IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS FOR MINE CAGES OR FOR ELEVATORS OR LIFTS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN LARGE of Lyneham House near Chippenham in the County of Wilts do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS
FOR MINE CAGES OR FOR ELEVATORS OR LIFTS to be as follows:
In order to prevent the sudden fall of a mine cage or of an elevator or lift to the
bottom of the shaft or place in which it works in case the winding rope or other
raising or lowering apparatus should break, I employ safety apparatus composed of
a series of arms arranged in sets of two or more at different heights in the shaft or
other place. Each of these arms is mounted on a horizontal axis and in the
normal position projects into the shaft. A stop prevents it falling below the
horizontal position. To each arm is connected a chain or rope which when pulled
upon raises the arm on its axis so that it is clear of the shaft and a stop prevents
it going too far.
In their normal position all the arms are in such a position as to stop the cage
while descending, but as it descends the several pairs or sets are successively raised
clear of the shaft and cage by the occupants pulling the chains or ropes. During
the ascent the cage comes against the various arms and simply pushes them up out
of the way. The arms always return by reason of their own weight to their
normal position.
All the chains are connected with a common chain or rope which is carried to
the top of the shaft so that if required all the arms can at once be moved clear of
the shaft.
The frame of the cage or lift is made deep enough to be self guiding against the
sides of the shaft.

page_text: I JOHN LARGE of Lyneham House near Chippenham in the County of Wilts do
hereby declare the nature of invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY APPARATUS
FOR MINE CAGES OR FOR ELEVATORS OR LIFTS" and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
In order to prevent the sudden fall of a mine cage or of an elevator or lift to
the bottom of the shaft or place in which it works in case the winding rope or
other raising or lowering apparatus should break, I employ safety apparatus
composed of a series of arms arranged in sets of 2 or more at different heights in
the shaft or other place. Each of these arms is mounted on a horizontal axis and
in the normal position projects into the shaft. A stop prevents it falling below
the horizontal position. To each arm is connected a chain or rope which when
pulled upon raises the arm on its axis so that it is clear of the shaft and a stop
prevents it going too far.
In their normal position all the arms are in such a position as to stop the cage
while descending, but as it descends the several pairs or sets are successively raised
clear of the shaft and cage by the occupants pulling the chains or ropes. During
the ascent the cage comes against the various arnis and simply pushes them up
out of the way. The arms. always return by reason of their own weight to their
normal position.
All the arms are connected with common chains or ropes which are carried to
the top of the shaft (or in the case of lifts they may be carried to the bottom) so
that if required the arms can all be at once moved clear of the shaft.
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings are elevations taken at right angles to
each other of a portion of a mine shaft or of the well of a lift provided with my
safety apparatus. A, A, A, A are vertical beams or uprights extending from top to
bottom of the shaft or well and forming guides to the cage or lift B which is fitted
with rollers C, C to bear against the said beams or uprights. D, D are arms each
mounted on a horizontal axis E in one of the uprights. These arms are shown in
pairs, that is to say, 2 arms are placed opposite each other in 2 of the uprights A, A
respectively, but if thought necessary there may be a corresponding arm in each
of the other uprights. Each arın D in its normal position projects into the shaft
or well, and there is a stop F to prevent it falling below the horizontal position.
To each arm is connected a chain or rope G the upper portion of which is carried
horizontally through the upright and is fitted with a ring or similar device H by
which it can be pulled. There is a stop I in relation with each arm D to prevent
it going too far when raised by the chain G. K, K are chains or ropes carried to
the top of the shaft or well; all the arms D are connected with these chains by
short chains L so that when required they can all be at once moved clear of the
shaft.
One of the arms D at the right hand of Figure 1 is shown in the position it
occupies when raised by means of its chain G.

page_text: If thought desirable in the case of lifts or elevators a long vertical rod may be
connected to the cage and work in a guide above or below the shaft or well.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Constructing safety apparatus for mine cages or for elevators or lifts, sub-
stantially as herein before described.
2. In a safety apparatus for cages, elevators or lifts, the arms D, D so arranged
that while they are pushed out of the way by the cage or lift as it is ascending,
they prevent or stop the descent of the cage or lift in its descent until pulled clear
of the shaft or well, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the arms D, D arranged as described and with the
chains or ropes G for pulling them clear of the shaft or well, of the chains or
ropes K, K carried to the top or bottom of the shaft or well as and for the purpose
described.