AN IMPROVED GUARD OR FENCE FOR COAL, IRON, STONE, OR OTHER PITS, WARE- HOUSE OR OTHER LIFTS, SACK-HOLES, OR OTHER PLACES, REQUIRING A GUARD. OR FENCE
Year: 1863

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Barton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th July.
1863.
I, JOSEPH BARTON, of Alfreton, in the County of Derby, Colliery Manager
and Coal Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED GUARD OR FENCE FOR COAL, IRON, STONE, OR OTHER PITS, WARE-
HOUSE OR OTHER LIFTS, SACK-HOLES, OR OTHER PLACES, REQUIRING A GUARD. OR
FENCE," to be as follows:-
I cause the cage, platform, or chair guides to project above the ground'at the
mouth of the pit or other hole or opening to be protected, and I cut a
recess in or a slot through each guide above the ground level, such recess or
slot being of such width and length that a lever may swing freely in it; this
lever is suspended by a pin passed through a hole in its upper end and through
the sides of the slot or recess in the guide. I prolong this slot or recess for
nearly the same length below the mouth of the pit hole or opening to be pro-
tected, and secure a lever in it by a pin passing through a hole in the lower
end and through the sides of the slot or recess of the guide, so that the upper
lever points downward, and the lower lever upward; each lever is bent slightly
near the centre of its length, the bent portion standing slightly in advance of.
that side of the guide facing the pit mouth, hole, or opening to be protected..
Intermediately of the levers I place a rocking lever in the slot or recess,, the
two ends of which lever point outward, and are prevented from falling or. being
forced inward by two pins passed through the guide. The axis or centre of the

page_text: rocking lever is regulated as to its length by the size of the mouth of the pit
hole or opening to be fenced, which is provided at the ground level with a strong
fencing to which are secured bearings to support the axis of the rocking lever.
I secure near one or both ends of the axis a lever, the upper end of which (or a
pin which it carries,) takes into a slot on one side of a gate, whereof the upper
end is provided with loops sliding on a bar, and the lower end slides in a groove
in the framing or between blocks. The width of the gate is such that it will
effectually close the spaces left in the fencing round the mouth of the pit hole
or opening; a lever at the other end of the axis moves a gate to close the space
or spaces at the opposite side of the pit hole or opening; the sliding or move-
ment of the gates to open and close the spaces is effected by raising and
lowering the cage, platform, or chair. The gates being opened when the cage,
patform, or chair is raised, and being closed, when it is lowered; for this pur-
pose the clips (at each side of the cage, platform, or chair,) which embrace the
guides, effect the opening and closing thus:-As the cage is raised, the upper
clip forces the upper lever outward, and opens the gates, and on its descent the
lower clip closes them. If a similar apparatus be provided at each side of a
pit mouth or other hole or opening gates of half the width only will be required,
the space being closed or opened from the centre. By a similar application of
levers and gates, I can close an opening or space with gates lying in a hori-
zontal position or at a convenient angle, the same being closed on the descent
of the cage, platform, or chair, and opened-just before its arrival at the
gate or gates, or mouth of the pit or other hole or opening to be fenced.