150 COALFIELDS AND COLLIERIES OF AUSTRALIA. 



frame. On the eye-bolts are strung cheese-weights (Fig. 84) 

 aggregating about 4 tons for each guide, so as to give it suffi- 

 cient tension. Rubbing-bars are placed on the sides of the 

 cages next each other, and are 18m. apart when the cages are 

 stationary. Between the two cages are suspended two old wind- 

 ing ropes, their object being to prevent the cages from collid- 

 ing (Fig. 85). One peculiar feature noticed after adopting the 

 rubbing-bars was that the cages did not ascend in the same 

 position that they assumed when at rest, but canted over at an 

 angle. This was demonstrated by the wearing of the rubbing 

 bars against one division rope more than the other : fortunately 

 both cages canted over in the same direction, instead of to- 

 wards each other. Rope guides are not so satisfactory as steel 

 rails, now that the latter can be made straight and even; for 



O 



Fig. 83, Fasten- 

 ing of guide 

 rope at top. 



Fig. 84, 

 Cheese 

 weights. 



Fig. 85. Guide Rope, Rubbing 

 bars and Division rope. 



not being firmly fixed, if steam is shut off suddenly it sets the 

 ropes dancing, and there is danger of the cages colliding when 

 half way. On account of the swaying of the cages, large shafts 

 are required where rope guides are used, for sufficient space 

 must be left between the cages, although buntons are not want- 

 ed. The' deeper the pit the greater the flexibility of the ropes, 

 for they cannot be weighted so heavily as to secure the same 

 amount of rigidity that steel rails fastened to buntons possess, 

 and this flexibility is greatest in the middle of their length, 

 where the cages pass. On the other hand, rope guides are cheaper 



