Elevator system for mine shaft

Claim 2

A combined elevator and escape passage for installing in a mine shaft comprising: a plurality of prefabricated mast sections each having parallel spaced apart front and rear longitudinal members connected by crossmembers; means on the ends of said longitudinal members for connecting said mast sections together in longitudinal alignment; means for securing said rear longitudinal members to one wall of the mine shaft; cage frame means movably mounted on said front longitudinal members; a cab extending outwardly from said cage frame and means for adjustably connecting said cab to said cage frame for keeping it in a level position for varied angular positions of the mast sections; each mast section including a ladder located within the crosssectional area defined bY said longitudinal members, and wall means attached to said longitudinal members to provide a protected escape passage; and power control means mounted on a top mast section including lifting cables connected to said cage frame means for moving it up and down on said connected front longitudinal members of said mast sections.

Claim 3

The elevator system as described in claim 1 wherein said front longitudinal members on each mast section have a flat sided cross section, aligner means fixed in the ends of said longitudinal members for maintaining the longitudinal members of adjoining mast sections in alignment.

Claim 4

The elevator system as described in claim 1 wherein means for connecting said mast sections together includes aligner means comprising transverse plates fixed to the ends of said longitudinal members, an edge mounted plate fixed to each said transverse plate at one end of each mast section, and slots in said plates located at the other end of said mast section; and bolt means through said cross members of adjoining mast sections adjacent said longitudinal members.

Claim 5

The elevator system as described in claim 1 wherein said adjustable means comprises a pair of fixed pivotal connections between the lower end of said cab and the cage frame and a pair of links each pivotally connected at one end to said cage frame and at the other end to the upper end of said cab.

Claim 6

The elevator system as described in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said rear longitudinal members to the shaft wall comprises a transverse beam, hook means on said beam for engaging said rear longitudinal members, a pair of spaced apart rock bolts adapted to be embedded in the shaft wall, and means for securing the ends of said rock bolts to said transverse beam.

Claim 7

The elevator system as described in claim 1 wherein said power control means on said upper mast section includes a traction wheel, motor means and means drivingly connecting said motor means to said traction wheel, a counterweight, cable means extending around said traction wheel and connected at opposite ends to said cage frame and to said counterweight.

Claim 8

The elevator system as described in claim 6 wherein slip-sensing means adjacent said power control means for sensing any relative slippage of cables on said traction wheel.

Claim 9

The elevator system as described in claim 7 wherein said slip-sensing means comprises means contacting said traction wheel and a cable thereon and responsive to a differential movement between them for deactivating said power control means.

Claim 10

An elevator system for installation in a mine shaft comprising: a plurality of prefabricated mast sections each having parallel spaced apart front and rear longitudinal members connected by cross members; means on the ends of said longitudinal members for connecting said mast sections together in longitudinal alignment; means for securing said rear longitudinal members to one wall of the mine shaft; cage frame means movably mounted on said front longitudinal members; a cab attached to said cage means; power control means mounted on a top mast section including a traction wheel, motor means and means drivingly connecting said motor means to said traction wheel, a counterweight and lifting cables extending around said traction wheel and connected at opposite ends to said cage frame and to said counterweight for moving the cage frame up and down on said connected front longitudinal members of said mast sections; and slip-sensing means adjacent said power control means for sensing any relative slippage of cables on said traction wheel, said slip-sensing means comprising a pair of first and second rollers mounted on a pair of spaced apart first and second shafts, respectively, means for supporting said shafts so that said first roller engages said traction wheel and said second roller engages a cable that extends around said traction wheel, chain means drivingly connecting said shafts, means on said first shaft for causing axial movement of said first roller whenever its rate of rotation is less than that of said shaft, and means on said first roller for actuating a switch to stop said power control means when said first roller is caused to move axially.

Claim 11

An elevator system for installation in a mine shaft comprising: a plurality of prefabricated mast sections each having parallel spaced apart front and rear longitudinal members connected by cross members; means on the ends of said longitudinal members for connecting said mast sections together in longitudinal alignment; means for securing said rear longitudinal members to one wall of the mine shaft; cage frame means movably mounted on said front longitudinal members; a cab attached to said cage means; power control means mounted on a top mast section including a traction wheel, motor means and means drivingly connecting said motor means to said traction wheel, a counterweight and lifting cables extending around said traction wheel and connected at opposite ends to said cage frame and to said counterweight for moving the cage frame up and down on said connected front longitudinal members of said mast sections; and slip-sensing means adjacent said power control means for sensing any relative slippage of cables on said traction wheel, said slip-sensing means comprising a pair of first and second rollers mounted on a pair of spaced apart first and second shafts, respectively, means for supporting said shafts so that said first roller engages said traction wheel and said second roller engages a cable that extends around said traction wheel, chain means drivingly connecting said shafts, means on said first shaft for causing axial movement of said first roller whenever its rate of rotation is less than that of said shaft, and means on said first roller for actuating a switch to stop said power control means when said first roller is caused to move axially.