GB191417063A - Improvements in Signalling Devices for use with Winding Engines of Collieries. - Google Patents

Abstract

17,063. Whalley, E. B. July 18. Mechanical telegraphs ; bell and gong signals.- The striking-lever of a mechanical or electric bell signal, for use in connexion with winding in mines &c., is arranged to actuate a drum by pawl mechanism so as to indicate the number of rings, and a special signal, indicating that men are travelling in the cage, is displayed when three rings are followed after a pause by a further ring. The hammer lever of the bell is coupled by links f<2> to a rocking arm f<1> carrying a pawl f, which at each ring rotates a ratchet-wheel c on the shaft b of the indicating- drum a having numbers on its rim visible successively through an opening g in a screen h. A weight l<2> on a cord l<1> tends to return the indicator to zero, but is normally restrained by a pawl k on a shaft j. At the third ring, a lug o on the drum a slightly depresses a rod p and releases an horizontal sliding rod s, which is pulled to the left by a spring t or by a weight acting through levers, but is prevented from moving quickly by a dash-pot x. The rod p is pivoted at the lower end of a frame q, which is guided vertically and is pressed upwards by a spring r<3>. If the third ring is immediately followed by further rings, the rod p is depressed and springs up again before the rod s has moved far to the left, and the indicating-drum a displays the number of rings as before. If, however, a pause is made after the third ring, the rod s moves far enough to bring the end u<1> of a lever u beneath the rod p. The lever u is pivoted centrally to the rod s and is connected at its outer end to a sliding rack v gearing with a toothed sector on the shaft of a semaphore arm w<1>. The depression of the rod p swings the semaphore into an horizontal position behind the screen h and displays the special signal through the opening g. When the engine is started, a connexion therefrom rocks a lever i on the shaft j and releases both pawls f, k, the weight l<2> returning the drum a to zero position. A linkage z, z<1>, z' also actuated by the lever i operates a three-way valve y and admits fluid under pressure to the dash-pot cylinder x, forcing the piston x<1> and the rod s into their initial positions. The outer end of the dash-pot cylinder has a small valve x<2> with a drain outlet x<3>. Alternatively, the rod s may be restored to its initial position by a quadrant arm loose on the drum shaft b and connected to the rod s by a cord, the arm being rotated as the drum a is reset by the weight l<2>.