical frame, are guide rails over which run
flanged wheels or rollers carried on the cages.
When the cage upon one side is raised to the point required for discharging, the
cage at the other side being then at the bottom of the shaft, the racks of both
cages are still in gear, but in event of the engine, from neglect or other cause, not
being stopped at the proper moment, the cage at the mouth of the shaft travels
Puise 31

page_text: upwards until its rack is out of gear with the uppermost pinion, against which it
then rests until such time as the engine is reversed, when the rack again takes
into the pinion and the descent of the cage commences. In like manner, the rack
on the cage at the bottom of the shaft passes out of gear with the lowermost
pinion, and the bottom of the cage rests upon and deflects a spring secured to the
foundation frame. The tendency of this spring is to maintain the cage in such
position that on reversing the engine, and the consequent removal of pressure from
the spring, the rack is forced into gear with the pinion and the ascent of the cage
commences. Above the uppermost and below the lowermost of the series of
pinions, are wheels or rollers situated and rotated similarly to the pinions. The
peripheries of these wheels or rollers are plain and bear upon the plain faces or
shrouds at each side of the racks when the latter are out of gear, the wheels or
rollers thus forming a central guide to the cages. Gates, constructed to open
outwards, are fitted at the mouth of the shaft, to permit of either withdrawing or
placing in a cage. To the inside of the gates are secured rails, corresponding to the
rails extending down the shaft, which serve to guide the cages into the required
position.
In applying this invention to hoisting or lifting and lowering purposes, apart
from shafts, wells or analogous ways, where the outer supports and ties herein before
mentioned, as binding the framings to the sides of a shaft, are inapplicable, the
inner and outer framings, as braced and tied together, only are employed, and the
motive power, as may also be adopted in mines and other shafts, is applied at the
bottom of the series of pinions. Under this invention, the disadvantages obtaining
under the systems of ropes and winding gear ordinarily employed, are obviated.
The severe tear and wear, resulting in the rapid destruction, of the ropes is avoided,
the power hitherto expended in overcoming the weight of the ropes is available for
increased speed, and overwinding cannot occur.