US810189A - Safety device for hoisting mechanisms. - Google Patents

Description

' No. 810,189. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906 W. COOPER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR HOISTING MECHANISMS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 5,1904.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1904.

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PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

W. COOPER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR HOISTING MECHANISMS.

APPLICATION FILED HAY5,1904.

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position. valve mechanism in its operative position UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM COOPER, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR HOISTING MECHANISMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed May 5, 1904. Serial No. 206,432.

plied to a mineshaft,showing a vertical section through the mine-shaft and actuating mechanism located above the same and also of the brake-cylinder, the main cylinder being partially broken away for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a front elevation show ing the contrlling-valve and brake-cylinder in vertical section with hand braking mechanism omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 3 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the hand braking mechanism being likewise omitted. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but showing the mechanism in its operative Fig. is a vertical section of the similar to that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a sectional View along the line VI VI in Fig. 5 and showing the valve-plug in the position shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 7 is asection along the line VII VII in Fig. 5, showing the valve in the position shown in Fig. 6.

My invention, generally stated, consists in a novel and useful safety device for use in connection with. hoisting mechanism of any kind.

More specifically, it comprehends means for stopping automatically a mine-bucket or other hoisting-receptacle over which control is lost by the engineer at a predetermined point. In effecting this I automatically shut off the power from the hoisting mechanism, apply a brake to the cable-drum to prevent the bucket from descending, and in case of mechanism. driven by power under pressure relieving the power within the mechanism, and thuseffecting a practically immediate stop.

The following is a description of the accompanying drawings, which are, however, merely illustrative of the principles of my invention. The hoisting-engine which I have shown is of the type wherein the cable drum or spool is operatively connected to the main or driving shaft by intermeshing gears or friction-wheels.

1 is the main or driving shaft, which is suitably journaled in the engine-frame 2 in the usual manner.

3 3 are the main cylinders, mounted on the engine-frame and whose piston-rods 4 4 are connected, by means of slides 5 5 and con' necting-rods 6 6, to the wrist-pins 7 7 of crank-wheelsS 8, which are rigidly attached in the usual manner to the extremities of main shaft 1, by which means said shaft accomplishes a half-rotation for every single piston-stroke.

9 9 are the steam-chests, and 10 10 the valve mechanism operated from the main shaft 1 by means of eccentrics 11 11 in the usual manner.

12 is the drum-shaft, suitably ournaled in the engine-frame 2 in the usual manner, and 13 is the cable drum or spool, rigidly mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith.

14 is the cable, partially wound on drum 13 and extending thence over sheave 15 down into the mine-shaft 16. The sheave 15 is journaled on the gallows-frame (not shown) in the usual manner. 17 is the bucket suspended by said cable 14.

18 is a gear-wheel loosely mounted on shaft 12, but capable of being thrown into rigid connection with said shaft or the drum 13 at will by means of a friction or other character of clutch. (Not shown.)

19 is a second gear rigidly mounted on main shaft 1 and meshing with gear 18, thus rotating said gear and with it the cable-drum when the clutch mechanism is thrown into operation. The relative speed of the drum and the main shaft is regulated by the comparative sizes of said gears.

20 is a circumferential friction-surface integral with or rigidly attached to drum 13, and 21 is a band-brake surrounding the same and provided with wooden bearing-blocks 21 21 and capable of bearing thereon when said brake is tightened. 20 20 are retaining-flanges to hold said brake in place. One extremity of band-brake 21 is attached to piston 22, which is capable of movement in vertical cylinder 23 and against the head of which it is normally held by means of coiled spring 24, contained in said cylinder, or other convenient means. The other extremity of said band-brake is extended through a slot 22 in piston-rod 22 to a pivotal attachment with hand-lever 25, which lever is pivoted to the engine-frame at 26 and also provided with quadrant 27, rigidly attached to the engine-frame and spring pawl mechanism 28.

It is the custom in lowering the bucket to throw off the clutch connection between gear 18 and drum 13, allowing the bucket to descend by its own weight and that of the cable. By throwing back the brake-lever to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1 the engineer tightens the band-brake 21 against the surface 20, thus controlling the rotation of the drum 13, the piston 22 bearing against the head of cylinder 23, forming the fixed point for the brake.

29 29 are the steam-pipes supplying the steam-chests 9 9, and 30 is the main steampipe connected to the boiler. 31 isthe usual throttle controlling said steam-line. 32 32 are petcocks adapted to drain the cylinders 3 3 and operated by rigidly-attached levers 32 32 pivoted to connectingrods 33 33.

34 is a rock-shaft journaled in-the engineframe 2 and fitted at its extremities with rigid cranks 35 35, which are pivotally connected to reciprocating connecting-rods 33 33.

36 is a foot, tread, or other lever rigid with rock-shaft 34, so that by depressing the outer end of said tread 36 toward the left in Fig. 1 the engineer may open the petcocks 3232 and drain the cylinders 3 3.

37 37 are the shaft-doors, which are normally kept closed, being suitably cut away at their abutting edges to allow the free passage of the cable 14. Said doors are provided with rods 38 38 rigidly attached thereto and suitably journaled to the floor of the shafthouse.

39 39 are counterbalances attached to-t'he doors 37 37.

40 40 are cranks rigidly attached to the adjacent extremities of rods 38 38.

41 41 are secondary doors which are pivoted by means of rods 42 42, rigidly attached to said doors andjournaled, as at 43 43 on sup port 44, carried by the gallows-frame. (Not shown.) These doors are located far enough above the mouth of the shaft 16t'o permit the operation and dumping of the bucket 17 below the same without interfering.

45 45 are segmental gears rigidly attached to the extremities of rods 42 42 and intermeshing with each other, so that the'opening and shutting of the doors 41 41 is uniform and steady. It is evident from Fig. 1' that when said doors 41 41 are in their closed position they preferably do not lie flat, as do the shaft-doors 37 37, but assume the inclined position shown in said figure. Their abutting edges are cut away at 46 46 to allow the passage of the cable 14- and the hand of a miner riding in the bucket, who would in such case clasp the cable to steady himself.

47 47 are cranks rigidly attached to rods 42 42 and provided at their outer ends with wrist-pins 48 48, which engage the longitudinal slots 49 49 in the upper extremities of connecting-rods 50 50 whose lower extremities are pivotally connected to the free ends of cranks 4O 40. I

It is evident that where the shaft-doors 37 37 are opened, as shown in Fig. 1, the passage of bucket 17 through doors 41 41 opening them would cause cranks 47 47 to depress connecting-rods 5O 50, thus shutting shaftdoors 37 37, as shown in Fig. 4. However, the closing of doors 41 41 does not operate to open shaft-doors 37 37, as the slots 49 49 permit the cranks 47 47 to be turned into the raised position shown in Fig. 1 without drawing up the connecting-rods 50 50.

51 is the dumping mechanism of the usual type, which is hooked into eye 52 on the bucket 17 to dump the same.

In the main steam-pipe 30 I inserta valvecase 53, which is provided with a horizontal plug-seat 54, a port .55 leading from the boiler end of the steam-line 30, and a port 56 leading into the engine end of the said steamline. 57 is a horizontal port leading from said valve-seat half-way between ports and 56 and preferably of reduced size.

58 is a circumferential passage within the casing 53 adjacent to the front of the plugseat 54 and connected withthe interior of said plug-seat by means of two ports 59 59 which are adjacent to ports 56 and 57, respectively. I

The hollow plug 60 is provided with the usual passages 61 and 62, registering with ports 55 and 53, respectively, when the valve is 0 en, as in Fig. 6, and a third passage 63 lial -way between the passages 61 and 62. In the exterior surface of said plug opposite to passage 63 is a longitudinal groove 64.

65 is an escape leading from circumferential passage 58 to the open air.

66 is a steam-pipe leading from port 57 t the head of cylinder 23.

67 is a petcock which may be inserted in steam-pipe 66 to exhaust the same.

When the plug 60 is in its open position, (shown in Fig. 6,) the steam passes uninterruptedly through port 55,, ' passages 61 and 62, and port 56 along the steam-line to the engine, passage 63 is closed by the interior surface of the valve-seat 54, the groove 64 (shown in Fig. 5) has been rotated a quarterturn toconnect the port 57 and the port 59, (also shown in Fig. 5,) which port 59 in turn connects by means of circumferential passage 58 to the exhaust 65, thus exhausting all power in steam-line 66, and by releasing piston 22 to allow to rise-in cylinder 23 releasing the band-brake 21 from the bearing-surface 20 of the drum 13. Thus if the throttle be turned on steam would be applied to the engine and the brake removed and the bucket hoisted. However, if the valve-plug 60 be rotated at quarter-turn to the position shown in Fig. 5' the passage of steam. through the main line would be inter- IIO rupted. The steam entering the valve-casing from the boiler end of the steam-line would pass from port 55 through passage 63 in the plug into the interior of the plug and thence through passages 61 into port 57 and thence into steam-pipe 66, which would convey the steam to the upper face of piston 22 in cylinder 23, depressing the piston and applying the band-brake to the cable-drum. The pressure of steam which would normally in such case be imprisoned in the engine end of steam-pipe 30 and in the steam chests and cylinders would tend to continue to operate until it became used up, which would result in several revolutions of the engine. However, with this valve mechanism this imprisoned head of steam is permitted to escape by exhausting back through port 56 in the valve-casing, grooved passage 64 in the valve-plug, port 59, circumferential passage 58, and exhaust 65.

The valve-plug 60 is preferably tapered to fit the plug-seat and is retained in place by any convenient means, such as washer 68 and nut 69. The other extremity of said plug is preferably squared to enter into and engage the interior of squared key extremity of shaft 70. The said shaft 70 is journaled to fixed framework, (not shown,) such as the framing of the engine-room, by any suitable means, such as bracket 71. 72 is a crank or arm rigid with said shaft 70. 73 isa connectingrod pivoted at its upper end to arm 72 and provided at its lower forked end with longitudinal slots 74 74. 75 is a rigid arm on rock-shaft 34 and is provided with a wristpin 76, engaging in slots 74 74 of rod 73. Thus when shaft 70 is rocked, raising arm 72 a quarterturn, the connecting-rod 73 by raising arm 72 rocks shaft 34, and consequently opens the petcocks 32 32 of the cylinders 3 3 through the connections above described.

77 is a second rigid arm on shaft 70, which is pivotally attached to the upper extremity of connecting-rod 78, whose lower extremity is in turn pivotally connected with arm 79, which arm is rigidly connected with rockshaft 80. Rock-shaft 80 is provided with hollow squared key extremities 81 81, which engage the squared ends of plugs 82 82 of L-valves 83 83, which are attached to and connected with the steam-chest 9 9. Thus the same movement of shaft 70 which closes the three-way valve in the steam-line 30 and opens the petcocks 32 32 of the cylinders 3 3 also raises arm 79 and rocks shaft 80, thus opening the L-valves 83 83 and exhausting the steam contained in the steam-chest 9 9. Therefore, the parts being properly assembled, the closing of the three-way valve in the main steam-line cuts oil the steam-supply to the main cylinders, exhausts the steam in the steam chests and cylinders, and applies the band-brake to the cable-drum, thus causing the hoisting mechanism to come to a practically immediate stop.

84 is a rigid crank attached to shaft 70 and provided with an integral wrist-pin 85.

86 is a lever provided with a longitudinal slot 87 at its lower extremity, which slot is engaged by wrist-pin 85. At its upper end said lever is pivoted to connecting-rod 88, which extends to one of the doors 41 and is pivoted at its end to arm 89, rigidly attached to rod 42 of said door.

90 is a fixed pivot attached to the permanent structure, (not shown,) to which lever 86 is attached by means of slot 91 in said lever engaging said pin or pivot 90.

The levers and arms are so regulated and pivoted that an eighth-turn of arm 89, and consequently door 41, will produce a quarterturn of shaft 70, and the parts are so assembled that when the doors 41 41 are in their closed position (shown in Fig. 1) the threeway valve is open, permitting steam to pass uninterruptedly to the engine, the cylinder petcocks and steam-chests, exhaust-valves being closed and the power-brake released. When, however, the doors 41 41 are raised an eighth-turn, the passage of steam through the steam-line to the steam-chests is interrupted, the engine end of the steam-line exhausted through exhaust 65, the cylinder petcocks and L exhaust-valve of the steam-chests open and the band-brake applied, immedi ately stopping the engine and locking the bucket stationary. The slotted connections of lever 86 are intended to permit the adjustment of the lever to the work required and the transmission of the thrust of the connecting-rod 88 into the rocking of arm 84 without binding.

As before stated, the object of my invention is to prevent accidents. Frequently control is lost over the hoisting mechanism in raising a bucket loaded with miners or .ore, or both, running the bucket up into the sheave 15, and wrecking things generally. The power being still on the probable results are complete destruction of the hoisting mechanism and the precipitation of the bucket and contents down the shaft. This has been a most frequent accident attended with great loss of life and damage to property. By the use of my invention if the hoisting mechanism runs away or anything happens to the engineer, leaving the machinery without con trol, the bucket ascends until it strikes the doors 41 41, the opening of the doors 37 37 by the ascending bucket not having disturbed the doors 41 41.

To guide the bucket against the doors 41 41 I prefer to provide a downwardly-extend ing and flaring circular hood 92 beneath said doors. When the bucket forces said doors 41 41 open, the operation automatically closes the shaft-doors 37 37, as shown in Fig. 4, thus preventing any dumping of the contents of the bucket down the shaft. At the same time the opening of the. doors shuts off the steam in the hoisting mechanism, exhausts immediately all steam-pressure in the engine, and clamps the brake on the drum,

3 thus stopping the ascension of the bucket immediately and locking it in a stationary position. (Shown in Fig. 4.) It is evident therefore that I accomplish three useful results jfirst, stopping the ascension of the bucket immediately and positively; second, preventing its descent, and, third, covering the mouth of the shaft.

I have shown in detail a convenient form of three-way valve for use in my mechanism; but it will be understood that any convenient and suitable valve mechanism either combined in a single casing or otherwise adapted to control the different steampas sages may be substituted, or, again, the rockshaft may be attached to the main instead of a special controller-valve; but I prefer the construction shown.

The various functions of the safety mech anism are described as automatically working in unison; but it is evident that distinct beneficial results are obtained either by shutting off the steam from the hoisting mechanism, exhausting the pressure within the mechanism, or applying the brake. 'I therefore do not limit myself to the operations working in unison, but desire to protect the separate results obtained. If desired, by a slight change evident to those skilled in the art a single shaft-door or other cover may be used instead of the twin doors shown, and such door or doors may be arranged to close flat, as shown, or. at an incline, as shown in connection with the operating-doors. Said operating-doors may also be arranged to lie flat when in operative position, (shown in connection with Fig. 1,) or one door may be substituted therefor. However, I do not wish to limit myselfto the use of a door alone, but any device of convenient form adapted to be operated by the rising bucket may be substituted. I have shown. a bucket as used in a vertical shaft; but it is apparent that any sort of a hoisting-receptacle or elevator may be substituted, and the shaft or elevator passage need not be vertical, as my safety device may be applied to a slope mine wherein a car or receptacle of any character may be used for hoisting purposes.

I have illustrated my device as applied to steam-driven mechanism but it is evident that it may be applied with ease to machinery operated by compressed air or other power.

throttle My actuating mechanism(shown attachedto the gallows-frame) may also. be readily applied to the control of any character of hoisting mechanism, such as electrically-driven means, wherein the power-circuit may be conrolled by my safety device.

I claim broadly 1. In hoists, hoisting mechanism, a device for controlling said hoisting mechanism, a hoisting-receptacle operated by said hoisting mechanism, "doors pivoted so as to extend substantially across the path of said hoistingreceptacle so that the ascensionof said hoisting-receptacle beyond a predetermined point swings said doors upwardly and outwardly, operative connection between said doors and other operative connection between said doors and said controlling device sothat the engagement of said doors by said receptacle actuates said controlling device.

2. In hoists, hoisting mechanism, adevice for stopping said hoisting mechanism, a hoisting-receptacle operated by said hoisting mechanism, swing-doors pivoted on opposite sides of the path of said hoisting-receptacle and normally projecting into said path so that the ascension of said receptacle beyonda predetermined point swings said doors outwardly and upwardly, segmental gears rigidly carried by said doors and intermeshing and operative connectionbetween said. doors and said stopping device so that the engagement of said doors by said receptacle actuates said stopping mechanism.

3. In hoists, hoisting mechanism, a device for stopping said hoisting meeh anism, a hoisting receptacle operated by said hoisting mechanism, a pair of swing-doors pivoted at opposite sides of the path of said hoisting-receptacle and normally extending substantially across the same so that the ascension of said-receptacle beyond a predeterm ned point swings said doors upwardly and outwardly, a cone-shaped guide adapted: to lead said receptacle into proper engagement with said doors, intermeshing segmental gears rigidly attached to said doors andoperative connection between said doors and said stopping device so that the engagement of said doors by said receptacle operates saidstopping device.

Signed at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. this 19th day of April, 1904.

WILLIAM COOPER.

I/Vitnesses:

EDWARD A. LAURENCE, C. LUDLow LIVINGSTON.

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