Alignment apparatus for a skip hoist bucket

Claim 1

A SKIP HOIST FOR USE IN SINKING A SHAFT HAVING GUIDE RAILS TERMINATING SHORT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE SHAFT, COMPRISING A CROSSHEAD HAVING GUIDE-RAIL-ENGAGING MEANS ADAPTED TO ANCHOR SUCH CROSSHEAD ADJACENT THE LOWER ENDS OF THE GUIDE RAILS OF THE SHAFT; A CABLE GUIDEWAY THROUGH SAID CROSSHEAD; A SKIP HAVING GUIDE SHOES NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID GUIDE RAILS, BUT ADAPTED TO BE DISENGAGED THEREFROM WHEN THE CROSSHEAD IS ANCHORED ADJACENT THE LOWER ENDS OF THE GUIDE RAILS; A HOISTING CABLE; MEANS CONNECTING SAID HOISTING CABLE AT THE TOP AND CENTRALLY OF SAID SKIP, SAID HOISTING CABLE EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID GUIDEWAY; AND ALIGNMENT MEANS TO ALIGN THE GUIDE SHOES OF THE SKIP FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GUIDE RAILS, SAID ALIGNMENT MEANS INCLUDING COOPERATING CAM MEMBERS FIXED TO THE CROSSHEAD AND SKIP, RESPECTIVELY.