May 8, 1914.

THE COLLIERY- GUARDIAN.

1007

be necessary. An illuminated segment, carrying
names of signals, can be supplied if required.

For gassy mines the same firm have designed a
mechanical type of indicator dial. This design
is arranged to operate by means of the signal rope
or wire, to which it is mechanically attached by
means of a link motion. The signal is replaced
mechanically by the winding engineman by means
of a foot pedal. If preferred, an electrical con-
tact can be provided which will operate the dial on
a local circuit, a circuit closer being actuated by
the mechanical movement of the signal wire. A
suitable system of wiring is shown in fig. 3.

The actual apparatus that was exhibited at Stoke

2

e Veils

Bottom

Bank

. Bank.

Fig. 3.—“Tangent” System of Wiring.
(Gent and Co. Limited).

Luminous Level
Indicators

(«“')] PIT BANK

Fig. 4.—Connections
for Signalling System.

(Heyes and Co.)

LUMINOUS INDICATOR

.0

Leer el

Fig. 5.—Luminous Indicator.

was part of an order received from the Shelton
Iron, Steel and Coal Company for their Racecourse
pit, and consists of a luminous indicator having
5 signals and 3 level indications. In this particu-
lar instance the apparatus is enclosed in a teak
case, but usually it is supplied in an iron case.

Messrs. Heyes and Company, of Wigan, have
designed two forms of combined signals. In one
of these, type S.L.S., the indicator is specially
designed to give visible and audible signals on
winding and engine plane signalling systems. It
is so constructed that the pointer remains at the
last signal given, returning to zero on the com-
mencement of the next signal and registering step
by step the number of rings given. Type A.T.L.
is so constructed that the pointer registers step by
step the number of rings, and remains at the last
number given until one or other of the following
conditions are complied with:—1st, The indicator
pointer can be arranged to return automatically

to zero after a time limit of three or four seconds;
2nd, the pointer can be set back to zero by the
engineman pressing a push; 3rd, the pointer can
be set back to zero by the movement of the engine
when the order is being executed. Each indicator
embodies the whole of the three foregoing arrange-
ments, and with each indicator is supplied a special
combined push and switch, which enables the
engineman to put into operation any of the above
conditions for returning the pointer to the zero
position. In each case a special terminal box is
provided for making the necessary line connections.

Either indicator can be fitted on any existing
system without alteration, and requires only one
line wire and return for any number of indications.
When desired there can be fitted to existing rope
signals a special device which will register on the
electric indicator the number of rings given on the
rope signal.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of connections, and fig. 5 a
front view of a luminous indicator.

The same firm are the makers of a variety of
other signalling appliances including gas and
water-tight mining bells, pull keys, relay telephones
and mining pushes. A special feature of these
appliances is employment of flame-tight joints with
machined faces.

The “F.B.” visible and audible signalling appar-
atus, made by Mr. G. J. F. Black, of Burton-on-
Trent, is shown in fig 6.

The feature of this indicator is that it can be
worked mechanically and electrically at will: that
is, in addition to being connected to the pull wires
it is coupled up to electric current (either direct
or batteries), so that either can be used should the
other fail.

Thus mechanical signals can be given when men
are riding and electrical when coal winning, the
aural and visual signals being the same in either
case, with no confusion therefore to the engineman.

One advantage seems to be the absence of any
pointer to cast a shadow to deceive the engineman.
The numerals can be illuminated if desired, there
being an electric lamp holder inside the
(aluminium) casing which is made accessible from
a neat hinged door in the side. The terminals, pull
wire connections,etc., are all conveniently arranged
on the back, the lever for coupling up to the pull
wires being made in the form of a cross, so that
the lead can be taken from practically any direction.

Rutherford’s patent luminous mine-shaft signal-
ling apparatus, of.which Messrs. Siemens Brothers
and Company Limited, of Woolwich, are the
makers, has been on the market for some time, but
the system has recently been improved in certain
directions. The apparatus consists of sets of
indicators and bells for the pit bank, engine room
and levels. When it is required to wind men from
the level, the onsetter turns on his indicator to
“men,” and then gives the customary rings on the

bells at the bank and engineroom by means of the
bell switch provided. If the banksman concurs
with the signal from the onsetter, he replies by means
of the bell, and turns his switch to “men,” where-
upon the signal “men” is illuminated in the engine
room, at.the bank and at the level. This order
remains in force for all the subsequent windings
until altered for some other operation., such as
“coal” or “shaft.” If the cages are provided with
one deck only and are loaded ready for raising and
lowering, the onsetter and banksmen turn their
respective switches to “ready,” and give the usual
rings on the bells. When both have turned their
switches, the signal appears illuminated at the
engine room, bank and level. The visual indica-
tion of the order does not appear in the engine
room until both the onsetter and banksman are
ready for the order to be executed. When the

Fig. 6.—“F.B.” Visible and Audible Signalling
Apparatus.

(G. J. F. Black.)

engine has started, a switch is actuated which
releases the “ready” switches at both the bank and
level, thus extinguishing the lamps and the order
on the indicators and leaving them clear for fur-
ther orders. In cases where the cages have two
or more decks which are loaded from one staging,
necessitating the moving of the cage a short dis-
tance after one deck has been loaded, the operation
is controlled by turning the switch to “change
decks,” with the same procedure as for “ready.”
The signal “change decks” is obliterated by the
movement of the engine in the same manner as the
order “ready.” When all the decks are filled, the
signal “ready” can be given in the same manner as
for one-deck cages as described above. Any system
of bell signals can be used in conjunction with the
luminous signals. The emergency or “stop” signal
can, however, be operated independently by either
the onsetter or the banksman to stop the cage at any
point. Additional windows are now fitted on the
engine room instrument to indicate the orders
“ raise steadily ” and “ lower steadily.” In
the case of these two orders, the indica-
tion is illuminated immediately either the onsetter
or the banksman operates his switch, and not, as
is the case with the other orders, when both have
operated their switches together.

Messrs. Siemens Brothers also make a mine
signal indicator to comply with the new regula-
tions for use with electric or mechanically-operated
bells or rappers. The complete apparatus for
applying to mechanically operated bells or rappers
consists of a dial indicator, showing orders by
numbers and words; a switch for each bell or
rappie, actuated by the bell or rapper
rope for operating the pointer of the indi-
cator; a switch operated by the starting lever of
the engine for returning the pointer to zero;
battery of six cells. The indicator is placed in a
convenient position in front of the engineman, and
the switch fitted near the bell or rapper rope, so
that a stop piece fixed to the latter operates the
switch each time the rope is pulled. This causes
the pointer to move to the order given. The
pointer can be returned to zero and the order
effaced either by means of the switch actuated, by
the starting lever of the engine or. by the engine-
man pressing a push switch, or moving a lever pro-
vided on the case of the indicator. The same
indicator can be used in conjunction with electric
bells, and in this case is put in the circuit of the
bell.

Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines and Quarries.
—A meeting of the Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines
and Quarries was held on Friday, May 1, at Winchester
House, 21, St. James’s-square, S.W. "Sir Henry Cunyng-
hame, K.C.B., presided, and the other Commissioners pre-
sent were : Dr. J. S. Haldane, F.R.S., Mr. R. A. S. Red-
mayne, C.B. (H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines), Mr. R. M.
Greaves, Mr. R. Arthur Thomas, Mr. William Lewney,
Mr. U. Lovett, and Mr. R. T. Jones. The Commission
had their report under consideration.