US2403333A - Safety means for mine cages - Google Patents

Description

y E. BJERKE- I SAFETY MEANS FOR MINE CAGES Filed March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sh eet l v July 1 E. BJERKE, 2,403,333

' SAFETY MEANS FOR MINE CAGES Filled March 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW Patented July 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY MEANS FOR MINE CAGES Edwin Bjerke, Wallace, Idaho Application March 1, 1944, Serial No. 524,621

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices and more particularly to a safety means for mine cages in which workmen and materials are customarily carried.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide safety means for mine cages which will act to stop the cage from falling in the event the usual sustaining cable breaks.

Another important object of the invention is to provide safety means of the character stated which will be quick-acting and fool-proof in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevational view showing a portion of a mine cage with the safety means installed.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevationalview showing one side wall of the cage and the safety means installed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the spring means for the present invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the mine shaft in which the cage generally referred to by numeral 5 operates is constructed of timbers, certain of which are horizontally disposed as at 5 and vertically extending along these horizontal timbers 6 are runners serving as guide tracks 1, these tracks being at opposite sides of the shaft.

The frame of the cage, which is shown in the drawings, consists of side walls 8, 8 and a bottom 9, and on the outer side of each side wall 8 is a channeled guide 10 which rides the corresponding track I, thus requiring the cage to move in a true vertical direction.

Adjacent each of the guides ID, the corresponding side wall 8 has a slot l I through which a portion of a rotatable plate l2 projects. This plate is substantially circular, the same having a tangentially disposed formation l3 terminating at one end in a timber engageable tooth l 4 and at its opposite end in an abutting shoulder IS. A second abutting shoulder I6 is provided on the plate l2 which is adapted to strike the inside of the cage when the tooth I4 is in operated position, while simultaneously the shoulder I5 abuts the outside of the corresponding side wall 8. It can be seen that the plate 12 is fulcrumed on a bolt I! havin one end supported in a bracket Ila suitably fixed, as at I"), to the adjacentsides of wall 8 and slotted as at llc for extension of the plate l2 therethrough.

The other end of the bolt H is fixed in one end of a top structure I8 for the cage and between which and said bracket Ila, the plate l2 fulcrums, the structure l8 having a cross pin l9 disposed through a slot 20 in a vertically slidable bar 2 I, which is slidable through the top structure 18. The lower end of the slide bar 2| has a cross member 22 provided with upstanding plungers 23, 23 at the opposite'ends thereof, these plungers extending into the lower convolutions of coiled compression springs 24 which nestle in sockets 2-5 constructed in the top structure l8.

The usual hauling cable, denoted by numeral 25, is attached to the upper end of the bar 2|.

At diametrically opposite corners of the plate 22 are provided upstanding lugs 26 to which bifurcated members 21 are pivotally secured as at 28. Rods 29 provided with threads are adjustably disposed into the bifurcated members 21 and are, in turn, pivotally connected as at 38 to the corresponding rotatable plates l2.

It can now be seen, that when the load of the cage is on the cable 25, the bar 2| willbe held in elevated position and this, in turn, will hold the plates l 2 rotated so that the teeth or dogs M will be held close to the side Walls 8 and out of the path of the horizontal timbers 6.

However, should the cable 25 break, the springs 24 will force the plate 22 downwardly and this, in turn, will result in rocking the plates l2, to the end, that the dogs M will be thrown outwardly and into the path of the horizontal timbers l6 to the end that the stage is stopped in its fall.

While the foregoing specification sets forth th invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from claimed as new is:

In a mine, a shaft, provided with side horizontal timbers and central guide tracks, a cage having side walls with guides thereon running on said guide tracks, a hauling line for the cage, a vertically slidable bar on the cage to which the line is attached, substantially circular plates on the cage adapted to be operated from normal position for engaging the side timbers when the hauling line breaks, said plates being rockably mounted on said side walls and staggered relatively laterally to clear said guide tracks, operating connections between said plates and the bar, and spring means for forcing the bar to plate operating position upon breaking of said line, said plates being provided with tangential teeth for hooking over said side timbers, said plates having diametrically opposite shoulders engaging opposite sides of said walls when said teeth are in position to engage said side timbers.

EDWIN BJERKE.

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