US1533576A - Safety device for mine cages, lifts, and the like - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1925.

w. F. TORRANCE SAFETY DEVICE FOR MINE CAGES, LIFTS, AND THE LIKE Filed April 14, 1923 Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,533,575 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FORSYTH TORRANCE, OF DALMUIPJ, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNO'R F ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR CLARK STEWART,

0F OLYDEBANK, SCOTLAND.

'sAFE rY nnvrcn roia Minn CAGES, rr'rs, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 14, 1923.

i "0 all 107mm it may cor morn:

Be it known that I, YVILLIAM Fonsr'rri TORRANCE, of 21 Hillview Terrace, Dalinuir,

Dumbartonshire, Scotland, engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Connected With Safety Devices for Mine Cages, Lifts, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to safety de vices for mine cages, lifts and the like of the kind adapted to release the cage, lift, or the like in the event of over-winding, and of the kind adapted to support the lift, cage, or the like, or preventit falling rapidly to the bottom of the cage shaft, or lift well should the hoisting cable be broken asunder, or the cage, or lift be detached therefrom.

The object of this invention is to provide improvements in means of the above character whereby the release of the cage, or lift, is assured and is effected automatically should overwinding take place, and whereby the arrest, or braking of the fall, of lift, or cage, should it become detached from the hoisting cable, is effected.

Under this invention, the cage, or lift, is connected with the hoisting cable by means of a hinged jaw, or equivalent device attached to the cage, or lift, and provided with a recess, or recesses, adapted to receive an enlargement, or enlargements, on the hoisting cable, the connection between the cable and device being maintained by a ring, or sliding member, arranged on the hinged jaw, or equivalent, device and a spring, or the like, adapted to press the ring, or member, towards the opening end of the jaw and thereby keep the same closed, and the disconnection being eliected by a rod, linger, or the like so disposed relatively to the hoisting means as to contactwith the ring, or member, and press it towards the hinged end of the jaw and thereby enable the jaw to open and free. the end of the hoisting cable engaged with the jaw.

Further, under this invention, the cage, or lift is provided with suitably shaped spring actuated cams hinged, or pivoted, thereto and adapted to operate against a plate, or its equivalent, which is normally connected with the hoisting cable and is fitted with rollers, or other antifriction means, for hearing against the said plate, the cams being held out of operation by the said plate when the cage, or lift, is suspended on the cable, and

Serial No. 632,050.

being moved to an operative braking, or engagin position with the cage, or lift, uides in the shaft, or well, by'pins when the cage, or lift, becomes detached from the h0isting engine, such as, by the cable breaking, or the release thereof from the hinged jaw, or equivalent,device which, in this arrange ment is connected with the cage, or lift, by the said plate.

Preferably, the end of the hoisting cable is fitted with a shackle, or ring, and the hinged jaw, or equivalent device, is hinged at its lower end to the plate connected with i the cage, or lift, and comprises two corresponding members each provided with a recess, or gap, which, when the jaw device is closed, are adapted to receive and retain in connection therewith, the said shackle, or ring.

In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into effect, I have hereunto appended one sheet of drawings, of which Figure 1 is an elevation of a shaft showing the cage and my improvements applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the overwinding of the hoisting rope.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the wedgepiece as in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, S is the cage, lift or such like, A the cable or winding rope, B the hinged jaws to which the hoisting rope A is connected through the medium of the ball arrangement A. F is the connecting rod which is attached to the winding rope A by means of the pin E which hinges the jaws B which grip the ball A.

C is the plate which is supported by the pins I) and'which retains the jaws B in position. C is the device which arrests the plate C and shears the pins D thereby permitting the tension on the winding rope i1 through the ball A to force the jaws B open and release the connection between the winding engine and the cage S.

R is the double bridle or plate attached to the top of cage or lift to which are connected, by bolts J, two levers I, the inner end of each of which has a horizontal slot through which a pin G passes and is slidable. The, pins .G connect the said levers with the member F. Between the ends of the plates R are brake blocks K. The brake blocks are connected to the outer ends of the levers by pins N Which operate in inclined slotsM with which the plates R are provided. T are the shaft guides.

In the event of overwinding or the hoisting rope breaking, the plate C comes into contact with the device C and shearing the pins D allows the tension on the hoisting or winding rope A, through the ball A, to force open the aws B and thereby release the connection between the winding engine and the cage S, as seen in Figure 3. The wedges, or brakes K are at once brought into action by the released strain upon the jaws B causing the wedges, or brakes K to come into contact with the shaft guides T through the action of the levers I, thereby immediately arresting the descent of the cage S by the friction set up between the wedges, or brakes K and the shaft guides 'l and, forcing the wedges or brakes K tightly between the double bridle R and the shaft guides T, brings the cage S to a stand still.

Safety apparatus for lifts, comprising in combination with arresting means, a liftcarried double bridle having outwardly and upwardly inclined slots near the ends and having upwardly and outwardly inclined beveled ends, wedge-shaped brake blocks arranged to engage said inclined beveled ends, levers pivotally mounted on said double bridle, having longitudinal slots in their inner ends, bolts connecting said brake blocks to the outer ends of said levers and arranged to operate in said inclined slots, a connecting rod, bolts connecting the same to the inner ends of said levers and arranged to operate in the slots of said levers, a pair of jaws pivotally connected to said connect ing rod and having a socket formed in the opposing sides of their upper ends, a cable having a ball gripped in said socket between said jaws, a plate, and frangible pins securing said plate to said jaws to normally hold the jaws in closed gripping position, said plate being arranged to engage said arrestii'ig means in the event of over-winding of the cable.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM FORSYTH 'lORR-ANCE.

lVitnesses JOHN LIDDLE, JOHN TRAIN LIDDLE.

Images