Improvements in Spring Cases for Colliery Rope-conductors and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1900-Accepted, 26th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Cases for Colliery Rope-conductors
and the like.
I, BENJAMIN FREDERICK COCKER, of Fitzalan Works, City of Sheffield,
Managing Director, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:
The object of my invention which relates to spring cases for enclosing
the springs used for tightening and supporting the guide ropes or conductors
for the cages of collieries, and the like, is to prevent the breakage of such springs
by sudden or undue strains; to protect them from the injurious action of the
weather, and to enable the initial slackness to be taken out of the rope, and thus
to facilitate the movement of the cage.
In carrying out my invention I preferably secure one end of the wire rope in
the sump of the pit, and the other end to the spring case which is supported upon
the timber work of the head gear.
The case is made in two parts, the body which is fixed to the head gear and
the cap, to which the main bolt is secured, which carries the rope.
The body is hollow to receive the spring or springs, two being found most
convenient in actual practice, and the cap slides easily over the top part of the
body and rests upon the springs which project from the body.
The main bolt passes vertically through both the body and the cap and is secured
by a nut on the outside of the cap, which engages with the screwthreaded end
of the bolt.
Upon the outside of both the cap and the body are corresponding lugs upon
each side, and between these lugs upon each side I place supporting bolts or
pillars, having means for longitudinal adjustment, their purpose being to support
the while the initial slack is being taken out of the wire rope by screwing up
cap
the main bolt.
When this is done the supporting bolts are removed to allow the cap to rest
upon the springs, and if any undue strain should be put upon the springs the
cap is drawn down until it rests upon the top of the body and thus prevents any
damage to the springs from overloading.
The spring cases with the springs may if desired be placed at the lower end of
the ropes in the sump.

page_text: Fig. 4, plan.
In carrying out my invention I secure one end of the wire rope in the sump
of the pit and the other end to the adjusting bolt which passes through the centre
of the spring case and is connected with the cap.
The case is made in two parts namely the body A, which is secured to the
head gear, and the cap B, through which the main bolt C, is passed and supported
by an adjusting nut 1.
The guide rope or wire conductor is secured by any suitable means to the
lower end of the main bolt C.
The body of the case is made to receive one or more coiled springs S, two being
found the best adapted for these colliery purposes, and the cap B, is arranged
to slide easily over the upper part of the body A, and rests upon the top of the
springs which project above the top of the body.
Upon the outside of both the cap and the body are corresponding lugs E,
and F, projecting from opposite sides, and between these lugs supporting
bolts G and H, are placed, their lower ends resting in recesses, and their upper
ends which are screwthreaded and provided with adjusting nuts I, and J, pass
into holes K, through the upper lugs on the cap.
The purpose of these bolts or pillars G, and H, is to support the cap B, (and
the rope) while the initial stack is being taken out of the rope by screwing up
the main bolt C, to which the rope is attached.
When this is accomplished the supporting bolts are removed to allow the cap
to rest upon the springs S; or the nuts I, and J, may be screwed down low
enough to allow the movement of the cap without necessitating their removal.
If therefore any undue strain should come upon the rope, the cap would com-
press the springs until it rested upon the body of the case, and thus damage to the
springs would be prevented from undue pressure or overloading.
Instead of placing the spring cases with their springs upon the head gear of the
pit as described, they may be located at the lower end of the rope in the sump.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is―
1-A spring-case for colliery conductors, and like purposes, consisting of a

page_text: body A, and a cap D, each part provided with outside lugs E, and F, projecting
from opposite sides thereof, and constructed to receive supporting bolts G and H,
as herein before described and shown.
2-A spring case to contain, one or more coiled springs such as S, provided
with a cap D, (to slide over the body A), to which the rope or conductor is
secured, & adjustable supporting bolts G and H, to support the cap, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown.
Tinted the 5th day of Anvil 1000
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Applicant's Agent.