IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION OF OVERWINDING AND FALLING OF THE CAGES USED IN MINES, SHAFTS, LIFTS, AND HOISTS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Marley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd July
1867.
I, JOHN MARLEY, of Darlington, in the County of Durham, Mining Engineer
and Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE PREVENTION
OF OVERWINDING AND FALLING OF THE CAGES USED IN MINES, SHAFTS, LIFTS, AND
HOISTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the combination and arrangement of mechanism
and apparatus whereby the liability to those accidents which frequently occur
from the overwinding of cages used in mine shafts and under similar
circumstances are avoided. In order to prevent the overwinding of the cage
independently of the detaching hook when the cage bottom is drawn beyond
the safe point of the "settle board" a catch is actuated by suitable mechanism,
such as is well understood, shuts off the steam from the engine, and applies
it to a powerful steam brake. In passing the before-mentioned safe point the
cage enters "conductors" which are gradually contracted towards the top, so
as to have the effect of stopping the cage; the conductors rest at their upper
parts either against springs or weights in such a way as to admit of their
opening out to some extent, and thus effect the purpose of preventing the

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cage being stopped too suddenly. A safety chamber is provided which consists
of boxes, either close or grated when necessary, corresponding with the size of
the cage which is drawn into the chamber. This arrangement effectually
prevents the men from either falling or leaping out of the chamber when the
eage is drawn into the boxes, and which latter extend in height from the
bottom of the before-mentioned conductors to their top at the safety buffers.
In order to prevent the cage from falling out of this chamber through the
breakage of the rope, even if a safety cage be used, a series of catches or
'keps" is placed within the same; the safety table is placed immediately
under the ordinary "keps," and covers the whole of the working shaft by the
closing of two tables or trucks over the same. When the cage reaches a
catch placed near the top of the safety chamber the mechanism is actuated
by which the safety tables or trucks are released and run down an incline so
as to close over the shaft. When no detaching hook is used rope clutches
worked preferably by steam may be applied, the same being placed on each
rope at a convenient point between the pulleys and the drums, the same being
actuated by separate catches also near the top of the safety chamber. The
safety buffers are placed immediately under the pulleys, and are held down
by springs or weights so as to render the collision less severe in the event
of the cage reaching that point, and prevent the further progress of the cage.
This Invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the
accompanying Drawings. Figures 1 and 1* in Sheets 1 and 2 shew & side
view of the apparatus; and Figure 2, in Sheet 1, is an end view thereof;
Figure 2in Sheet 2 is an enlarged section at the line D, E, in Figure 1,
Sheet 1; Figure 3 in Sheet 2 is an enlarged plan of the safety "keps."
The following are the references to the several parts of the mechanism :-
a, safety point; b, cage bottom; c, catch actuating mechanism d to e; d, e,
mechanism for f and g; f, shut-off valve from engine; 9, steam brake;
h, h, h, h, conductors; i, contraction springs or weights; k, k, k, k, safety
chamber. A, B, C, keps of safety chamber; D, E, safety tables. 1, 1, 1, 1,
safety table catch mechanism; m, m, rope clutches; n, catches for same.
F, safety buffer.