Mine shaft guide system

Abstract

The headframe supports tubular pipe guides in the shaft. Each guide comprises a multiplicity of pipes threaded one to another and extends below the normal range of conveyance travel in the shaft. Each guide is suspended from the headframe by a substantially solid bar depending from the headframe and threadably connected to the uppermost pipe. A bushing fixed in the shaft below the travel range has an associated pipe guide passing loosely therethrough to permit vertical and lateral movement of the pipe guide. A conveyance is suspended on wire rope from the headframe and is guided by the pipe guides. The conveyance has guide bushings slideably engaging each of the pipe guides. Weights are attached to the bottom of each of the pipe guides and the total weight added to each is not equal to that added to any other guide. This avoids having similar harmonics in the pipe guides. The weights are attached to a substantially solid bar threaded into the lower end of each of the pipe guides at a point spaced from the threaded connection between the guide and bar end. All of the threaded connections are pressure tight and the interior of each pipe guide is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. The pressure is monitored and a predetermined decrease in pressure activates an alarm. A safety mechanism is attached to the conveyance and includes a safety device operative to grip the pipe guide in response to a slack hoist rope.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.